“The Keru are not perfect, Keles. Strong in war, weak in love. Had she thought about it, she would have done the right thing. She never had the chance to. You can’t hold that against her.”

“No, you’re right, I can’t.” Keles reached out and brushed a tear from her cheek. “I’ve been selfish, mourning my loss and wallowing in pity.”

He laughed for a second. “I was thinking…Well, I was thinking all sorts of stupid things.”

“Like what?”

“That the four women in my life who loved me-or pretended to at least-all have died in the last year. Majiata, Nirati, my mother, and Tyressa. And not just died, but died horribly. Who would be stupid enough to come near me, now? I’ve lost everyone who loved me. I’ll forever be alone.”

“Keles, I…”

He pressed a finger to her lips. She looked down, but he raised her face again. “No, Princess, no need for the charade. You’ve seen me as a means to an end, and I understand that. I accept it-applaud it, even. I know Tyressa thought you loved me and thought I should fall in love with you instead of her. It’s enough that I see how pitiful I am for myself. I don’t need your pity, too.”

She refused to meet his stare. “It’s not pity, Keles. You have no idea how much I admire you and what you have done.”

“I’ve done nothing worthy of admiration, Princess.”

“How can you say that? I was at Tsatol Pelyn. I was there when you enabled us to cross the rift. I’ve benefited from the tzaden plants that grew to help you.”

“None of that means anything, Highness.” Keles stood and looked south. Low clouds and smoke darkened the landscape. Lights burned in the windows of Quunkun. Gyanrigot lights in Qiro’s workshop created a blue halo around the top of Anturasikun. Through the smoke, the huge, hulking metal warriors strode along the River Road. Above them, bare smudges in the distance, resisters’ bodies hung from crosses.

“Nothing I did stopped Nelesquin, or made the world safer. Your husband died trying to stop Nelesquin. Because of him, your aunt is dead. My mother is dead. Half the city is gone. You should save your pity for someone worthy of it.”

Jasai caught his right hand and brought it to her lips. “Those I pity, Keles Anturasi, are the people who never do anything. They never act, they just wish to have acted. You will always be one who acts. My respect and admiration for you will never end.”

“Respect and admiration. Thank you. Do not tell me you love me.”

“You still believe you are unworthy of love?”

“It is best if I am, Highness. I kill those who love me.” Keles frowned. “You know they say I am jaecaixingna. Everyone fears me. Everywhere I look I see circular amulets.”

“They do that because they fear the vanyesh.”

“They fear me more.” He slowly shook his head. “Or they will.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You said I act. I only do that because your aunt showed me how. Before her, I was an observer. But now, you’re right. I have to stop this nonsense. If I don’t, love won’t matter. There won’t be anyone left alive to love.”

Ciras Dejote huddled under a cloak, less to ward himself from the cold than to conceal the stump. He wouldn’t even put it through a sleeve. He just hid it inside his robe.

It struck him as curious that what he noticed more than not having a right hand or forearm was the lack of weight at his left hip. He no longer wore a sword. What is the purpose?

It really didn’t matter that his left hand was still healing from the arrow. He certainly had been trained to use a sword in his off hand. One couldn’t reach a level of mastery without that, and though he did not fight with two swords, he could certainly defend himself. But the ability to use a sword did not bring with it the will to use one, and it was that will which had abandoned him.

No, not abandoned. I left it behind.

He peered south across the Gold River’s sluggish breadth, where crucified soldiers moaned on their crosses. They’d continued fighting even though they’d been hideously wounded. Such was Nelesquin’s idea of justice that one soldier who had lost a leg had it nailed knee and ankle to the crossbeams along with his body.

Smoke and clouds swirled. Archers lurked on both sides of the river, occasionally taking shots. They couldn’t hit anything. Even with a tailing wind, the arrows fell short of either shore. But as futile as the task was, the archers had to try occasionally, relieving tension and venting fear.

Ciras would never have done that. Engaging in a futile act revealed weakness. If a warrior perceived himself as weak, he would die.

A tugging at his cloak brought Ciras around. “Yes, boy, what do you want?”

The young boy wore a white robe with a red bear crest. The long sword tucked into his red sash almost scraped on the ground after him. His left arm, wrapped though it was in leather and ring mail, clearly was withered.

“I wish to know why my master sent me to watch you.”

“Your master?”

“Moraven Tolo, though some call him Virisken Soshir.”

“I don’t know why he sent you.”

The boy shrugged. “I was watching him. He asked why and I said I was studying to be a hero. He told me I should study a real hero. That’s when he sent me to find you.”

Ciras sagged against the river wall. “I am afraid your master has made a big mistake.”

“He doesn’t make mistakes.” The boy shook his head adamantly. “If he says you’re a hero, then you’re a hero.”

“No.” Ciras threw the cloak back, revealing his half arm nestled against his chest. “I’m a broken man.”

The boy shrugged again. “Well, I only have one good arm, too. But I’m going to be a hero.”

“Are you?”

“I’m already on my way. I’ve killed some vhangxi. Couple of men, too.” The boy jumped up to peer over the wall. “Haven’t killed any kwajiin yet, but I’m going to. Maybe one of the vanyesh, too. You think I should?”

Ciras squatted down. “If you think killing is all that makes one a hero, you have not studied your master enough.”

“Oh, I know. He says that, too.” The boy smiled. “But he’s awfully good at killing.”

“Sometimes it is more important to know when not to kill.”

The boy nodded. “Is that why you’re not wearing your swords? It’s not time to destroy anything?”

“No, boy, it is because I have been destroyed.”

“Oh.” The boy frowned. “Does that mean you’re going to leave the city with the old people and the kids and the sick ones?”

“I hadn’t thought to.”

The boy nodded solemnly. “All right. Well, if you need help, like if the kwajiin are chasing you or something, you let me know. My name is Dunos. That’s my only name, but when I’m a hero I’ll ask the Empress to give me another one. It’ll be good.”

“I’m sure it will.” Ciras patted the boy on the shoulder. “Please give your master my best regards.”

“All right. Take care of yourself.” Dunos nodded once, then smiled and ran off. “Bye.”

Ciras watched him go, distantly remembering a dream in Voraxan where a nephew had similarly run off. He almost reversed his decision and sought a horse-a real horse, not some mechanical mount. He could ride to the coast and get a ship to Tirat. He could join his family and spend time with them.

And then die in front of them when Nelesquin comes for Tirat.

“Master Dejote, I’m glad I found you.”

Ciras stood, pulling the cloak around himself. “Master Gryst, good to see you again.”

“And you, Ciras.” Borosan frowned. “I was wondering if I could ask your help in something.”

One of the gyanrigot foot soldiers had accompanied the inventor, and the silence with which it moved had not betrayed its approach. It had taken on even more of the shape of a man, with decorated armor plates covering gears and hiding command-slates. The thing even wore a battle mask-far too slender ever to hide a real face, but impressive and haunting despite that.