Aria was sitting in the darkness of her bunk, wondering whether or not she was going to survive the day.

Last night had gone surprisingly well. She'd managed to sell Kahlin and Steric on her idea, and the two had begun preparations for it immediately, rallying the scientists and filling them in on the basics of the plan. They'd spent the rest of the night charting tunnels, figuring out which ones to close off, tracing the route they would be taking, and scrounging up every last bit of tak-light they could. After that Aria had asked for some paper and ink and written out her journals – complete with a description of today's plan and everything that could go wrong, in case she never got the chance to write a follow-up. Given what Jani had told her last night, that seemed like a likely enough outcome.

They were going to need to lure Kore and as many of his troops as they could into the mine, and to do that they would need bait. Before Aria could even float some ideas as to who could play this part, Jani had said, "They'll probably all chase you. They're really mad at you."

Aria was startled by the presumption. "But why? I mean, yeah, they think I've been helping the Bedoowan, but they wouldn't send everyone after me just for that, would they?"

Jani shook her head. "Nah, not for that. But they, uh…kind of think that you murdered Grail."

Aria had just stared at her. "What?"

"Maal told them all that you murdered Grail. That you found him the mines and you blew him to bits with a chunk of tak. He said he found the body down there but that you chased him off and dumped the corpse down the main shaft. He described it really…uh…"

It had sounded like she couldn't quite come up with the right word. Aria had supplied a few for her. "Thoroughly? Emotionally? Graphically?"

Jani had snapped her fingers. "That last one. I mean, I knew none of it was true and even I wanted to barf."

Jani had then proceeded to tell them some of what Saint Dane had attributed to her.

Kahlin and Steric had been appalled, but they all had to admit that if Aria showed up, her presence would probably be enough to rile the militia. Steric had protested outright and Kahlin had voiced concerns about her injury, but honestly the cut – impossible though it seemed to her – had basically healed. And frankly, she was willing to bet she'd be lighter on her feet than any of the scientists who had spent the last few months standing around desks in a cramped little cave.

Though she was clearly the choice for the job, she'd still wanted to propose some alternatives. She'd felt like she really couldn't without sounding like a cop-out, though. This was her plan after all. What right did she have to delegate the most dangerous part to someone else?

So she'd accepted, and was now coming to terms with what exactly that might mean for her. Within a few hours, she was going to have a mob of armed, enraged, battle-ready soldiers on her tail. She was a fast runner, and with a full night's rest, plenty of food, and a few diversionary tactics, she'd probably be able to manage it. Especially since she would have the terrain advantage once she reached the mine.

Still, she was more nervous than she'd ever been in her life. And that was saying something, given when she'd been through the last few days. But every stressful situation she'd been in so far had revolved around her disappointing the people who were relying on her, OR jeopardizing the safety of Denduron, OR dying.

If she screwed this up, she'd be facing all three at once.

She had no idea what time it was on the surface, but she hoped it wasn't dawn yet. As soon as dawn broke, the plan would go into action. She didn't need more time to prepare, and she didn't need more rest. She just wanted a longer reprieve.

No luck. The door to the bunk opened and a figure walked down the row of beds until reaching hers. "Aria, I take it you're awake?"

It was Kahlin. "Yeah. I take it it's time to go?"

"Yes."

She got up and followed her out of the bunks so they wouldn't disturb the other sleepers. They were heading towards the conference room again. "Breakfast is ready. We thought we would eat, then go over the tunnel maps one more time. You'll get a chance to navigate them once before you go, but it's good to have a firm mental image of them, too."

Aria nodded heavily. Her thoughts had been bouncing around her skull like a swarm of bees in a jar, but she would need to reign them in and focus for the next hour or two. If she took a wrong turn later on, everything was lost.

The moment she stepped into the conference room, her nose was hit by the most tantalizing aroma she'd met since coming to the territory. Not only was there hot, buttery bread and a variety of fruits, there was also a wide plate covered in round, flat brown patties that were still steaming from whatever griddle they'd been flipped off of.

"Meat," she groaned, and rushed for the table.

Steric and Kahlin both chortled as she scrambled into her chair and began shoveling food into her face. As much as she loved the carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables she'd been having every day so far, she was used to eating meat almost every day back home. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed it until she saw a heaping plate of what looked to be sausage.

The others had already dished up, and Steric said pleasantly, "Take as much as you like. You'll need the energy. Just don't stuff yourself."

Aria's mouth was already full, and she forced out what she hoped was a sound of gratitude. Jani, who was sitting across from her, took the liberty of translating. "That probably means 'thank you.' And trust me, you're probably going to want to look away for the next few minutes. Her table manners are worse than mine."

Aria blushed furiously and resolved not to make a complete pig out of herself. No matter how good the sausages were. And the bread. And the – tea? Was that tea?

She spotted a large, round, steaming container in front of her and sniffed at the contents. Sure smelled like tea.

Kahlin took a seat beside her, grabbed a cup, and poured her some of the brew. "Drink a few cups of this. It will give you a fair amount of energy for the next few hours."

She took a sip, and sure enough…caffeine! Joy! She almost never drank coffee at home and therefore didn't need the boost to wake herself up in the morning, but she never said no to a hot cup of black tea, especially if she was in for a long day.

She ate her fill, but was careful to follow Steric's advice and not gorge herself. She didn't want to get a cramp later on.

Once they were done eating, Kahlin pulled out the main tunnel diagram and, for the tenth time since last night, traced the route she was to take.

"That's the central chamber, where the presentation will take place. There's the entrance you'll be using – the western one, the one you came in by last night. The eastern one is blocked off, and the third one – the one just outside of town – is swarming with guards. The contingent we'll send up with you will take out any guards around your entrance, take up their positions around the village, then escort you to the main staging area. They'll wait until Kore and his men are there, and if possible, for Maal to leave. If we can do this without him getting involved, that would be preferable."

Aria nodded, and her eyes were tracing the route from the entrance to the staging chamber. Right. Left. Straight. Right. Straight. Left. Right. Straight for two corridors. Left. Straight four corridors. Right twice, then straight on to the chamber.

Not too hard, right?

"Remember, there's no going back if you make a wrong turn. No way to loop back around, and no way out."

Suddenly all those sausages wanted to come right back up. Yeah, not too hard at all. Like tightrope walking over the Grand Canyon. She could probably do it, but on the off-chance she failed…

Gulp.

As they went back over the plan one more time, Steric began to grow visibly worried. Aria sensed that his fears had little to do with her own plight, though. Very understandably, he had other worries on his mind.

Kahlin leaned forward. "Jani, you will need to leave straightaway if you are to have enough time. With any luck, the boy – Tarek, you said? – will have made some headway. If not, you will simply need to fend for yourself until we can make it to the surface."

Jani scoffed. "I'm ready to go when you guys are. Just say the word."

Steric burst out, "Jani, we can send someone else. Your leg–"

Jani snapped out, "My leg is fine, dad! And you can't send just anyone. You need everyone else here, working."

"But if you are caught–"

"I'll have a few lumps of tak with me. Honestly, you think I can't take care of myself?"

"You are only a child."

Jani's expression took on a smoldering tint. "Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you disappeared and forced me to grow up."

Steric looked stricken. Aria felt a pang of sympathy, but honestly couldn't deal with any more family drama just then. "Jani will be fine, Steric. Trust me, she's pretty capable of taking care of herself."

Steric still looked distraught, but relented. Kahlin stood up. "Very well. Shall we proceed?"

They all nodded and rose. "Would you two mind taking care of the dishes? We need to round everyone up."

Aria nodded, though Jani looked surly at the order. Nonetheless, when Aria began grabbing plates and cups she joined in, and soon the two of them were piling dishes beside the water basin in the kitchen while Steric and Kahlin went about calling the last meeting to order.

Aria bent over the basin and started washing dishes. As Jani began drying them and putting them aside, she was reminded forcefully of her encounter with Tal just a few days ago. Was the knight okay? Had the angry Milago already sacked the barracks? What would happen if they got their hands on the tak?

"I hope everything turns out okay," she said sadly. "I really like the people here. I don't want to see them go to war."

Jani just shrugged and said, "It'll be fine. Your plan is an okay one. If we can get them to listen to us for five minutes, they'll have to call off the war."

"Yeah, I hope so."

They finished the dishes in silence then made their way out to the main lab.

The tables were all completely cleared of supplies. All that remained were packs, satchels, and a few cases, all filled with their paper research. The room was largely dark, almost every tak-light pressed into service for the coming presentation, including the chandelier. Everyone was gathered in the middle of the room, and Kahlin and Steric stood before the crowd talking quietly. When Aria and Jani appeared, Kahlin motioned them over.

Once they were all standing together, she turned to address the room.

"My friends," she began. "The time has come for our last-ditch effort. I realize that this plan may not work, but it is the last chance we have to negate a war between our peoples and end the hardship we have been going through these last few years."

Every eye was on her, though they occasionally darted to the people standing behind her. Namely, Aria and Jani.

Kahlin continued. Her every word rang with confidence. "We have worked hard in the hopes of bringing about a change in our society, that we might all live as harmoniously as we do down here – working together with a common goal, one centered not on war, but on peace and prosperity." She paused, perhaps for dramatic effect. "Now is the time to show them our intent."

With that she pulled out a beautifully-crafted lantern and lit the wick inside. As she held it up to the crowd it burst into flame, generating a light far brighter than any Tryptite was capable of. Several people were forced to shield their eyes as the fierce, chemical luminescence spilled over them. "Now is the time to show them that the path to prosperity lies not in fire, but in light!"

A roar of enthusiasm erupted from the crowd, and Aria couldn't help but clap. This woman was really inspiring. Even Steric, who was probably supposed to be providing stoic support, was cheering.

Jani looked bored.

Aria laughed, looked out over the room, and felt just a twinge of hope. Maybe things could turn out okay, after all.

Things were going to turn out perfectly. So long as those bumbling imbeciles in the mine hurried up.

Saint Dane had been spending the whole morning marching around the makeshift staging grounds doling out weapons and reassurance in equal proportions. A few people were still hesitant about what they had committed themselves to, and it was Maal's job to assuage their doubts.

"If we do not stand up for ourselves, we will be carting glaze again within the decade. Perhaps within the year."

"Kore was right all along. The Bedoowan have not changed as much as we thought. Why else would they reimplement the curfew, fill our village with their knights, and arm themselves with tak?"

"I know that things seem hopeless, but if we can wrest control of the situation from them today, peace will be ours for the taking tomorrow."

Such soul-igniting little nuggets of wisdom, spread carefully here and there, were enough to banish any doubts the historically oppressed peasants may have possessed. By mid-morning, nearly everyone was fired for war, armed and ready to march on the Bedoowan town.

He saw a man kneeling beside a young girl, who was saying, "Uncle Dell, do you have to go? Why can't everyone just stay here?"

The man was at a loss for words, so Maal stepped forward to offer some of his own. "We must fight to keep our village safe, little one. If we do nothing, you will have little to look forward to in your own future. This way, we all might live more happily later on." He offered the girl a smile.

She didn't look happy, but at least she ceased her protest. Her uncle patted her on the head and said, "Run along and find your mother, my dear. Tell her that your father and I will be home in time for dinner."

She looked calmed by that. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugged him tightly, then ran away to where a woman stood holding hands with two boys, an older one and a very small one.

The man stood, looking sadly in the direction of the little family. He turned to Maal and said, "I do not want my niece and nephews to grow up in a world at war. Is this truly the right thing to do?"

Ah, of course. It was easy enough to play to the needs and wants of those who went to war for their own selfish reasons. Fear, greed, vengeance. A man looking out for his own family's future sought different reassurances – or different nightmares to be avoided. "It is. This is not only about you or me. This is about creating a world where they will be safe. Our children. While we may only suffer the immediate injustices of slave work and imprisonment, it will be the next generation who suffers the truly refined torments that only long-term tyrants might impose."

He turned to where Kore stood addressing several of their recently-drafted officers. Most people knew the man's tragic background. "How long will it take them to build a new palace? A new throne?" He glanced over at the doubt-plagued man. "A new arena?"

Like a charm. At once the man's eyes seemed to glaze over with the horror of the implication, and when they cleared they were steeled. He nodded, tightened his makeshift armor straps, and stood at attention. "That will never be allowed to happen again. I march on your orders, sir."

Maal nodded approvingly, though inwardly he rolled his eyes. As though the Bedoowan of today we capable of such things. It was only the blindness of their bulk population and supreme, privileged complacency of the ruling class that had allowed such barbarity to become common in the first place.

He dismissed the man and turned to walk towards Kore, who was deep in conversation and didn't seem like he would tolerate any interruptions. Maal could wait, but not for much longer. Sawil had been missing since he'd visited the barracks the previous evening and was due back at the Bedoowan Town Center. If he wasn't careful, Raig would order the attack on the Milago and end the war before it could truly begin. Sawil would need to put in an appearance to assure them that they still had some time, and to hold their attack until it was certain that war couldn't be prevented.

Of course even if the Bedoowan attacked and succeeded, they would still gain control of the tak mine and, with some prodding in the right direction, be on the warpath within the year. Still, the Milago, with their past of oppression and resultant decades resentment and vitriol, were the preferable candidates for conquerors.

All that was needed was the tak.

His greatest concern was that they would, as Pendragon had done in the past, ignite the tak vein and destroy it. This was why he had gathered the village's finest fighters, and why he intended to lead the attack himself. If he acted quickly, and perhaps used his abilities to cheat just a bit, he would be able to take the mine without risking it being destroyed.

Kore was still talking strategy to the men.

He tried to reign in his impatience, knowing that it was pertinent to see to it that the Milago were well-prepared for the coming attack, but he still had places to be. He was forever on a timetable and had never a dull moment. Mostly.

Yesterday he'd been able to tend to two other duties. As Sawil, he'd checked on his assassins to make sure they were still guarding the routes to the Bedoowan town, and he'd ordered the knights in the barracks to hunker down and fortify themselves. He'd told them that the Milago were planning an attack on the town, and that they needed to be ready to provide support from the rear when that happened, as well as prevent Milago reinforcements from reaching the main army. They'd readied themselves at once, though their orders would not arrive until well after the Bedoowan town had already been sacked.

That said, the longer he waited the more likely they would be to take action on their own. That was always the most difficult part of his task. If he left the Bedoowan on their own too long, they would get riled up and attack the Milago, or worse yet – send peaceful envoys. If he left knights in the barracks alone too long, they would abandon the barracks and make for the town to reinforce it. If he left the Milago alone too long…

Well, that wasn't likely to be a worry. They were hardly going to attack without the direct approval of both of their remaining councilors, after all.

No, of all the places he was needed, this was not it. Thankfully, Kore finished briefing his soldiers on their orders, and Maal was able to approach. "Kore. The preparations are going well, I see. As soon as my men find the lab, we will wrest control of it from the Bedoowan and take the tak for ourselves."

Kore nodded sharply. "Good. Perhaps you should lead another search party, though. The sooner we locate the mine, the better."

Not an option, I'm afraid. "Forgive me, Kore, but I have another duty to which I must attend."

He was not given the chance to elaborate before Kore rounded on him and snapped harshly, "You are not disappearing on us again!" A small amount of spit flew off his lips. "The number of times you've slipped away, and not returned for hours, even days! No, you must remain here with the troops until it is time for the attack. Whatever needs to be done, have someone else to do it!"

As the man finished his tirade, Saint Dane felt venomous rage well up in him. The little maggot had kept him waiting long enough with his incessant chittering. Would that he knew who he was speaking to, he would cut out his own tongue before addressing him in so chiding a fashion.

His rage must have shown in his eyes, because the Milago paled and took a small step back.

Instantly, Saint Dane iced the fury that had risen up at the man's clumsy attempt to control him. It wouldn't do to have the councilor's trust in him waver now. Another moment, and he had mellowed out entirely.

Putting on an expression of barely-hidden vulnerability, he relaxed himself and said, "Forgive me, my friend. All that has happened these last few days has put me on edge. My temper is a bit frayed."

Perhaps out of relief at the dissipation of his ally's fury, Kore seemed to accept the charade without question. "Understandable. But still, we need you here. Now. What could possibly be so important that you would have to leave your people at such a time?"

He had just the trump card to play in this, the endgame. He leaned forward and spoke quietly, his tone imploring. "There is…someone I would like to speak to before we set out. In case I do not return."

Manipulations like these could be so delicate, and it took a refined art to convey the really subtle implications. A dimpling of the cheek, a quiver of the lips; the slight clenching or releasing of the jaw, a dilation of the pupils; a flare of the nostrils, a twitch of the eye. There were 43 muscles in the human face, and he knew exactly how to employ them to sculpt any emotion he so required.

It was an art. He, the Michelangelo of emotion.

He arranged his features perfectly to tell of someone dear to him, someone who could not bear to watch him march to what very well may be his death. Someone he must spend at least one final moment alone with.

Someone, in short, who did not exist and who would allow him one bloody hour to make sure that his pawns were all still behaving as pawns should.

It worked. Kore bought it hook, line, and sinker, as the saying goes. Meek sympathy spread across his face and he gave a small nod. "Of course. Forgive me, I did not realize…go. But please," he added. "Be back before too long?"

Yes, yes, naturally. "I will be back as soon as I am able. No more than an hour."

Kore nodded, and with that, Maal was free of his responsibilities. For a while, at any rate. By the Lights of Solara, his job was tedious. Still, just a little longer and it would be over.

Then, off to Eelong.