could hear it, and all knew that he knew. I expected, then, that he would at least give me a
hearing.
I waited outside the militia barracks all day, hiding from the twin suns in a hollow with
my cloak above me. The Sisters were coming up when I was granted a hearing, as a pock faced
sergeant silently nudged me into Harna’s presence. He sat there in a brown uniform with red
piping and he heard my tale with his eyes staring at a corner of the room away from me. When I
was done, he finally looked at me, with unmeasured contempt. Then he stood, and without a
word, walked over to me. He towered over me, with the pistol unfastened in its holster, as if he
was trying to decide to execute me himself or have the pock-faced sergeant do it.
Finally he said “You are a liar.”
My face went red-hot. I felt fear, but only distantly. I met his eyes. I said “I am a fool. I
should have killed you.”
Like a blade his hand reached out and backhanded me. I nearly lost my footing and went
to the floor, but I summoned my strength. I stood again and met his eyes.
“That will do,” said a voice behind me.
“You see what I am forced to deal with,” said Harna. “These Fedays are swine. But
convey what you see to Lord Senestral, that I may be given permission to deal with them…”
“I will convey all I have seen and heard, Colonel. I do not doubt that Senestral will look
with favor on what you propose. Then again…”
“My loyalty to Lord Senestral…”
“…Is not in question. If it were, I would have come in a different manner. Instead, I came
as a friend, and I leave as one. And the boy comes with me.”