“It’s no longer your purpose. And they won’t simply allow us to sit here. We’ve tried that before. I promise you they’re already mustering more troops from the cities and every garrison in between. They’ll gather the largest force we’ve ever seen and come for us. They have to. It’s not about some upstart rebellion to your people. You’ve seen the wastelands here. They need the land beyond. That’s always been their purpose.”

Evie looks down at Brio. He meets her eyes with the same silent, reluctant acceptance. They both know Sirach is right.

“We’ve begun something here,” Sirach continues, “like moving the wheel of a great machine. There’s no reversing it. The longer we wait, the worse it’ll be. We have to strike now. It’s our only hope.”

“Is ‘hope’ the right word?” Brio asks dryly.

Sirach laughs, and it even sounds genuine. “I won’t pretend to understand why you went through all this just for him,” she says to Evie, “but for a man he isn’t entirely uninteresting.”

Brio does his best to bow his head. “Thank you so very much.”

Listening to the two of them, Evie can almost bring herself to smile, although it never quite reaches her lips.

“We may very well all die, and quite soon,” Evie says, “but at least between now and then… we won’t be bored.”

Sirach laughs again, and she’s still laughing when she turns and ducks out of the tent, leaving the two of them alone once more.

Brio’s expression and tone turn serious. “Is she right?” he asks. “Did you go through all this just for me?”

Whatever mirth Evie felt leaves her. She sighs, not wanting to confront this now, just as she didn’t before the Sicclunan’s night raid on the Savage camp.

“I allowed myself to become a Savage for you,” she admits. “But I didn’t know what that meant at the time. I do now.”

Brio cocks his head, curiously. “Do you regret it?”

“No,” Evie answers without hesitation, surprising even herself. “No, I don’t. But not because you’re worth it.”

Brio nods slowly, lowering his eyes. If that wounded him, it was only a glancing blow, judging by his reaction.

“I loved the boy you were, Brio,” she continues. “I respect the man you’ve become. But I’m not doing this for you. These people trusted me when they had no reason to trust anyone. They’re following me. I owe them a chance at reclaiming their lives, however small that chance is. I want to do everything I can to give it to them. As I said, this has all moved far beyond you and me.”

“Then you’ve moved beyond you and me, as well?”

“I think so.”