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Julii military and aid ships were the first to descend on Olympia three days later when Fá and the Obsidians left it in a heap of rubble and corpses. Even my camp’s destruction couldn’t prepare me for Olympia. I’ve never seen so many crows or wild dogs before in all my life. I thought the stench was more than I could bear, but then we found Volga sitting on the steps of the high city, cradling Ephraim. She tried holding him together, but his body fell apart when she stood up. I will never forget the look on her face. It has chiseled away the stone of my heart, leaving a wound of empathy I haven’t the ken to mend.

There were no witnesses to tell us what happened to that doomed city save a mad Obsidian with both his eyes gouged out. We found him at the base of a throne swatting at the crows that came too close to a body covered with a cape. Pax and Electra knew the mad Obsidian, and the body he protected.

He somehow fled the Sol Guard who were to take him back to a medical shuttle, and disappeared into the dead city, never to be found. Pax couldn’t say who killed Ephraim, but we know who killed Sefi and sacked the city. The same monster who attacked the Pandora.

Volsung Fá.

The name is like a curse to us. A curse that deepens the more Pax explains just what his control of the Obsidians might mean for Mars. What city will they sack next? Could the Republic survive the man who took down Julii, Sefi, Valdir, and the Valkyrie in just two weeks?

I fear Volga’s name will soon be added to that list.

She wants revenge for Ephraim. It will bring her nothing but more heartache. Though my vengeance on Harmony is sated, I feel no more whole. What peace will I find if even that cannot mend me?

I did not like Ephraim but he was like a father to Volga. I saw how she looked at Victra. The slow smiles when Victra would fire a particularly clever insult her way. Her eyes focus on the dark water as she prays under her breath to the Allmother for Victra to return. She loves far too easily.

But her prayers are answered.

Six hours after Victra set out, she returns. Her dress was lost in the sea. Her legs fail her as she stumbles up the beach like a scarred ghost and sits amongst us by the fire. She ignores Pax’s offer of his cloak and sits naked until finally taking Electra’s riding cape. When her teeth stop their chattering, she looks around at us.

“One bill is paid. Debts are due.” She looks at Electra and Pax. “I swore a life oath to both of you the first time I saw you. I renew that oath here and now.” Her eyes flick to me and Volga. “To you two, I swear it for the first time. Let your enemies be my enemies. Let your errors be my errors. Let your life be my life. I do not tell lies. If ever you call, House Barca will answer.”

“Me too, for you,” Volga says.

“I agree,” I say.

Pax leans forward. “Technically you’re to say, ‘You are never in my debt,’ and she will say—” Electra hits him in the side of the head. He shuts his gob.

“What will you do now?” I ask Victra. “Go to your daughters?” She still hasn’t said where they are.

r /> “No, I will go to war,” she replies. “The Pandora may be taken, but the rest of my fleet is intact. Luna has my husband. Mercury my friend. And then I will vanquish the woman who sought my family’s demise.”

“Atalantia,” Electra murmurs in solidarity.

“My brothers are on Mercury,” I say.

“You require a ride?” Victra asks.

“No. I’m going to Earth with Volga.” Volga looks over in surprise. It hasn’t been discussed, but I know where she wants to bury him. “Ephraim wouldn’t want you getting killed going after them that did him.”

“Say his name,” she says.

“You don’t know who did it.”

“Say his name.”

“Fá,” Electra answers for me.

“Ephraim wouldn’t want you dyin’ on his accord,” I say. “You know that. I’m gonna go find my nephew, and you’re gonna bury Ephraim in South Pacifica like you said he’d want.” She does not reply. “Victra, I’ll need a ship.”

“Can you fly?” Victra asks skeptically.

I look at Volga. “I hope so.”

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