“Take all of these.” Thisbe gave him three more, still shaking her head at his shenanigans. “I need to find a dress or something,” she said. “Did you hear what’s happening?”

“I heard the announcement. What are you going to do when you declare your partnership and nothing happens?” He chugged the next vial.

Thisbe hesitated to answer. She’d been so programmed not to tell anyone anything that she was still wary about putting Rohan in danger. But he was in the know whether she wanted him to be or not. And he was downing ancestor broth like a happy little cannibal. So he was protected. Finally she said, “I’m going to be exactly as surprised as she is. And then I’m going to demand we find out what went wrong.”

“So you’re admitting my theory is correct?” Rohan said, stopping his vial sipping for a moment to look at her. “I still haven’t heard your answer.”

Thisbe paused in the closet. She turned her head, conceding everything in one look. “Yes, Rohan. And… I’m so sorry. I’ll explain more later if you like.” What she didn’t tell him was that there was still a conflicted part of her that was enjoying this time she was spending with the Revinir.

Rohan took in a breath and closed his weary eyes for a moment. “Thank the gods,” he murmured. Then he went back to finishing his next vial.

Thisbe felt a great weight lift off her heart, but she still felt the urgency of getting ready for the announcement. She ripped through a bunch of dusty clothes in the closet, most of them looking like they might actually fit, which was curious. She searched for something suitable for a leader that wasn’t too ugly or frilly. Then she happened on a charcoal-gray uniform that had only a few small moth-eaten holes in it. She took it out and looked at it. It was like Maiven’s. Could these clothes belong to her grandmother? Being consumed by moths up here while Maiven was wasting away in the dungeon? There wasn’t time to speculate further.

“This,” she said, and hoped it would fit. She ran with it into her washroom and slammed the door behind her, then tried it on over her component vest. When she looked in the mirror, she took in a breath. She looked so much like Maiven. She hadn’t noticed the resemblance before. But now, with the same suit on and a similar cap perched on her head, it was more than clear that the two were related. Tears sprang to Thisbe’s eyes. She felt like she was betraying everything that Maiven stood for by doing such a terrible deed while wearing the uniform of a black-eyed warrior. “Please forgive me,” Thisbe whispered.

“Is it a good fit?” came Rohan’s voice through the door.