“You understand that it involves going over the span to the platform? You know that it’s narrow and there’s no way to protect you from the winds?” she questioned.

The head dipped to one shoulder in another sinuous shrug.

“Why are you doing this?” the Paxian asked, her tone edged with wonder, glancing between the two of them.

The Sessile never took his eyes from Niko. “Because she is on a Spiral of Destiny and this is needed.”

Niko said, bewildered, “Spiral of Destiny?” She stared at the priest. He was traveling with the Spisoli—was this some trick on their part? But they had every reason to want the treaty to succeed. Had they known they had someone speaking the language aboard their ship? But the oracle protocols determining the factors of the ritual were unhackable, and their ship would have set out before it was determined.

“You do not need to understand it to walk it,” the Sessile said confidently. He pulled his hood back in place. “I will be where needed in the morning.”

He turned and walked away. Niko stared after him. Then she looked at the Paxian. “Did that just really happen?”

“Did all your hopes just stroll up and announce themselves manifest?” the woman said wryly. “It would seem so. Impressive, Commander, to get that out of a total stranger.”

Niko rubbed her chin. She had to get back and tell Dabry what had happened. She said. “I beg your pardon, but I must go.”

“Did you have a question you wanted to ask?”

“Ah, that. I was going to ask how you thought I might avoid having my commanders roll through two other entities, conquering and subjugating them. But that seems to have been answered—assuming that the Sessile does as he says, and possesses the skill he claims.”

“They’re not a race known for practical jokes.” The other woman’s eyes were narrowed in thought. “But neither are those leading the Holy Hive Mind known for thwarting their orders.”

“I’ve been told that we are to seek peace,” Niko said.

“You stress what you have been told as though you doubt it.”

“I stress what I have been told because it is the honorable course, no matter what I might think I am truly intended to do.”

“An impressive commander indeed.” The Paxian nodded, then saluted. The bluestone charm around her neck glinted in the doubled moonlight. “Go in peace with clear stars, Admiral.”

PRESENT DAY

In theory, the staff of the Last Chance should not have known who Lolola Montaigne d’Arcy deBurgh was. But in the restaurant business, these things spread, and at some point, the bestowers of the Nikkelin Orb had decided to avoid trying for subterfuge at all. Now their critics traveled, and restaurant owners tracked that travel, and for the first time in a century, one was coming to TwiceFar.