The odwar knew me well and upon his own responsibility he agreed to do what I asked.
Three padwars of my own class guaranteed to accompany me. I fetched Tavia aboard the battleship and turned her over to the protection of the old odwar, though she objected strenuously to being parted from me.
"We have gone through so much together, Hadron of Hastor," she said, "let us go on to the end together."
She had come quite close to me and spoken in a low voice that none might overhear. Her eyes, filled with pleading, were upturned to mine.
"I cannot risk you further, Tavia," I said.
"There is so much danger then, you think?" she asked.
"We shall be in danger, of course." I said; "this is war and one can never tell. Do not worry though. I shall come back safely."
"Then it is that you fear that I shall be in the way," she said, "and another can do the work better than I?"
"Of course not," I replied. "I am thinking only of your safety."
"If you are lost, I shall not live. I swear it," she said, "so if you can trust me to do the work of a man, let me go with you instead of one of those."