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My stomach twists. “Perg?”

He shushes me. “I don’t have a lot of time. Hold on.” I hear scratching at the lock.

I find the thread and stitch my mind back together: fears, logic, worries, everything. “What are you doing?”

“Sh,” he hisses, barely audible through the door. “There isn’t much time. You’ll have to climb out through Intra housing—”

He’s breaking me out. Oh stars, Perg is breaking me out.

“Perg, stop.”

The scratching halts. “Lark, they’ll kill you.”

“I can’t leave.” I can’t leave Azmar behind. I have to say goodbye to him. Somehow, I have to say goodbye. “Have they ruled my death?”

He hesitates. “I don’t know.”

“Perg, I can’t—”

“It’s my fault.” The scratching resumes. I can’t tell if he’s trying keys or a lockpick. “That’s my knife.”

“I didn’t tell them.”

“I’ll get you out.”

Every heartbeat is a hammer driving down on a spike in my core. I know it’s hopeless, and yet still, “I can’t leave, Perg.”

The scratching stalls again. “Why not?”

I swallow against my dry throat. “I can’t explain.”

A moment passes, and I think Perg has left. But then, so quiet I have to press my ear to the door, he says, “I’ll come with you.”

I gape. “But, Perg—”

“If that will convince you, I’ll come with you.”

Somehow my body squeezes out two more tears, one from each eye. I press my forehead to the cool metal of the door and drag in a shaky breath. “Thank you, Perg. But I can’t.” My tears paint Azmar behind my eyelids. I can’t abandon Azmar, even if the council will tear us apart either way. I can’t bear him thinking I betrayed him.

Then the coolest ember of hope crackles. Maybe the council will let me say my goodbyes before it punishes me. Even my father let his prisoners say their goodbyes. Their last words.

Perg strikes the door, then curses. “Lark, if they catch me here—”

“Then go. Hurry.”

“It won’t be good, Lark. The humans attacked again this morning. Four scouts.”

I fall to me knees. “Not Unach—”

“No. But it will be war. They say you’re a traitor.”

I grind my teeth. “I am no traitor.”

“Let me help you.”

“Perg, go. Please.” I wipe my eyes. “Thank you. You are strong and magnificent, and you will prevail. You are my dear friend. But I will not be the reason for your downfall.”

“Listen—”