The ride back to the garrison's guest quarters passed in near total silence, both of us absorbing the weight of what Aeric had just revealed, the mountain wind carrying the particular bite of a border territory unaccustomed to imperial visitors dwelling too long on uncertain questions.
"Another vessel," Darius said finally, once we'd reached the relative privacy of our quarters, Ethan posting guards at a discreet enough distance to allow honest conversation. "Somewhere in this empire, or beyond it. Connected to whatever purpose brought you here."
"If Aeric's theory holds," I said, sitting heavily on the edge of the narrow bed. "Which is itself uncertain—fragmentary records, incomplete founder documentation, a man who's already proven willing to construct elaborate deceptions when he believes the ends justify it."
"You think he's lying?" Darius asked.
