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coming for me? And you didn’t bother to tell me?”
    Finally, Mary turns and faces me, silencing Hank with an upturned palm. “This was my doing, Phee. I made the decision. If we’d have told you, you would have—”
    I close the distance between us, almost shouting. “I would’ve what, exactly?! You think I can’t handle—”
    â€œI think you’re not yourself!” Her eyes flash hot and her jaw’s set. “I think you’re shaken up. The ambush wounded you much more than you’re willing to admit, and I think that if we’d have told you the Cyanese were staging a hearing, for all we know, you would’ve run off and gotten yourself . . .”
    She trails off, studying me. My jaw is clenched too, just hard enough to keep me glassy-eyed but tearless. I was so scorched at the council. At all their backbiting and indecision. But this is so much worse. Somehow, Mary is the bigger betrayal.
    She knew. She kept this from me because . . .
    â€œYou think . . .” I can’t say the rest out loud.
    You think I’m fragile.
    â€œI think you’re human,” she answers.
    The infirmary doors fly open.

    It’s Bear, bursting in like a thunderclap.
    â€œCaptain’s looking for you.” Panting, he looks at Hank. “They’re leaving. Tonight. Packing up all their gear and preparing for launch.”
    â€œWho’s leaving?” Hal asks.
    â€œThe Cyanese. Two of their three vacs are ready for takeoff. I heard them give Nandan their heading. They’re going back to Raupang, their capital.”
    The third vac. They must be leaving the last escort for me.
    â€œI have to go,” I blurt, moving toward the doors. “Hank, we don’t have much time. How long do you think you can stall them?”
    Bear stands in my way. “Stall who? What are you talking about?”
    I read the change in him, even as he asks. His eyes, his body language, the mixture of confusion and fear on his face—he’s already shifted into defense mode.
    For a second, in my mind, I spin it all out. Hank will do his best, but they won’t cut me loose or leave things to chance. They’ll take me by force. The Larssens will fight it, and Bear . . . if he doesn’t fall, he’ll follow, another prisoner. The Cyanese officer will send us on our way, back to Castra, back to Benroyal. There will be no apartment in the Spire for us now. No custom rig to parade around the track. No, I’m certain King Charlie’s prepared another prison for me. If he lets me live at all.
    I can leave now. Alone, for the Larssens’ sake. They can stay, protected in the Strand, even if I can’t. Better to take my chances with Grace Yamada’s daughter than be taken alive at Parabba’s word.
    â€œThere was a hearing,” I finally answer.
    â€œA hearing?” Bear’s still taken aback.
    He didn’t know. A hot-needle flood of relief rushes through me. No betrayal in him, as if there ever could be. I nod. “They questioned me, and argued. They’re divided about the rebellion and whether they should support it any longer. Well, mostly, they seem divided about me. I think they’re going to extradite me back to Castra.”
    Bear shakes his head. “No. I mean, are you sure? I just spoke with Captain Nandan. The Skal’s going to send real support, more troops and supplies than before. Two battalions here by next week, and I heard more are on the move. They’ll be on the border, just west of the Strand, at the ready, in case things escalate too quickly.”
    â€œThat can’t be,” Hank says, but he’s already pulling on his headset. “Shield One, this is Broadsword, come in?” He wanders off, and for the longest moment, we’re frozen as he checks in with headquarters.
    â€œSay again?” he says. He listens, then finally answers,