Carver snorts, making another face at Bossie. It's almost strange how easy it is to fall back into old patterns, that back and forth they developed more than a decade ago in Korengal. He can't remember when he decided that Bossie was his responsibility, only that it's began there and it's been true ever since.

It's true, too, that Carver failed him. Couldn't keep him steady enough under the commander's eye, couldn't keep him away from the fire.

Carver swallows past that anxiety. He won't let it happen here. He swears on his soul. "You better be giving me tips in that picture," he warns, mock-offended. "Lots of tips. Go to sleep, kid."