June 10, 9 ATC

Village of Gelu, Province of Ardeo, Kingdom of Freezerburn

The draft was insufferable. Even during the summer, Freezerburn was only temperate at best, and when the winds picked up, it was enough to chill the entire cabin, which had been graciously provided by a small colony of Church faithful. It wasn't quite as far north as Renora or White Rose, but it was still out of Anti's comfort zone. She shut the window of the cabin and returned to her chair.

"Keep the window open," Jannis ordered from the couch. He wore only a dark blue tunic and black pants. To Anti, he looked quite underdressed without his almost ever-present suit of crimson armor. It was difficult to get used to. "It gets stuffy when you close it."

"It gets drafty when you open it," Anti replied. From the little Jannis had told her of his homeland, it was a cold and unforgiving place. Neither he nor Zissman had ever quite acclimated to the heat. That much was clear, because the further north they went and the colder it got, the livelier and more natural Jannis became. Still, she'd rather have him sulking and stoic if it meant the window got to stay closed.

Jannis grumbled but remained stationary. "You Subredditors," he muttered. "I'll never understand your aversion to the cold."

"Well, if that's all you're bothered by, I suspect you and King Dat will get along just fine."

Jannis grumbled again and finally sat up. "Read the letter he sent again," he demanded. The letter had arrived by raven the day before, stamped with the traditional gold wax of Freezerburn's royal seal, and written in the oddly square print that all Freezerburners seemed to possess. Anti pried it from the envelope and cleared her throat.

"Noble Champion and esteemed Baroness," she began, her voice swelling to match the kingly tone of the letter. "I, King Dat of the Game-Guy dynasty, ruler of Freezerburn, agree to your request to parlay. I am a friend to all those with the best interests of the Subreddit in mind, and it would be unbecoming of me to deny you this. Of course, I remain officially neutral in this ongoing conflict, and I cannot show favoritism to the Church over my own lords and officers. My schedule remains heavily occupied with the duties of the state, and the earliest I could accompany you is June 15th. I encourage you to stay in the capital, as I would be more than happy to treat you to Freezerburner hospitality. The decision, of course, is yours. I look forward to meeting you and to negotiating the prospect of an alliance with the Church." Anti groaned and tossed the letter on the lampstand. "I really hope that was written by his secretary. If the man talks like he writes, this will be a long negotiation."

"Cannot show favoritism," Jannis muttered. "Prospect of an alliance. Such hesitation! I don't trust him."

"You can't trust any smart ruler," Anti said. "Sympathetic to the rebels, he may be, but a smart lord will go with his head, not his heart."

Jannis shook his head and stood up. "Subreddit politics," he muttered. His voice was thick with disdain. "It's a good thing Zissman has taken to that. I'll never have the stomach for it."

Anti leaned back in her chair and furrowed her brow. "Weren't you the one that suggested Zissman purge Inferno's lords?"

Jannis grunted and turned away. "Yes," he admitted. "But in the manner of our people. We would've arrested them, tried them in our courts and executed them, as is custom of our justice. I wouldn't have just offed them at a diplomatic meeting."

"But it was prudent," Anti said. "A trial means a show. A show means witnesses, and witnesses means the truth gets out. Better just to axe them and be done with it."

"Perhaps," Jannis said. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "But as I said, I have no stomach for these things. It's better that Zissman handle it."

"Zissman," Anti repeated. The word came out with a sour note to it. She hoped Jannis didn't catch it. "He has taken to intrigue quite readily. Admirably, even, especially for an Outlander. Truth be told, I didn't think he would ever get this far without Inferno."

"Nor did I," Jannis said. "But he has always had a knack for surprising me." He paused, and his fingers twitched. "I would hate to be on the League's side. He is a dangerous opponent."

"Yes," Anti replied. Her eyes narrowed at Jannis. He was certainly getting at something, though she couldn't tell whether this was a ham-fisted attempt to gauge her loyalty or merely an expression of fear. She opted to wait and see what else Jannis had to say.

"A dangerous man attracts enemies," Jannis continued, "from without and within. He is not the only ambitious man in the Church." He turned to face her, his face eerily calm, but his eyes were alight with urgency. "What would you do, Anti," he asked her, "if he became a potential threat to you?"

Anti swallowed. At least he didn't beat around the bush. "Well, that would depend," she said. "If it was only a potential threat… I suppose I would wait and watch the problem. See what happens." She folded her hands in her lap, hoping an expression of nonaggression would pacify him. She decided to turn the tables on him. "What would you do, Jannis?"

Jannis smiled a humorless smile and looked down at the floor. "That, too, would depend," he said. "But I would do what is best for the Church."

"The Church?" Anti said. She presumed Jannis would pick up on the hidden meaning in her question.

"Indeed," Jannis replied, his unwavering stare meeting hers. "It is not like one of your Subreddit's states. A kingdom belongs to its king. The Church belongs to no one man, but to the Goddess. I am loyal to her before anyone else. And you are sworn to the Church too, not a man."

"I suppose," Anti said. She knit her fingers, thinking. "Jannis," she said at last. "Is there something I should be worried about?"

"Not yet, perhaps," Jannis replied, ever stoic. "Maybe not ever. But I'm sure you of all people know that a dagger held by an ally is just as sharp as a dagger held by an enemy." Suddenly his face changed, and an awkward smile appeared where a thin frown had been. "But enough with such dreary talk. It's almost dinner time. If you'd be so kind as to make some vegetable broth, I'll go chop some firewood."

Anti obliged, slicing up some carrots and beans for their supper. Jannis returned with the firewood and set up a fire, and he cooked the stew. After finishing, he poured a bowl for himself and went out on the cabin's porch to eat his meal, while Anti remained in her chair, contemplating what he had said. Possibilities ran through her mind: risks, rewards, consequences. And although the broth smelled divine, Anti found she had lost her appetite.

June 15, 9 ATC

Outside the City of Cryos, Province of Ardeo, Kingdom of Freezerburn

The orange banners of Contramundi's men fluttered wildly in the summer winds, one of the longer pennants almost catching Gwydion in the face before he turned his horse to avoid it. When Gwydion had first rendezvoused with Contramundi at Enabler, he'd thought the soldiers looked resplendent, each one's armor finely polished and decorated with the red rose of Enabler, complete with its trademark gold flame leaping off the rose's bud. He had been quite impressed. But then he spent time with them, pitching camp and making meals and talking with them, and he heard everything that they had to say. After seeing their disappointing lack of respect for anyone not Enablerish and hearing the uncouthness of what could only be conscripted men, Gwydion was no longer even remotely impressed.

As Gwydion kicked his horse into a trot to escape to the front of the column, he came up next to Contramundi, quite possibly the only Enablerish he still respected. Contramundi met Gwydion's gaze as he rode next to him, saw his disappointed expression and chuckled.

"One of them hit you in the face again," Contramundi observed. Gwydion grumbled.

"Almost," Gwydion said. Contramundi sighed and turned ahead.

"They're good soldiers," he said. "I've seen them fight. They're efficient, and loyal. But off the battlefield, their discipline tends to… disappear."

"Believe me, I know," Gwydion said. He retrieved a map from his knapsack, opening it. "We shouldn't be too far from Cryos now."

"True," Contramundi said, suddenly reserved. Gwydion cast him a suspicious look.

"Is that a problem?" Contramundi shook his head.

"Not particularly," Contramundi said. "But I know King Dat. He's a great diplomat, but he's somewhat… easygoing, for lack of a better word. Whenever there's a matter of importance, especially one like this, no one can tell when he'll get around to it. He prefers to take things at his own pace. But the letter he sent us suggests he's approaching this with much more urgency."

"How so?" Gwydion asked. "In the raven he sent us, he only asked what day we were arriving."

"Not just that," Contramundi said, and he produced the letter from his pocket. "He said, and I quote, 'Please reply with the date of your arrival, so I know what day we will parlay.'" He closed the letter and shoved it back in his coat pocket. "The same day! He's quite eager to get this done."

"That doesn't mean anything," Gwydion said. "Maybe he's considering it in the meantime. Maybe he's arranging something for us."

"Perhaps," Contramundi said, unconvinced. "But it seems out of character for him."

"It's a daunting request," Gwydion said. "Of course he would want to address it quickly."

"Daunting issues never bothered him before," Contramundi said. He remained in a sullen silence, and Gwydion continued to the front of the column.

It wasn't until an hour later that the column marched over a hill to see the city of Cryos finally come into sight. Contramundi took Gwydion and a dozen of his best guards and marched down the road to one of the gates. The others were ordered to remain on the hill, in case a quick escape was necessary.

Gwydion walked just behind Contramundi as they went down the road to the city gate and took stock of the guards. They stood at attention, each of them wearing the crest of Freezerburn on their capes: half a white sun on a gold background, half a gold snowflake on a white background. They eyed the party with the suspicious glare all northerners seemed to have, and stopped them as they reached the gate.

The captain of the guard came forth carrying a massive mace, more of a metal weight on the end of a stick than anything else, on his hip. He stopped about arm's length from Contramundi and Gwydion, looking him over.

"You are the Enablerish, I take it," he said, gesturing to the flaming rose brooch Contramundi wore. Contramundi bowed theatrically.

"That I am," Contramundi said. "Very observant." The captain grunted in response and pointed at Gwydion.

"That makes you the Gunnian," he said. Gwydion nodded. The captain gestured for the two to step forward. One of the soldiers, carrying a large case, stepped forward with them. He was stopped by another city guard.

"What's in the case?" the man asked. Gwydion nodded at the soldier to open it. He did so, presenting its contents to the captain and the guardsman. The captain took a quick glance at it and squinted.

"What is that?" he asked.

"A gift for your king," Gwydion replied. "I made it myself."

The captain shut the lid, and the soldier returned to the formation with the case in hand. "My men will take you into the city, but you must leave your escort here," the captain said.

"Leave them here?" Gwydion asked. "Why?"

"King's orders," the captain replied, as if that cleared it all up. "And you don't have a choice." He punctuated his statement by placing his hand on the handle of his mace. Contramundi raised a hand.

"No need for that, good sir," he said. He gestured for the soldiers to disperse. The one carrying the briefcase handed it to Gwydion before leaving with the rest, and the captain waited until they were well down the road to speak.

"Apologies for the inconvenience. We've had enough foreigners in the capital these days," the guard captain said. "It makes the people uneasy. Now, stand in a T for me, please. We need to pat you down."

"We'd hate to inconvenience them," Gwydion muttered under his breath, but he obeyed. Contramundi, despite himself, smirked. The guard captain did not hear them, and after they had been searched, albeit carelessly, for weapons, he ordered his men to open the gates.

As they were escorted through the city, Gwydion and Contramundi were met with accusatory glances from the people. Some whispered to their friends and pointed, while others crossed their arms and looked at them suspiciously.

Contramundi pursed his lips when a baker closed his shop window at the sight of them. "Prickly people," he whispered to Gwydion.

"They are northerners," Gwydion whispered back. "Let's hope the King is more hospitable." Contramundi nodded in agreement.

When they arrived at the palace, there was little fanfare. The portcullis closed behind them after they walked through, and the guards on the wall glanced at Contramundi, Gwydion, and the case, but they did not move from their posts. At last, they arrived in the grand hall of the castle, where King Dat sat at a long oak table, sipping a cup of beer.

"My friends, you have arrived!" He stood up from the table and walked over to them to shake their hands. "I have been quite eager to meet you. There is so much to discuss."

"Indeed there is," Dat said. He glanced down at Gwydion's case. "What's in there?" he asked the captain. The captain shrugged.

"I don't have a damn clue what it is," he said. "Looks like a piece of hardware, though."

"It's a surprise," Gwydion said. "But we shouldn't have this conversation here. Is there anywhere we can go to discuss in private?"

"Of course," Dat said. "Follow me."

They began following Dat through a side entrance of the feast room and up a set of stairs. "I hope the journey here wasn't too difficult," Dat said as they walked. "I know the highlands can be quite cold, even in the summer."

"It was nothing major," Contramundi said, and Gwydion noticed his voice was now as soft as silk. "But your people seem to be quite suspicious of us."

Dat tisked and shook his head. "You must forgive them. We have fallen upon hard times. A blight has afflicted our crops, and I fear a famine will be upon us soon."

"I am sorry to hear that," Gwydion added. "I have seen firsthand what famine can do to a nation."

"It's not just that," Dat said. "We've had blights before. But the war is making it so much harder to recover. The rivers are patrolled by warships, and hardly any trade ships can get through without being accosted, taxed or, Goddesses forbid, sunk. And our neighbors are in the same spot as us. Nobody has anything to trade anymore. We are on our own."

"The League can help with that," Contramundi said. "We have coin and food to spare, and we have enough smugglers in our employ to feed the city."

"I understand," Dat said, a hint of exasperation in his tone, "but you must understand that I am extremely reluctant to give up my neutrality. It is the only reason we have survived thus far in the war."

"If you do not pick a side now," Gwydion intoned, "the Church will pick one for you."

Dat sighed. "I know. Believe me, I know. My neutrality has carried Freezerburn this far, but no longer, I'm afraid. But if I must give it up, I will make it worth my while."

"We will," Contramundi said. "If you enter into an alliance with us, then you will not regret it."

They were outside now, on the walls, and Gwydion could see for miles around. The city of Cryos was built on a slope, and the castle at the summit. He could see the entire city, and off the edge of the walls, thin banks of snow formed, even in the summer.

"I'm sure that you will tell me all about how the League will cure me of my troubles," Dat said. "But I would not have invited you all this way just to hear you plead your case. I expect you to make me an offer, and a damn good one at that."

"An offer?" Gwydion asked. His hand coiled around the case's handle. "We can give you coin, food, technology, and protection. What more do you want?"

They rounded a corner into a small pavilion, which had only a large, round oak table in the center and a couple of well-pruned shrubberies around it. There were guards standing at attention at every corner, but they weren't who Gwydion noticed. He was more surprised to see Jannis and Anti sitting at that oak table, and by the look of it, they were as surprised as he.

"I'm sure you can offer me more than that," Dat said. "I know they will."

Jannis rocketed out of his chair and pointed an angry finger at Dat. "What are they doing here?" he asked, shifting his finger to point at Gwydion and Contramundi. Gwydion clutched his case and Contramundi awkwardly hovered his hands over his thighs. Dat, however, merely raised a hand to stop them.

"They're here to negotiate, same as you," Dat said.

"We were under the impression you would negotiate with only us," Anti said in a careful, level tone. Dat flashed her a fake smile.

"Oh, Anti." He tutted softly. "You of all people should know better. Competition drives business! And I am a businessman at heart."

"You double-crossed us!" Gwydion yelled. "And threw in with these madmen!"

"Madmen?" Jannis asked. He reached for his sword, but realized it was not in his sheath. "Better a madman than a common mongrel like you."

"Better a commoner than an Outlander!" Gwydion said. Contramundi grabbed his shoulder to prevent him from going after Jannis. Dat stepped in between them, his patience thinning.

"Enough," he demanded. "I did not bring you here to discuss politics. I brought you here to hear what both sides have to offer, and to enter into a partnership. I am willing to give you military access in exchange, but if you continue to act so uncivilly, then I will have all four of you arrested and feed my people off your ransoms. Am I clear?"

"As crystal," Contramundi replied. "Though I would have appreciated a little more… openness."

"Perhaps," Dat said dismissively. He sat down at the table, making sure his guards were watching all four of them, and gestured for them to follow suit. Gwydion and Contramundi sat down, followed reluctantly by Anti on the other side of the table. Jannis remained standing, staring coldly at Gwydion, until Anti tugged at his cloak and he sat as well. They remained silent for a time, until Gwydion finally spoke up.

"Now what?" he asked. Dat grinned.

"Now?" he asked, an eager expression on his face. "Make me an offer."

The discussion lasted for about an hour and a half, and the participants were deadlocked all the way through. Where Gwydion argued the ethics of the decision, Jannis countered with talk of civic duty. Contramundi promised immediate resources and aid from Enabler while Anti promised greater dividends. All the while, Dat kept his nose in the air, silently daring them to raise their offers higher and higher. He was a shrewd negotiator, Gwydion thought, but not a stellar person.

"They're an untrustworthy lot," Gwydion said, eyeing Jannis fiercely. "Once the Church has what it wants, they'll toss you aside. They did it to Inferno, and they will do it to you too."

"Slander and personal attacks do not change our offer," Jannis replied, his frustration evident. "We can give you more than they can, simple as that. Their bluster about morality does not change the fact that they are simply unable to fulfill their end of the bargain. We are winning the war; they have no resources to spare for you."

"Winning a few battles does not entail winning the war," Contramundi retorted. His expression, unlike Gwydion's or Jannis's, was completely placid. "King Dat, don't fall for their lies. The League is strong, stronger than the Church and its supporters. Within six months, we toppled Inferno and occupied her kingdom. It was only by surprise that they took their victories. In a year, we will have defeated these Outlanders, and you can put yourself on the winning side. After all, we have the better generals, better men and better technology."

"I'm glad you mentioned technology," Anti said. She reached into her jacket and produced, much to Gwydion's surprise and chagrin, the stolen hand cannon.

"Observe," she announced. "My engineers have been working on a way to recreate this technology from scratch. Technology which, up until recently, has been a fiercely guarded Gunnian secret. What they hoard, we will freely give. Provided you sign on with us, of course."

"Pathetic," Gwydion growled. "How dare you take that and pass it off like your own! You stole that from me!"

Dat cast a sideways glance at Anti. "Is this true?" he asked.

Anti shrugged. "Yes," she said, "but why does that matter? The only thing that demonstrates is that we have the power to do that, and you do not."

Gwydion slammed his fist on the table. "How dare—"

"Shut up, blacksmith," Anti sniped. "What do you have to offer that we don't? What do you have to offer, for that matter, that you can deliver? You've sworn up and down to give the good king here your foodstuffs, money and men, but can you actually provide? You've been backed up against a wall and knocked to your knees. You don't have the power to stand up on your own, let alone deliver on the promises you make to him."

Anti turned to Dat and softened her voice. "My liege, not long ago, our forces sacked and occupied the city of Guns N' Roses. We decimated their men and their base of operations. Why do you think they came to you? They would be nothing but a burden on you. Nothing they could pay you will make up for the damages they will inflict by being here.

"But you already have the friendship of the Church. One of our largest colonies is in your kingdom. They supply you and pay taxes and are loyal to their king, but they are also loyal to us. By swearing to us, you can unite them fully to your crown, and we will provide for you. You have proof of that. But," she said, pointing at Gwydion. "Can you say the same for them?"

Dat tisked softly and leaned back in his chair. He glanced at Gwydion, then to Jannis and Anti, and finally he lifted his head and stared at the table.

"You are right, of course," Dat said. He was disappointed that his negotiations would end on such a sour note, but he knew Gwydion couldn't argue with Anti's logic. "And what is the price of your friendship?"

"I'm glad you asked," Jannis said. He grinned a malicious grin at Gwydion and Contramundi. Gwydion unclipped the locks on his case. "I demand only the arrest of the fugitives and rebel leaders Gwydion Forto and Contramundi Adversus immediately."

"Dat," Contramundi said. His voice was soft, yet cold. His hands were at his thighs. "Don't do this."

"It is for the greater good," Dat said, his face expressionless. "But I'm sure you've heard that enough." He nodded at the guards, who began marching toward the League representatives.

"Before you do this," Gwydion said. "I have a question. Just one." Dat waved for his soldiers to stop, but kept a close eye on Gwydion. His hand was on his sword, but he wouldn't need it.

"Have you ever heard of a blunderbuss?"

Dat scoffed. "A wha—"

He didn't have time to finish. Gwydion ripped open his case and backpedaled out of the chair, lugging a massive machine along with him. It was the size of a grown man's arm and it looked like massive hand cannon, although the mouth of the barrel sloped outward ever so slightly. Gwydion flashed a cocky smile and pulled the trigger.

The explosion was loud enough to rattle the entire pavilion, and the round shot out the end with such force that the barrel itself was torn apart. It struck the table, shattering it completely and sending shrapnel and splinters in every direction. Dat took the brunt of the blow, barely having time to shield his face from the hail of debris, while Anti and Jannis threw themselves backwards to escape. The soldiers were momentarily distracted by the show, giving Contramundi enough time to produce weapons of his own.

"Gwydion!" he shouted. Contramundi yanked two long daggers out of his pants and threw one to him. Gwydion caught it out of mid-air and stabbed the nearest guard before they both bolted toward the exit.

"After them!" someone shouted. They were already in full sprint away from the scene, running along the castle walls.

"Damn fine shooting!" Contramundi exclaimed.

"What do we do now?" Gwydion asked. The castle walls only went so far, and already they could see soldiers swarming over the wall on the opposite side of the grounds. Behind them, they could hear the soldiers giving chase.

"Keep running!" Contramundi said. They reached a small watchtower and, with only a few seconds to spare, closed and barred the doors on both sides. As the soldiers ran up against one and started pounding, Contramundi lugged racks of spears and armors in front of it while Gwydion clambered up the ladder to the watchtower's top.

In the distance, he could see their troops buzzing with excitement, having seen the clamor and moved to intercept. Below, to his left, the guardsmen began massing outside the barricaded watchtower door. To his right, the rest of the guards had quickly rounded the walls and were now beelining toward the tower. At their head was Jannis, covered in blood and splinters.

"Damn fine mess you've got yourself in," he jeered. He brought his troops to a halt and had them stand just outside the tower door. As Contramundi climbed up to the top, Jannis crossed his arms and looked up at them triumphantly. For the first time that day, there was silence in Dat's castle.

"Now," Jannis said, "you have three options. Number one, surrender. We will treat you as high-ranking prisoners of war and we will not torture you if you cooperate. Number two, resist. We will capture you, probably kill you. If not, we give you to the interrogators and make you wish we did."

"I'm not liking any of those," Contramundi said. "What's option three?"

Jannis pointed off the edge of the wall. "Jump."

Gwydion peered off the edge. He sheathed his dagger and grabbed Contramundi by the collar.

"Sounds like a plan," he shouted, and with Contramundi in hand, he jumped.

"Wait!" Contramundi and Jannis exclaimed in unison, but they were already over the edge. As they plummeted off the wall toward a snowbank at the base of the tower, Gwydion grabbed Contramundi and rotated so they would both land on their side. A second later, they did, and Gwydion felt the snow cave in around him before he felt the rough kiss of the ground.

He sat up, dazed, covered in snow, and in severe pain. His left arm had taken the brunt of the blow, and Gwydion knew without looking that it was likely shattered. Next to him, Contramundi groaned in pain, clutching his right shoulder, and Gwydion could see that he was in a similar predicament.

"You're fucking mad!" Contramundi sputtered.

"I'm alive too," Gwydion added. "And so are you. We have to move."

Gwydion sat up as best he could, ignoring the splintering pain in his arm. Contramundi grit his teeth and stood up, trying to focus.

"How far to the troops?" he asked.

"Don't think about that," Gwydion said. He grimaced. "Just think about getting there."

Contramundi looked up at the walls above, and saw several dozen guards looking down and jeering at them. He stifled another cry of pain and looked to Gwydion.

"Now what?" he asked.

Gwydion puckered and looked at the tree line. It was several hundred yards, but nothing he hadn't managed before.

"Run," he said. Contramundi didn't have to be told twice. They pulled into a dead sprint across the fields, hoping that they would be faster than the Freezerburners.

Jannis walked back up the city walls, his face bleeding, decorated with a few new wounds. He had ordered the soldiers to send out a sortie to capture Gwydion, Contramundi, and their soldiers, but the League always valued speed over power. His men would never capture them, but he had to say he tried.

When he returned to the pavilion, Anti was sitting on the ground in a puddle of blood. Unlike Jannis and Dat, she had remained largely unharmed by the explosion, but was still in a daze. She looked up at Jannis as he came up to her.

"Did you get them?" she asked. Jannis shook his head.

"I don't think we will," he said. "Can you guess what those two buffoons did? They jumped off the fucking wall. And you know what?" He slammed his hand on the last intact chair, chipping off a piece of it. "They survived! That was a five-story drop, minimum. How the hell did they walk away from that, let alone run?" He kicked the chair over and sat down next to Anti.

"Well, at least we won," Anti said. "We got to Dat before they did."

Jannis growled. "Maybe. But I would've preferred them in our hands. How is Dat, by the way?"

Anti shrugged. "Don't know. Soldiers dragged him off. He was pretty bloody, but he was still breathing when they did." She sighed and let her head slump back against the wall. "Now what?"

"Now?" Jannis said. "Now we go back to Zissman and tell him the League tried to assassinate Dat. Hell, if he dies by the time we get back, we can say they succeeded."

"And admit he died on our watch?" Anti asked.

"Nobody has to know we were here," Jannis said. "Nobody should, either. If it looks like Dat sided with us of his own accord, then it undermines them a little bit more."

Anti smiled at that. "You're getting better at politics, Jannis," she remarked.

Jannis turned away from her, staring off at the gray sky and considering what she said. "Maybe," he said, his eyes far away. "Maybe."