“Gilrox.”
“I’m just saying that I made a good-faith effort to?—”
“I’m glad you didn’t go,” she said. “And you earned your place in our village. You saved Tregen and you used your equipment to restore his health. You were kind to everyone, you helped fix things, and traded with us, and gave our people rides from the Durbok’s trading post.” She looked at Krax suddenly. “Will he be coming back, by the way? He’s our only merchant.”
Krax blinked at her. He and the other mercenaries nearby had been staring at us, transfixed. “Ah, I assume so. Now that the Rivonok are gone.”
“Thank the stars. Hopefully we won’t be dealing with anything like this again.”
“I assure you that won’t happen. This system is now under guild protection. Just that designation will keep would-be invaders away. One more thing,” he said. “From Anlara. She asked me to pass along an invitation. To you, Maive, and to whoever in the village would like to come to her mountain fortress. She’d like to open contact between the two communities. She wants to meet you in person.”
Maive’s expression opened as she smiled. “I would like that very much,” she said. “Please tell her we look forward to it.”
He nodded.
I thought about Aila, who was still in the shuttle. Now that I was certain the guild meant no harm, and the Rivonok forces had been herded up and led away, I touched the control on my wrist and unsealed and opened the hatch. “So whereiseveryone? The villagers.”
Maive looked up at the Deadnight XI battleship. “Up there. All of them. There’s a crew bay that wasn’t being used and they’ve been in it for twelve hours.” She paused. “Last I knew, Celn’s youngest had been attempting to take apart part of the navigation equipment and had to be supervised.”
The thing that had been pulled tight in my chest for the last several hours let go.
All of them. Including Pasek and Braija and old Marvik and the children and the Pesh family, all currently inconveniencing guild personnel on a warship above the clouds.
Aila streaked though the village and into Maive’s arms with a squeal. “Gr’ma! I’m so sorry I hid in the woods. I wanted to help spot the bad people.”
“It’s okay, my little blossom,” Maive crooned, kissing the top of her head. “We’re safe. It’ll be fine.”
“They can come down now,” Maive said. She looked at the square. At the scorched buildings and the foam and the places where the docks had been. Her jaw was set. “We’ll rebuild. We start as soon as everyone’s back.” She turned to Krax. “Thank you. Genuinely. Please tell your guild that they’re welcome in Valrim Village anytime.”
Krax dipped his head. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Whatdoesthis cost me?” I said, still skeptical that this was all free. It cost credits just to fly this big ship here.
“Nothing,” Krax said.
“That’s not how the guild works,” I stated. “Also, I don’t owe debts.”
“I understand that.” He picked up his helmet. “Although. If you’re open to it.” He turned the helmet over in his hands. “There are mercenaries who would benefit from talking to you. Perspective from a retired member who got out and built a life. And if you were willing, when people need to get their heads straight, between assignments, or after. Somewhere to think.” He was barely coherent, but I understood exactly what he was trying to say and what it cost him to ask this. He was asking if I’d allow this place to be an oasis of sorts. “Just somewhere other than another fight.” He winced and looked off to the distance. “It takes a toll, you know.”
“Yes,” I said quietly, as I picked up Aila, who’d held her arms up for me. “It does.”
I looked at Maive, who smiled up at me. “I can do that,” I said.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
The heart is annoyingly accurate
The fish was enormous.
I knew from the tension in the line and the strength of the pull. It worked against me with a patience I respected. I’d been after this particular fish for three weeks and had gotten nothing but smaller catches and stolen bait. Not today.
I worked the line. The sun was barely up, the water still gray-green in the low light, and I had lost track of how long I’d been at it when I finally got the fish near enough to see. This had to be the elusive blue-mouth, long as my arm, colors vivid from the deep.
“Gilrox.” Pasek’s voice sounded, from the deck above. “It’s time to come in and get ready. You cannot be late for this.”
I glanced up at Pasek, who was standing at the railing with his arms folded. My belly was full of nerves and had been since I woke up, which I was not going to mention to anyone.
