Broad had hoped she might say sorry. Had expected her to at least look guilty. But she shrugged it off like it was nothing. “Guess I thought you’d changed.”

“I like to think so. But I am still me. You needed a nudge in the right direction. I gave you one. Now you are a hero.” Her eyes were very hard. “You could just as easily have ended up the villain.”

He didn’t know what to say to that. Wasn’t as if he could deny it.

“How is your shoulder?” she asked.

He winced as he worked his arm in a circle. “Mending, I reckon.”

“Good. My husband refuses to move any soldiers out of Adua, whether they throttle the life from the city or not. Especially since the… king’s escape.” She took a long breath through her nose, and let it sigh away. “But we cannot simply ignore the rest of the country. It grieves me to say that there are still Breakers out there. They are determined to get in the way of the reconstruction. Determined… to cause trouble.”

Broad blinked at her. “I’m done with trouble,” he whispered. “I promised Liddy. I promised May—”

“Must you? Really? I need you to gather some useful men and go to Valbeck.”

“To Valbeck?”

“Yes.”

“To the Breakers.”

“Yes.” Savine’s eyes grew harder yet. “Break them.”

Broad swallowed. “But… Liddy and May, they just got here.” A pathetic whine of an excuse. Like saying he couldn’t murder anyone today ’cause he had to trim his fingernails.

Zuri checked her watch. “It does not have to be now.” And she gave Savine the hint of a nod.

Savine stood. “Tomorrow will be fine.”

“Tomorrow,” croaked Broad.

“Tomorrow early. I am still me, Gunnar. And you are still you. Go to Valbeck and do what you do. If it helps, you can say I made you go. You can pretend you would be happier here.” She leaned close to murmur. “But we both know you wouldn’t be.”

Zuri made a note in her book, then raised her brows, slipped her pencil behind her ear and followed the Lady Regent from the room.

Broad stood a moment longer, skin prickling with horror. Or was it excitement? Judge had the truth of it all along, maybe. Some men can’t help themselves.

“What did Her Highness want?” asked Liddy, slipping in.

“To send me to Valbeck,” muttered Broad. “She says there’s trouble there.”

Liddy didn’t say anything. Neither did he.

What was there to say?

So Many Changes

Rikke had to admit to feeling a bit unsteady as she shuffled from the ship to the quay. The Circle Sea had thrown a tantrum on the way and she’d spent the first day or two heaving over the side. Now solid ground was making her queasy. But she kept the smile on her face. That’s what being chief’s all about, her father would’ve said. Smiling while you want to puke.

“Jurand!” She ignored his hand and gave him a hug instead. “Still…” She waved a hand at him, trying to find the right words. “Juranding, then?”