“I wasn’t expecting you,” Jack said over his shoulder. He strode through the living room, almost too quickly for me to keep up.

“I know,” Nico replied. We passed a wide hearth, surrounded by fine leather furniture, and windows covered with thick drapes. The lighting was dim, giving the house a rich, homely feeling.

“You redecorated,” Nico observed.

Jack’s shoulders seemed to tense. “Not me… my wife.”

“Your wife?”

Jack’s voice sank to a whisper, but he still didn’t stop walking. “I know, I should’ve said something, after all the resistance has done for me. It’s just-”

Nico held up a hand. “I understand. How much does she know?”

“Nothing.”

Nico sighed. “That makes this… difficult.”

“I’ll explain it to her tonight, and she will make her own choice,” Jack said gruffly.

Something in Nico’s expression shifted. “Can she be trusted?”

“I think so. But I will make sure that you are protected.” He glanced at me with a hint of a question in his eyes, then started up a set of narrow stairs. “How long will you be staying?”

“We’ll be out tomorrow, ideally. I’ll need a vehicle.”

Jack nodded, and I detected a hint of relief. “I’ll take care of it. Follow me, you can stay in the guest bedroom.” He led us upstairs and gestured at a wooden door. “Here we are. I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

As soon as the door closed behind Jack, Nico tossed his pack onto the bed and scowled. “What is it?” I asked hesitantly.

Nico shook his head. “A loose end. We’ll need to leave Trilow sooner than I’d hoped.” He crossed the room, sat on the edge of an easy chair, and began to untie his boots.

“Take the bed. I’m going to shower and think about our next move.” I nodded, settling down onto the mattress and leaning against the headboard. Nico disappeared into the hallway, and a wave of relief passed through me at being alone again. My fingers drummed on the sheets nervously, and I thought back to Nico’s expression upon learning that Jack had married while he was away. So he can be caught unawares, after all.

Above me, the fan clicked steadily. My limbs felt heavy, and I realized I hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours. For a moment, sleep danced around me, but I couldn’t grasp it―the bed was too soft and the temperature too warm. I replayed the previous day in my head, from the bombing to arriving at Jack’s house.

Then, all at once, I fell into a deep sleep.

***

“And you didn’t think… until NOW?” I blinked blearily, propping myself up on my elbows. Downstairs, a woman was shouting, and she seemed angry enough to kill.

Jack’s low voice tried to pacify her, but she yelled over him. “You FOOL! We have a baby on the way!”

I glanced around the room. Nico was leaning against the doorframe, silently listening with his arms folded over his chest. “They’ve been at it for an hour,” he informed me. “Eat if you want.” He gestured at a plate of bread slices and dried fruit sitting on the chair.

My stomach grumbled, and I retrieved the plate. A few more minutes passed as Nico and I listened, and then the front door slammed with enough force to shake the entire house.

Nico glanced at me and held up a hand, telling me not to follow him. He smoothed back his hair and headed downstairs, addressing Jack. “Where has she gone?”

“Her mother’s,” Jack replied, sounding utterly defeated. I stepped out onto the landing to hear more clearly.

“And will she report us?”

“No. Not now, anyway.” He took a deep breath. “Do you want a beer?”

“Sure, let’s talk. It’s been a while.”

There was the sound of a cabinet opening and then chairs scraping on the ground. “How have you been, Captain?” Jack asked. My eyes widened at the title, and I moved closer to the banister so that I could see the two men.

“The same.” Nico took a long drag on the beer. “Congratulations on the baby.”

“Thanks. Let’s hope Hannah comes around.”

The men seemed to relax as time passed, and soon the conversation turned to the war and the breakthrough in the Battle of the Ponsor Plains. They spoke in detail about the yards gained in the battle and weapons each side was using. When Jack brought up the bombing in Karakul, Nico leaned forward and lowered his voice. I couldn’t make out every word, but I gleaned that he was telling Jack about Keon’s involvement in the scheme.

Jack leaned back in his seat. “Hmm. Well, that’s not much of a surprise. Do the folks at HQ know?”

Nico glanced back at the stairwell, and I shrank away from the banister. “I have… other news that must be delivered personally.”

“Something big?”

Nico gripped Jack’s arm. “Very big. It’s no secret–soon, I hope all of Amberasta will know. But we must be very careful about how we present it.”

Once again, he lowered his voice. I caught the words “Keon” and “Blood Dove.” It seemed that Nico was telling Jack of our suspicion that Keon had framed Solokia for the theft. He must trust Jack greatly, I thought, or he wouldn’t tell him half this much. I wonder how they know each other. I titled my head as something else occurred to me. Maybe it’s not just trust. He may be telling Jack this as repayment for us staying here, and to draw him back into the resistance. After all, who could earn that Keon fabricated the theft and not take our side?

I rested my head on my knees. Nico might be strong and agile, but he is a strategist at heart. It would do me good to watch him closely.

The men continued to talk, but their voices were too low for me to understand. Eventually, I had to retreat back into the bedroom and gather my things, preparing for a much-needed shower.

***

When I awoke again, the bedroom window was dark, and Nico was slumped in the easy chair with his long legs splayed out. A revolver lay on the arm of the chair, only a few inches out of reach. I had no doubt that he would not hesitate to use it at a moment’s notice.

It was strange to be awake while Nico slept, and I almost doubted that he was actually asleep. He was so aware, so alert, that it almost seemed impossible that he needed rest. Still, his breaths were deep and steady, and his eyes were firmly closed.

The light of the moon shined through the window, catching a scar underneath his left eye. It was silvery, and shaped like a fishhook. I stared at it for a moment as my head crowded with questions. Two took precedence: what is Nico’s role within the resistance? And the HQ Jack mentioned… where is Amberasta’s resistance hiding? I mulled it over, but nothing came to mind. As far as I knew, Keon’s influence reached even the furthest corners of Amberasta.

I closed my eyes, picturing Nico’s map. It had showed lands behind Amberasta, so vast that they stretched to the southern sea. In school, we had learned that the lands outside of Solokia and Amberasta were uninhabitable, but suddenly I found myself questioning that narrative–indeed, we were traveling south, and it was possible we would breach the border.

I felt a hunger well within me, one that I hadn’t experienced for years. I wanted to know what lay past the mountains, and if there were still places where Keon’s iron fist couldn’t reach.

***

Nico was in and out all morning, talking with Jack and making preparations. When I asked to help, he brushed me off and told me to rest up for our journey. Although it irked me, I did as he said, rewrapping my wounds and washing my old clothes in the sink.

When he returned for the last time, he greeted me with a “good morning” and tossed an apple my way. I bit into it, the juice dripping down my chin, and looked at him quizzically. He was bright-eyed, and the five o’clock shadow had disappeared from his jawline. He’d also changed into dark jeans and long sleeves, with the hood still fitted over his head.

“Can you be ready to leave in ten minutes?” he asked.

“I’m ready now.”

“Even better. Let’s go.”

We left through the back door into a narrow alleyway between the houses. To my surprise, Jack awaited us, with one hand resting on a large black motorcycle. “This is our ride?” Nico asked, and I thought I detected an edge of apprehensiveness in his voice. When Jack nodded, he tossed one leg over the seat and settled onto the bike, getting a feel for it.

I appraised it silently. Between the torn-up seats and rusted hardware, it had seen better days. As Nico walked it a couple feet, the left mirror sagged and then clattered to the ground. Nico watched it, his frown deepening. That’s a death trap, I thought worriedly. If Nico agreed, he didn’t express it.

“It’s the best I could do,” Jack said. “No helmets. It may look a little… rough around the edges, but it’s not going to catch fire anytime soon.”

I grimaced but pushed my backpack into the saddlebags and approached the bike. I mounted carefully, breathing sharply as my ribs stung. I scooted uncomfortably close to Nico, knowing that I’d be thrown if I didn’t hold on.

“Have you ridden a motorcycle before?” I asked in his ear.

He made a noncommittal noise. “Just lean into me when I turn, alright?”

Jack glanced around nervously. “People will start leaving for work soon.”

Nico nodded, firing the engine, and the bike coughed into action. I wrapped my arms around his stomach and leaned into him. Before he kicked up the stand, he turned, looking deeply at Jack. “Thank you,” he said. “And good luck with Hannah.”

“Godspeed,” Jack replied, “may we meet again in better times.”