"No, it means--" he starts, heated, but Koumyou keeps talking and Devero listens. When Koumyou brings Ukoku's name into it, he winces and drops his gaze.

"That's different," he says. "Ukoku has-- had-- had a sutra. All Valdana has is Techstead!"

He has to stop and take a deep breath, inhaling deeply through the tightness that wants to build in his throat. "I wasn't strong enough to leave, before, but that was the first damn thing I did when I did think I might be stuck there. I left!"