Ranami took Phalue’s arm, leading her to crouch behind a half-crumbled wall. The Ioph Carn man strode out of the room he’d been meeting with Gio in soon after. He was short, young, his black hair slicked back. He hadn’t bothered to wear a hood. Phalue didn’t recognize him, though she hadn’t expected to. The Ioph Carn kept to their own.

“Wait a moment,” Ranami whispered. The warm feel of her breath against Phalue’s cheek made her shiver. As much as Phalue wanted to discuss what they’d heard, she knew it would have to wait until after their meeting.

They crouched among the damp grass, waiting as the man’s footsteps faded while they heard the brush of boots against foliage when Gio paced in the other room. After enough time had passed, they rose. Ranami took Phalue’s arm again and they proceeded through the half-crumbled archway to the agreed-upon meeting place.

Gio was alone.

Somehow this surprised Phalue. She’d expected at least one other of the Shardless Few. She was, after all, here with Ranami and that made two of them against one. If she attacked Gio, there was little he could do to defend himself. He carried two long-bladed knives at his belt, but he wasn’t nearly as tall as Phalue and was much older. She’d have reach on him, and more vigor. Why not just end this conflict now?

Ah, she needed to stop sizing up every situation as though it were a potential physical fight. Even if the other party had tried to have her killed. Even if he might try yet again. She needed to think more like Ranami. If she succeeded in killing Gio now, she’d still have to deal with the other Shardless Few. They’d find another leader and they’d come looking for revenge.

Better to deal with the known entity rather than the unknown one. Was that one of Ningsu’s proverbs?

“Thank you for meeting with me,” Gio said. He placed his hand over his heart in greeting.

Ranami scowled at him.

Phalue found she couldn’t muster up the same amount of anger as Ranami had. But she skipped the greeting. “I won’t pretend I don’t know what you have planned for me,” Phalue said. “It was never your plan to have me installed as governor. You prefer me dead.”

She could feel Ranami eyeing her, could see her mouthing something out of the corner of her eye. Probably she was being too rash. But she couldn’t be like the other politicians: saying one thing while meaning another. If she couldn’t dissemble, she could at least be direct.

Gio spread his hands. “I would apologize, but this is what the Shardless Few have made their goal: the installation of a Council of representatives to rule the islands. Not an Emperor. Not governors. Rulers chosen by the people instead of by birth.”