She is close against Baru, and warm. Baru remembers that there is nothing more wonderful than a naked, trusting body in your arms, especially when she is so strong and so at ease.

“Hu,” she says, desperately, “I’m losing control. I think I’ve destroyed my parents. I think Aminata was always Farrier’s agent. I ruined, ruined the Llosydanes, all for one stupid name. I don’t think I can beat them—”

“Baru.” Hu presses the flat of her sword to Baru’s lips. “They’re too clever for you. As you were too clever for me. How do we beat the clever? They lay out their roads for us to walk down. So how do we escape?”

When the roads belong to the enemy, you do as Tain Hu had done in Aurdwynn. You go into the wilderness instead. As Tain Shir had gone into the jungle, and returned a monster.…

“Shir.” Hu shivers. “You’re in her thrall, Baru, do you know why? Because you’re a terribly narcissistic person. And you see in her what you’ll become.” She cuts Baru’s left hand free, impatiently, and with a what are you doing waiting? frown she lifts the glove to her breast. “She’ll make you worse, if she can. Don’t let her. I always tried to make you better.”

Softly she sighs under the caress of the glove.

“Do you have to be naked?” Baru protests. “It’s—It just seems unseemly.”

“I want to be,” Hu says, “because you’re afraid of enjoying it, aren’t you?”

Baru has to admit that’s true.

“Listen,” Hu says, “listen. There is a difference between acting out their story, and truly obeying their story. Do you know what it is?”

“Please,” Baru begs, “please tell me.”

But then, as in all good erotic dreams, she wakes up unfulfilled.

*   *   *

THE eyes in the walls closed. The Throne slipped away like an octopus.

Baru woke in a hammock, mostly naked beneath a cotton shift: she deduced instantly that she’d been here a while, and they’d stripped her to keep her clean. “How long,” she groaned.

“Only a few hours.” Iscend Comprine knelt and grinned fetchingly. “You’ve been quite a difficult patient.”

“Am I going to be lobotomized?”

“Only if it becomes necessary, I’m sure. You’ve been conscious, but not coherent. Your left side was paralyzed, but you refused to believe it. We had to tie you down to protect you.”

To Baru’s bemusement, she felt wonderful, as clear and quick as a warm river. She didn’t remember exactly how the seizure had begun, or where … she’d been trying to make a wager with Apparitor … “What happened? Did I drink too much?”