The right side of his tunic is almost completely soaked through with blood. It gloves his right hand and streaks his face and neck. Sweat pours from his brows, pasting his hair to his scalp, and virtually all trace of color has drained from his face. His eyes are dilated and glassy, barely conscious of their surroundings.

Taru immediately sheathes both blades and kneels beside him. Lexi gathers the hem of her wrap and runs around them both, dropping to her knees on the other side of Daian’s body.

Taru quickly assesses his condition. “His heartbeat is dangerously slow, and all this blood appears to be his. The wound may be mortal.”

“Are we under attack?” Spud-Bar asks in alarm.

“No,” Lexi assures the armorist impatiently. “He’s not a guard, he… he must’ve climbed the tower and come through a window. Though I can’t imagine how, you utter madman! What were you thinking?”

The demand only thinly masks Lexi’s obvious concern and anguish at seeing Daian in such a state. There are tears welling in her eyes as she looks down on him.

Daian’s words come slowly and on trembling breath. “You said… Ministry… was watching you…”

“Don’t talk,” Taru orders him.

Lexi’s hands hover over him, wanting to fix him without knowing how.

“Te-Gen, please,” Taru bids her urgently, “I will attend to him. Give me leave to do that.”

Lexi nods, removing her hands and rising to her feet. She swallows hard and wipes away the tears, stepping away from them to allow Taru to tend to Daian’s wound.

Lexi looks over at Spud-Bar, teary eyes turning hard and resolute. “Are you willing to testify to what you know, all that you’ve seen, before the Arbitration Council? We can keep you safe.”

“Begging Te-Gen’s pardon,” Spud-Bar says, glancing down at Daian, “but this doesn’t seem the safest of places. In truth if I’d known you’re being watched I wouldn’t have come here, promise or no. My life may be forfeit as it is.”

“I’m sorry for that, but what’s done is done. Stay with us. Help us. There is change coming.”

Spud-Bar can’t meet Lexi’s eyes. “That’s an easy thing to say from a tower, Te-Gen.”

The expression on Lexi’s face hardens to match her eyes. “Very well. Then just tell me… what did Brio want me to have, and where can I find it?”

WE BURIED OUR STORIES IN THE EARTH

“I SAY WE CUT ’ER fuckin’ head off and give ’er body to that black foulness over the hill.”

“Thank you for offering your wise counsel on the matter, Lariat,” Evie says. “We will take it under advisement.”

Mother Manai laughs, and even Bam snorts a half chuckle through his cavernous nostrils.

Lariat is not amused.

Neither are the rest of the remaining Savages.