Ayvne. You’re lucky General Ginyin didn’t find out,” Timoti said. Roskavna gave Paeosfu permission to take one of the carriers to Third Ruler’s kingdom. Despite no one other than Timoti being willing to follow her plan, she opted for one of the larger vehicles in case anyone had a last-minute change of heart.

She was waiting on that last minute as she played with the fabric of her gown. Timoti busied himself with loading the carrier with supplies, but hearing him walk up to her, she assumed that he ran out of busy work.

“You started a fight? And won?” he asked.

“Don’t call it a fight,” she said, scanning the scrambling Tayans for anyone who may run in their direction to leave. “They were intruding in the space I found myself, and I wanted to reclaim it. That’s all.”

Paeosfu spared a glance up at Timoti who had an amused smile plastered on his freckled face.

“You hear the alarms. They had no business stating what’s already been announced. Hmph. Had the audacity to say I was a traitor. No, it was hardly a fight. A tussle at best.”

“If they are quick to call you a traitor, I’d imagine they’d be equally fast to dramatize your tussle.”

Paeosfu clicked her tongue. “I’m glad you are in high spirits.”

“I can say the same about you. You’re no longer moping.”

“That’s because I’m stressed about Tayans dying again. Why can’t they see that they are throwing their lives away?” she asked, holding her face. “We moved the civilians from the mining transportation facility to here, so when Third Ruler’s soldiers fought us, the civilians are saved. We lost rebels, yes, but the same thing will happen here if they stay and fight,” Paeosfu explained. Timoti was already here. He didn’t need to be convinced to leave.

She wasn’t sure if General Ginyin opted to kick him out too in her emotional fury or if Timoti genuinely wanted his life spared. Thankful that he was even here, she didn’t press him about it.

“May I make a suggestion?” the human asked.

“I’ll take any ideas at this point.”

“I suppose my proposal would depend on how far Third’s Kingdom is from here.”

“By ground, we’re closer than Fifth’s for sure.” Paeosfu’s eyes brightened. “If we leave now, we can fly back here with larger ships that can properly fend of Fifth Ruler’s army. With proper weapons, less will die, and if things go south, we have another escape!” she chittered excitedly.

“But how will you get a ship?” he smiled from her enthusiasm.

“Yiskaña’s an idiot. I can walk into the carrier hub and drive one out before he realizes what’s happening.”

“You’ve never spoken highly of the Third Prince in my memory.”

“Once Yiskaña does something worth praising, you will be the first to know. Let’s go.”

“Prince Yiskaña aside, don’t you think returning with a Third Ruler’s ship will be taken as an act of aggression?” Timoti settled in beside Paeosfu and watched her flip the toggles and plug in the coordinates.

“What do you mean?”

“You may have access to the carrier, but when you leave, surely Third Ruler would notice and send a recovery ship or spies to follow you here. Wouldn’t it be smarter to find Otekai first and use them to stop this conflict? From what you told me, if Otekai didn’t appear on records, but they were reported at the scene, there’s only one other group that might have them.”

“Third Ruler could have snuck them out,” Paeosfu whispered.

“Amidst the chaos of battle.”

“We should check Third’s prison then.”

“Now that, sounds like a plan."