Revolution's Shore by Kate Elliott Page A

back to Unruli. You know that.”
    â€œYes, I do,” replied Lily. She sighed, thinking for a moment that the closed corridors of ships were not so different from the underground tunnels of Ransome House. “I don’t have much time,” she said again. “I think you all know that I’m going to meet with Jehane. To offer him my services—and the services of those of you who are willing to throw your lot in with mine.”
    The Mule hissed, a slight but penetrating sound. “And why should this Jehane, being so powerful, want your services as anything more than another soldier?”
    â€œI have several things he wants, and I mean to negotiate with those to get what I want.”
    â€œWhich is?” asked Jenny.
    Lily grinned, a private understanding between her and the mercenary. “I’m not sure yet. But I want to keep this group together, all of you who want to stay with me. You don’t have any obligation to me. You can join Jehane’s forces in any capacity you wish, or not. But if you do stay with me, you have to accept that I will use whatever talents you have as part of my bargaining, and you have to accept whatever assignment I choose as best suited to my goal.”
    She waited, but no one spoke. Pinto stared down at the geometric patterns decorating his hands, and she guessed that he surely must be thinking of his father, of the way Senator Isaiah had utterly rejected his once-loved son for the sin of being half-Ridani. Pressing her lips together, she chose and cast off words in her thoughts, not wanting to say the wrong thing.
    â€œI’m not specifically a Jehanist,” Lily continued quietly, aware of Lia’s eyes going wide at the declaration. “I support his goals. I had the privilege of working with a man named Pero, on Arcadia, and I learned a great deal about selfless passion from him, and about our rights and duties as citizens of the Reft. He made me understand that we need reforms in the government of Reft space. I want to see Pero in a position to bring those reforms to the people, because I know he will. That’s one reason I’m joining Jehane now. Because Pero is a Jehanist, and speaks for Jehane and his goals.”
    She considered this a moment in silence. Paisley gazed at her with rapt attention.
    â€œBut I’m really not a reformer either,” she went on. “Whatever my personal feelings about Jehane or Pero or anyone who does work for reform, I have to admire their zeal, but I can’t emulate it. So you must understand this: The main reason I am joining Jehane is to revenge myself on the people, the government, in Central, who killed my father.”
    â€œBut Lily—” Finch began, while Swann, who also knew Sar Ransome, simply looked bewildered.
    â€œSometimes other ties are as thick as blood,” said Lily softly, but with finality. Finch subsided. Swann still looked confused.
    â€œSure,” said Paisley, enlightened. “Kinnas be ya bond as strong as ya family, if it be owed, like I owe to you. Ya man, he be ya one we meant to scam off ya spook ship, bain’t he, min Ransome?”
    â€œIt’s Heredes now, Paisley. It wasn’t them. It was Central.” She had to stop, feeling a mask of stark anger and sorrow harden on her face.
    â€œWell, Lily-hae,” said Jenny cheerfully into the silence. “You know I’m with you.”
    â€œI am too,” said Aliasing, beside her, so faint a voice that it was almost lost in the harmonic buzz of the mess hall’s other conversations. Gregori was playing a mathematical game on the com-screen that Lily had prudently brought along for him, and had long since ceased paying attention to the adults’ discussion. Finch and Swann had their heads bent together in a whispered conversation, so Lily shifted her gaze back to the Mule, who hissed in the affirmative, casting an ironic gaze at Paisley’s determined face.
    â€œYou