text: Ahkio had waited years to see his sister again.
  
  Beside him, as they waited for their audience with the Empress of the Tai Mora, Caisa was wringing her hands, her eyes questioning his decision for the thousandth time, but she was loyal, so loyal, and he didn't feel he deserved it.
  
  He did not deserve it.
  
  But here he was.
  
  He hadn't told Liaro what he hoped to do. Liaro only wanted to live. Liaro didn't understand Ahkio's sister.
  
  An omajista led Ahkio upstairs. "What about Caisa?" he asked.
  
  "She'll wait," the omajista said. "We've confirmed your prisoner is who you said she is. You can join her upstairs and wait with the Empress, but this one stays with us, for now."
  
  Some of the color drained from Caisa's face.
  
  "I really insist–" Ahkio said.
  
  "Move," the omajista said, and pushed him. Ahkio gazed back at Caisa. His stomach churned. Caisa began to weep.
  
  Had he made a mistake?
  
  The omajista sat him down in the Assembly Chamber to wait. Everything in the chamber was different. Piles of books and papers, and jistas, so many jistas, and Dhai slaves and running feet. He had not seen the temple so bustling in his entire lifetime. Kirana had done this. She had always been a better leader. Yisaoh sat at the other end of the table, her steely gaze fixed on him, hands bound, two Tai Mora guards beside her, and a sinajista, though by all accounts Yisaoh was ungifted. She simply inspired caution in people. He knew that better than anyone.
  
  "Fucking traitor," she muttered.
  
  Kirana entered the Assembly Chamber from the stairs, which he had not expected. He stood. She came up the steps and regarded him, and he didn't know what to think of her. This woman, this warmonger, this mass murderer, was not the sister he knew, though she shared her face.
  
  Her gaze did not seek his, though. She crossed the room to Yisaoh. As Kirana moved, he tried to see something in her that he remembered. He sought some shadow of his sister there, in her face, her walk. But this Kirana's walk was bolder. Her eyes flat and black: no mirth, no kindness. She had the gaze of a predator.
  
  Kirana took hold of Yisaoh's chin. Yisaoh spat at her. Kirana laughed and stroked Yisaoh's cheek. Released her. "She is a good likeness," Kirana said, rounding on him. "How do I know this isn't some lookalike? We all thought you dead, Ahkio. I caught them fishing your fucking body parts out of the sewer dregs."
  
  Ahkio shivered. "I have no memory of that."
  
  "I bet," she said. "Sina is risen, and Para and Tira now too, so I suppose miracles are possible. But so is treachery."
  
  "I've brought you who you wanted."
  
  "I admit I wasn't certain you would come," Kirana said, "after all this time." She gestured at the soldiers beside Yisaoh, and they advanced and took hold of Yisaoh and dragged her back down the stairs. Yisaoh tried to bite Kirana as she passed, but Kirana paid her no mind. "You promised me Yisaoh at Kuallina, and never delivered her."
  
  "You tyrant!" Yisaoh yelled. "And you, Ahkio, you Sina-cursed traitor! Sina will burn you for this. Oma will crush your bones!" She continued shouting as they took her down the hall.
  
  "I have no memory of that either," Ahkio said, turning back to Kirana. "But I've heard that, yes."
  
  "If you are truly the same Ahkio, I wonder why it is you brought her here now, finally. Did it take you this long to consider my proposition?"
  
  "I've been changed," he said. "I have heard people say it. I'm not the same man. Maybe that is true. Maybe I'm some construct. But I've been shaped by what's happened since then. I want peace, Kirana. And the sister I knew would keep her word when it came to peace. I don't know how much of that Kirana is within you, but it's my dearest hope that this war is over. We can work together to build something better. We don't need to be enemies any longer."
  
  "I can't believe you would forgive what's been done," Kirana said. "I wouldn't."
  
  "We are very different," he said. "I see what continuing down this road will do to us. To you, and to me, and the people I still lead. We simply want you to release the people you have here, and let us all go. You never have to see any of us again."
  
  "We need the slaves here," Kirana said, "for another season yet."
  
  "Then let us work as equals, not slaves."
  
  "And murder us all in our beds? No. I am not a fool, Ahkio. Not like you. Tell me, what were you all doing out there, trying to run away?"
  
  "To build a new life, yes. Catori Meyna and I were working with the Saiduan to find peace. I wanted to ensure they would be safe on those boats before I came to you, but… then you arrived. What I want to know is how you got word we would be there."
  
  "Magic," Kirana said. "I'm sure you can appreciate that."
  
  "I want to stop all of this," he said. "It's gone on too long and I can't watch any more of my people die. I can be the person who holds out their hand to you. All you have to do is take it."
  
  Ahkio held out his hand. It trembled, just a bit, and he worked hard to still it.
  
  Kirana stared at his proffered hand. "I don't remember peace," she said. "The world was dying from the time I was born. I knew what had to be done."
  
  "I understand," Ahkio said.
  
  "Do you?" she said. "No, you couldn't. You don't know what it is to have a world dying around you, and your family trapped on the other side. You don't know what it is to have to become everything you despise to save your people. You don't know–"
  
  "On the contrary," Ahkio said. "I know very well what it is to compromise one's principles. I know about difficult choices. I am here, Kirana. I've betrayed my own people to give you want you want. I've sacrificed one of my own so you can save your wife, your Yisaoh. And in return, a family has lost a daughter, a sister, a lover, here. Take my hand, Kirana. Please. Let's end this."