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The poor boat vendors—some canny merchants would have tried to take possession of the bigger boats, but deep down they know that the Aurelians will confiscate the property for the war effort soon enough, and they’ll be shocked if the triad offers to pay to rent them.

I look out the front window at the seaside town. There is a collection of small but neat homes, freshly painted in brilliant colors despite the ravages of the salty wind. The beach is sandy and the tide is out, long-legged birds walking with bobbing motions as they search for their dinner. My stomach grumbles. I only ate to fulfill my promise to Khra.

I hear the door of the ship open, and Khra returns. “Did it go well?”

He nods. “Yes. We’ve got a boat, and Krazak and Bolden are securing food. We can smuggle you on the food cart,” he says, and grabs some big black bags.

“What are in those?”

“Medical supplies, weapons. We always need to be prepared. Or maybe we should smuggle you in one of these,” he says, his tone dry.

I cross my arms. “You have a twisted sense of humor,” I say, thinking it must be a joke. To my shock, he smiles.

“It’s the only way to stay sane. Plus, it would be too tight a squeeze.”

When I met them, they were violence and rage. It’s as if the time we spend together makes them warmer, not softer, exactly, but lets me see a side of them I didn’t know they had.

“I could definitely fit.”

“It wasn’t a challenge,” chuckles Khra, hefting a bag over his shoulder. He sees the look in my eyes. “Serious?”

“Serious.”

He shrugs. “Alright.” He grabs another black sack, this one empty, and opens it up, putting it on the ground. I step in, smiling at the ridiculousness of it all.

“Don’t wiggle, or the fishermen will think we’ve kidnapped a woman,” he says, and he pulls the bag up my body and tightens the top. It’s pitch black.

“Haven’t you?” My voice sounds strange.

“Shhhh. Supplies don’t speak,” he says, gently lifting me up and slinging me against his back, grunting with exertion.

“I’m not that heavy,” I say, and poke him through the bag. And then I’m being walked out, bumping against his back and the other bag full of supplies, the bag getting uncomfortably hot when he puts me down on solid ground.

He opens the bag, helping me out of it, and I take a deep breath of fresh sea air. Despite everything, I can’t help but smile.

The ship they picked is a catamaran, with two long parallel hulls, a yacht with a bridge that is all glass windows. Khra brought me to the side facing the ocean, so that I am blocked from view of the town, and I look out at the endless ocean, so peaceful yet so alive, fish jumping out of the waters and light waves lapping at the boat. The front of the ship is an area to relax, with beach chairs that will be small for the huge aliens.

The light breeze cools me. I’m in a t-shirt and shorts that I pilfered from the manor, casual clothes that are perfect for a day at sea. “You picked a good ship,” I say approvingly.

“It’s the fastest one in this harbor. In case…” Khra trails off.

“In case of what?”

He looks up at the skies. “We’re near Aurelian Empire territory.”

“Do you expect them to attack?”

“One day, yes. But they are slower than our forces. They do not dare brave the Rift—we should have advance warning.”

“So we can relax today?”

He wraps his arms around my body from behind, standing and looking out at the sea with me. “Yes. We’ll keep you safe. Always.”

I feel him shift, ever so slightly. “What is it?”

“They’re here.” I turn, and Krazak and Bolden are pushing a huge cart down the dock. Fishermen are gathering in a group, watching with open mouths. This far from the main cities, my triad might be the first Aurelians they’ve seen in person.

My triad? Where did that come from?