She studied me for a second, her mouth tight and slightly pursed, as if she smelled something offensive. “The director authorized us to negotiate a way for you to end your career as a Zorya.”

“Excellent.” I started to take off the bracelet bearing the moonstone.

“No.” Janice held up her hand to stop me. “Removing a Zorya from the Brotherhood is not as easy as simply handing over the Midnight stone.”

“Is there some sort of formal court-martial she has to go through to be stripped of her rank?” Magda asked.

“As a matter of fact, there are only two methods of removing a Zorya from the Brotherhood. The first is, naturally, death,” Rick said.

“Pass,” I said with a wry little smile to myself.

Janice looked like she wanted to consider that option a bit longer, but Rick, bless him, continued on. “The second is an execration.”

“I said that death is out-”

“Not execution, execration . The modern usage of the word ‘execrate’ means to detest or loathe, but in centuries past it was used to mean ‘to curse.’ The Brotherhood has long labeled those cast out of the fold as cursed to walk the earth in darkness.”

“There could be worse things than that,” Magda told me.

“Like remaining in. I agree. And I agree to the execration, assuming that there is something I must do in order to get the ball rolling. Make a statement of my beliefs? Provide a witness to say I’m friendly to the enemy? Or do you need some sort of blood oath?”

“Nothing so easy, I’m afraid,” Rick said with a genuine smile.

Despite the fact that he was one of the bad guys, I kind of liked him. His wife, however . . .

“The director said you would refuse to listen to reason,” she said, her lips still tight.

I almost asked her why she bothered to argue with me, but let that go in favor of ending this conversation more quickly.