Chapter 5: Her Side of the Hall

Two gatekeepers walked Jude out of Cairn Hall for the second time in two days.

They did not touch him, and they did not talk.

At the infirmary door in the east wing, he stopped and turned his shoulders.

"Give me one minute," he said.

The taller gatekeeper looked at the other one and looked away.

Jude pushed the door open.

Marina stood at the long steel sink with her back to him, scrubbing her hands under the tap.

The raider's blood ran pink down the drain.

"Close the door," she said.

He closed it.

"Last night you said you loved me," he said.

"I did."

"Today you told the whole Council I bring the war in front of children."

"I said what had to be said."

"Why?"

She shut off the tap and dried her hands on a towel, one finger at a time.

When she turned, her eyes were red at the rims, but her chin was up.

"Because you came in here swinging a dead man's confession," she said.

"You were going to get yourself cut down in that hall."

"Six riders would not have lifted a hand."

"Tobin would have."

"Tobin would have called the Compact in from the passes and found someone who would."

She said it fast.

Jude searched her face.

"I don't believe you," he said.

"I don't care," she said.

Her voice cracked on the last word, and she turned her back to him again.

"Go home, Jude."

"You're staying here."

"I'm staying where the patients are."

"They need me," she said, "the way your riders need you."

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