Marina had already told the story once to the full leadership group.

She told it a second time to Silvain alone, in the hour after the group dispersed, standing at the map table with the four wrapped artifacts between them and no one else in the space.

She told him everything Obsidian had said. Exactly as it was said, no editing, no softening. The bond mark assessment. The unity gap. The offer. The way he had stepped aside and let them walk.

Silvain listened to all of it.

When she finished he was quiet for a long time.

"He's right about the bond mark," Marina said. Because she was not...