"I certainly wasn't the only one who joined up to get their name back," Krem said with a shrug and a wistful sort of smile. He wasn't even the only one who'd come from his part of the country. He was infinitely glad, though, that no one had known his face or recognized Aclassi during role call.

"But I was the only one who's papers were fully forged," he said with another shrug and a sip of his wine. "And that's what got me in trouble. I was with the army for three years nearly before anyone found out. Was up for promotion. Had to get a physical--but the healer I bribed regularly for that sort of thing was away on other business, and the one they brought in thought he could blackmail me. Offered he'd go lenient on me, say I was sick in the head if I paid him off twice what I was bribing my regular healer."

Krem stared into his wine. "So I hit him and ran for the border. Wasn't far."