“He’s upset with you,” Yevin said.

“I know. But there’s nothing I can do about it,” I said.

Yevin shrugged, handing me the next panel.

The long thin sheet of crystallized ice was so cold to the touch; I had to quickly place it into its slot lest I wanted be stuck to the frozen panel forever.

Not even the specially made gloves did anything to stop it from freezing everything around it.

“What would he have me do? There are rules,” I said.

“Rules,” Yevin said, but I couldn’t tell if he chastising me or agreeing with me.

“One more,” I said as I pulled up the second to last panel. It had several large cracks running down its base.

Yevin, with his bare hands, grabbed the panel and then tossed it over into the large circular drum. A great burst of steam spewed from it as the panel of crystallized ice came into contact with the Front-Line’s internal core.

While Yevin handed me the final panel, I studied the giant man’s face. He wasn’t angry… nor disappointed, but he was annoyed.

Sliding the panel into its slot, I sighed and stood away from the wall of panels. With a weary wave, I had the thick wall of hardened alloys slide close, hiding the panels from view.

Removing the large gloves, I tossed them to a nearby work station and pointed at myself. “Well? Say it already.”

“Whose will is choosing?” he asked.

For a long moment, I stared into the eyes of my closest friend… no, my only real one.

“There’s only one will, Yevin,” I said softly.

He nodded, keeping his eyes on mine.

“I cannot invite her no more than any of you can. You know that,” I said.

“It’s not your lack of invitation that is bothering everyone, Noth,” he said sternly.

The giant of the man wasn’t speaking loudly, but even in this engine compartment, he could be heard clearly. How his voice rumbled so, would always baffle me.

I chose to remain silent for a moment, instead I rounded the large bar that separated this platform from the one he stood on, and then slid underneath it so I could fall next to him.

Landing, I took a moment to feel the core of the Front-Line that rested beneath me. It was full, and hot. Hotter even than the sand being blown wildly by the storm that arrived this morning… Almost as hot as the sun that burned those very sands and the air they flew in.

“I don’t hate her, Yevin,” I said honestly.

“Exactly,” he argued.

“Nor do I worry that she’s another you, or Jamthi… or any one of my people,” I reasoned.

“Then…?”

Heading down the panel-ways, I glanced down each one and was pleased to reaffirm that all seemed fine.

To have just a dozen panels crack since embarking on this trip… our luck was good.

It meant the Front-Line hasn’t been pushed past her limits even once so far. We’ve not had to overheat the core and have been in respectable temperatures for the whole trip.

Such a thing was rare, especially for such a long venture such as this.

Pausing at the giant circular door that led to the section of the engine that held the normal rooms where everyone else could go and work, I sighed.

Only Yevin and I could enter this room, at least able to enter and live long enough to speak of it. So I didn’t need to worry about anyone hearing what I was about to say.

“She scares me, Yevin,” I whispered.

Luckily for Yevin, no one could hear his hearty bellow of a laugh as he doubled over and grabbed a nearby railing.

“It’s not that amusing! If anything that should terrify you too,” I grumbled as the giant of a man laughed his heart out.

“Scares you!” his great bellows quickly turned into deep rumbling chuckles, like always his laughter never lasted long.

As annoying as his reaction was, I couldn’t help but smile at my friend’s display of emotion. It was a rare sight after all.

“Indeed it does. I fear her. I fear the situation. I fear my weakness.”

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Yevin’s great smile as he shook his head told me just how foolish he thought I was being.

“She’s not that madman,” he said.

“Even if she were, I’d not make that mistake twice,” I said.

“Not willingly,” Yevin noted.

I started pacing near the giant circular door.

Wanting to speak, not just of my concerns but my frustrations, I grumbled when no words came. What to say?

Yevin, like always, was more than willing to wait for me to find my words. As patient as a stone, he stood and waited with a smile.

Finally waving at the room around us, I nodded. “You can be here,” I said.

His smile softened, as he nodded. “I can.”

“Even Jamthi and Sarley are able to open the drawers and cupboards in my office,” I said further.

“And those in your study and room, by the way,” Yevin added, his smile growing.

I groaned, wishing I had forgotten that.

“That’s already three too many…” I said, coming to a stop. I had to lean up against the door as if I was suddenly weak.

“Not so, Noth. Not when those three are worthy of it,” Yevin said.

Shaking my head, I knew I was being stupid. Yevin was speaking a truth I knew well. One I completely agreed with.

Yet…

“Tiana. She the one?” I asked.

Yevin nodded. “She is. You’ve been telling me to find one,” he said.

“I have. And I’m glad. Introduce her to me, will you?”

He shrugged, and I could tell he most likely wouldn’t for awhile still. He was weird like that.

“First Old Tom, then you. There’s an order to things, you know,” I commented.

“He died early,” Yevin said, his tone changing.

Staring into my friends eyes, I knew exactly what he was saying.

“Indeed. Still, just in case…” I didn’t say anything more, and Yevin nodded.

“Time always wins Noth. Not even you will defeat it… it’ll just take you longer than us, is all,” Yevin said.

“I know.”

Tapping the Front-Line with my foot, I listened to the echo it brought. Not even Yevin’s heavy footsteps could make such a sound.

“This wealth will cause problems, Yevin,” I said.

“Already prepared for it,” he said.

Keeping my eyes on his, I was glad he was so steadfast. “I’ll handle as much as I can… but I can only…”

Yevin only waved me off, telling me it was all handled already and nothing more needed to be said.

I nodded, thankful.

For a long moment we stood in silence, listening to the distinct rumble of the Front-Line’s core. It hummed softly, yet harbored a great shaking.

Many likened it to a sleeping volcano. But those hissed more than roared, so maybe that was more metaphorical than anything.

“Just talk to Jamthi, Noth,” Yevin broke the silence, which was unusual for him.

“He’s really that bothered over it then?”

“How could he not be? He sees himself in her,” he said.

“Ah… Of course,” I nodded, hating how I had somehow missed such an obvious thing.

Although he had been on my end, it had been his family who had truly betrayed and abused him. Not the one he was to marry.

“She does seem to have disdain for her family,” I noted.

“Seems to?” Yevin stated, as if annoyed at my phrasing of it.

“You think it’s worse than that?” I asked.

“Her eyes prove it. That little woman could kill, surprisingly,” Yevin said.

I noted his comment, especially since it was an appraisal coming from him. If he said she harbored such hate and capability… then she did.

“She’s not the first to despise her home and run away. Why would Jamthi relate so deeply to her then?” I asked.

“Because she’s related to you, obviously.”

“She’s not my wife,” I stated.

Yevin’s eyes narrowed a little, but said nothing.

“So… what am I supposed to do then? Formally accept her into the Front-Line? Is that what he wants? He knows I can’t. She has to be the one to do so,” I said.

“I believe he, like many others, believe you’re so annoyed by the current situation that you’re being unnecessarily cruel to her. They think you’ll deny her, even if she asked.”

“She hasn’t asked! She made a roundabout statement of it, but didn’t explicitly ask me!” I said, stepping away from the wall.

“Everyone else doesn’t see it that way,” Yevin said flatly.

“Everyone else wasn’t there!” I groaned and walked around Yevin, tapping one of the nearby handrails in frustration.

“Would you have said yes?”

I stopped, and was glad Yevin was behind me, so he couldn’t see my eyes. “Probably. Maybe. I’d like to think I would have,” I said.

“Exactly. You would have said no. So… I’ll ask again. Whose will brought forth that answer? Yours or…”

Looking at the great engine core around me, I knew I didn’t need to speak the answer aloud. Yevin already knew.

“Magic doesn’t pity, Yevin,” I said softly.

“Nor should it. This world would be far crazier than it is, if it did.”

Turning to him, I looked into his eyes and nodded. “The Front-Line would have not allowed her to board,” I said plainly.

Yevin, for all his firmness… actually had to look away. “But why? What could possibly…” He went silent; as I knew just like myself he could think of a few reasons.

“Find out,” I ordered.

It was cruel to make him do it. Some things were better left unknown.

Some secrets should not be known.

And I knew that Yevin truly did like her. For whatever silly reason, he had a soft spot for that strange desert woman. Maybe it was because of his apprentice; she was a young woman too…

But I knew only Yevin could find the truth, and do so without others finding out.

“I’ll find it. And I’ll fix it,” he said plainly, heading for the door.

Following after him, I silently hoped he wouldn’t.

For if he did…

No matter how much anyone wished it, the will of the Front-Line was adamant.

Not even I could bend it.