As soon as I returned to my cargo bay, Nirpaf’s hatches swung open. Past the crew securing the doors, I caught sight of a beautiful woman in a dark dress. Her careful makeup couldn’t hide the circles under her eyes and the wan pallor of her skin. Cien caught sight of her and dashed through the tunnel with a cry.

She bent, catching him, and clutched him to her chest. She buried her face in his hair with a choked sob. This woman loved her child. If the empress had used him, it had not been with his mother’s permission.

I relaxed a fraction. Now that she knew the danger, she would keep him safe.

Torran stepped into the tunnel, and my heart cracked. He was going to leave without a word. I stood frozen, unable to tear my eyes away as he stopped just before the airlock on the other side.

Torran’s sister asked him a question and he shook his head. She raised her left arm, still wrapped around Cien, and covered where her heart would be. She bowed her head.

When she lifted her eyes, her gaze sought mine and she repeated the gesture. I thawed just enough to dip my head in acknowledgment.

Without a word, her crew closed the hatches, preparing to disconnect, and Torran returned to Starlight’s cargo bay. I blinked at him. “You’re not leaving?”

He tilted his head. “Did you expect me to?”

I waved at the tunnel. “I thought—”

“We are still bound, cho akinti. You will not be rid of me so easily.”

“That would’ve been good to know ten minutes ago,” I grumbled under my breath. Relief washed through me, but I knew it was only a temporary reprieve. Torran had asked if his crew could remain until we reached Bastion, and I’d agreed.

I would still have to say good-bye far before I was ready.

I swallowed as Torran started closing the hatches on our side. “No one else is transferring, either?”

“We go where the general goes,” Chira said.

“Not a general anymore,” he said quietly, looking over his shoulder. “My military record has been expunged.”

She rolled her eyes and repeated, “We go where the general goes.”

Once the hatches were closed, I initiated the decoupling process. Nirpaf had already initiated it on their side, so as soon as I approved, the airlocks began pumping air out of the tunnel in preparation for separation.

“Eli, to the bridge. Watch them as they leave. Keep an eye on Lotkez, too.”

He ducked into the main part of the ship with a grim nod.

I stood by the cargo bay terminal as the tunnel disconnected and returned to its place, then the outer shield slid over it. I watched on-screen as the other ship pulled away. This was the most dangerous part. Nirpaf might mean “peace,” but they were armed with a lot of very nice, very dangerous weapons. With Cien safely on their ship, they might decide we were no longer useful.