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“Yes.”

I take a breath that hurts.

“Then I’ll come.”

Ziku is in the message room, counting empty envelopes.

He puts them down when he sees me.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “You asked. I should have given you the right answer.”

“What is the right answer?”

“I’m staying for the hearing. After that, I’m still deciding. I haven’t accepted the job or refused it.”

He repeats the sentence once, without improving it.

“Who heard the first message?” I ask.

“Daurek and Reivaka. No one else.”

Some of the tightness leaves my shoulders. At least I haven’t made the whole household celebrate something I haven’t done.

“I’ll tell Reivaka myself.”

“She’s in the western rooms, getting them ready for Edrin.”

I go there and give her the same answer. She nods, then asks me to hold a blanket while she checks the seam. I could almost kiss her for it.

Edrin arrives before supper with two council witnesses and the woman who will escort me if I leave. Reivaka introduces them in the courtyard. I tell the escort I would like to walk to the western boundary after the release, and may want to travel farther.

She asks whether I have a destination in mind.

“Not yet.”

“All right. We can discuss it tomorrow.”

She takes her bag upstairs. No one looks injured by my answer.

At dinner I sit beside Daurek. We talk about the rain, the bridge, the council party’s journey. I tell him Surevai knew the story of Hadrin and still wanted me to meet the factor.

Daurek listens. He asks what the job would involve.

Later, at my door, I take his hand.

“Will you wait while I put these inside?” I ask, lifting Karev’s note and the small list Edrin gave me of what to bring tomorrow.

“Yes.”

I leave the papers on the ledge and come back. Daurek bends when I reach for him. His kiss is brief. I keep my hand in his for a moment afterward.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” I say.

He touches my cheek and goes.

Inside, I put the marriage papers, the bank receipts and Asha’s letter into my bag. The dresses are already folded beneath them, including the grey one I collected yesterday with its pocket mended. I leave out what I’ll wear tomorrow and set the bag beside the door.

Tomorrow ends the marriage. It was never the bond his people make in the deep wood; nobody has offered me that, and I haven’t asked.