Page 222 of The Space Between Stars

“What miseducation?” Mitek asked, though the skepticism in his voice did not reach the slow-sinking hope in his eyes.

“The Tera’thians are responsible for Nelfindar’s conviction that Distortion technology is the future. And the corporatism, heralded as ‘nationalism’, that has depleted Nelfinden dependence on outside aid. It’s why they convinced the Kovathian sect to take over Azadonia, once our closest trade ally. It’s why they set the Chori against us before that. Because doing so has slowly allowed for the dogma that this internal labor division—hardly more than perfected slavery—is acceptable.”

“Right. That miseducation.”

She placed a ring in the corner this time.

“Ah, Chaos,” Mitek moaned, looking at it. “I’m fucked, aren’t I?”

“Stage two: erosion.” Fankalo connected her rings from the corner of the board to the center in a line he could not cut off. “Nelfindar is eroding now. This Groundling movement is at the root of it. The rich grow richer, the poor grow poorer, and more than half of the population have reached a point where they have more to gain through revolution than they have to lose. Do you agree?”

“I… agree.” Though he couldn’t have been sourer about it.

“Stage three: collapse. It is not a matter of if, but when Emperor Ani makes his next move. And I think it imperative that our ‘resource allocation’ be used to prepare to combat the Tera’thians before they reveal what they have prepared for us.

“This Groundling movement to end caste divide—the movement your Thyatira so valiantly leads—is instrumental in creating the erosion required for collapse.”

Mitek’s eyes remained firmly on the board. She stacked another ring over the central peg, removing his control of the game.

“Your heart is in the right place. That is the mistake many freedom fighters make before their chains thicken. Keep your eyes on the enemy, Mitek. Sometimes, it changes uniform.”

“And if you’re wrong? And we’re harming the Groundling cause, causing more people to suffer, by staying removed from it?”

She guffawed. “I highly doubt that.”

Mitek’s expression darkened. He stood abruptly, stuffing his hands into his armpits. “Careful, Bratty. All those brains in your head? They have a habit of feeding your ego. And speaking of ideological subversion: when you use her on your friends… she ent your friend, eah?”

Chaos help her, that was solid wisdom spoken from the world’s greatest idiot. She opened her mouth for a rebuttal—or an apology, she wasn’t sure yet—when a knock came at the resource room door.

It was Drogus, of course. Who else would knock before entering a common room? Her second Hand pushed his way into the space and tilted his head. “My queen. Someone has arrived for you.”

“Tell them I will receive them another time,” she said, moving another ring to crown one of Mitek’s pegs on the board.

Drogus paused at the door, before walking to her side and bending to whisper in her ear. “It is the emissaries from Roskaad Thyatira.”

Fankalo’s stomach turned. They were early.

Not that she would be any readier by the day’s end. She’d been wavering on how to handle him for days. Before the incident in Pazir, his emissaries had made them an offer: information surrounding Aetech’s upcoming developments in exchange for indictment into the Shadewalker’s ranks. That was what Mitek wanted. It was the first step toward a formal alliance with Nelfindar’s Groundling movement. A promising opportunity—but for Calver. She couldn’t imagine how he would have reacted to her working with Thyatira. When she put her Luck to it, all futures clouded.

She had told the emissaries to give them a moon cycle to consider. At the time, she’d figured the Pazirian financial backing would make the idea less desirable. Accepting Thyatira’s option was an invaluable backup plan, that was all.

She’d been wrong. No alliance, no financial backing, would stop her from wanting more.

And now Calver wasn’t here.

The room watched her, so cautious, as though they were sitting in quicksand. She narrowed her eyes on Drogus. “Were I planning to accept this proposal… I should prepare written documentation with my seal, shouldn’t I?”

“I would recommend it.”

“Tell them I will receive them in my quarters in an hour.” It wasn’t her fault they were early. “I would like for you and Mitek to join me in the negotiation.” Her words set the necks of both Hands spinning, like they were dogs and she’d held up a bone. Did they both truly find this idea so attractive?

Drogus bowed his way out, face unable to mask the pleasure in his voice. “Yes, Queen.”

“Didn’t you just say you weren’t interested?” Mitek asked.

“I said I was wary.”

Suddenly jolly, he kicked his boot under the board, sending pieces flying in every direction, and cleared his throat. “We’ll call it a draw, then?”