“No. Never could be. I want what is here. To make use of this land in ways the Auldek have long forgotten. If this land were ours to do with what we wanted, we would build a paradise like nothing the world has yet seen. Of course we would. Who better than slaves to know the value of free life?”

A nation of orphans, Dariel thought. None of whom can have children. What kind of future is that?

Mór turned her face toward him. “Think of it. We would know how to build a just society. That’s a thing the world has never seen.”

The sun shone warm on her features. Her skin looked so soft. Dariel wanted to run his fingertips across her cheek and down toward her lips, wondering if he would feel the shivith spots if he closed his eyes.

When Mór spoke, it seemed she had taken some portion of his own thoughts and woven them into something different and pressed it back toward him. “Though I set the marks on you myself, I don’t fully recognize the face I made. I’ll have to get used to you slowly, Dariel Akaran. I should tell you that it’s certain the Auldek are marching to attack your nation. I don’t know all the details, but they take an army like none they have mustered in years. They take war beasts and many of the sublime motion. I can’t say how this will change Ushen Brae or how it will change your land. You have helped us, though. Yoen wants to meet you, but I told him that first I would offer you release. If you want to go now and somehow aid your people, I will not stop you.”

He would have jumped at such an offer a fortnight ago. Now, though, he heard it coolly. It wasn’t that he cared any less about the Known World, about his family, or about Wren. But the truth was twofold. On his own, he would never get back home. On his own, he was but one man who would have to shout for anyone to notice him, and the only ones who would notice would be his enemies. On his own, he would be running a fool’s errand—one of the heart, yes, but not informed by the mind. And, too, he felt a different purpose. It had gripped him on the Lothan Aklun vessel and had not left him yet. Perhaps spirits had entered him when his hands held the steering wheel. Something had happened, for he was different, and in being different he felt a step closer to being more completely himself.

He said, “I would like to meet Yoen.”

“You really want to know us?” Mór asked. “Us and these lands?”

Dariel said, “Yes.”

“You know that I have not forgiven you anything. It may be that you are truly to have a role in the People’s future, but that will only be decided over many, many more tests.”