Lilla looked from Dakto to Ilandeh, staring at them from the protective circle of Xessa’s arms. Her expression was mingled betrayal and fury. He could see Ilandeh’s thoughts as clearly as if she signed them: Don’t say yes. Please don’t say yes. He stared around the plaza at the warriors scattered across its immensity with their families. The rain was steady and cold and they were all soaked, but few made their way to shelter. Time was slipping on, and at highsun they would form into their Paws and filter down through the city and out, down into the treeline, the jungle, gone.

Lilla still had to say goodbye to his mother and sisters, and yet here he was, dealing with the Xentib again. He swallowed his sigh. A flight of green and red parrots caught his eye, heading from someone’s allotment in the city down to the orchard. He watched them go, breathing in rain and stone and home. Ilandeh’s eyes were like coals on his skin.

‘It is dangerous, Dakto,’ he said eventually. ‘We risk much. We risk everything. Especially with the prohibition against fighting unless there’s no other choice.’

Toxte signed his response for Xessa and she tightened her arms on Ilandeh as the woman sagged. She was too shocked to cry.

‘I understand, Fang. This is … this has begun to feel like home, and we haven’t had that in a very long time.’ Dakto’s voice was low, but Ilandeh heard him anyway.

‘Then stay,’ she begged, on her knees in the rain now. Ossa licked her neck; she shoved him away. ‘Stay, Dakto. Please. I have no one else.’

‘You have Xessa and me,’ Toxte said immediately, signing the words. Xessa nodded.

Dakto crossed back to her and pulled her to her feet. ‘This is home,’ he repeated. ‘And I have the skills to defend it. I have to do that. Let me do that. Let me fight in Yalotlan, for our gods. Our future.’

‘We need all the help we can get, Ilandeh,’ Lilla said softly.

Ilandeh’s face crumpled. Dakto wouldn’t stay for her; he’d made that clear. Maybe if a Toko made the decision for them, it would be easier to live with.

‘Take him and go, and Malel watch over you both,’ Xessa signed, maybe coming to the same conclusion. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too, crazy eja,’ Lilla signed. He wanted to tell her that Tayan would be back soon with news of the peace-weaving, but he feared the words might conjure his husband’s ghost. That perhaps a ghost was all that was left to them. ‘Come on then, Dakto,’ he said and Ilandeh finally began to cry.

Lilla looked to Toxte. ‘Look after her,’ he signed again and this time Xessa had to press her lips hard together against the storm of emotion.