“No, I can’t say as I have seen her, nor that I would know how to reach her,” Dorman said, disappointing me despite my low expectations.

“Pity.” I glanced to the crowd of Nejerets beyond him, who were watching and listening intently. What thoughts spun around in their minds? How much did they know? Where would their allegiance fall? “Have you heard about what’s going on”—I pointed up and to the side with my chin, indicating the world outside these fences—“out there?”

Dorman’s expression sobered. “I’ve heard whispers . . . and shouts.” He stared off into the distance for a moment, but his hazel gaze soon returned to me. “I’d like to hear what you have to say about it, though.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Even though whatever I tell you will be biased since I’m with Clan Heru?” I wanted to make sure he understood that I wasn’t here to get lost like all the others; I was here as an emissary.

“Even more so because you’re with Clan Heru.” The corners of his mouth lifted, and he raised his voice, just a little. “I, too, am with Clan Heru.”

Behind him, there were hushed whispers among the crowd. He’d just declared himself for our side, and some of the tension I’d been lugging around faded.

“Walk with me,” Dorman said, stepping to the side and holding his arm out. “There’s something I think you’ll want to see, and on the way, you can fill me in on all the excitement.”

I fell into step beside him.

“You’ll find no fans of the Senate here,” he added.

I looked at him, intrigued. “Oh? Then you’ll help us fight them?”

He stared off into the distance. “Me?” he said, frowning. “I’ll do what little I can, but I’m just one man.” He nodded to the crowd that was now following us. “It’s them you’re after. Prove that this war is about more than just power. Prove your worth, earn their trust, and they’ll be the most loyal army you could ask for.”

I glanced over my shoulder. There were well over a hundred Nejerets trailing behind us. “And how am I supposed to do that?”

Dorman glanced at me sidelong. “You, my dear, are about to find out.”

Chapter Two

Dorman led me to one of the smaller hangars in the cluster making up the pseudo–town square, the small horde of Nejerets trailing behind us. I filled him in, giving him the quick and dirty version of all that had happened the previous week with Ouroboros and Mari, everything leading up to Heru’s declaration of martial law and the resulting split with the Senate.

“And so the mighty king reclaims his throne,” Dorman said, heading straight for the hangar’s huge open doorway. Two overlapping sheets of plastic blocked the way.

“Governor General, not king,” I corrected. “And it’s only a temporary position.”

In the mirror pendant, Dom snickered.

Dorman chuckled softly. “Darlin’, Heru always has been and always will be a king. He can’t help it. It’s who he is.” I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could say anything, Dorman patted my shoulder and said, “And don’t you fret. I accept his right to rule over me. Daresay I welcome it. I sure as hell trust him more than I trust the rest of the Senators.” He held one side of the plastic curtain up to let me through, then turned to address our train of Nejerets. “We’ll return momentarily.” He motioned for me to enter the hangar.