Ayesh frowned, as though she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What? You want to adopt me or something?”

Ranami looked back at Phalue for confirmation. Her wife nodded. “Yes, exactly that.”

“But I…” Ayesh waved her shield arm around as though that explained everything. “What would you want with me? I’m twelve. You could find someone younger, someone with both hands. Someone who didn’t steal things. Someone from Nephilanu, not Unta. I don’t even belong here.”

“You don’t have to decide now,” Ranami said.

Ayesh looked at her as if she’d grown a second head. “No, I’ll do it. I mean, if you’ll have me, yeah.” She marched past Ranami to Phalue, craning her neck back to look the woman in the eye. “Don’t die on Gaelung.”

Phalue gave her a solemn nod. “Don’t beat the guards too many times at sparring; it wounds their egos.”

The girl’s face split into a grin and she wrapped her arms around Phalue’s waist in a brief hug before darting past her toward the palace.

There was one thing done, one thing taken care of. There were still the land grants for the refugees from Unta to be written, the unearthing of the spy and – oh yes – keeping Gio from overthrowing Phalue’s place as governor.

The road to the harbor felt like both the longest and shortest trip Ranami had ever taken. She wanted to remember each moment that she held Phalue’s hand in her own, each crease of her palm, each callused finger. People had come out onto the streets to see them off, leaving a narrow pathway for them to walk. The press of them, their curious faces, it was almost more than Ranami could take. She knew, better than anyone, how quickly they might turn if Gio found the right pressure points. Phalue smiled and pressed her hand over her heart in greeting as they passed. To her, they were a safe haven. She would always feel more assured of her place among them than Ranami ever would.

And she would be expected to rule them in Phalue’s stead.

The boards of the docks creaked as they made their way to the ship, their weathered surfaces warped by years of salt water and rain. Phalue stepped to the side when they reached the ship, letting her guards pass her up the gangplank.

A small crowd of people had followed from the city, come to see off their governor. “You didn’t have to go too,” Ranami whispered as Phalue pulled her in for an embrace. “You could have just sent the guards. Tythus can lead them.”

“Remember what Ningsu said about cowards,” Phalue said into her hair. “My place is with them.”

“You could stand to be a little bit cowardly,” Ranami said faintly.

Phalue’s chest rumbled as she laughed. “Look after our girl. Keep an eye on Gio. Stay safe.”