“This is very bad news,” Mikranasta said. “Very bad.” There was a harshness to her voice, like she was holding back anger and growling out the words.

“We knew it had to happen eventually,” Felitïa said.

Mikranasta interlocked her fingers in front of her chin. “Perhaps.”

They were in the palace library, Felitïa seated at the table with Zandrue beside her and Anita across from her. Meleng and Sinitïa also sat at the table, while Corvinian was in one of the chairs by the walls, rocking it side to side even though it wasn’t designed for that. Nin-Akna stood behind Anita, while Jorvan and Feviona stood in the centre of the room to either side of Mikranasta.

“I don’t deny that it’s bad news,” Felitïa said. “I just don’t see that it’s all that much worse than anything else we have to deal with.”

Mikranasta bowed her head. “As you say, Will-Breaker.”

“It’s convenient timing,” Zandrue said. “I frequently disagree with Mikranasta, but this really is particularly bad news. It happens just as we’re preparing for a bunch of us to leave. Really convenient timing.”

Felitïa shrugged. “I suppose so.” It was bad timing. She couldn’t deny that. But the last demon had to turn up eventually, and in many ways, it was good that it did before she left.

“I am particularly concerned by the old man,” Jorvan said. “He stood with both demons and seemed to have some level of control over them.”

“You say he didn’t have any eyes?” Zandrue said.

Jorvan shook his head. “As best I could tell. I was struggling to breathe at the time.”

“Definitely didn’t have any eyes,” Corvinian said. “Just empty sockets. Really gross. He didn’t have a nose either.”

“Presumably a high-ranking Darker,” Meleng said.

“Maybe the highest-ranking,” Zandrue said.

Felitïa turned to her. “You mean…?”

Zandrue nodded.

“The Dusk Supreme? Are you sure?”

“No, not at all, but it fits. Who else would be commanding demons?”

“People like Lamaën and Lidda Plavin have commanded dragons,” Felitïa said.

Zandrue shrugged. “I know. Like I said, I can’t be sure. It’s just a feeling. Whatever the case, he’s powerful.”

“So what do you suggest we do?” Felitïa said.

“The same thing we were already planning to do,” Mikranasta said. “There is no other option. You and Zandromeda Armida will go to Singea to find Rudiger Fonivan. Nin-Akna will go with Meleng Drago and Fevionawishtensen to Collogia to find Quilla Steranovist. Jorvanultumn will remain here to defend the palace. Hedromornasta and I will aid him as best we can, but if the demons attack, there will be little we can do.”

“I’ll say it again,” Felitïa said, “Why don’t you and Hedromornasta come with me and Zandrue? I know you can’t maintain the shield indefinitely, but you could be nearby to help if I lose control. I’m not sure I’m ready to go without you.”

Mikranasta lowered her hands and gave Felitïa a slight smile. “Neither am I, but there is no other option. There is a mentalist at work with the Darkers. A powerful one. Possibly the siare of Plavistalorik. I am needed here to help root them out.”

Felitïa nodded. The shield was still there, and she had to stop herself instinctively prodding at it at that moment. Images of Koreen flitted through the Room in her head—Koreen stabbing herself through the throat. Then memories of almost erasing Zandrue’s mind.

She’d had some successful sessions with Mikranasta in the past couple weeks—sessions with Zandrue present and inside the shield. Just two nights ago, she had spent the night sleeping beside Zandrue, and nothing had gone wrong.

But Mikranasta had been there in case something had. If something went wrong without Mikranasta there… The possibilities were terrifying.

Zandrue squeezed Felitïa’s hand, and whispered in her ear. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.”

Felitïa smiled at her. Then she addressed the room. “All right. We’ll continue with the plan as it is. The day after tomorrow, I’ll use the Staff to take Nin-Akna, Meleng, and Feviona to Porthaven. You’ll have to make it the rest of the way to Collogia on your own. Then, with Miana’s help, I’ll transport them, Zandrue, and myself to Singea. Jorvan, be careful. Those demons are powerful, and Kranian… From what Nin-Akna has told us and what happened to Meleng…”

Jorvan bowed his head. “I will be careful.”

“I can help!” Corvinian said.

“Now, Corvin,” Nin-Akna started.

“He was afraid of me! I’m sure of it.”

Felitïa looked to Nin-Akna who shrugged. “Afraid? I’m not sure of that, but he did avoid Corvin’s energy.”

Felitïa nodded and looked back to Corvinian. “Just do what Jorvan tells you to, okay?”

Corvinian nodded eagerly. “Don’t worry, I will!”

Felitïa took a deep breath. “Then it’s settled. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some rest. I have a lot to do tomorrow before we leave.”

“Good luck, everyone,” Anita said, standing up. She took Nin-Akna’s hand and left the room.

As the others slowly filed out, Felitïa leaned over to Sinitïa. “Would you remain a moment?”

Sinitïa nodded. She kissed Meleng. “I’ll see you soon.”

Once everyone else but Mikranasta was gone, Felitïa said, “I’m sorry you have to stay here.”

Sinitïa scrunched her nose. “That’s okay. I do wish I was going with Melly, but I understand. I’d just get in the way.”

Felitïa smiled at her. “You know you’ve been incredibly helpful. We wouldn’t have figured out the Pearl without you.”

Sinitïa grinned. “I know. Really, it’s okay. I need to stay here with Jorvan anyway, so I can keep learning. Oh, I haven’t told you! I saw my colours today!”

Felitïa eyed her. “Don’t you see colours all the time.”

“Yes, but these are different. These are my magic!”

“Oh, I see. Well done!”

“Thank you! Was there something you wanted of me?”

Felitïa got up and moved to the chair beside Sinitïa, where she took her sister’s hand. “I want to ask a favour of you.”

“Of course!”

“I want to enter your mind again. I’ve been practising a lot lately with Zandrue, but Mikranasta thinks I need more experience with a different mind. Besides, I think Zandrue needs a break.”

Sinitïa chuckled. “It’s okay.”

“You’re sure? I have to remind you of the dangers.”

Sinitïa wrapped both her hands around Felitïa’s hand. “I remember, and it’s okay. I trust you. You’re my favourite sister.”

Felitïa smiled and placed her free hand over Sinitïa’s. “Thank you, but there’s more, and it could be dangerous.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember when you used the Pearl and my mind went with you, but also somehow stayed in the Hall of Knowledge?”

Sinitïa nodded.

“I want to try something like that again. When I go to Singea, I want to leave a part of me in you. I don’t know if it will work or what effect it will have on us, but Mikranasta will be here if anything goes wrong. She’ll watch over you, and she’ll destroy the part of me in you if you’re ever in danger.”

“So you’re saying I’ll still be able to see you even when you’re not here.”

Felitïa shrugged. “Not actually see, but we’ll be in contact. Sort of. Maybe. If it works.”

“I like that,” Sinitïa said.

“You’re sure?”

“I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t. Besides, we don’t get enough time to talk, and maybe this will give us some.”

Felitïa laughed.

“It’s not funny. I’ve got things I want to tell you.”

Felitïa squeezed Sinitïa’s hands. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

“It’s okay.”

“I can’t guarantee we’ll actually be able to talk to each other.”

“I know.”

“But yes, it will be nice to talk if we’re able.”

They sat in silence for a moment, just holding each other’s hands.

“So, should we do it?” Sinitïa said eventually.

Felitïa smiled. “Not right away. We’ll do it just before I leave. I need some rest tonight, and I need to prepare myself mentally tomorrow.”

“Okay!” Sinitïa let go of Felitïa’s hands and stood up. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She leaned over and kissed Felitïa on the forehead. “I love you, big sis.”

Felitïa chuckled. “I love you, too.”

Sinitïa practically skipped out of the room.

Felitïa sat there a little while longer, her heart pounding. Are you sure this is a good idea?

Again, no, Mikranasta said. In fact, it’s probably a bad idea, but we have reached a point where we have to take dangerous risks. Given your tendency towards recklessness, I would have thought you’d be happy I’m not only allowing, but encouraging, you to do such things.

Not since the last time. Gods, she had almost erased Zandrue’s mind, almost erased her closest friend from existence. I’m terrified.

Good. You should be. But know that it is that terror which allows me to trust you to do this. You may be reckless, but you are strong. You are intelligent. You are powerful. There is even a glimmer of wisdom forming in your head.

I hope your trust isn’t misplaced.

As do I. Do not disappoint me.

I’ll try not to.

Now, as you have said several times already, you need rest. To bed with you, Will-Breaker.

Felitïa rose slowly and headed from the library, Mikranasta following behind. Once she was in the privacy of her room, with Mikranasta in the hall outside, she changed for bed, blocked Mikranasta from her head, curled up in her bed with Lon and Nesh, and cried herself to sleep.

* * * * *

Ghosts flitted across the Room. Not literal ghosts, of course. Just memories. But they might as well have been ghosts. They brought fear with them. Koreen killing herself. The dragon tearing the Room apart. Elderaan lying unmoving and unthinking in his bed. To make matters worse, the image of Elderaan was clearer than anything Felitïa had managed to conjure up in anything other than this nightmare. When she tried to hold on to the image, it faded away, replaced by the memory of seeing Meleng for the first time after he lost his arm.

The memories weren’t even bothering to wait for two sensations to collide. They were just forming unbidden, and they wouldn’t go away even though she was lucid.

She tried taking solace by the queue under the Staff, where the voices called to her and listed the names of everyone lined up there. Perhaps it would distract her from her fears.

Felitïa. Felitïa, you must listen to me.

Always the same, but right now, that sameness was comforting.

Zandrue. Rudiger, Borisin.

Rudiger looked weary. Strained even.

Meleng. Jorvanultumn. Corvinian.

Meleng looked distant, with a great unhappiness hung over him. Felitïa was glad he had Sinitïa, but she wasn’t sure that was enough.

Quilla.

Quilla looked angry.

Had she been able to notice people’s expressions before? Wasn’t it normally just their physical condition? It was strangely hard to remember.

Kindanog.

The odd one out. After all this time, and she still had not truly met him. Only seen him from a distance. Clearly that had to change at some point.

Because her future was set? What was the point of anything if that was the case?

Nin-Akna. Etiënne. Miana.

She wanted so desperately for her relationship with Miana to be something more, but she was also terrified of it. What if she did something to them? Destroyed their mind like she had almost done to Zandrue?

Lisanacora.

The image still shifted, showing the Isyar at seemingly every age of her life.

Mumble. Mumble. Mumble.

The rest unintelligible as usual.

Zandrue. Rudiger.

Wait! Unintelligible, but distinct. In the past, the voices had just faded as if wandering far into the distance, out of earshot. Other voices then took up listing the names. She had never heard them reach an end before.

Borisin. Meleng. Jorvanultumn.

She waited as each name went by, and eventually, the end approached. She had to hear it again.

Miana. Lisanacora. Mumble. Mumble. Mumble. Then a pause. Zandrue.

Three names. She still couldn’t make them out, but there were three names after Lisanacora’s!

In the line-up, the forms past Lisanacora were still indistinct, blurred, shrouded in fog or mist. But she could make out three distinct forms, and then the line ended.

Felitïa, you must listen to me.

I think I finally am!

You are so close now.

You’re responding to me again?

For a short time.

What can you tell me? Last time, you told me to beware of Kranian. What can you tell me about him?

He serves two masters, and they are at odds. But Kranian is not the only one to be wary of. You are so close. You must not falter now.

I’ll certainly try not to.

I must go now.

Wait! Who are you?

Felitïa.

Are you still there?

Felitïa.

Shit. Gone again. Why couldn’t they just tell her what she needed to know? Why did everything have to be so cryptic?

Oh well. At least she’d been distracted from the ghosts.

Of course, now they came back.

* * * * *

It’s about time.

I’m sorry I haven’t been around much, Felitïa said.

I’m not worried so much about how often you come by, so long as you get me decent care.

Felitïa looked over Borisin. He looked good as best she could tell. She wasn’t an expert, but she was certain he looked better now than he had when she’d brought him here. Lady Anita assures me you have the best grooms in the province.

Borisin snorted. If that’s the case, then remind me never to accept the services of any other groom in the province, because if these are the best, then I shudder to think what the others are like.

“Hey, Borisin!” Corvinian said.

At least the kid’s here. Tell him to brush me. He’s half decent at it.

“Borisin says he wants you to brush him.”

“Sure!” Corvinian hopped over to the supply shelf and grabbed a couple of brushes.

I suppose you want more telepathy advice, Borisin said.

If you don’t mind, but first, I’m curious. You’ve always taken a shine to Corvinian. You let him ride you when you first met him, even though Rudiger said that was something you pretty much never did.

Corvinian started brushing Borisin’s neck.

Tell him to focus on my mane. There are a lot of knots in it.

“He says do his mane.”

“Got it!” Corvinian switched to Borisin’s mane.

Ah, that’s more like it.

So? Felitïa prodded.

He has a good scent to him. A trustworthy scent.

I don’t understand. How can a scent be trustworthy?

Borisin snorted again. Yeah, Rudiger doesn’t like it when I say a scent is trustworthy, or shifty, or wrong either. You know how other horses get frightened at the scent of Volgs?

Yes.

It’s kind of like that, only the opposite. I felt good about him from the first moment I saw him, and I was right. He at least tries when he grooms me, and he’s learned a lot under Rudiger’s tutelage.

Are you afraid of Volgs too? Like other horses?

I wouldn’t call it fear. I’m not afraid of anything. But I did tell Rudiger right from the start that Zandrue smelled wrong. Ow! Borisin stomped his leg. Tell him to not pull so hard.

“Don’t pull so hard.”

Corvinian grimaced. “Sorry, Borisin. It won’t happen again.”

Tell him it’s all right. We all make mistakes. I forgive him.

With a sigh, Felitïa addressed Corvinian again. “He says he forgives you.”

“I like that you can talk to him now,” Corvinian said. “It’s like having Rudiger here.”

So what do you want to know? Borisin asked.

Felitïa leaned against the wall of the stall. Tomorrow, I’m going to do something probably very dangerous.

You’re going after Rudiger tomorrow, aren’t you? My advice is, of course it’s dangerous. Do it anyway. If you don’t, I might be forced to bite you or worse until you do.

That’s not what I mean. Of course, I’m going after Rudiger. But when I go, I’m planning on leaving a piece of me behind in Sinitïa’s head. I’m not entirely sure it’s possible, or what effect it might have on—

Yeah, my advice there is, don’t. That’s insanely dangerous.

Felitïa straightened up. What do you know of it? Have you done it before?

Nope. I know nothing of it. It’s not something that’s even occurred to me before, but contacting someone else can be ridiculously hard sometimes. There’s no way I’d ever leave a piece of myself in someone else. Whatever gave you the idea to try something like that?

It happened by accident once before when we were trying to learn how to use the Pearl. And Mikranasta suggested—

Yeah, I don’t trust her. You shouldn’t either.

You’ve never even met her.

She’s been nearby on other occasions you’ve come to see me. She’s just over there now. I can smell her, and she smells shifty.

Felitïa looked over at Mikranasta. You can smell her from this distance?

She’s got a strong scent.

She’s a mentalist. We’re all a little shifty.

You aren’t.

Yes, I am. Sort of.

Borisin snorted, and Corvinian giggled. “Ask him why he does that so much.”

I’ve told him before I need some way to express my disbelief or disapproval.

“He says you already know.”

Corvinian sighed. “Yeah, but I thought maybe he’d give you a better answer than he gives Rudiger.”

Better answer? There’s only one answer to that question.

“He says there isn’t a better answer.”

Corvinian shrugged. “Oh well.” He returned to brushing Borisin’s mane.

Anything else? Borisin asked.

Felitïa shook her head.

You seem unhappy.

Felitïa shook her head again. It’s not that. I just…

You hoped for something more reassuring from me. I don’t do that. Look at it this way. You’re incredibly powerful, Felitïa, but you don’t know what you’re doing yet. I don’t have even a fraction of your ability and probably couldn’t cause any damage to anyone, but I would never even consider doing something like that. You could seriously hurt yourself or Sinitïa. Don’t do it.

Felitïa sighed. He was probably right. In fact, he was almost certainly right. Why had she let Mikranasta talk her into it? They had to take risks, yes, but that much of a risk? And was Mikranasta really that untrustworthy? Yes, she could be opinionated, stubborn, and annoying, but she had helped Felitïa in so many ways. Without Mikranasta’s help, Felitïa almost certainly would have caused much more damage than she had.

Please tell me you won’t do it.

Felitïa reached out and ran her hand along Borisin’s snout. You’re right. It’s too dangerous. I don’t know what I was thinking. I won’t do it. I promise.

Borisin leaned into her touch. Thank you. If you wreck your mind, you won’t be able to get Rudiger back.

Felitïa snickered. Don’t worry, we’ll get him back.

Damn right, we will.

She hesitated a moment, uncertain whether to bring this up with him. Borisin, are you sure—?

Don’t even think about asking me to stay behind.

Miana says we’ll be going through very mountainous terrain. They don’t think it’s good for a horse.

This is Rudiger we’re talking about. Not a chance I’m staying behind.

She nodded. Okay. I just wanted to know you were sure. We’ll come get you tomorrow. She headed out of the stall and towards Mikranasta.

You better!

“Stay with him, Corvinian.”

“Got it!”

She needed to tell Mikranasta her decision, and it was best Corvinian not be around for that. She suspected she had a bit of an argument ahead of her.