“As long as my daughter—who’s somehow endured this hope all her life—still supports the Mira Treaty, then so do I. So do Damyan and Darina.”

My heart was an endless knot of shock and joy and love and anguish, and it rushed against my chest so hard I thought I might burst. How long had she felt this way? Why hadn’t she ever talked to me like that? I’d always thought I wasn’t good enough for her.

From his position along the wall, Aaru offered a faint, fleeting smile.

As Mother returned to her seat, several of the matriarchs reached toward her, taking her hands or brushing fingertips in reassurance. I couldn’t hear their whispered words from here, but as Eka Delro stood to take her turn, she grasped Mother’s shoulder and smiled kindly.

Eka was the First Matriarch of Harta, tall and regal, with warm brown skin and gentle eyes. I’d always liked her—at least until I’d seen her introducing Tirta as the Hopebearer.

She moved to the front of the room and drew a deep breath. “Before I was the First Matriarch, I was a farm worker on Idris. I went from field to field, using my muted god gift on another island’s crops. I went voluntarily, because working for the Idrisi government paid better than working at home, and because I could not bear the thought of either of my young sisters going. I sent back every chip I earned, save what I needed to keep myself sheltered and fed.

“The day the Mira Treaty was signed, I almost didn’t go home. I almost stayed to continue working on the island where I’d lived most of my life. But I returned, because I knew my people would need everyone willing to help make the transition from an occupied territory to an independent nation. I brought back the wisdom I had gained from my time on Idris, the good and the bad, and though I was surprised to be elected one of Harta’s matriarchs, I have embraced this new duty to help my people grow.

“Hartan freedom was a long, difficult journey, but it taught me the most important lesson of my life: equality elevates us all.

“I support the Mira Treaty,” she finished, “as do all the matriarchs of Harta, and all the people of Harta. We will not give up our independence. And finally, I find it not just irregular, but alarming, that we are having this discussion at all, without proposing anything to replace the treaty.”

Murmurs bubbled around the room as people nodded. She had good points, and while everyone knew her story, it was still compelling.

Dara Soun went next, speaking in support of the Mira Treaty like the others, but her words about embracing equality rang hollow because she—and the rest of the Twilight Senate—had pushed to send Hartans away from Bopha. If anyone here was angered by her hypocrisy, however, they didn’t show it.

Then it was the Warrior Tribunal, and while the three were the same rank, they’d chosen one to speak on behalf of all. His speech went much like the others, but he said nothing about how they disregarded the Mira Treaty’s requirement to disband the Drakon Warriors. Nor did he speak of their rogue warrior, who’d launched an attack on the Luminary Council.