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her to tell him why she had to leave, and knew just as surely that the less she told him, the better. That won’t be difficult—I don’t know much . “Ná Feyó has told Tsecha very little—she doesn’t trust the security of the Haárin communications linkages. All he can determine is that she’s enmeshed in some sort of power struggle. An Haárin version of a bornsect fallout. He can help her by throwing his support her way—most Haárin still consider him their religious dominant even though he’s no longer Chief Propitiator of the ruling bornsect. The ideal solution would be for him to visit the Elyan enclave himself, but he’s afraid to leave Earth. He thinks he’ll draw unwelcome attention down on Feyó. He also thinks that once he’s left Earth, Oligarch Cèel won’t allow him to return.”
    â€œSo he’s sending you as his emissary?” Lucien eyed her skeptically. “I’ve watched you train in bladework with Dathim. He’s told me enough about your religious instruction to know that it will take years to learn all you need to. You’ve only been at this a few months.”
    â€œI know.” Jani shifted in her seat. She nursed her own bruises thanks to Dathim’s enthusiastic teaching. A sword in his hand worked like a metal-plated fist. “But I didn’t come into this wholly unprepared, and I’ve helped the Elyan Haárin before. If Tsecha tells them, through me, to support Feyó, they will.”
    â€œIs she that important?”
    â€œTo him, she is.” Jani fielded Lucien’s smirk. “It’s not just that he esteems her. Feyó’s a radical by any measure, and she has a revolutionary’s personality. She knows how towork idomeni and humanish alike. If she loses her position, there’s no one of her caliber to replace her. Considering how thoroughly Haárin shipping lines and trade routes have integrated with their Commonwealth counterparts, her ouster could destabilize the entire Outer Circle.”
    Lucien lowered his arms and sat up. “If she’s so magnetic, why has she lost influence?”
    â€œThat’s what I have to find out.” Jani once more fought the urge to close her eyes. Like Niall, she knew what she’d see when next she dreamed. Pullman’s raw-boned vitality, reduced to pools of blood in the snow. Wode’s slow fingerings as he maneuvered the biobot over the mine. “I don’t want to leave now, but I don’t have a choice. That’s why I’m asking you to plug yourself into the mine inquiry.”
    Lucien stood, purloined T-shirt in hand. “Someone is going to wonder why I’m interested.” He padded across the carpeted floor and disappeared into the bedroom. “The fact that I’m information-gathering for you isn’t going to fly. I’m not supposed to feed classified data to Haárin intermediaries.”
    Jani listened for the sound of a dresser drawer opening, then closing, the sign that the T-shirt had joined its brethren in their very private display case. “Could you tell people you’re doing a favor for an old Family friend?”
    â€œI’m sure I’ll think of something. I always do.” Lucien stepped into the bedroom doorway. “I found a blue-bordered envelope in my paper mail yesterday. It contained a nice, thick sheaf of documents from the Office of Review, all signed off.” He folded his arms and leaned against the jamb. “Effective last month.”
    Jani smiled, and meant it. “Congratulations, Captain. I know you were starting to feel anxious.”
    â€œI’m not sure how long I’ll stay a captain if I have to keep the home watch. Things have a tendency to spin out of control when you’re involved.”
    â€œI won’t be here.”
    â€œYou’ll be here in spirit. That should prove sufficient toupset the domestic balance