Page 46 of Guiding Desire

“Col called. Get this. The AI judges issued a death sentence for the bomber who placed the bomb that hit Orrey, the other guy—“

“It was a woman,” Vin corrected.

”—well, her they sentenced to road maintenance. Outside the walls, obviously. I expect her to be soiling her pants by now—“

“Unless she has connections to rogue settlers,” Vin threw in.

“Well, yes. Still. Fucking road maintenance. Anyway, she gets to do that fun activity after the interrogators are done with her.”

Vin looked over at Karmine and lifted one eyebrow.

Karmine sighed. “Fine. Col also says, because of something something with the AI judges that he explained but didn’t make sense to me, your Conduit, well, you could get the death sentence converted.”

Senlas dropped back on the couch. “I’ll have to bring that up with him.”

“Technically, you don’t have to worry his beautiful head,” Taros said. “If an insurrectionist can stop the heart of a Conduit, they will.” He lifted his hand, let a thin blade grow from his finger, which he waved like a prop. “I might’ve sliced that bomber to pieces if I’d been there.”

“Honestly, the shit you do with your blades is traumatizing. I think it traumatized me, but I’ve since moved past my trauma with the power of ignorance.”

Taros gave him the kind of look that could make flowers wilt. “Sweet Karmine. Youburnpeople. Itreeks.”

Karmine shrugged. “Eh.”

“There is merit in not telling your Conduit about getting that sentence taken down,” Vin said.

Senlas crossed his arms, frowned at the screen on which a make-out was rapidly turning to more. “I don’t yet know him well enough to keep that kind of thing from him, Taros. Plus, protectors. You never know how he might feel about the death sentence.”

“Well, talk it over with Col once he gets back, I guess,” Karmine said. “But while Orrey is asleep, can we talk about missions? Vin said you’re really bringing him. To get traumatized by Taros.”

“You old Hound-fucker! I wouldn’t do a thing to scare that precious man. Have you seen the bone structure in his face? I mean, that regulation haircut isn’t doing him any favors, and he looks like he doesn’t eat normal portion sizes, but once that hair grows out and he gets some pampering—“

“You planning to pamper my Conduit?” Senlas asked.

“I was going to advise you on how to do that.”

“I don’t need—fuck it. I’m not dignifying that with a response. Yeah, he’s coming on missions with us.”

“‘S bold,” Karmine said.

“On the Ferrean return trip?” Vin asked.

“Yes. He’ll be with Vin and me.”

Karmine and Taros stared blankly. “Taros…”

“Yeah, he’s breaking up mission couples. I don’t like it.”

Karmine reached for Senlas’s hand, did his best impression of a tearful expression, and said, “Is it because of the radio?”

“How about a trip to the balcony?”

Taros patted Karmine’s head. “You can play with my radio as much as you like, but I’m driving.”

“How suggestive of you,” Karmine said and handed Senlas a plate with tara leaves. “Here. Last ones. Saved them for you.”

“Thank you. Don’t bring up the fucking radio again.”

“Oh, I will.”