Emly had discovered that victory did not come with relief. It was heavy when it arrived. Stronger in theory but strained by endurance, the organization remained intact. There was less urgency and more weariness in meetings these days. People spoke more slowly, listened intently, and used less energy. She was more concerned about that change than she was about turmoil. Erosion could be concealed by stability. More discipline was needed to hold ground than to move forward. Late into the night, she went over internal reports, finding hesitancy, delays, and subtle disengagement. Adrian murmured softly, "They're exhausted." "Yes," Emly answered. "And people who are tired tend to make careful mistakes." Errors resulting from fatigue persisted the longest. Before she lost momentum and became comp
