Over the years, Thael’s cadre was replaced with other members, death seeming to mark every one save for him and Verena. She was the same as Thael. They were no killers. They were survivors. Ever since the night that would never be spoken of again there was an understanding. Many times on the field they would watch each other’s backs over the other Wraiths in their cadre.

None had questioned the circumstances of that night, though none in the Order would ever speak to Verena again, nor even look upon her, not while Thael watched at least.

One night Thael woke to the familiar squeaking of the cot below. He looked down to see a man gasping, hips moving with Verena’s own as her tanned legs splayed open before him, hands clawed over his back. Her eyes glinted silver as the moon shone through the window, staring back at Thael. He met her gaze. The man heaved out a moan, legs quivering, his head resting on Verena’s shoulder. She had not made a sound. Her eyes still stared back at Thael, unwavering in their unblinking intensity. He turned away and closed his own eyes.

***

Thael knocked on the door, three raps followed by a pause ending with a fourth knock. It swung open to reveal a boy, his slight frame typical for his age of four years. His mother stood behind him, weariness etched upon her face.

“Maojei!” Hiro squealed, his arms around Thael’s legs.

Kuhien fixed a smile. “Yes,” she murmured in Haolo. “Father indeed.”

“I told you not to speak Haolo,” Thael said in Cadish to Kuhien. He looked upon Hiro’s abashed face, who now looked down.

“Do you know the Empire’s tongue, Hiro?” Thael asked once more in Cadish.

The boy nodded, still staring downward.

“Look at me,” Thael instructed. Hiro raised his chin to gaze up at him. “You speak in Cadish outside this house.”

The boy nodded again in solemn agreement. Thael knelt to one knee and tousled his black hair. He reached behind him to produce a wooden sword that had been lashed to his belt. Kuhien drew a shaking breath.

Hiro smiled with glee, “Thank you, Pa!” This time he did speak in Cadish.

Thael nodded with approval, gifting the training sword in his grasp. The boy, his son, dragged the wooden sword with both hands.

“One day you will be able to wield it with one arm, Hiro.”

Kuhien knelt to the boy and spoke in soft Haolo. “Hiro, go play outside.”

Their son took his chance for escape, lugging the bulky sword that emphasized his frail arms. Kuhien closed the door, calling out, “And come back before supper!

“You fucking bastard,” she hissed, turning to Thael. “I know what you’re doing. He isn’t you, Thael. He will never do what you do.”

“The world may not give him a choice, ’hien,” Thael said grimly. “He has something to do now besides hiding under the skirts of his mother. Let him play outside with the other boys.”

“Don't think to lecture me on how to raise Hiro!” she snapped. “I wait for you like a whipped dog, never able to escape this prison. Do you know how they treat Hiro? He can be a sylvan for all they care, that is how they treat us.”

“You can’t protect him from this world!” Thael roared. Her face stiffened. He continued. “So what if they curse him? If they think to hit Hiro? He must learn the nature of our world. He must fight back. He must endure.”

“Just as you have endured?” Kuhien retorted.

“Yes. Just as I have.”

“How fares the invasion?” She crossed her arms, chin jutting. “Do you enjoy killing your own countrymen? The villagers despise us even more now. No one will even speak to me here.”

Thael sighed. “They will not think to touch you. They know who you are.”

Kuhien sneered, “A bastard’s whore then?”

Thael stepped towards her, Kuhien taking a step back.

“You are mine,” he said, his words soft, fingers brushing her cheek. “Just as I am yours. If people will think to call you a whore, let me know who they are, and they will never think to name you so again.”

Kuhien slapped away his hand. “The only reason they tolerate us is because of you. Even that is not enough now. I told you what we should have done all those years ago. We should have left this place with Hiro."

Thael shook his head. "It's a fool's dream. A hope that would only have us killed. They would track us down within the first day."

"Who would, Thael? Who would take us?" Her eyes searched for answers within his own. She scoffed. "You are a part of what keeps us here. You don't wish to escape this place. You never did."

“It is safe for you here,” Thael gritted his teeth. “There are things I cannot tell you.” His mouth tightened into a seething line. “I fight for you and Hiro. For us. If you knew the things that people have done to Haolans in the cities… you’re safe here, Kuhien. I will make this so.”

“Tell me what you do,” Kuhien gripped his shoulders, then cupped his face with both hands. “Tell me what you’ve seen. Let me know your pain, what you do not say. Speak to me, Thael. Don’t make us alone in this world.”

Thael stared back at her bright tearful eyes. “I do what I must, so we can all endure.”

Kuhien turned away, her words flat. “Go and watch over Hiro. See to it that he is safe.”

Thael nodded curtly, walking out the door, her quiet weeping still echoing in his mind after he closed it.