“Certainly I’m trying to prevent the war, but I only have a couple eggs in that basket. And, happily, trying to prevent the war and working to make peace after the war require many of the same actions. Wars drag on when no one is trying to end them. I won’t let that happen. This war, when it comes, will have a well-organized peace movement from the beginning, which will end it on the best terms possible. Will you help me?”

“Toward peace? You’re asking Achilles to help the world toward peace?” A chuckle died in his throat. “If you have specific peace tasks only I can do, I’ll do them, gladly. After life itself, peace is the greatest gift a mortal man can enjoy, we know that well.” Achilles paused to frown at frail Patroclus. “But I won’t set aside war business for peace business. You know more about peace than I do—your whole world is peace. My task is to do what only I can do: teach the other rulers how to turn their angry people into soldiers.”

Chair Kosala sighed. “I need you to teach me that too.”

“Teach the Cousins? No,” the headstrong runner answered quickly. “When the war comes you need to stay out of it.”

“Stay out of it?” Kosala repeated, cold as I imagine Amazons would be. “You think we’re not capable of fighting? I mean to pursue peace by any and every means I can.”

“Don’t take offense. Of course you’re capable, but you’re also more capable of not fighting than anyone.”

She frowned. “What?”

“I didn’t phrase that well. What I mean is that none of the other major Hives can stay neutral in this. Utopia and Gordian might manage to keep out of things, but they’re tiny, and they’re not powers anyone would run to for sanctuary. You are. Of all the great Hives, the Cousins have the greatest capacity to avoid being drawn into battle. If you remain neutral, then there will be a corner of this world that’s separate, inviolable, safe. There will be someone who can negotiate with all sides—what priests and women used to be in wartime. That’s the road toward peace that only you can take. It’s a valuable thing.”

I know the little wince Kosala makes that signals almost tears. “I don’t know if neutrality is still possible,” she answered. “The Cousins are angry right now, more angry than we’ve ever been. We’re splitting on the inside. We’ve been manipulated, lied to, betrayed, had loved ones murdered, our own most precious institutions violated by people we trusted.” She would not say ‘Vivien’ or ‘CFB,’ but the wetness in her eyes said both. “That has reopened even older wounds.”

“Nurturism?” Achilles guessed.

Kosala nodded. “Lorelei Cook and their faction are gaining influence every day. Yesterday’s board meeting degenerated into screaming. Three of our Romanovan Senators are openly calling for a set-set ban.”