“That idol was my charge, and I didn’t try to save her. And don’t say it’s because I’m smarter than you.” She held up a hand. “Don’t say it. You talk tough, but you jumped into the water. I keep wondering why.”

“The Craftswoman asked the same thing.”

“She scares me.”

“Me too.”

“I read your deposition,” Mara said.

“I didn’t think they were showing those around.”

“Do you really think you were wrong to jump in?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes. Because if you lied, that’s twice you’ve thrown yourself on a sword for my sake. By the pool, and in the deposition.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. We’re all at risk here. Jace. Me. The priesthood. The island. It’s easier if I was wrong.”

“Why did you jump?”

I jumped because she screamed. Because her eyes were open. Because she was alone. Because you were frightened. Because no one else would. “You and Gavin were boring the twelve hells out of me.”

Softness in Mara’s eyes, and in the declination of her head. “Don’t be cute. Please. I want to know.”

Kai felt naked on that balcony save for bandages and scars, in front of Mara in her makeup and her dress. She ground the tip of her cane into the floor. Her left shoulder ached where Seven Alpha’s teeth had torn her. “Haven’t you ever felt sorry for a hooked fish on the line?”

Mara smiled slantwise once more, not sarcastic this time. Some weight kept her from smiling in full. She approached, heels on stone, and stood warm and near. Before Kai could pull away—cane, injury, two weeks’ rest slowing her down—Mara grabbed her arms, then hugged her, pressing against Kai’s bandages. Her touch was light, but Kai still bit down a gasp of pain. Mara withdrew. “I do now.” Another step back, and a third. “I didn’t come here to thank you. You took the worst moment of my professional life and added the guilt of almost killing a friend. And even if Jace fires you he never will look at me the way he looked at you drowning. I came here planning to cuss you out, but I don’t have it in me. I’m glad you’re alive, is all.”

“Thanks,” Kai said. And, because there was no other way to ask it: “Mara. Did your idol … did you ever hear anything in the pool? A voice? Words?”

“No,” she said. “Nothing like that.”

Howl, bound world, Kai heard again, on the mountain wind.

“Did you?” Mara asked.

Kai did not meet her gaze. “Will you make the trade?”

“Short the Shining Empire bonds, you mean.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“You should.”

“You’re no good at letting things go.”

“So folks have said.”