Hunter nods. "But it won’t all come down, Mielikki. I’m losing. I can’t stalemate them; I’m just not that good. Everything was harder than I expected. Even if I let myself die, they can scoop out enough of me to get their answers, to get back in control. I can win or I can lose, but there’s no draw. Firespine falls, or it doesn’t. You have to choose."