I knocked three times.
Even standing outside his door, I already knew this wasn’t about forgiveness. I had worked that out on the walk over. We didn’t have time for full resolution. I just needed to know if we were truly on the same side now. Whether the words he said in the strategy room, “That’s a fair line” and “It’s the only line,” were only for that moment or if they would actually change how he acted.
Victor opened the door. He looked as if he had been sitting alone for a while. Not upset, just deep in his own thoughts. He stepped back and let me in.
His room was bigger than mine, as expected for the commander, but it was still sparse. A desk, some shelves, and a map rack by the window. The fire was lit. The air smelled of pine and tobacco.
I didn’t sit. Neither did he.
“I’m not
