She heard the creak of leather as the two guards behind her shifted on their feet. It had been a long day and no doubt they were eager for it to be over. Phalue remembered a quote from Treatises on Economic Equality – one of the books Ranami had asked her to read. “Laws tell us what we can and cannot do; they do not tell us what we should and should not do.” These people hadn’t chosen to leave their homes, their belongings and everything they’d worked for. “Yes, it is my duty. But it’s not the fault of these people that they’re on your land.”

“Well, it’s not my fault either.” The man crossed his arms, his expression dark. “And yet I’m suffering for it.”

Phalue thought about their list, reshuffling things in her mind. Ranami, seated next to her, touched her arm. Phalue knew exactly what she was trying to convey. They’d managed to send a few shipments of caro nuts out to the poorer islands, hiding them among shipments of fruit. The poorer islands didn’t pay as much as Imperial did, but they still paid. Phalue could afford to be generous.

“I assume you’re not the only one with this problem?” Phalue asked.

“There are more refugees on my neighbors’ lands, yes,” he said.

“I’ll send workers to clear more land, to build shelters and to feed the refugees. Every refugee family will be granted their own land, so they’ll be off yours. I’ll have it done within the next ten days. Will that fulfill my duty?”

Ranami made a note in the book in her lap. She kept track of all the promises that Phalue made during these sessions.

His expression smoothed. “Yes. Thank you, Sai.”

A hand squeezed her elbow. Ah. She was missing something – something Ranami could better see or understand. The man hadn’t turned or backed away like the other petitioners. Now that Ranami had pointed it out, Phalue could see the tension remaining at the corners of his mouth. Best deal with it now instead of leaving it to simmer. “Is there anything else troubling you?”

He pressed his lips together as if trying to keep the words in, but then they burst forth. “If Nephilanu sinks, will you truly abandon us here?”

She felt like the floor had dropped out from beneath her chair. Someone had leaked the information about the escape route – and not just to the city below, but to the rest of the island.

The petitioners in the rest of the room shifted like waves lapping at the shore, murmuring among themselves. No one seemed exactly surprised.

“Nephilanu will not sink,” Phalue said, trying to convey confidence.

“Then why plan an escape in case it does?” one of the petitioners called out.