“Ranami,” Gio said, appealing to her, “this was what we had worked toward when you joined our cause. I know you want this too.”

“That was before you tried to murder the woman I love. You say we can have peace with certain conditions, but these aren’t truly conditions. You’re asking us to do what you want and if we don’t, you’ll kill her. It’s not a truce; it’s a threat.”

“I’ll accept your offer,” Phalue said before Ranami could say anything else. “If I see any indication you’ve broken your side of the bargain – I know where your hideout is. I’ll send the full force of my guards against you and send a missive to the Emperor telling her everything I know.” It was an empty counter-threat. She didn’t have enough guards and Gio had a veritable army on Khalute. The Emperor was distracted with the constructs; how long would it take her to send soldiers to Nephilanu? Long enough for Gio to clear out.

“Understood.”

Phalue pivoted, abruptly wishing to be free of the looming ruins, their carved vines, the memories of a civilization that had once existed long ago but had since passed. No one spoke of it except in whispers, but the question tickled at the back of Phalue’s mind too. Would the Alanga return? She’d had the fountain destroyed, but now she wondered if she should have left it intact, had someone report on whether or not it opened its eyes again. But she didn’t know what ancient magic lurked in its stone. She couldn’t be sure it wasn’t a device meant to summon Alanga.

Ranami had to hurry to catch up with her. “It’s a fool’s bargain he strikes with you,” she said in a low voice as they exited the ruins.

“I know,” Phalue said. “But I have no better options.”

“So,” Ranami said once they’d settled onto the road, “the Emperor wants to visit us. Gio is threatening a coup.”

“Welcome to marriage with a governor!” Phalue said. “I understand now why you wished to avoid it!”

Ranami tugged at her arm, pulling her in close. Around them, the rain had picked up again, though they were cloistered in the space between their two hoods.

“What are you doing?”

“This,” Ranami said. She reached up and pressed her lips to Phalue’s. The kiss was soft at first, and then more urgent, her hands sliding beneath Phalue’s cloak to rest against her breasts. Or at least, against the leather that shielded her breasts. Why had she worn the armor? It seemed a ridiculous decision now. “I don’t regret it,” Ranami said against Phalue’s mouth when they broke apart. “Not even for a moment.”