‘Yes.’
‘What is it?’
He ground his teeth together, moving towards her. ‘There was an attack. A Taquul bomb in one of the northern towns.’
Her features showed surprise and then sorrow. ‘You said this would happen.’
‘Yes, but I had hoped...’ He shook his head. He hadn’t, really. He’d known that peace was a Sisyphean task, yet still he’d pushed for it, worked towards it, knowing his people deserved at least a chance. He still believed that. For their sake, he had to quell this, ensure it didn’t form the beginning of more conflict. But the attitude of his chief military advisor showed what a battle he was waging—even within his own government.
‘Was anyone hurt?’
‘Yes.’
‘Killed?’
‘The exact number is unknown but we expect the count to be high.’ She dipped her head forward, and he knew she felt as he did—sorrow. Futility. Anger.
‘You have to go.’
She nodded, looking around for her clothes. ‘Yes. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep. What can I do?’
He stared at her, committing everything about her to memory. He could never see her again. These last few days had been something he could never put into words, but it had to end. She wasn’t simply a woman with whom he could enjoy a no-strings affair. He wanted her too selfishly. In another day or two, he wouldn’t be able to relinquish her. It had to be now. To his people, and his government, she would always be the enemy. He was putting her at risk every minute he kept her here.
‘How can I help?’
Her words were some kind of balm. No one had offered him help—and so simply—all his life. But he pushed the offer aside. ‘You misunderstand, Johara. You need to leave Ish
kana. I have arranged your transport. You are to leave now, in the dead of night, before the country has awoken to this news.’
Her mouth dropped open.
‘That’s... No.’
Another surprise. People didn’t say ‘no’ to him. ‘You misunderstand me again. I’m not asking you to leave.’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘You’re ordering me?’
He expelled a sigh, moving across the room and pulling out some clothes. He understood her resentment of that—all her life she’d been ordered around and yet she deserved so much better. He didn’t want to be just another person who sought to control her. ‘I’m telling you what is going to happen. You cannot be here if war breaks out. The risk to you is too great.’
‘War won’t break out. My brother and you will work together to prevent that from happening.’
‘We don’t know yet that this bomb wasn’t detonated with your brother’s permission.’
She gasped. ‘You can’t seriously think—’
He shook his head. ‘No.’ He frowned. ‘But war with Taquul is familiar.’
‘All the more reason for us to challenge that assumption.’
He shook his head with frustration. Why wouldn’t she understand? ‘There are powerful members of my government already demanding retribution.’
‘You can’t do that.’
He ground his teeth together. ‘I have to do what is best for my country.’
‘And that’s peace. We both know that.’
‘Yes, Johara, but peace may not be possible.’