Ahkio took a sheaf of correspondence from Caisa as Ghrasia marked a spot on the map as clear. The runner who’d delivered the news was a young woman, maybe twenty, who looked at Ghrasia with such intense awe, it made Ahkio smile. Ghrasia hardly looked at her.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’ll need a run of this area here, near the old homestead that makes that fish meal. You remember it?”

“I do,” the woman said.

“Good, thank you.” Ghrasia raised her gaze. “That’s all. You’re dismissed.”

The woman looked disappointed. She turned away.

When she was gone, Ahkio said, “You’ve made an impression on them here. A far better one than I have.”

Ghrasia stared at the map. She moved two more markers forward, representing one of their teams along the perimeter. “It’s midday. The other runner should be here by now.” She began to move the other markers forward as well. Her hands were still wrapped in salve-soaked muslin, but the blisters had already healed. Raona had an especially sensitive tirajista in residence and a very fine physician. Ahkio suspected she wouldn’t even have scars.

“Ghrasia, I–”

“How is the Catori, Kai?”

“Mohrai? At the harbor with her family, of course. Waiting on our orders.”

“Good. We need more caution.”

“You’re one to talk of caution,” he said. “You hunted–”

“I was just fulfilling my obligation to Dhai,” she said. “Now we will flush them out.”

“Have I done something to offend you?”

She finally looked up from the map. “Not at all,” she said. “I apologize. A good boy died under my watch. I don’t like death. It’s my job to ensure there’s less of it, not deal it out. And killing my own people… It’s a difficult thing to live with.”

“I’m sorry,” Ahkio said. “I know how… I have an idea of how death can weigh on a person.”

“Do you?” Ghrasia said. She peered at him. “Have you ever killed a person, Kai? Do you understand that killing these other Dhai is the same to me as killing you or Liaro?”

“I’ve sent enough people to their deaths. I agreed to this venture. These deaths are on me as much as you.”

“I’m sorry. People say I’m too serious.”

“I’ve heard that a few times myself.”

“I’m better at leading people than dancing,” she said.

“I’m actually a pretty fair dancer.”

“I’m going to get an hour or so of sleep before the next runner comes in. You’ll lock this door?”

“I will.”