“That doesn’t matter,” Tavi said quietly, his voice growing harsh. “It was my responsibility. My duty. I know not everyone survives a war, but by the furies, I will not see my men give their lives for nothing.” His throat tightened, and he bowed his head. “I... I wonder. I wonder if I am the right man for this work. If I had... if I had learned more, if I had been given more time to practice, if I had practiced harder...”

“You wonder if it would have made a difference,” Alera said.

“Yes.”

She considered the question gravely. Then she sat down on the floor beside the stool, folding her legs beneath her. “There’s no way to be certain of things that never took place.”

“I know.”

“You agree. Yet you still feel that way about it.”

Tavi nodded. They were both silent for a time.

“Good men,” she said quietly, “must feel as you do. Or they are not good men.”

“I don’t understand.”

Alera smiled. “A good man, almost by definition, would seriously question any decisions he made that led to such terrible consequences for others. Especially if those others trusted him. Would you agree?”

“Yes.”

“Would you agree that you are fallible?”

“I feel it is manifestly obvious.”

“Would you agree that the world is a dangerous and unfair place?”

“Of course.”

“Then there you have it,” Alera said. “Someone must command. But no one who does so is perfect. He will, therefore, make mistakes. And, since the world is dangerous and unfair, it is inevitable that some of those mistakes will eventually have consequences like those today.”

“I can hardly dispute your reasoning,” Tavi said quietly. “But I do not see your point.”

“It is quite obvious, young Gaius,” Alera said, smiling, her eyes wrinkling at the corners. “The logic is indisputable: You are a good man.”

Tavi lifted his eyebrows. “What has that to do with anything?”

“In my experience?” she asked. “A very great deal. Perhaps Kitai will explain it to you later.”

Tavi shook his head. “You saw the battle?”

“Of course.”

“Is the Queen as strong as you believed her to be?”

“Not at all,” Alera said.

“Oh?”

“She is stronger,” the great fury said calmly. “And she handles herself almost as well as you do. Someone has been giving her lessons.”

Tavi nodded ruefully. “I noticed.” He shook his head. “I... I can’t believe anything could be so powerful. So fast.”

“Yes,” Alera said. “I warned you about that.”

“Then you see why I must question my place here,” Tavi said quietly. “If I can’t outwit her, anticipate her, overcome her... why am I attempting to lead these men at all? Can I take them forward with me, knowing that... that...”

“That you quite likely take them to their deaths,” Alera said.

Tavi closed his eyes. “Yes.”