Maren and Rurik called the town together on the tenth day.
It was the first formal gathering either side had held without a wall dividing the crowd into two audiences.
No checkpoint.
No separate entrances.
No guards deciding who belonged where.
Four hundred and twelve people gathered in the same open square, and Vane understood, watching Maren and Rurik stand together at the front of them, that whatever arrangement they had reached had cost both of them something.
Maren spoke first.
"We're not merging into one leader."
The words carried cleanly across the crowd.
"I want that said plainly before anyone decides this is simpler than it is."
A few people shifted.
Rurik remained beside her.
Maren continued.
"He and I disagree about a great many things."
She glanced toward him.
"We will continue disagreeing about them."
That drew a faint murmur.
Rurik stepped forward.
"What we're agreeing to is that the disagreements happen in the same room now."
The murmur quieted.
