This is How You Lose the Time War

by Amal El-Mohtar

One spared life might be worth more to the other side than all the blood that stained Red’s hands today. A fugitive becomes a queen or a scientist or, worse, a poet.

Fortunately, geniuses understand that young men are often fools.

(Adventure works in any strand—it calls to those who care more for living than for their lives.)

I have observed friendship as one observes high holy days: breathtakingly short, whirlwinds of intimate endeavour, frenzied carousing, the sharing of food, of wine, of honey.

But when I think of you, I want to be alone together.