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Wedge bit back a comment. Rogriss had deteriorated in the short time since Wedge had seen him last. Though the man’s expression was cheerful and carefree, his posture and movements made it clear that he was as drunk as a new soldier on his first leave. In addition, something had changed in the man’s face. Wedge had seen the expression before, the change that takes place when a cocky young pilot loses a battle but survives to realize that he isn’t immortal, that he can be beaten.

Wedge nodded toward the figure who had hung back. “Your bodyguard? A local or an Imperial?”

“A faithful son of the Empire,” Rogriss said, his tone jovial. “Come to protect me and to witness from afar your bribe attempt.”

Wedge smiled and shook his head. “Bribe attempt? I’m afraid I’m here empty-handed.”

“Ah. As skillful a spy as you are a diplomat, I see. You’re not here to offer me a command, a salary, the gratitude of the Rebel Alliance if I’d only just betray those I’ve served faithfully for longer than you’ve been alive? I must say, my boy, I’m disappointed.”

“No, that sort of thing is for the real spies. I’m just a pilot.” Wedge lost his smile. “But I do have something to offer you. A way out.”

Rogriss laughed. “A way out of what? My pension?”

“Out of your dilemma. Just listen for a minute, Admiral. I don’t expect you to admit to anything I’m saying; you won’t offer up any information, and that’s fine. But I want you to hear what I have to say.”

Rogriss considered, then nodded.

“It’s obviously in your best interest if the Adumari choose to side with the Empire,” Wedge said.

Rogriss laughed again. “Thank you for pointing that out. You really are adapting to life as a diplomat.”

“Not because it’s your mission, but because the alternative will mean your ruin. Probably your death. A suicide, I expect.”

Rogriss didn’t answer. He just cocked an eyebrow, his expression dubious, and waited.

“Because if Adumar sides with the New Republic, you’re obliged to contact your superiors, in spite of the oath you swore on their behalf, and they send in an invasion force. The invasion force hammers Adumar so badly that it’s shattered, probably not worth sweeping up the pieces. A metaphor, I suppose, for your word of honor, which will be just as ruined. Just as irreparable.”

“See here, Antilles—”

“No, just listen, Rogriss. We’re in kind of the same position here. Play by the rules, do as we’re told, keep our careers—and lose everything. Or risk, and probably lose, everything—except our word. The thing is, our word is the one thing no one can take from us unless we leave it vulnerable. All I’m saying to you—if I’m right about what you’re being called on to do—is that you shouldn’t offer up your honor like that. You should refuse to break your word. And if your world suddenly becomes hostile to you because you choose to preserve your honor, you can come to us instead of going home and facing execution.”

“You’re absurd.”

“I’ve been told that before.”

Rogriss turned away … but did not move. After a moment he turned back. “Speaking hypothetically, if what you said were true, and I did what you recommended, my children could never be made to understand what I’d done.”

“Have you raised them to be like you? Analytical, intelligent, suspicious, mean?”

Rogriss smiled again, this time showing teeth. “I’d express it a different way. But yes.”

“Then they won’t believe what they’re told just because someone in authority told them. And you’ve got it backward. If my suspicions about your orders are correct, and you disobeyed them and went home, you’d be executed and might never even have last words to say to your children. If you come over, our Intelligence division can get messages to them, and I’ll guarantee they’ll do so … or I’ll arrange to do it personally. You’ll have your chance to make your reasons known to your daughter and son. Even a chance to offer them passage to the New Republic, if that’s something they want.”

“Ah.” Rogriss shrugged. “You spin interesting fictions, Antilles.”

Wedge held out a datacard to him. “On this is my emergency contact