'Ah, I see.'
'I want to know what happened. You understand that? I need to know.'
Masan Gilani nodded.
'I can see how it is,' Shard went on, looking away and rubbing at his face. 'We all cope in our own ways…'
'But you're her brother,' she said, still nodding. 'And you've been following her around. To make sure nobody does anything with her they shouldn't do.'
His sigh was heavy. 'Thanks, Masan Gilani. I wasn't really worried about you-'
'I doubt you'd need worry about any of us,' she replied. 'Not the squads here.'
'You know,' he said, and she saw tears trickle down his cheeks, 'that' s what's surprised me. Here, with these people – all of us, who came out from under the city – they've all said the same thing as you just did.'
'Shard,' she said gently, 'you still Ashok Regiment? You and the rest?'
He shook his head. 'No. We're Bonehunters now.'
That's good. 'I got some extra thread,' she noted. 'Might be I could borrow your cloaks… on a warm day…'
'You've got a good hand, Masan Gilani. I'll tell the others, if that's okay.'
'It is. Not much else for us to do now anyway, on these bloated hippos.'
'Still, I appreciate it. I mean, everything, that is.'
'Go get some sleep, Corporal. From your sister's breathing, that's what she's doing right now.'
Nodding, he moved away.
And if some soldier who doesn't get it tries to take advantage of this broken thing, all forty-odd of us will skin him or her alive. Add one more. Faradan Sort.
Four children scrambled across the deck, one squealing with laughter.
Tucked in Masan Gilani's arms, Sinn stirred slightly, then settled in once more, her mouth planted firm on the woman's nipple. The Dal Honese woman stared after the children, pleased to see that they'd recovered from the march, that they'd begun their own healing. We all cope in our own ways, aye.
So who was Sinn seeing, when she said that they were all dead?
Gods below, I don't think I want to know. Not tonight, anyway. Let her sleep. Let those others play, then curl up beneath blankets somewhere below. Let us all sleep to this beast's swaying. Quick Ben's gift to us, all of this.
****
Brother and sister stood at the prow, wrapped against the chill, and watched as stars filled the darkness of the north sky. Creaking cordage, the strain of sails canted over as the ship made yet another tack. Westward, a ridge of mountains blacker than the heavens marked the Olphara Peninsula.