Tennal’s face changed color, though not expression. “Really? My aunt’s coming out here?”

“You’re aware there’s some tension between Archer and Cavalry at the moment,” Oma said, as if this were all a regrettable argument in a schoolyard. “Nothing we can’t smooth out with some face-to-face conversations. However, it does have some implications for you.”

It didn’t. Oma couldn’t stop a ship cleared to go through the link. In five minutes Tennal would be out of here. “Does my aunt know I’m here?”

“Almost certainly.” Oma propped her chin on one fist. “I don’t plan to hide it. We need to talk … tactics. Come and see me in person.”

Tennal took a long breath. “Of course, sir. I’ll just be a few minutes.”

He moved to cut the connection. Oma raised a hand. “Wait.”

Tennal stopped. Oma looked at him through the connection. Something about her gaze made Tennal’s mouth dry.

“I can’t control you, of course,” Oma said softly, “but you might want to know that I’ve just had to arrest Surit Yeni.”

The blood drained from Tennal’s face. “You’ve what?”

“I’ll see you in a few minutes, Captain Halkana,” Oma said genially. “Or not. Your choice.” She cut the connection.

Tennal stared at his own wristband in the light from the golden barrier behind him. She’d arrested Surit.

It was as clear as day: if Tennal escaped, Surit would answer for it. She must have noticed Surit’s escape plans, because Lights knew she couldn’t pin any other charges on him. She had Surit.

The ship’s gate chimed. An out-system dignitary hurried past in a heavy formal wrap.

The universe was waiting. A universe where nobody knew how much Tennal had fucked up, and nobody cared, and nobody had any claim on him at all.

“Guidance fucking lose it,” Tennal said savagely. He turned his back on the link and faced the docks again. The barrier swallowed him.

Tennal had never found reflecting on how did I get here? a particularly useful or interesting exercise. But as he stepped into the office of the Archer Station governor, neatly dressed in Archer colors and captain’s tabs, he touched the wheat-stalk emblem at his collar and thought, Maybe you should have just let me carry on gambling, Auntie.

The link swirled through the windows, silhouetting Oma’s bowed head as she worked.

As Tennal entered she raised her head, sighed, and pushed back her chair. “We had to take the office back, you know,” she remarked, in an apparent non sequitur. “There was hand-to-hand fighting in the building. The rebels reinstalled the old governor, albeit for all of twenty minutes.” She laid her hand flat on the surface of the desk. “Exciting times.”