usible, at
least on the surface, but she found them unsatisfying. Tourists and
administrative officials were not the Empire's best examples,
especially the tourists. Thark claimed his motive was
unselfish--duty--and she knew him well enough to believe he truly
thought so. But what if he was wrong?

Chaos take it! Peace was important, and she could see it as a
result--perhaps--of Thark's rebellion. But first there would be much
death and destruction. With the Traiti War barely over, what Thark
planned might as easily trigger a disaster as lead to the peace he
expected.

It was a difficult decision; no matter what she did, people would be
killed. Yet Thark himself had taught her that her responsibility to
Irschcha ought to be paramount, and that meant she had no choice but to
support the Empire that had done so much for it. In honor, that was
the only way she could decide. Irschcha had made more progress in its
forty-three years since joining the Empire than in any span ten times
that long under the Order.

Once her decision was made, she did not hesitate. She stood, then said
with a return to strict formality, "I can regard your Crusade as
nothing but treason, Thark. I can no longer call you Master."

Thark also rose, nodding his acceptance. At least, he thought, she was
acting as he had taught her, with honor and decorum. "Then we are
enemies. I truly regret that, necessary as it is. Will you at least
give me your word that you will not go to the Imperial authorities?"
He knew the answer even as he asked the question, but it was a
propriety he had to observe.

"I cannot do that," Corina said. "You have taught me too well.
Failing to act now, on what I am positive is right, would be as
dishonorable as treason itself."

"It would indeed," Thark replied with regret. "You leave me no choice.
I cannot kill a guest in my home; to do that would bring only shame.
However, I cannot let you live to reach the Imperials with this
information, either. And I most certainly will not allow you to aid
their cause."

Fear almost weakened Corina's resolve. She did not want to die, but
death seemed unavoidable. If she thought about it too much, though,
she might give in, and that would be worse. "I must try," she said
steadily. "What of my family?"

"The decision was yours, not theirs," Thark replied. "It will not be
held against them. If you wish, I will give them your soul-blade."

"I am not yet dead,"