The Dog wags his tail and growls. Hezram is close. The Dog turns his head into the scent. Too close. The Dog wants to rip Hezram’s throat out.

“He’s coming.” Yari grabs a handful of the Dog’s neck fur and drags him to the bushes. “Stay here, out of sight, even if something bad happens.” Yari shakes vie’s finger at the Dog’s nose. “Hezram would put a bolt in your heart.”

The Dog crouches in shadows, ready to pounce if Yari needs him. He knows this hunt, one out in the open, one downwind from the prey. Hezram is startled by Yari and halts at the edge of the clearing, uncertainty on his breath. Yari marches toward him.

Hezram has a hand on a knife. “Is this an ambush?”

“No.” Yari steps close. “You trusted me once. Trust me again.”

“I was young and you seduced me out of my right mind. I’m a grown man now.” Hezram pats Yari’s cheek. “I hear you made fools of Zamanzi war chiefs and escaped.”

Yari pulls Hezram’s hand away. “Your spies are wrong. Zamanzi are rebels now. Warrior-clown allies.”

“Forgiven?” Hezram wags his head. “How do you do that?” His voice is hollow.

“You talk your way into people’s minds too.” Yari’s face twists. A smile fails.

“Zamanzi raided your enclave and murdered Isra. Why not kill the bastards?”

“I forgive them for myself.” Yari tries to relax. The Dog tenses. “Lahesh diplomacy.”

“The Lahesh have been wiped out.” Hezram wants to bite someone.

Yari should bite him first. “You aren’t the only master of illusion.”

“I know why you’ve come.” Hezram claws his hair. “You’re against my gates.”

“You invite the void to the everyday.”

“Not just me.” Hezram backs away from Yari. “Everybody is doing that.”

“I can’t reach everybody. I start with you, then the pirate master.”

“Your wayward Sprites.” Hezram laughs, but he smells sad. “I thought you gave up on the Empire and ran away, beyond the maps to make bridges to the future.”

“The rebels are finally getting organized. I join them.”

“Of course you’d join the clowns!”

They sniff each other, panting to stay cool. Hezram kisses Yari, but it is a lie. There is only fear in Hezram’s sweat and bloodlust on his breath. A hunter hugging a deadly prey … Yari’s breath is sour, a tangle of emotion. Vie clutches Hezram. “Let me show you what you’ve done, what you’re doing.”