"That's an interesting story," Gau said. "And I think I'm correct in supposing that this story has some implication for why you're here."
"It's up to you, sir," I said. "You might just decide it's a nice stone knife."
"I don't think so," Gau said. "Administrator Perry is a man who plays with subtext. It's not lost on me what it means that he has sent his daughter to deliver a message. But then to offer this particular gift, with its particular story. He's a man of some subtlety."
"I think so, too," I said. "But the knife is not from my dad. It's from me."
"Indeed," Gau said, surprised. "That's even more interesting. Administrator Perry didn't suggest it?"
"He doesn't know I had the knife," I said. "And he doesn't know how I got it."
"But you did intend to send me a message with it," Gau said. "One to complement your adopted father's."
"I hoped you'd see it that way," I said.
Gau set the knife down. "Tell me what Administrator Perry has to tell me," he said.
"You're going to be assassinated," I said. "Someone is going to try, anyway. It's someone close to you. Someone in your trusted circle of advisors. Dad doesn't know when or how, but he knows that it's planned to happen soon. He wanted you to know so you could protect yourself."
"Why?" General Gau asked. "Your adopted father is an official of the Colonial Union. He was part of the plan that destroyed the Conclave fleet and has threatened everything I have worked for, for longer than you have been alive, young human. Why should I trust the word of my enemy?"
"The Colonial Union is your enemy, not my dad," I said.
"Your dad helped kill tens of thousands," Gau said. "Every ship in my fleet was destroyed but my own."
"He begged you not to call your ships to Roanoke," I said.
"This was a place where he was all too subtle," Gau said. "He never explained how the trap had been set. He merely asked me not to call my fleet. A little more information would have kept thousands alive."
"He did what he could," I said. "You were there to destroy our colony. He wasn't allowed to surrender it to you. You know he didn't have many options. And as it was he was recalled by the Colonial Union and put on trial for even hinting to you that something might happen. He could have been sent to prison for the simple act of speaking to you, General. He did what he could."
"How do I know he's not just being used again?" Gau asked.
"You said you knew what it meant that he sent me to give you a message," I said. "I'm the proof that he's telling you the truth."
"You're the proof he believes he's telling me the truth," Gau said. "It's not to say that it is the truth. Your adopted father was used once. Why couldn't he be used again?"
I flared at this. "Begging your pardon, General," I said. "But you should know that by sending me to send you this warning, both my dad and my mom are absolutely assured of being labeled as traitors by the Colonial Union. They are both going to prison. You should know that as part of the deal to get the Obin to bring me to you, I can't go back to Roanoke. I have to stay with them. Because they believe that it's only a matter of time before Roanoke is destroyed, if not by you then by some part of the Conclave you don't have any control over anymore. My parents and I have risked everything to give you this warning. It's possible I'll never see them or anyone else on Roanoke again, because I am giving you this warning. Now, General, do you think any of us would do any of this if we were not absolutely certain about what we are telling you? Do you?"
General Gau said nothing for a moment. Then, "I am sorry you have all had to risk so much," he said.
"Then do my dad the honor of believing him," I said. "You're in danger, General. And that danger is closer than you think."
"Tell me, Zoe," Gau said, "what does Administrator Perry hope to get from telling me this? What does he want from me?"
"He wants you to stay alive," I said. "You promised him that as long as you were running the Conclave, you wouldn't attack Roanoke again. The longer you stay alive, the longer