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When shehim to inspect troops with her in a week or so, I can tell he’s just as affected After she’s gone, his hand drops toher, but like Reynald, like Ptolemus, her death will serve a purpose Her life will be worth it all, in the end

The next target comes from much farther down the line, frorin, chestnut hair, and sunset-colored clothes to ht, he seems warm and kind The smile behind his eyes is as real as his handshake

"A pleasure, Lady Mareena" He inclines his head in greeting, polite to a fault "I look forward tothat there will be many years to co on When his wife appears, leading a pair of twin boys, I want to screa like puppies, they clas He smiles softly, a private smile just for them

A diplomat, Maven called him, an ambassador to our allies in Piedmont, far to the south Without him, our ties to that country and their arainst our Red dawn He’s another sacrifice we must make, another naoing to kill hi out his hand for hi to draw the Lerolans away before I break

I try to speak, but I can only think about the father I’ children In the back ofafter his father died He was young too

"Excuse us a minute, wouldn’t you?" Maven’s voice sounds far away as he speaks "Mareena’s still getting used to the excitelance back at the dooawk at us and I can feel Cal’s eyes following us out I alht as he pushes me out onto a balcony Nor can help now

"Children" The words rip out of ainst the balcony rail, but he doesn’t step away In theintome to listen

"Reynald is a father, too The Colonel has children of her own Ptoleirl They all have people, they all have someone ill mourn them" He forces out the words; he’s just as torn as I "We can’t pick and choose how to help the cause, Mare We must do e can, whatever the cost"

"I can’t do this to them"

"You think I want to do this?" he breathes, his face inches from mine "I know them all and it hurts me to betray them, but it must be done Think what their lives will buy, what their deaths will accoht you understood this!"

He stops hi his eyes shut for a moment When he collects hi the outline of ers "I’ht not be able to see where tonight will lead, but I can And I know this will change things"

"I believe you," I whisper, reaching up to hold his hand in my own "I just wish it didn’t have to be this way"

Over his shoulder, back in the ballroo line dwindles The handshakes and pleasantries are over The night has truly begun

"But it does, Mare I promise you, this is e must do"