“He’s not that kind of person.”

“Soon, though. These armies are experienced in recruiting the young. They will bind him to his comrades, and they will mold him to their needs.”

“He’s not like that!”

Tool shrugged. “Then they will kill him and find someone who is.”

The half-man spoke with infuriating detachment. Mahlia wanted to punch him in his giant doglike face. “We’ve got to save him.”

Tool just looked at her. She could almost see the smile there, the joke of her saying it, but she pressed. “We can’t just let them have him. We got to go after him.”

“You will fail.”

“Not if you help me.”

The half-man’s lips curled back, revealing teeth. “You presume too much, girl. My debt to you is more than paid.”

“So why are you still here?” she asked. “Why come back here? Why help me at all?”

Tool growled. “I balance my debts. If you wish my help in escaping from this place, that is fair. You saved my life when those others would have let me die. But those soldiers take their prisoners into the heart of the Drowned Cities. It was difficult enough for me to escape Colonel Stern last time. To do it again would be impossible. Suicide is not something I owe you or yours.”

“What if we saved Mouse before they get there?”

“You overestimate my health and abilities.”

“When you jumped me and Mouse, you were scary fast.”

“Even I cannot destroy a company of trained soldiers, not without weapons or support.”

“We could stalk them.”

“We?” Tool raised his eyebrows, looking down on her. “You think you are some fine predator? A swamp panther or coywolv?” He pretended to inspect her. “Where are your teeth and claws, girl?” He bared his teeth. “Where is your bite?”

Mahlia glared up at him, hating him. Hating how he dismissed her. She turned and stormed into the ruins, hunting. She found a burned machete, sooty and blackened, but with metal still sound. Tool watched her with a bemused expression as she returned. She held it up.

“I got teeth.”

“Do you?” Tool’s features turned predatory. “They have guns and acid and training.” He leaned close, his monstrous gaze blazing with promise of hell. “They will break you bit by bit, and then, when they have turned you into a cowering, begging animal, they will kill you. Don’t tell me you have teeth. You are a rabbit attacking coywolv.”

Part of her knew he was right. If a half-man wouldn’t face all those soldiers, what made her think she could? It was stupid. The kind of war maggot fantasy that got you killed.

“I go north now. If you are wise, you will accompany me.”