“Committing my guards to help you fight the construct army won’t make a difference,” Chala was saying. “I’ve heard the reports. There are too many of them and too few in your army. Nephilanu won’t send their guards to help and Riya is withdrawing. I’d be sending my people to their deaths.”

“If not you, who will be the first to commit their guards?” Lin said. “The construct army is headed toward Gaelung. They’ll commit their guards; they won’t have a choice. If you help out, others may follow suit. It gives us a chance.”

“Gaelung could agree to be ruled by your half-sister.”

Lin’s eyes narrowed. “She’s not my half-sister. A convenient lie.”

“You and I both know that doesn’t matter. I spent a great deal of my childhood on the streets. Have enough muscle or enough money, and the other orphans tended to fall in line.”

Lin did that thing again, where she looked at a person as though they were a puzzle she knew she could solve. “Did you fall in line, Sai?”

He held her gaze for a moment before looking away. I’d forgotten for a moment how very young the boy was. “No, I didn’t. Too stubborn.” He sighed. “It would be easier for me if I didn’t help you. I’m young and becoming governor under unusual circumstances. Easy to criticize. But I don’t like being bullied. I’ll commit the guards. You have my support, and I’m not Iloh. I won’t rescind it.”

“Thank you.” Lin inclined her head and Chala turned to tend to other things.

Ragan put a hand on my shoulder. “You’re good with the earth shaking,” he said, “but I have notes for your technique.”

I gritted my teeth. “Has anyone ever told you to mind your own business?”

“Ah! In the monastery, everyone knows everyone’s business; no one’s business is their own,” he said with his customary cheer.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Lin kneeling by one of the bodies. Surreptitiously, she scraped something off the floor with her engraving tool before stowing it away again.

I focused my attention on Ragan again, flashing him my own obnoxious smile. “Ah well, it’s a good thing we’re not in the monastery then. How pleasant for us both.” I pivoted and made my way up the stairs before he could expound on those notes.

The morning blurred into afternoon as we made preparations to leave. Thrana had to be carried to the courtyard and lifted into a covered cart. Mephi hovered by the side of the cart, making worried little noises in the back of his throat.