“What?” Corva searches Lyia’s face, not wanting to believe the words she’s just heard. Lyia’s expression is flat, almost calm in an unsettling kind of way. “You can’t be serious.”

“Absolutely serious. We’re no match for the horde. And there’s no way I, or anyone else I care about, is getting conscripted.”

“But, your arm. You just healed it. Why would you do that if you’re just going to kill yourself?”

Lyia checks her arm, apparently only now realizing that her cut is gone. She shrugs. “I’ve been able to use healing soulmancy since I was a child. Self-healing is a bit of a reflex. I actually have to consciously stop myself from doing that most of the time.”

She makes to take the last couple of steps to the floor, but Corva stays in her way, blocking her route down.

“I can’t believe you’re saying this! I can’t believe I let you down here! You’re supposed to be a healer. You’re supposed to make Jack and Zeke better! You want to kill them? Because you’re afraid to fight?”

Lyia stares at Corva before responding, “I’m not afraid to fight. I’m afraid of what will happen when we lose, and we will lose. If you think otherwise, you’re deluding yourself.”

Again she tries to get by, but Corva doesn’t budge.

“We don’t have to fight if we can escape. That’s what Jack and Zeke and I are doing. But we can’t escape with them hurt like they are. Jack can’t heal himself like you can.”

A scowl flickers across Lyia’s face. “He’d be able to if he practiced more. Jack is too young to be on the road on his own, especially with someone as hunted as—” Lyia stops and narrows her eyes at Corva. “You’re the reason the raid is here, aren’t you? You’re the reason Jack is hurt! Why the fuck would I let him go with you? You don’t know what we’ve been through.”

She’s right, of course. Corva drops her hands and hangs her head. Lyia takes that moment to shove by Corva, but Corva grabs Lyia’s arm. “You’ll do it because if anyone knows how to survive the road at that age, it’s me. I’ve done it. And I had to do it because of you. The Shadowfold.”

Lyia flinches at the name.

Corva continues, “That’s right. You. I know where you come from. And unlike Jack, you’re old enough to remember what your people did to countless townships. To my people. Don’t you dare talk to me about what you’ve been through like I couldn’t possibly understand.”

Lyia looks back at her, eyes cold, but tears are collecting around them. “There’s a reason they called what we did ‘mercies.’ You never had to witness a conscription. You never had to see the people you love become lost to the Karui and Umbrati, only to come after you again in a future raid. The Shadowfold gave your people the gift of freedom. If you can’t see that, then no. You don’t understand.”

“So it’s better for you to kill Jack before he even gets a chance to prove you wrong?”

“That’s a risk I’m not willing—why am I even discussing this with you? This isn’t a vote.”

For a moment, they stand there as if stuck in place. Corva can’t believe what she’s hearing come out of this woman. It takes a beat for her to find her words. “No. No, no, no. We don’t need you. We’ll find another way.” She calls out into the space of the basement, “Jack! You here? Your dream girlfriend isn’t helping us. We’ve gotta go.”

There’s the sound of shuffling somewhere on the other side of the boxes hiding the tunnel they came in through. Corva can’t see what’s going on back there, but the change in Lyia’s expression tells the story on its own. The corners of her mouth drop, lips quivering, and her eyes begin to well up.

“Pinny.” Lyia takes a half step forward. “You know it’s the right move.”

Corva can hear Jack behind her. He makes a watery sniff between heavy breaths. His voice shakes. “You’re for-real gonna kill me?”

Lyia drops to a kneel. “You don’t want to be pulled into the horde, Pinny. It’s worse than dying. It’s losing everything. It’s like reliving home every day. Forever.”

Corva turns her body sideways, consciously making herself a smaller target. She turns her head and takes a quick glance at Jack. The kid is messed up. It’s not just his injuries from the fight at the bar. If it’s possible to see what it looks like to have a person’s soul crushed, she imagines it would look just about like Jack does now. He’s almost immaterial. His eyes and nose are red, wet, and puffy. His shoulders appear deflated. Cradling Zeke in his arms, he looks more like a child to her than he ever has before.

Jack’s back straightens, like he’s just listened to the surprise ending to a story only he can hear. His face lifts and his eyes tell a new story. One of clarity. Decisiveness. He raises Zeke up toward Lyia. “At least heal Zeke first. The Goats don’t conscript animals. Zeke and Corva can still hide and get away.”

Corva thinks she catches a sidelong glance from Jack as he says that last bit. She narrows her eyes, but gets no further hint from him to indicate whether she’s seen what she thought she saw.

“Pin—”

“I’m sayin’ okay. You’re right. You n’ me are no match for a swarm of them Goats. You make Zeke better and I’ll stay with you here.”

“Jack?”

He ignores Corva, walking right by her to Lyia and gently laying Zeke’s unconscious body on the ground.

“Jack!”

He tilts his head down, hissing across his shoulder at her, “You need to shut your mouth. Zeke needs help. ’S all that matters right now. How about you watch the door?” He turns toward Lyia. “Please start.”

There’s no fight happening here. There’s no sense in her even trying to stop anything. Jack has pretty much dissolved any defense she could’ve put up for him. Corva squares her shoulders and skulks over to the steps leading up to the door. On the way, she glares at Lyia. “Can you heal Zeke? Or are you only trained for humans?”

“Most of the people that come to this place are no better than animals. Zeke’s got more humanity than most of them.”

You’ve got no idea how right you are. Corva reaches the base of the steps and looks up to the door. “Alright. Do your thing.”