Jorvanultumn’s head swam. He had learned a lot in the last few hours. None of it was confusing or difficult to understand. In fact, it was all quite straight-forward and simple. The problem was more the fact it even existed. He had spent the last year or so dealing with human and Volg Darkness Worshippers—Darkers as his human companions called them. He was used to the idea of people worshipping Night. Just not Isyar worshipping Night.

There was no good reason he should be so shocked. Why should Isyar be any less likely to worship Night? That was apparently part of the reason for his elispt—the reason why it was so much more difficult than what other Isyar had to do upon reaching adulthood. Learning about other lands was meant to teach that Isyar were no more special than anyone else, no matter what Isyar society believed and taught.

Evil was everywhere. Even at home.

“You must be vigilant at all times,” Hilkorultumn had said. “Look for the signs.” He had then listed numerous signs—visual, social, and mental—that could indicate a member of the Pundritta. Ten signs for every discipline. Few of the signs on their own were enough to condemn anyone, and few members of the Pundritta displayed more than a couple of the signs.

In other words, it was next to impossible to identify the Pundritta.

“Just watch carefully,” Hilkorultumn had said.

“And what do we do if we find one?” Jorvanultumn asked.

“Whatever is necessary. They have to be taken out, for the good of our people and of the world.”

“How many have you found?”

Hilkorultumn frowned and took a moment before answering. “None. Neither has your diare. My diare was the last to root any out. However, she kept extensive records. I’ll give you access to them.”

“But if membership is passed from diare to siare like everything else, shouldn’t it be obvious? Just look to the descendants.”

Hilkorultumn shook his head sadly. “I said they have to be taken out. I wasn’t exaggerating. We leave no family. Plus, they do occasionally convert other Isyar, allowing a new family line to begin.”

“Is it possible you got rid of them all? Maybe they’re all gone?”

“No. They’re just in hiding, but they’ll be coming out now.”

“What makes you think that?”

Hilkorultumn put a hand on Jorvanultumn’s shoulder. “Think about it. Think about everything you’ve told us, the things you’ve experienced. The Volgs are active. The human Darkness Worshippers are active. Ours soon will be too. My diare was certain of it.”

So now Jorvanultumn stood in his room going over the signs in his head, trying to remember them all, and trying to make sense of everything that had happened. He needed to go over Hilkorultumn’s diare’s records and study the pictures of the symbols the different disciplines of the Pundritta used.

This was not what he had come here for. His trip here had been so straight-forward: convince Mikranasta to come with him. Now there was all this extra.

Though he could not deny this was important. Not just to his family. If the Pundritta became active, they would eventually oppose Felitïa. He had to do what he could to help her and stop them.

He was not supposed to tell anyone about this, but both Hilkorultumn and Davorultumn agreed that it was acceptable for him to tell Meleng and eventually Felitïa. He would tell Fevionawishtensen, too. He had not been given permission for that, but it was not something he could hide from her. She deserved to know. Besides, as much as Davorultumn might deny it, Jorvanultumn doubted he had not told Mikranasta. He would probably tell Chiansamorkin as well—but Fevionawishtensen first.

However, before he could do any of that, there was a dinner to attend. These discussions could wait until after.

He and Davorultumn had arrived back home to find preparations already in progress. Fevionawishtensen and Chiansamorkin had taken care of it, and Mikranasta had readily agreed.

“Didn’t bother to wait for my opinion, I see,” Davorultumn had muttered.

Mikranasta grinned at him. “You would have agreed. You know it, and I know it.”

Jorvanultumn had soon found himself in the way, so he had retired to his room to gather his thoughts.

There was a knock at the door. Chiansamorkin peered in. “There you are.” She came forward and they touched foreheads and wing tips. “Hiding away?”

He sighed. “I was in the way. I can’t cook—that’s one skill my diare did not successfully pass on to me—and Mikranasta did not appreciate my attempts to help her decorate.”

“At least you’ve learned to use the informal with me.” She grinned at him.

He smirked. “We are going to be fomazee.”

“A bit ridiculous it took that to get you to do it.” She laughed, then kissed him.

“I suppose so.” He stared into her clear eyes and at the tattoo at the back of the left one. He still felt...unsure around her like this. They had been this close in the past, but since meeting Fevionawishtensen, he had not touched wings with anyone.

Chiansamorkin sighed and stepped back with a shake of her head.

He looked away from her. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine. We’ve thrown a lot at you in the short time you’ve been back. We’d have taken more time with this, except you weren’t likely to be here very long, so we rushed things a little.”

“We?”

“Fevionawishtensen and I. Who else would I be talking about?”

“You’ve been planning this awhile?”

“A little. She said the two of you had talked about it before.”

He nodded. “We did. And I do want this. I just…”

“I understand. I think. Well, maybe not, but I accept it. Crazy thing is, turns out we might have had more time after all.”

“What do you mean?”

She walked over to his desk and picked up one of his element decahedra. “I have to tell you something, and Fevionawishtensen says you will argue it with me.”

“What?”

She faced him, twirling the fire decahedron between her fingers. “I’ve decided to teach Sinitïa.”

Jorvanultumn gaped. “You...really?”

“I’m the only who can. I wouldn’t trust a human to handle her potential, and no other Isyar would even consider it.”

“That...that’s amazing. I don’t know what to say. I’m certainly not going to argue it. Why did Feviona—”

“That’s not the part she said you’d argue.” Chiansamorkin put the decahedron back on the table, straightened herself up, and took a deep breath. “When you leave here, I’m coming with you. So is Fevionawishtensen.”

“What? But—”

“What other choice is there? I can’t teach her here. People would notice eventually. Plus, she’d be alone, separated from her family and friends, not to mention the cold. I have to teach her to move properly and be responsive to her body’s movements. I can’t do that if she’s bundled up in multiple layers of thick clothing.”

Jorvanultumn stared at her. On the one hand, this would solve a major problem for him. There probably was no better teacher for Sinitïa. He would also like having her along. It would be a real chance to rebuild the closeness they once had. On the other hand, it was an incredible disruption to her life. “That makes sense, but what about your duties on the Lamdritta?”

“I’ll take a leave of absence, and if they don’t like it, fuck them. I’ll resign and they can hold competitions for my replacement. This is more important. Besides, I can always come back in a few years and challenge for the position again.”

“Can you do that? Has anyone ever done that before?”

She sighed. “Please don’t argue. I’ve made up my mind and Sinitïa has already accepted me as her teacher. I’m going with her, which means with you, no matter what you say.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “If that’s what you want.”

“It is.”

“Then I’m happy to have you along.”

She smiled.

“But Fevionawishtensen is Hgirh. She can’t just leave.”

Chiansamorkin’s eyes narrowed. “She’s also made up her mind. You have a better chance of convincing me not to go than her, and you have no chance of convincing me. I think you know that.”

Jorvanultumn groaned. She was right. If Fevionawishtensen wanted to come, then she would come. Besides, he would be glad of their company. Maybe they could even help him convince Mikranasta to come.

A thought occurred to him. It was an impulsive idea, but it might help a little.

He walked up close to her and kissed her. “Let’s make the fomaze official tonight after dinner.”

Her eyes widened and she smiled. “Truly?”

“We need witnesses and there will be lots to choose from. It will also help give an explanation why you’re leaving with me. You can’t exactly tell people you’re leaving to teach Sinitïa.”

She smirked. “Good point. Though there is the Lamdritta. They might make me recuse myself before the vote tomorrow.”

Jorvanultumn sighed. “I was forgetting that.”

“Of course, we could just not tell them. It’s not like it’s any of their business anyway. Besides, even if they do make me recuse myself, you don’t need to worry about Sinitïa. They will find in her favour. As for your situation, the worst that will happen is they will let your diare determine your punishment. Surely he won’t be too harsh on you.”

Jorvanultumn would have thought otherwise a day ago, but now that Davorultumn had forgiven him, he was more confident that Chiansamorkin was right. He smiled at her. “So, tonight then?”

“If Fevionawishtensen agrees, then yes! Tonight!”

He put his arms around her and they kissed again. Then he just held her, relearning the feel of her.

* * * * *

Sinitïa was holding her bare hands out towards a pair of rocks in the corner of the gathering room when Jorvanultumn and Chiansamorkin entered. Meleng and Captain Gen stood near her, in the process of removing their outdoor clothing. First Mate Ting stood behind them, apparently content with what they were wearing, and not removing anything.

The rocks were new, as were the two vertical ice sheets, one on each side of the rocks, acting like screens to direct the heat emanating from the rocks.

Sinitïa grinned. “Isn’t it great?”

Jorvanultumn looked at Chiansamorkin. “Did you do this?”

“With help from Fevionawishtensen,” Chiansamorkin said in Arnorgue. “Your human friends would have a lot of difficulty eating covered in all those clothes.” She wiped her brow. “It’s very warm, though. Is this what it’s like in Arnor?”

“Oh, it is much worse,” Jorvanultumn said.

Chiansamorkin sighed. “Great.”

The gathering room was the busiest Jorvanultumn could remember seeing it. Davorultumn and Mikranasta had never been ones to have guests over much. Chiansamorkin had visited frequently, but that was pretty much the extent of visitors they ever had. But now, the room was full of people.

While the humans were gathered near the heating stones, Fevionawishtensen, Mikranasta, and Hilkorultumn stood as far from them as they could get, at the far side of the low-table, which had been raised to the height of a high-table—probably because the actual high-table in the adjoining room was too small to seat everyone. Jorvanultumn was not certain this one would seat everyone. Even the nine people already in the room would be a squeeze. Once Davorultumn—presumably preparing the food—and Hedromornasta joined them, it would be awkward.

Captain Gen approached him and they clasped left hands. “Thank you for inviting us, Jorvanultumn. I appreciate the opportunity to meet your family.”

“It is my pleasure.” It had actually been a spur-of-the-moment decision. He had only planned to invite Meleng and Sinitïa, but Gen and Ting had been there and it had felt wrong not to include them. “Have you met everyone?”

“We’ve gone through introductions, but they were a little awkward as they don’t speak Arnorgue and my Isyarian leaves a lot to be desired. I hope I didn’t overly embarrass myself. Wouldn’t want to give your family a bad impression. Not for my sake, you understand, but for yours.”

“I will translate for you,” Jorvanultumn said. “When my diare arrives, he can also help, though his Arnorgue may be… What is the word when it has been a long time?”

Gen raised his eyebrows. “Rusty?”

“Yes, rusty.”

Chiansamorkin cleared her throat. “Don’t forget me.”

Jorvanultumn grimaced. “Right, of course. I forgot.” In fact, it had barely registered that she could speak the language. “I have been meaning to ask. When did you learn to speak Arnorgue?”

“Last year,” she said with a grin.

“But how? Where?”

“I just thought it would be interesting to learn.”

“You speak it better than I do, and I have lived with Arnorins for two years.”

She spread her arms wide and gave a little bow. “I guess I’m just that good!” She strode around the raised low-table towards the other Isyar. “If you don’t mind, I need to get away from the heat.”

“Looks like communication will be easier than we thought,” Gen said.

But how had she learned? Who taught her? Davorultumn? He had certainly not said anything about it. Hilkorultumn maybe? But his Arnorgue would be even rustier than Davorultumn’s. Who else in Chithishtheny spoke Arnorgue? Perhaps she learned to read it from books, but they would not help much with pronunciation. She sounded almost like a native, with only a hint of an Isyarian accent. Jorvanultumn doubted he would ever be able to speak it that well.

A hand touched his arm. “Everything all right?” Meleng asked.

Jorvanultumn smiled at him. “Yes. I was just lost in thought. There is much to tell you later.” He glanced back at Chiansamorkin, who was engaged in quiet, but excited conversation with Fevionawishtensen. He should not be so surprised by her. She was an exceptionally talented individual. There had to be a logical explanation how she had learned Arnorgue. If anyone could do it with little opportunity to use it, she could.

Gen motioned to the table. “I’m afraid I don’t know the appropriate etiquette here. Should we take seats, wait to be invited, or what? I don’t want to do anything that might cause offence.”

“You may sit whenever you wish,” Jorvanultumn answered. “However, it will be a tight fit. If you end up beside an Isyar, be careful of their wings.”

Gen nodded. “I wouldn’t dream of touching anyone’s wings without permission.” He sat down on one of the stools on the warmer side of the table.

Once Gen was seated, everyone else sat as well. As he was used to warmer temperatures, Jorvanultumn sat close to the humans, ending up beside Miana Ting. It was indeed a very tight fit. Jorvanultumn’s right wing overlapped Ting’s shoulder, He would need to be careful not to bump them if he leaned forward. The other Isyar had to overlap their wings and would need to be similarly careful.

Two places remained, one to Jorvanultumn’s left and the other to Meleng’s right. Davorultumn would likely be fine with either spot, but Hedromornasta would not like either. He would have to make do with one of them though, and would likely choose the spot beside Jorvanultumn.

Jorvanultumn made a point of confirming that everyone had been introduced. Once that was done, he let conversation take its own course, ready to translate as needed.

Everyone was quiet at first.

After a few moments, just as the silence was beginning to feel awkward, Gen leaned forward. “So, I’m curious about what we’re going to be eating this evening. I have not had the opportunity to try much Isyarian cuisine despite multiple visits here.”

Jorvanultumn opened his mouth to translate, but Chiansamorkin beat him to it.

“As my fomase is preparing it,” Mikranasta said, Chiansamorkin translating again, “I will allow him to tell you about it, but I can assure you, he is a very good cook.”

“Then I look forward to it, madam,” Gen said. “I have always enjoyed sampling the local cuisines of the various places I visit. Tell me, have you or any of the others ever tried…”

Jorvanultumn let his thoughts drift away from what Gen was saying. Since Chiansamorkin had taken on translation duty, he did not need to hear everything everyone said, and thoughts of the Pundritta still plagued his head. The best starting point would probably be to learn the symbols the Pundritta used. Each discipline had one, and they were the only signs that were pretty much guaranteed to point to a member. If a member used the symbol, it would be on their person somewhere, similar to the goat-skull tattoo human Darkers wore.

He wished he could talk to Meleng about it, but now was not the time.

The front door opened and Hedromornasta stepped in. He immediately recoiled at the heat and gestured at the heating stones. “What is this?”

“Something for the benefit of our human friends,” Chiansamorkin said. She did not translate Hedromornasta’s words for the humans, nor her reply.

“Hedromornasta, you are late,” Mikranasta said.

Hedromornasta bowed his head. “Apologies, Diare. I was outside, but Nascanmat delayed me.”

“Nascanmat? Paydamat’s siare? He is here?”

Hedromornasta nodded. “Yes, Diare.”

“Why? What does he want?”

“He said Paydamat asked him to observe the movements of Jorvanultumn and his human friends. He asked me to tell him what we were all doing here.”

“I hope you told him it was none of his business and he should leave.”

“I’m sorry, Diare. It didn’t seem a problem to me to answer his questions.”

Mikranasta stood up. “Then I will do it.” She addressed the table. “Excuse me a moment.”

Sinitïa leaned over to Meleng. “What’s going on?”

Meleng shrugged.

As Mikranasta crossed the room to the door, she said, “Jorvanultumn, handle introductions to Hedromornasta.” Then she was out the door.

“Just a minor disturbance,” Jorvanultumn told Sinitïa. “You have met Hedromornasta, of course.” Jorvanultumn then went on to handle introductions between Hedromornasta and Gen and Ting.

By the time those were done, Mikranasta had already returned. “He seems to have left of his own accord.” She returned to her seat.

To Jorvanultumn’s surprise, Hedromornasta sat beside Meleng—and with no indication of displeasure. He did not return Meleng’s nod of greeting, but he also did not make any show of disgust. Perhaps he was following some instruction of Mikranasta’s.

Only moments later, Davorultumn entered the room. Behind him, a swirl of wind and snow supported several trays of food and carried them over the the table.

Jorvanultumn stood up and addressed the humans. “My friends, this is my diare, Davorultumn.”

Gen stood up and walked over to Davorultumn, his gaze lingering for a moment over the food. Davorultumn held up his right hand.

As the two of them, and then Davorultumn and Miana Ting went through the formal greeting, Sinitïa said, “You keep using that word...dee uh ray...and what’s the other one? See uh ray?”

“Diare and siare,” Jorvanultumn said.

Sinitïa nodded. “Those ones. Meleng said it has something to do with who you teach.”

“That is correct. Isyar couples have two children. Each parent becomes the diare of one of the children. The diare raises their siare and instructs them in their own discipline of magic.”

“How do you decide who teaches who?”

“It is a personal decision of the Isyar couple. For example, when Fevionawishtensen and I have children, she will take the first child as her siare and I will take the second.”

“What if you have three children? Or four?”

“That does not happen.”

“Why?”

Jorvanultumn shrugged. “We do not know. It used to happen in the past, but has not happened now for several centuries.”

Sinitïa frowned. “Oh. Well, what if you only have one?”

Jorvanultumn gave her a sympathetic smile. “That only happens if one of the couple suffers an unfortunate accident before a second child can be born, and that is rare.”

“Yes, but what if—?”

Gen, who had returned to his seat, nudged Sinitïa, and pointed to Davorultumn, who was just finishing greeting Meleng.

Sinitïa bit her lower lip. “Oh, right.” She hurried over to greet Davorultumn.

Gen leaned over the much shorter Miana Ting between him and Jorvanultumn and said softly, “Meleng has the patience of a saint with her questions.”

Jorvanultumn smiled. While he understood Gen’s perspective, he also admired Sinitïa’s desire to learn. Too few people possessed that—humans and Isyar alike.

Once the greetings were out of the way, Davorultumn spread his arms and said to the humans in Arnorgue, “Mikranasta and I would like to welcome you all to our home.”

“Thank you for having us,” Meleng said.

“Yes,” Gen chimed in. “I have been to Chithishtheny many times before, but this is the first time I have ever been invited to a dinner. Thank you. I am very curious about what we are about to eat.”

Davorultumn nodded. “Yes, but first, I wish to apologise for any mistakes I make with your language. It is a long time since I used it.”

“Has been a long time,” Chiansamorkin said with a smirk.

Davorultumn lowered his head. “Yes, of course. Apologies.”

Gen waved a hand dismissively. “Nonsense. You speak Arnorgue far better than I speak Isyarian.”

“Thank you. You asked about the food. The main dish is matir...I do not know a word for it in your language.” Davorultumn looked to Jorvanultumn, who shrugged.

“I don’t think there is one,” Chiansamorkin said. “It’s not like there are any matire in Arnor.”

“What is it?” Sinitïa asked.

“It looks a little like a cat,” Jorvanultumn said, “but the size of a horse, with six legs and no fur.”

Sinitïa scrunched her nose. “That doesn’t sound very cat-like.”

Jorvanultumn shrugged. “Now I think about it, I suppose you are right. But it is the standard description we give humans.”

Davorultumn continued, “We are having the…” He sighed. “There is a word for this, I am sure.” He thought for a moment, then said the Isyarian word.

“Haunches,” Chiansamorkin said.

“Thank you.”

Sinitïa peered closely at the slices of meat. “They look like they have ice on them.”

“They do,” Davorultumn said. “After cooking, I slowly freeze the meat. Without freezing, the meat is…” He paused again, mouthing chewing. “Chewy. The meat is chewy. After freezing, it becomes...I think the word is crunchy. With the matir, there is a selection of local vegetables. I can tell you about them once we start eating if you want. There is also hpaks, a drink made from the juice of the hpakrik plant that grows in the table.”

“It looks delicious,” Gen said. “I can’t wait to try it all.”

“Then I will not make you wait longer. Please, help yourselves and enjoy.” Davorultumn waved his hand and a gust of wind and snow brought several plates through the door and placed one in front of each place at the table. Utensils followed.

Everyone began to serve themselves. Sinitïa had a huge grin on her face the whole time. When she bit into her slice of matir, her eyes widened. “This is good!”

Much of the next while was filled with Gen questioning about the vegetables, and Sinitïa asking various things about Isyar and Isyaria. Jorvanultumn and the other Isyar did their best to answer all the questions, and they did get the occasional opportunity to ask the humans questions.

Later, when a few szadan needles for chewing were all that remained of the food and the hpaks was down to the last drops, Chiansamorkin called for everyone’s attention. “Jorvanultumn and Fevionawishtensen have something to announce.”

Jorvanultumn blinked. He had almost forgotten about that, and he had not even thought about making an announcement, though if they wanted witnesses, they had to say something. He looked to Fevionawishtensen who beamed and nodded. He gulped down the last of his hpaks and stood up. “Yes. We...that is, Fevionawishtensen and I have decided to perform the fomaze with Chiansamorkin, who has graciously agreed. We are going to formalise it after dinner and we would appreciate witnesses.”

Before Jorvanultumn could translate for the humans, Hedromornasta spoke up. “That’s ridiculous. You can’t.”

“Hedromornasta, you’re being rude,” Mikranasta said.

“But they can’t.”

Mikranasta raised her eyebrows. “Why ever not?”

“The fomaze is for two pairs of fomasee, and Chiansamorkin does not have a fomase.”

“That’s not a strict rule,” Chiansamorkin said.

“But it is an established tradition.”

“Enough, Hedromornasta,” Mikranasta said. “You may disagree, but you have no say in this. I, for one, offer my congratulations to all three.”

Hedromornasta slammed his fists on the table. “But he is flouting our traditions again, just like his elispt! How can you allow him to do this?”

Mikranasta’s eyes narrowed.

“Jorvanultumn isn’t the only one involved in this decision,” Chiansamorkin said.

“Yes,” Hedromornasta said. “You are as well. You’ve done nothing but lust unnaturally after Jorvanultumn for years, even after he bonded to someone else. You’ve spent the last two years winging up to Fevionawishtensen to get her to agree to this unholy union.”

Chiansamorkin hissed and flicked her hand at him, her forefinger and pinky extended. “You little wing-rotting shit. You’re still a child. What do you know?”

Mikranasta stood. “Enough! How dare any of you behave this way in my and my fomase’s home. Chiansamorkin, how dare you speak that way to my siare. As you said, he is still a child, as grown up as he may believe he is. I will discipline him myself.”

Chiansamorkin closed her eyes and lowered her head. “My apologies, Mikranasta.”

Mikranasta pointed her finger at Hedromornasta. “As for you, you have made your disagreement known, and it has been rejected. You will apologise to Jorvanultumn, Fevionawishtensen, and Chiansamorkin for your rudeness. Then you will never mention this again. Am I understood?”

Hedromornasta bowed his head. “Yes, Diare.” He looked at Jorvanultumn, Fevionawishtensen, and Chiansamorkin in turn, saying to each, “Forgive my rudeness. It won’t happen again.”

“It’s fine,” Jorvanultumn said. Fevionawishtensen and Chiansamorkin both just nodded.

A light whimper came from Sinitïa. “Is it over?”

Jorvanultumn smiled at her. “Yes, it is over. I apologise for the...disruption.”

“If I might ask,” Gen said, “what was the announcement? I caught part of it, I think, but I want to be sure.”

“Yes, of course,” Jorvanultumn said. “Fevionawishtensen and I are going to perform the fomaze with Chiansamorkin.”

Gen’s eyes widened and he nodded. “I thought it might be that. Quite the thing to announce publicly, isn’t it?”

“We need witnesses,” Jorvanultumn said.

“You mean, people actually watch?”

“Yes.”

“I’m confused,” Sinitïa said. “Is this something to do with...what did you say it was, Etiënne? Those two words that sound exactly the same?”

“Fomase and fomaze,” Gen said.

Sinitïa nodded. “Yeah, that.”

“My apologies, Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith,” Jorvanultumn said. “It is an Isyar ceremony where families are joined together. After the ceremony, Chiansamorkin will be part of Fevionawishtensen and my family, and we will become part of hers.”

“Oh, that actually sounds nice,” Sinitïa said. “Why wouldn’t you explain it, Etiënne?”

Gen shifted uncomfortably. “Ah well, I believe there’s a bit more to it, isn’t there?”

“He implied it was something sexual,” Meleng said.

“Yes, and I know these two are sensitive to such things, so I didn’t want to go into much detail.”

Now he understood why Gen thought it odd there would be witnesses. “The ceremony is a simple spoken one. It takes only a few minutes. There is nothing sexual about it. After the ceremony, the relationship becomes whatever the Isyar involved wish it to be. Yes, that is often sexual, though it does not have to be. For many, it is merely a way of acknowledging close friendship.”

Gen shifted his position again. “Ah. It seems I misunderstood. I only heard the term in passing years ago, and it clearly involved a group of four Isyar in sexual relations. I apologise for the misunderstanding.”

Ting smirked, and Chiansamorkin laughed.

“Well, the kind that doesn’t involve sex sounds nice,” Sinitïa said.

Jorvanultumn took a moment to translate the most recent exchange for the benefit of the Isyar.

After that, Davorultumn stood up and said, “Let’s make some room for the ceremony, shall we?” He then translated himself for the humans, after which everyone stood up.

“You will need something personal, Jorvanultumn,” Chiansamorkin said. “Fevionawishtensen and I already have ours. Do you have something?”

Jorvanultumn thought for a moment. “Not on me, but I know what to use. I’ll go get—”

“Jorvanultumn,” Davorultumn interrupted, “will you help me with these dishes so the others can lower the low-table?”

There was no way Davorultumn actually needed the help. The spells he had used to bring everything in would have barely affected his power reserves. No, he clearly wanted to talk, and Jorvanultumn could guess what he wanted to talk about. Jorvanultumn turned to Meleng. “Meleng Drago, can you go to my room and bring me my element decahedra? I need to give away something personal in the ceremony.”

Meleng nodded. “Of course.” He hurried off, grabbing only his cloak to help against the cold.

Jorvanultumn gathered some air with a twist of his wrist, then created a small but strong wind to lift plates from the table. He then followed his diare into the adjoining room. “You wish to talk?”

Davorultumn leaned on the high-table. “That easy to read, am I?” He sighed. “I just want to say that, while I do not approve of his behaviour, I understand Hedromornasta’s reaction. You are…flouting our traditions. This is not what the fomaze is supposed to be.”

Jorvanultumn guided the plates gently on to the high-table, then released the wind. “I thought similarly, Diare, but Fevionawishtensen assures me there is no formal rule requiring…” He trailed off as Davorultumn shook his head.

“That may be so, Jorvanultumn, and I suppose it may be your right, but think of the optics. Couldn’t you at least wait until after the Lamdritta has ruled on your elispt?”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “We intended that at first. It was an impulsive decision I made just before dinner to take advantage of having witnesses all gathered together. I do understand your concerns, Diare. This has all happened very fast, and I’m sorry for that. I suppose I just needed something good to happen. I’ve been out of sorts on this trip. I know the havoc I’m creating.”

Davorultumn circled the high-table and touched his forehead to Jorvanultumn’s. “It’s all right. You’ve made your decision. I hope you’re all happy. Genuinely.”

“Thank you, Diare.”

Davorultumn returned to dealing with the dishes, lowering them into a bucket of water with a wave of his hand. Then repeated twitches of his wing stirred and agitated the water.

“You and Mikranasta never chose to perform the fomaze with anyone?”

Davorultumn continued to agitate the water while he stared up at the sky. After a moment, he shook his head. “With everything I know, I didn’t feel right doing it with any of my friends.”

“Everything you know? You mean the Pundritta?”

Davorultumn looked at Jorvanultumn, but there was a distance in his eyes. He looked about to say something, but paused.

“Diare?”

Davorultumn relaxed. “Yes, the Pundritta. It would be hard to keep such information to myself. And luckily for me, Mikranasta keeps from forming close relationships. There was never anyone she considered close enough for the fomaze.”

“That makes sense. I always did wonder about it.”

Davorultumn gave him a smile. “I can take care of everything from here. Perhaps you should return to the others. I will be out shortly. Don’t start without me.”

Jorvanultumn smiled back. “We won’t.” As he returned to the others, he could not shake the feeling that Davorultumn had been about to tell him something different.

In the gathering room, the low-table had already been lowered to its usual height, and the stools had been moved out of the way to one side of the room. Fevionawishtensen and Chiansamorkin stood by the wall farthest from the heating stones. The other Isyar appeared to be trying to give them space while also trying to be as far from the heat as possible. Hedromornasta stood staring across the room, but did not seem to be looking at anything in particular.

Hilkorultumn came towards Jorvanultumn, pausing briefly by Hedromornasta, who did not acknowledge him. Hilkorultumn shrugged and continued to Jorvanultumn. “Strange lad, that one.”

“He’s just sulking,” Jorvanultumn said. “He does that.”

“I want to offer my congratulations,” Hilkorultumn said, “but also to warn you to be careful. There will be others who think like Hedromornasta. It would have been better if you’d waited.”

“That’s what my diare said.”

“I taught him well.”

“There’s just not much time.”

Hilkorultumn touched his forehead to Jorvanultumn’s. “That’s what the young always think.” He sighed deeply. “Go join your new family.”

“Thank you.” Jorvanultumn crossed over to Fevionawishtensen and Chiansamorkin, who both smiled as he approached.

Ready? Fevionawishtensen signed.

“Just about, I think.” He looked about the room. Sinitïa, Gen, and Ting were warming themselves by the heating stones.

“Meleng Drago hasn’t returned yet,” Chiansamorkin said.

“He probably got distracted by something,” Jorvanultumn said. “What are you two offering as personal objects?”

Fevionawishtensen tapped the sword at her side.

“You would give her your sword?”

Fevionawishtensen looked at him blankly. It is the most personal thing I have. But I also have another.

“And you?” Jorvanultumn asked Chiansamorkin.

She grinned at him. “You’ll see.”

Davorultumn entered the room. “I hope I haven’t held things up.”

“We are still waiting for Meleng Dragon,” Jorvanultumn said, then repeated it in Arnorgue.

“I’ll go get him!” Sinitïa said. “He probably got distracted looking at something.” She grabbed her cloak and hurried out of the room.

Mikranasta approached Jorvanultumn and touched her forehead to his. She did the same with Fevionawishtensen and Chiansamorkin. She grinned at them all. “Last chance to change your minds.”

“No changing here.” Chiansamorkin nudged Jorvanultumn. “Right?”

He grinned. “Right.”

“Then I wish you the best,” Mikranasta said. “This is something I was never able to commit to.” She moved aside.

A minute or two later, Sinitïa returned to the gathering room. Her face was paler than usual and she was trembling.

“Sinitïa?” Jorvanultumn said.

Her face contorted like she was about to cry. “He wasn’t there. I can’t find him.”

“What?”

She held out a shaking hand. In it were Jorvanultumn’s element decahedra. “These were on the floor. The fire one is broken.”

Jorvanultumn stared at her open hand for what felt like an eternity. Were other people saying and doing things? Maybe. He could not be sure. He did not really care.

Meleng.

“Meleng!” Jorvanultumn bounded forward and took Sinitïa’s hand. The decahedra scattered, but they did not matter. He and Sinitïa ran for Jorvanultumn’s room.

His room looked undisturbed apart from the missing decahedra. He had spent very little time in here since returning; he had not even slept in his bed. “Meleng!” Meleng was clearly not here, but if he was nearby, perhaps he would answer.

No answer came.

Sinitïa repeated his call and still no answer.

Fevionawishtensen pushed past them into the room, holding up a hand to motion them to stay put. She knelt down and began tracing equations on the floor.

“What’s she doing?” Sinitïa asked.

“Her job,” Chiansamorkin said, placing a hand on Sinitïa’s shoulder.

Fevionawishtensen moved about the room, tracing equations on the walls, the bed, the high-table. Occasionally, tiny sparks danced at her fingertips.

Sinitïa fidgeted and squirmed about, but Chiansamorkin held her back. “Where’s Melly? He wouldn’t just leave. He only has his cloak. He’ll freeze.”

Jorvanultumn placed a hand on Sinitïa’s shoulder as well. “Just be calm. Let Fevionawishtensen finish. She may be able to tell us something.”

Mikranasta came up behind them. “I have sent Hedromornasta to inform the Hgirh and Lamdritta that Meleng Drago is missing.”

Sinitïa whimpered. “Missing? Maybe he fell and hit his head and can’t call out.”

“We would have passed him,” Jorvanultumn said.

“But what about the other rooms? We have to check everywhere.”

“It’s being done,” Mikranasta said, “but unless he has a tendency to go into other people’s private places uninvited, I doubt we will find him in any of them.”

“But he has to be somewhere!”

“Of course, and we will find him. Just be calm.”

Jorvanultumn squeezed Sinitïa’s shoulder gently. She was shaking considerably. “Mikranasta is right. Just be…” He trailed off a moment and looked at Mikranasta. “Calm.” She had spoken and understood Arnorgue. But how…? She must have used a translation spell! “You…”

Mikranasta held a finger to her lips. “Drastic times require drastic measures. Let’s keep it to ourselves, shall we? Fevionawishtensen wishes to say something.”

Jorvanultumn jolted his attention back to the room.

There are signs of mentalism magic, Fevionawishtensen signed. Probably an inexperienced user, or they would have covered their tracks better.

“Or they didn’t think they needed to,” Jorvanultumn said. “Has Hedromornasta been in here recently?”

“Only to bring you the papers I wrote for you,” Mikranasta said. “There’s no reason he would have needed any magic for that. Besides, that would have long since faded by now.”

“What are you talking about?” Sinitïa said. “I understand Mikranasta, but I haven’t learned all Feviona’s signs yet, and those ones were hard, and you keep talking your language.”

“Sorry, Sinitïa,” Jorvanultumn said. “We are just discussing what might have happened to Meleng.”

“What happened?”

“We think he might have been abducted by someone using mentalism magic,” Chiansamorkin said.

“Abducted? Mentalism. I don’t understand!”

“Someone might have used magic to kidnap him,” Jorvanultumn said.

Sinitïa wailed.

“Mind control of some sort?” Chiansamorkin asked Mikranasta in Arnorgue.

Mikranasta nodded. “It’s a distinct possibility. I will ask Captain Etiënne Gen if there are any mentalists in his crew.” She started to leave, but Jorvanultumn touched her arm.

“There are not.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. Only a couple of them even have the talent, and like most humans, they are untrained.”

She frowned. “Then you suggest an Isyar did this.”

“Who else could it be?”

Mikranasta shook her head. “I will ask the Captain anyway because your accusation will not be accepted until all other possibilities are unequivocally eliminated.” She pulled away from him, but stopped again, gazing at her hand. Streaks of yellow, like pouring paint, swirled around her hand and then her arm.

Blue circled in front of Jorvanultumn’s face.

“Fuck,” Chiansamorkin muttered.

Sinitïa screamed and fell to her knees. Streams of colours poured from her mouth, nose, eyes, ears, and fingertips. They swirled around Fevionawishtensen, over the bed, up the walls…

“Oh Jorvanultumn,” Mikranasta hissed. “This is bad. You should have warned me someone of her power was untrained. If she—”

“Go talk to the Captain,” Chiansamorkin said. “We’ll deal with this.”

Mikranasta stared a moment, while Chiansamorkin knelt in front of Sinitïa. Then she turned and stormed away.

Chiansamorkin reached out to Sinitïa who was shaking and wailing. “Sinitïa, I need you to listen to me. Please, listen to me.”

Sinitïa stopped wailing and turned her gaze, her head and body still shaking, to Chiansamorkin. The streams of colour continued to circle the room, getting faster and filling up more of the space.

A streak of red sliced painfully across Jorvanultumn’s arm and he jumped a little. It left some of the red behind. No. The red on his arm was blood from the cut the light had made.

Chiansamorkin grabbed Sinitïa’s shoulders. “Damn it, Sinitïa, listen to me! You have to release this or you’ll die and possibly take us with you. Do you understand?”

Sinitïa nodded slowly.

“Now, I want you to do exactly as I say. Focus on all your anger, all your fear, and concentrate it in your hand. Can you do that?”

“I...I don’t know.”

“Try. Imagine it in your hand, like you’re ready to punch someone with that hand. And that punch will have all the force of your anger. Make a fist and concentrate everything there.”

Sinitïa nodded and raised a trembling hand. She slowly curled her fingers, obviously straining to do so. As her hand formed a fist, the colours stopped spewing from her eyes, then her ears and everywhere else, except the one fist, where they were now only circling around it and not spreading into the room. The colours already in the room began to dissipate.

“Perfect,” Chiansamorkin said. “Now, instead of punching, I want you to say a word I’m going to tell you and then throw that rage. Imagine it’s a big rock and you’re going to smash something with it.”

Sinitïa nodded. The colours were winding up her arm now like a rainbow.

Chiansamorkin leaned forward and helped Sinitïa stand, wincing as some of the colours sliced her arm. She whispered in Sinitïa’s ears, then stood back from her. “Now, say the word and throw.”

“Where?”

“Anywhere. Pick a target. Throw at me if you want.” Chiansamorkin moved back farther from Sinitïa, while Fevionawishtensen hurried out of the way.

“At you? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. Just imagine I’m the person you hate most in the world. I’m the person who took Meleng! Make me pay. Throw that rock at me and make me fucking pay! Do it or I’ll kill Meleng!”

“No!” Sinitïa raised her arm and yelled a magical word. Then she threw. A small stone flew from her hand and the rainbow on her arm vanished.

The stone hit Chiansamorkin on the forehead, and she winced a little, but smiled. She bent over, picked up the stone from the floor, and twirled it in her fingers. “Not bad!” She pulled a smaller stone from the pocket of her robe. “This is about twice as big as my first one. That’s impressive.”

Sinitïa fell to her knees, sobbing.

Chiansamorkin rushed over to her and hugged her tight. “Oh, you poor child. We’re going to find Meleng, and then we’ll get you properly trained.” She pressed the stone Sinitïa had conjured into Sinitïa’s hand. “Keep this. Treasure it. It’s your first ever use of magic. One day, you’ll be the most powerful human wizard there ever was. I promise. Then you can give the stone to someone you care deeply about, like Meleng.” She kissed Sinitïa on the forehead and continued to hold her tight.

Jorvanultumn rubbed the cut on his arm. He nodded to Chiansamorkin’s wounds. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said in Isyarian. “That was light magic.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “I know. It doesn’t surprise me that’s what she instinctively went to. From what I understand, it was a very instinctive discipline.”

“Yeah, that no one can teach her anymore.”

“Will you be all right teaching her?”

“Of course. It will be a bit of a challenge at first until she overcomes those instincts, but it’s not like it’s all that unusual. She will be a great conjuror. Trust me.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “I do.”

“Now, the two of you should go mollify Mikranasta. And you may need to come up with an explanation for Sinitïa’s screams for everyone else.”

Fevionawishtensen knelt beside Chiansamorkin. Thank you. You saved her life and ours.

“Just a standard day for me.” Chiansamorkin grinned. “Shame we didn’t complete the fomaze.” She held out the other stone. “This was my first ever conjuration. I was going to give the two of you it.”

I consider it complete already, but we can formalise it later. Then you can give us the stone. The two of them kissed and Fevionawishtensen stood up. Love you.

Chiansamorkin smiled. “Love you, too.” She glared at Jorvanultumn. “What are you grinning about?” She broke into a grin herself.

“Just trying to get used to that,” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “Go!”

He took Fevionawishtensen’s hand, and they headed back to the gathering room.

* * * * *

The number of people in Davorultumn’s and Mikranasta’s home had more than doubled in the last couple hours. Most of them were Hgirh, but a few—led by Reszidbovroh—were observers and investigators appointed by the Lamdritta. Jorvanultumn sat by the low-table in the gathering room watching everyone move about.

Fevionawishtensen had given a report when they’d first arrived, after which she had joined the other Hgirh in searching the surrounding area. Jorvanultumn wanted to be out searching with them, or at the very least, doing something more than sitting here, but Reszidbovroh had made it very clear he was to wait until called on. All he could do now was watch people move about.

Gen and Ting had been escorted back to the visitors’ lodges so that the Hgirh could question them and their crew. Reszidbovroh stated they were going on the initial assumption that one of Gen’s crew was secretly a mentalist and that person had effected Meleng’s kidnapping. Gen had protested that that was not the case, but no one was willing to listen to him. A mentalist could have easily fooled them, Reszidbovroh said.

Jorvanultumn had not seen Sinitïa since he had left her with Chiansamorkin. Hopefully, Chiansamorkin had kept her away from all the chaos, though given her level of talent, the Hgirh would almost certainly want to question her. Jorvanultumn was not certain whether it was better if that happened sooner or later.

Hilkorultumn lowered himself slowly onto a stool beside Jorvanultumn. With a wave of his wing, he brought a cold breeze down from above. “Even with those stones gone, it’s still too hot in here. I don’t know how I got through the rest of the world all those years ago.”

Jorvanultumn smirked. “You’re just old.” Removing the heating stones had been one of the first things the Hgirh had done upon arrival.

Hilkorultumn laughed. “I suppose I am. You know who did this, don’t you?”

Jorvanultumn shook his head. “No. How could I know that?”

“I don’t mean the specific individual and you know that.”

“You mean the Pundritta?”

The elderly Isyar nodded. “Of course I do.”

“But why?”

“What do you mean why? It’s what they do.”

Jorvanultumn shook his head. “No, it isn’t. You said as much. They’ve been silent for two generations. Why do something so obvious now?”

Hilkorultumn slumped over. “I know this has been a lot for you, but you have to trust me. My diare told me to expect their resurgence in my lifetime, and I don’t have a lot of time left to me.”

“But how did she—?”

Hilkorultumn held up a hand. “She knew. She had her methods. You’ll understand better once you’ve read her files.”

“I suppose.”

“That aside, even if it’s not the Pundritta, I’m pretty sure you agree that it was an Isyar who did this, not a human, no matter what that moron Reszidbovroh believes. He’s almost as much of an idiot as his diare.”

“You don’t think a human could do this?”

Hilkorultumn smirked. “Oh, I know there are some that could. I suspect that Will-Breaker of yours could do it if she put her mind to it. But I also don’t believe there are any such humans here in Isyaria. No, this was an Isyar, and you know it.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “I do.”

“At least we agree on that.”

“I suspect you’re also right that the Pundritta are behind this. I just hope you’re wrong.”

Hilkorultumn chuckled. “We can agree on that too. Don’t worry. We’ll find your friend.”

Jorvanultumn took a deep breath, held back the tears, and nodded. He had to be strong through this. For Sinitïa’s sake. For Meleng’s.

Hilkorultumn leaned closer to him. “It’s all right to be upset, you know. Your friend has been kidnapped.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “I know, but—” He stopped as Reszidbovroh came over to them.

“After a thorough investigation, I can confirm Fevionawishtensen’s findings that mentalism magic was used around the time of Meleng Drago’s disappearance. I would like to ask you what you know of Captain Etiënne Gen’s crew. According to Mikranasta, you said there are crewmembers with magical talent.”

“That is true,” Jorvanultumn said. “However, they are untrained.”

“Can you be certain of this? Is it possible one or more have kept their training secret?”

“Technically yes, but I doubt it.”

“Why?”

Hilkorultumn stood up. “Oh, enough! It’s an Isyar and you know it.”

Reszidbovroh’s wings twitched at Hilkorultumn’s sudden use of the informal. “Please, contain yourself, Hilkorultumn. This is serious business.”

Hilkorultumn switched to the formal. “Very well. An Isyar is responsible for this. You waste time asking questions about the human sailors.”

“I do not believe…” Reszidbovroh backed away slightly as Hilkorultumn loomed forward.

“Really?”

Reszidbovroh lowered his voice. “Look, you know as well as I do the chaos that will be generated if it gets out that an Isyar committed this crime. I cannot make such an accusation without being one hundred percent certain.”

“But you are close, are you not?”

“Please keep your suspicions to yourself, Hilkorultumn. Now, please excuse us. I would like to speak to Jorvanultumn alone.”

Jorvanultumn nodded to Hilkorultumn, who glared at Reszidbovroh for a moment longer, but then acquiesced. “Very well.” He hobbled slowly away—much more slowly than he needed to, Jorvanultumn was sure.

“Where is Princess Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith?” Reszidbovroh asked once Hilkorultumn was out of earshot.

“Last I saw she was with Lamdhir Chiansamorkin.”

Reszidbovroh’s eyes widened. “With the Lamdhir? But she does not know about...that is…” He glanced about furtively.

“She is keeping Princess Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith safe.”

Reszidbovroh leaned in closer and spoke quietly. “This is a delicate situation. Many people will want to question the Princess about what happened. People could find out that she is untrained. I was hoping to question her before anyone else. That way, I could hopefully convince them to accept my results and not question her themselves. You are aware of Lamdir Paydamat’s concerns, and I agree with her. I have not even told my diare about her. It it gets out…”

“I trust Lamdhir Chiansamorkin. If she learns of it, she will not spread it.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“If they are not here, then I do not know. The Lamdhir must have taken her somewhere safe. Whoever took Meleng Drago might come for Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith as well.”

Reszidbovroh sighed. “It is a valid concern. There are reports that Princess Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith was screaming and neighbours say there were coloured lights shining above this building around the same time.”

“Yes, she was upset.”

Reszidbovroh’s already narrow eyes narrowed even more. “And the lights?”

“The lights…” Jorvanultumn groaned. There were ways to explain them, but ways that made sense at the same time they discovered Meleng’s abduction?

Reszidbovroh shook his head. “Did anyone see her at this time? The Lamdhir perhaps?”

Jorvanultumn gave a long sigh. “She might have, but I told you she will not tell anyone of it.” Hopefully, he did not learn that Fevionawishtensen was there as well.

“I hope you are right. Lamdhir Chiansamorkin is unpredictable and reckless. I do not have the same trust in her as you. She is too young. She does not have the wisdom necessary for her position.”

Jorvanultumn said nothing.

Reszidbovroh cleared his throat. “My apologies. I should not speak so ill of the Lamdhir. I know the two of you are close.”

“Please find Meleng Drago, and do not spend too much time establishing that this was not the work of a human.”

Reszidbovroh gulped. “You do not understand the upheaval this will cause.”

“Maybe not, but I know it is unavoidable. The more time you waste interrogating Etiënne Gen’s crew, the more you put Meleng Drago’s life at risk.”

“I will do my best, but I ask you to leave this to me and the Hgirh. You are in a precarious enough position as it is. If you get involved, spreading stories—”

“Meleng Drago is my friend and I will do whatever is necessary to find him if you do not do it first and promptly.”

Reszidbovroh’s wings twitched and he straightened up, clamping down his jaw. “As I said, I will do my best. Thank you for your time.” He slapped his hand on his chest. “May the night be short.”

“May the—”

Before Jorvanultumn could finish the valediction, Reszidbovroh turned around and walked away.

Jorvanultumn shook his head sadly. He should probably find where Chiansamorkin had taken Sinitïa. He would like to be there when she was questioned, if just for moral support. She would need to be somewhere warmer, as her outdoor clothes were still here, draped over a stool with Meleng’s. The visitors’ lodges made the most sense. However, if Chiansamorkin was trying to keep Sinitïa away from being questioned, she might have taken her somewhere less obvious, intending to conjure heat for her. He would check the visitors’ lodges first, then try some other places if they were not there.

He gathered up Sinitïa’s outdoor clothes and then Meleng’s.

Gods, Meleng.

Jorvanultumn stood there for a moment, cradling the bundle of clothes. His wings trembled.

If Meleng died…

Jorvanultumn had brought Meleng here, and then had practically ignored him. And Sinitïa. He had been so caught up in his own activities. Some of it had been important, but others… He should have made more time for Meleng. Now he might never see him again. But by the gods, if Meleng did die, whoever was responsible would pay. Jorvanultumn would see to that. He would tear Chithishtheny apart—and the rest of Isyaria, if necessary—until he found the culprits.

He could not let go of the bundle to wipe the tears from his eyes, so he tried to blink them away, but they were building up too fast.

A hand touched his shoulder. “Oh, Jorvanultumn.” It was Mikranasta. “We’ll find him.”

“I should have been there for him. I sent him off alone.”

“In a place that should have been safe. You did nothing wrong.”

“I could have protected him.”

“You don’t know that, and you had no way to know then that anything would happen. This is not your fault.”

He dropped the clothes, turned, and put his arms around her. He sobbed into her shoulder as she hugged him tight, the way she used to when he was small, before Hedromornasta was born.

* * * * *

Sinitïa was curled up on her bed, Jeanne dozing beside her, when Jorvanultumn arrived at her room. He was glad it had not taken long to find her.

Chiansamorkin hurried over to him and, as soon as he had put Sinitïa’s and Meleng’s clothes down, touched her forehead and wing tips to his. Then she motioned to the door and dragged him out it. “I don’t want to wake her. She cried herself to sleep.”

He walked with her a bit farther down the hall so they could talk without fear of being too loud.

“Where is Fevionawishtensen?” Chiansamorkin asked.

“Leading search parties.”

“Good. I hope they find him soon.”

“I doubt it.”

“You think they won’t find him?”

“No, not that. I just don’t think it will be fast. We have to find him.”

“Trust the Hgirh. They’ll find him. They’re trained for this, and they’re good at what they do.”

Jorvanultumn sighed. “And does that include kidnappings?”

Chiansamorkin frowned. “Well, I’m sure they train for the possibility.”

“And have they ever actually dealt with one?”

“No idea, but they deal with disputes between Isyar all the time, including ones involving mentalists. Sometimes that involves finding hidden things.”

“Perhaps, but they’re also taking direction from Reszidbovroh at the moment, and he’s too focused on trying to pin this on a human when he knows it was an Isyar.”

Chiansamorkin rolled her eyes. “And here I thought he was better than his diare. Well, fuck him. We will find Meleng ourselves if necessary.”

“I told him I would do whatever was necessary if he would not.”

She smiled at him. “As you should. Where will you start?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure yet.” It was technically true. He might suspect the Pundritta, but he still did not know who. He needed to tell her about the Pundritta. She needed to know if she was going to help find Meleng. But he needed to tell Fevionawishtensen first—or, at the very least, the two of them together. “Reszidbovroh wishes to speak to Sinitïa by the way. He will probably be here soon.”

Chiansamorkin groaned. “So do others. I’ve already turned them away, and I’ll turn him away too. There is little she can tell him, and she needs the rest.”

“I think you should let him.”

“Why?”

“He already knows she’s untrained and he’s worried others will find out when they question her. If he questions her first, he can supply the others with her answers and keep them away from her.”

Chiansamorkin stepped back with a sigh. “That actually makes sense. All right, I’ll let him, but I will insist on being present the whole time.”

Jorvanultumn grinned. “Of course. I want at least one of us with her at all times.”

She stepped closer to him. “I will do everything in my power to help you find him, you know.”

“I know.”

“And if they have harmed him, or worse, killed him, I will kill them.”

He gulped. “If necessary.” Killing might be extreme, but he had to admit, it was something he had considered himself.

She put her arms around him. “By taking him, they’ve hurt both you and Sinitïa, and I care for you both, especially you. They will know no mercy.”

“Thank you.” He kissed her. He wanted to hold her longer, but there were too many things to do.

She stepped back from him again. “Want a suggestion where to start?”

“Of course.”

“Nascanmat. I doubt the Hgirh or Reszidbovroh have spoken to him yet. They will eventually, but they will leave it as late as they can, given who his diare is.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. He had forgotten about Nascanmat. He should probably also ask Hedromornasta for more details about what they’d said to each other.

“Be careful,” Chiansamorkin said. “I don’t know his skill level, but again, given his diare…”

“I’ll be careful.”

“I better go wake Sinitïa and prep her for questioning. Let me know as soon as you know anything.”

They touched wing tips and foreheads, and she returned to Sinitïa’s room. Jorvanultumn watched her until she was through the door, then turned and headed downstairs to the exit. He would talk to Mikranasta first. He was going to have to tell her about the Pundritta, but he suspected she already knew. He doubted his diare had kept that from her, and if he had told her, then to hell with the secrets. It was time everyone knew the truth.