Maya smiled at her friend's denial, though to be honest it was years of living with North that told her what she was doing rather than true sight; she would need to see if Lynnhaven could bring back reading glasses when he Scavenged next.

She rested her back against the solid trunk that made up the center of the treehouse. "Some of what's worked in the past won't be of any use here," she replied. "It's been weeks since the runners had to let off a serious explosion. Nothing has attacked Ironwood directly in months." She smiled. "It seems like it's time for the transition we talked about so long ago is finally here."

Maya then winced and shifted in her bed to assuage her creaking back. "What about Tex?"