Theo kept silent for some time as Iumatar’s bird took them across the savanna. Only after many minutes riding with the wind, she felt her old classmate stir.

  “How— How did you know… to come?”

  “Some enemy came to the stronghold after you left,” said Theo. “Tanhkmet ordered us out to give battle. But my squad was held in reserve. This bird just found me — and then with my vis—“

  “Oh gods,” said Iumatar, her voice breaking.

  Theo felt her old classmate draw a shaky breath, and hold tighter to her waist.

  “I’m so sorry, Theodora—“ she said through a sob. “Gods — you saved my life — I would be dead…“

  “It was all true, what you said at the stables,” said Theo. “You had every right. But let me say it again… I’m sorry, Iumatar. I’m ashamed of the person I was in the academy. I really am.“

  “No, I never should have said that. In times like this… of course I never should’ve said all that, Theodora. You just surprised me, and… and… I’m not someone– I can’t…” she sniffled. “And you still came. I should be dead, right now, but you—“

  “No. You should be alive,” said Theo. “And you are.”

  She’d spoken firmer than she’d meant, by some reflex, hearing Iumatar say those words.

  “...You’re right,” Iumatar said after a moment. Her sobs abated.

  And Theo knew they both thought of all who had died in Atum-Ra, as they drifted back into silence.

  “Who… for you?” murmured Iumatar, eventually.

  Theo took a deep breath. She hadn’t ever stopped to count.

  “I’m sorry—“

  “No, it's okay,” said Theo. “My mother, my father. Two of my three brothers. And—“

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  She lowered her head against the bird’s neck. Then looked up again, seeing the horizon far in the distance, where the savanna met the sky.

  “And, the woman I was to marry, one day.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Iumatar softly.

  “Hm… And you?”

  “Just… my mother. She was my only family.”

  “I’m sorry, then, too.”

  Their mount hammered strides over the dry earth, carrying them onward. The bleeding from his wound had ceased many minutes ago.

  “Say,” said Theo. “What were you doing… down there? Where I found you, with all the soldiers. What were they doing down there? Were there very many of them?”

  Iumatar shifted on the saddle.

  “I… found something. I went to where my mother lived in the ruins first. But then underground, where you found me. I don’t know if I should talk about it. I don’t mean any offense. But I think the Captain should hear it first. And the soldiers — I don’t know.”

  That just made Theo more curious, but she decided not to press the issue. It seemed like the complicated sort of matter whose truth wouldn’t make much sense to her, anyway.

  But she would see to it that Iumatar talked about it with Tanhkmet.

  “You said… Horus came to you? Out of the blue?” Iumatar asked. She released an arm from Theo’s waist to pat the bird’s unwounded side.

  “Yeah. Looks like he broke free of wherever you had him hitched. I was watching the fighting at the stronghold, but we were being kept in reserve, and it seemed pretty clear that my squad wasn’t going to be needed. So when he came up and sat his saddle down in front of me, I thought it might be for the best to take him up on his offer. He’s a good one. Loyal.” Theo rubbed the bird’s neck. “And I know my way around a riding bird.”

  “Wait, fighting? And you said that Tanhkmet gave battle to enemy soldiers? Enemy soldiers… like the ones in the ruins?”

  “About a century’s worth, yeah,” said Theo. “They just kind of… wandered right up to us. The lieutenant-commanders were talking about how strange it was for them to be this far out with no support. Tanhkmet ordered everyone out, and even armed some of the able civilians. But there wasn’t really much to it. They were three or four times outnumbered, maybe more. It should all be over by the time we get back.”

  Theo grimaced, as she imagined facing Tanhkmet’s wrath after they returned.

  “But Tanhkmet decided to give battle to the enemy?” asked Iumatar.

  “Well, yeah.”

  “So, he’s changed his mind? About the surrender?”

  “Oh. I don’t know,” said Theo. “I suppose… I still don’t think so. It didn’t really seem that way. But I don’t know.”

  “Oh.”

  At that, they said nothing more for the rest of the ride. A frustrated, helpless silence was all they could muster between themselves until at last they returned to the stronghold.