The black walls rose up, their pieces slotting into each other until they formed a complete circle around the Room and rising into infinity. Then, with a slight nudge, the infinite tops and bottoms bent inwards and linked together, and with another nudge, they folded out into other impossible directions as well, forming an n-dimensional sphere. Felitïa held them like that and waited.

This is the extent of your defences? Mikranasta said.

I can spin them to knock thoughts and presences aside, or move them out to push things back. At her words, the sphere began to turn, the individual pieces of the wall moving in different directions, slipping over one another, yet still always maintaining a closed spherical shape.

Adequate, I suppose, but I can see it is a strain on you and requires effort.

It does. How much effort depends on the strength of what I’m trying to keep out and how much there is.

Mikranasta’s disappointment hit Felitïa so hard, it nearly knocked her mental presence over.

You did that on purpose, Felitïa said. She suspected the disappointment wasn’t even real—or rather, Mikranasta was disappointed, but she hadn’t sent her actual disappointment at Felitïa.

I did, because you’re thinking in old terms, Felitïa Asa Folith. Your abilities have changed. You’re more powerful now. Don’t be limited by your preconceptions of before.

But that’s the thing. Even before, I barely knew what I was doing. Half the time, I didn’t. I had to discover things by pure chance and instinct. I don’t doubt there are better ways of doing things, but I have no clue what those things are.

Disbelief actually knocked Felitïa over this time.

Felitïa righted herself by turning the Room around her. It was quicker that way. She let her own annoyance flit around Mikranasta, but held back from knocking her over with it.

Good, you’re getting the idea. Yes, you need to discover things and you’re going to still need to discover things. I can give you guidance, but I cannot teach you. I know mentalism magic, but I am not a telepath. There are overlaps of course, but they are not the same thing. But instinct can be a powerful source of innovation. Let your instincts find new things and then refine those things, just like you use instinct to empower your spellcasting.

I understand. I just…

You just what?

Felitïa sighed. She didn’t like admitting her feelings to Mikranasta. They were perfectly normal things and not particularly secret, but she always felt as though Mikranasta was judging her for them—probably because, half the time, Mikranasta outright admitted to judging her. But she needed to be honest with Mikranasta if she wanted Mikranasta’s mentorship to be of any help. I’m impatient. With everything that’s going on, I worry that I can’t wait long enough to truly learn my abilities. I’m worried about Zandrue. I’m worried about Rudiger. I’m trying coordinate with Cerus and Amar Padara and others regarding our response to Lidda Plavin. I have to keep Agernon placated every time he’s around you or Hedromornasta. And there’s the memorial for my parents coming up, and I haven’t really had a chance to mourn. I keep pushing on because there’s so much else to do.

Amazingly, Mikranasta didn’t send any disappointment or annoyance or other emotion at her. There are others who can do some of those things. To start with, you shouldn’t be taking such a direct hand in the memorial. Let Lady Anita Belone do that. When we are finished here, you should go to Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith. Spend time with her and mourn together. It’s been nearly two weeks, and you haven’t done that.

You’re probably right. There was another problem, of course, that made seeing Sinitïa difficult, and Felitïa was pretty certain Mikranasta knew what that was.

Good. Shall we continue?

Sure.

Bring a piece of the wall over. Examine it.

Felitïa turned her attention back to the wall. She had momentarily forgotten about it. It had stopped spinning, but was still in its spherical shape. Unfolding it, she brought a piece over to her. It was black and perfectly smooth and featureless. Exactly what she expected. It was her creation, after all. I’ve done this many times. What am I looking for?

You tell me.

Felitïa turned the piece of wall around, flipped it over, and spun it around again. It’s a wall. I’m not sure what else to say.

Why a wall?

Because walls block things. I mean, it’s not really a wall. It’s just my mind’s representation of whatever I’m doing to shield myself.

Precisely. Your subconscious chose a wall because it’s a point of reference you can use. Now, pretend it’s a real wall. How would you strengthen it?

Make it thicker perhaps. But that would need more effort to create and probably maintain as well.

How else?

Felitïa smiled. She had an idea was Mikranasta was getting at, and it made a lot of sense. Stronger material.

What’s it currently made of?

Felitïa laughed. Gods, she was an idiot.

What are you laughing at?

Myself. I should have seen it. The wall’s not made of anything really. It’s just...a wall. I wanted to block things out and I thought of a wall, but not what it was made of. That’s why it’s so featureless. I never thought what it was made of would make any difference.

And with some people, it might not make a difference. Everyone is different, which is why you must discover some things on your own. Your mind—for now, at least—requires tangible, precise metaphors. There may come a time when you no longer need that, but for now…

I need to make the wall out of a stronger material. What was the strongest material she could think of? Diamond was particularly hard, wasn’t it? Could she make the wall out of diamond? Would that require more effort than making it out of the nothing she was currently making it out of?

Don’t overanalyse it, or that could counter the benefits, Mikranasta said. Choose a material and raise the walls. Do it now!

Felitïa dismissed the remaining piece of black wall, then raised the black walls again, this time… No. Not black this time. Just as quickly as they unfolded, she folded them up again. Then she unfolded the diamond walls. They rose as high as the old walls, sparkling white, gleaming in the light that didn’t really exist here. They formed first the circle, then bent over in every conceivable and inconceivable direction to form the n-dimensional sphere.

Felitïa laughed, that laughter carrying through into her physical body. It worked! And it hadn’t taken any additional effort. Although…

It still takes the same effort as before, she said.

But hopefully stronger, Mikranasta said. Give me a moment.

A flicker of mentalism magic tapped the walls, then another and another, each one just a little stronger than the one before. At first, it took no extra effort to maintain the walls, even when the strength of the taps reached levels that would have had her struggling in the past. Eventually, she started the walls spinning, which took the same effort as before, but just the fact it had taken so much longer to be needed was a massive victory. After another little while, the taps became strong enough that she expanded the walls outwards and pushed Mikranasta’s magical presence aside.

“Well done,” Mikranasta said in the real world. Her words were heavily accented, so she was actually speaking Arnorgue rather than using magic to translate Isyarian. “I...believe...you can do more, but it is start.”

Felitïa stopped the walls spinning and let Mikranasta back into the Room.

That is all we need to do for today, Mikranasta said. Go now and see your sister.

Felitïa looked away, but nodded.

Mikranasta approached her and placed one hand on Felitïa’s shoulder and with her other hand, lightly took hold of Felitïa’s chin, gently turning Felitïa’s head to look her directly in the eyes. Felitïa didn’t resist. There was a look of understanding in Mikranasta’s eyes. If you are worried about displaying emotion in front of Hedromornasta, I think you know now what to do.

Felitïa stared back into Mikranasta’s eyes for a moment. Then it came to her and she smiled. Yes, I think I do. She hugged Mikranasta. Thank you.

Mikranasta smiled back at her. If Hedromornasta makes a fuss, tell me immediately the next time you see me. I will discipline him appropriately.

Felitïa nodded. I will.

Mikranasta backed up a little and placed her left hand on her chest. Pleasant thoughts, Felitïa Asa Folith.

Felitïa returned the gesture. Pleasant thoughts, Mikranasta.

As Mikranasta left the library, Hedromornasta entered. Felitïa offered him her left hand, and he stared at it. It was a greeting they didn’t usually go through. Even though Jorvan had confirmed this was the appropriate greeting for a relationship such as the one she and Hedromornasta had, Hedromornasta rarely liked to acknowledge her beyond what was necessary for his duties.

When Hedromornasta didn’t take her hand after a few moments, Felitïa gave up. She’d hoped to make things as pleasant as possible before she blocked him out of her head. He would still be able to maintain the shield. He just wouldn’t be privy to anything that went on in her head.

She’d wait until she got to Sinitïa before blocking him, though.

She had barely made it out the library door before Fineus, one of Anita’s courtiers, approached her, bowing low. “Your Highness, a new message from your brother, his Majesty, the King, as well as messages from Amar Padara, Antonis Elaster, and Sylvia Verun.” He held out a small stack of papers.

With a sigh, Felitïa took the papers. “Thank you. I’ll read them and prepare responses.” Now that the church’s message delivery system was working again, she didn’t seem to get a moment of rest before another message arrived. They were important messages, of course, but still… She sighed again. She was going to have to postpone going to Sinitïa.

Instead, she went back into the library and sat at the table, laying the messages out in front of her. She started with Cerus’s. It had a new seal—that of the King of Arnor.

My dearest sister,

I can now confirm contact with all provinces, and with only one unfortunate exception, they have all sworn fealty to me. Even Lidda’s younger brother, Jamis, has offered me his fealty. Indeed, it turns out Father was already arranging for him to become lord of Plavin-Tyl once Lidda had been deposed and executed. Unfortunately, her coup occurred before that could be finalised.

The exception I mentioned is Elooria. Governor Destudia says he will not swear fealty to anyone until a formal coronation has occurred. At that time, he will swear allegiance to “whoever that is”. Destudia may have been Father’s cousin, but his family has ties to the Plavins, and he is known to have been a close friend of Mitchal Plavin. I fear he may try to turn Elooria’s forces against us. Technically, as he is a governor rather than a lord, it is much easier for me to remove him from his position. However, I suspect any attempt to do so will simply be ignored. I am currently looking for a way to contact other noble families in Elooria who may be willing to stand against Destudia. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

In better news, Lady Sildane has agreed to allow our forces to congregate in Aristan. I have sent messages to all the other provinces to begin raising forces and marching or sailing there, as appropriate, to the plains just outside Beldrum. I will be setting out there myself in the next month. I would ask that, as soon as you are able, you join me there. Leave Sinitïa in Quorge. The front lines are no place for her.

I am aware there is a risk this is a distraction and that gathering our forces in Beldrum could leave other parts of the country vulnerable to a Volg attack. As such, I am asking the provinces to maintain some standing forces in their own territories, especially in coastal cities like Cilling or Fal.

I look forward to seeing you, although I wish it were under better circumstances.

Ever your loving brother,

Cerus, Third of His Name, King of Arnor

Felitïa folded the letter and placed it aside. Travelling to Beldrum would be awkward and time-consuming. Of course, if she could figure out how to use the Pearl… Alas, it wasn’t like she was making any progress with that at all. She would have to start making plans for a trip to Beldrum.

She read the letter from Amar Padara next. He repeated an offer from his previous communication for Felitïa to visit him in Dorg, where they could discuss prayer beads as well as efforts to strike back against Lidda Plavin. If she was going to Beldrum, she was going to have to turn that offer down, and given Padara’s age, it was unlikely Cerus had asked him to join them in Beldrum as well.

Verun’s letter was short and concise, outlining simply that she was in communication with Anita and Padara to move Orthalin troops through Orwin and Belone to join with both the Orwinian and Belone forces along the way.

Elaster’s letter, on the other hand… Felitïa groaned as she read it.

Your most gracious Highness,

I have recently learned that you have exiled Ninifin royalty residing with you. I had a long-standing, close relationship with Ninifin’s previous queen, Nin-Xoco, which has given me a standing of high regard with the Ninifin court. I believe I could use this standing to help support Nin-Akna’s claim to the throne, and in doing so, secure us Ninifin’s aid against Lidda Plavin. I humbly request that you put me in touch with Nin-Akna at the earliest opportunity.

Your brother’s loyal subject and yours,

Antonis Elaster, Lord of Nallin.

Felitïa knew all about his “long-standing” relationship with Nin-Xoco, which amounted to nothing more than a series of courting her hand, which Nin-Xoco turned down every time. They never met, and they certainly never had a relationship, long-standing or otherwise. She sighed. She’d let Nin-Akna know, but she doubted Nin-Akna would want to respond in any way.

She took a few minutes to pen responses to Cerus and Verun—a response to Elaster would have to wait until she’d talked to Nin-Akna—then went back into the hall where Fineus was still waiting. She handed him the letters. “Have these taken immediately to the cathedral. Make sure they arrive with my personal seal.”

Apparently, she had a personal seal now. She hadn’t seen it yet and had no idea what it looked like, but she had one. Anita had had it designed for her, insisting that her communications needed to look official. The more “official” they looked, Anita had said, the more people would take Felitïa seriously. Anita was probably right, so Felitïa had agreed to it, but she had not yet seen the design.

Fineus took the letters with a bow, and backed away.

Right. Time to visit Sinitïa, assuming Sinitïa was available. Felitïa nodded to Hedromornasta. I’m going to see my sister. Follow.

“Felitïa!”

Felitïa turned around. Down the hall, Corvinian came around the corner, holding the Staff of Sestin in one hand and supporting Agernon with the other. Agernon was leaning heavily on both Corvinian and his cane, and was limping slowly along.

“Sorry we’re late,” Corvinian said. “Agernon was preparing a—”

Agernon’s cane clacked loudly on the marble floor. “Hush, boy! Felitïa doesn’t need to be bored with excuses. We’re late. You’ve apologised. That’s enough.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”

Damn. Felitïa had completely forgotten she had a meeting with Agernon. Good thing she’d been delayed by those communications. It would have been extremely embarrassing if they’d arrived while she was off somewhere else. Maybe it was time she accepted Anita’s offer to provide her with a servant whose whole duty was to keep track of her itinerary.

She gave her best smile as they approached. “No problem. I was delayed with some communications anyway.” It was technically true.

It took Agernon some time to traverse the distance to the library door, during which Felitïa did her best to resist asking what had happened. When he got to her and she took over supporting him from Corvinian, she couldn’t resist any longer. “What happened?”

“It’s nothing of consequence,” Agernon snapped. “Like I told the boy, it’s bad enough we’re late. I’m not going to compound that by boring you with excuses.”

“Of course. Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine! Or I will be. Just a minor limp.”

Felitïa helped him to a seat at the table.

Corvinian tugged at her sleeve, and mouthed, “I’ll tell you later.”

She gave him a smile and mouthed, “Thank you.” Aloud, she said, “You brought the Staff,” and took it from Corvinian. She looked it over, running a hand along the top and over the coiled serpent.

“Yes,” Agernon said. “I’ve been trying to understand the connections for how the Pearl might be reattached. I figured when we’ve finished for today, I’ll stick around and do a bit more of that. It’s more comfortable here than at the Hall of Knowledge, even with…” He paused and looked over to Hedromornasta, who had taken his usual position in the corner. “With him here.”

Felitïa looked at the Staff a little longer. One advantage of the shield around her was she didn’t have to hear the Staff’s incessant calling. She could hold it and enjoy blissful silence. Still, a part of her kind of missed the noise. She didn’t like admitting that to herself, seeing as its constant calling had made it difficult for her to sleep. It had started the exhaustion Plavistalorik had then made worse. If it hadn’t been for the Staff, Plavistalorik might not have gotten to her so easily.

Yet its silence now also reminded her of the silence of everything else. She couldn’t detect Agernon’s annoyance at her desire to know what had happened to him, or the comfort at her concern he would never admit to.

Almost reluctantly, Felitïa handed the Staff back to Corvinian, and sat at the table across from Agernon. “Shall we start?”

Agernon pulled the Pearl out of a pouch and placed it on the table. “Is Zandrue joining us?”

Felitïa shrugged. “I don’t know. Zandrue’s been...distracted recently.”

Agernon harrumphed. “Typical. She was always unreliable. I don’t know how Elderaan put up with her all those years.”

Felitïa grinned. “I made him.”

“I always said he doted on you too much.” Agernon frowned at her, but after a moment, broke into a grin and laughed. “Far too much. Pick it up and concentrate.”

Felitïa picked up the Pearl, held it in her outstretched palm, and stared at it.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about its appearance. It looked like nothing more than a pearl. It was a particularly fine pearl—perfectly smooth and spherical, a translucent white that would glint under the right lighting conditions. It didn’t quite sparkle the way the version in the Staff in her head would when it was there, but it was still very pretty. But that was the extent of its apparent specialness. It never did anything else.

Agernon’s studies had revealed that it contained magic from five separate disciplines. Two were enchantment—required to make anything magical—and mentalism. He didn’t know what the other three were, but given the Pearl’s ability to transport people across large distances, one was presumably dimensions.

But it never did anything. No matter how much she stared at it and tried to get it to respond. It was a bit like the Staff in that regard.

After a few minutes, she sighed, and shook her head. “Still nothing.” She placed the Pearl back on the table.

It had to be the shield stopping her.

Except that didn’t quite explain it either. Dyle had been able to make it work, and unless he was hiding telepathic powers, it meant the Pearl could be used by anyone. But Zandrue hadn’t been able to get it work either. Nor had Agernon, nor anyone else they had brought in to try.

Agernon picked up the Pearl and traced a few equations on it. “I’m certain there are two aspects to its control. One is how you hold it. The other is just thinking in the right way. Try again. This time, close your hand around it.” He held out the Pearl to her.

“We should get Mikranasta’s help,” Felitïa said.

With a scowl, Agernon pulled the Pearl back from her. “Not a chance.” He pointed an accusing finger towards Hedromornasta. “It’s bad enough I have to put up with him watching everything I do. I am not letting his mother get her hands on this. No way.”

With a sigh, Felitïa nodded. “Okay, I’m sorry.” It had been hard enough getting Agernon to do this at all in Hedromornasta’s or Mikranasta’s presence. It had only been the crisis in Arnor City that had gotten him to agree. She wasn’t going to push any more on him.

Agernon harrumphed and held the Pearl back out again. His gaze, however, remained on Hedromornasta. “See that? He’s still looking at me. Always staring at me and watching every little thing I do.”

Felitïa took the Pearl. “He’s watching all of us. It’s not just you.”

“No, look at his gaze.” He pointed, starting at his own nose and reaching out towards Hedromornasta. “His line of sight. It’s directed right at me. Not you. Not Corvinian. Me!”

“Well, you are the one pointing at him,” Felitïa said.

“Pheh!”

Felitïa put the Pearl down on the table and stood up. “I have an idea.” She headed over to Hedromornasta. Why wait until she got to Sinitïa, assuming that even happened? Hedromornasta was going to have to get used to it eventually. Might as well be now.

She stood right in front of him and looked down into his grey eyes. Hedromornasta, I’m going to ask you to go into the hall, please.

He just looked back up at her, unmoving and not responding.

You’re strong enough to maintain the shield from outside the door. I won’t go anywhere, but you don’t need to be in here. Are you listening to me? He probably wasn’t. He probably had her blocked, though it was hard to tell with the shield around her.

She waited a few more moments, but he remained unresponsive.

Fine.

In the Room in her head, she approached the shield. It was like a web around her consciousness. She spun it round until she came to the tiny hole Mikranasta used to let herself through. Not surprisingly, it was closed over, but it was a spot of weakness in the shield. A spot where she could easily get through without tearing the whole thing down.

She brought over a bit of diamond wall and shrunk it down to a tiny, thin, needle-like point. Then she spun it rapidly and drilled through the hole. Gods, she loved these new walls!

Shrinking herself down, she peered through the hole. In the library, she touched her thumb and forefinger on each hand together and cast a guiding spell. Sure enough, there were the threads of mentalism magic blocking her from Hedromornasta’s head. So he really hadn’t “heard” a word she’d said to him.

So much of what she did next was just instinct, and she wasn’t entirely sure how she did it, but she pulled on those threads. She didn’t tear through them. She didn’t rip them apart. Rather just gentle pulls that caused them to unravel.

Hedromornasta’s eyes widened in shock and fear poured from him.

It was a shame it had to be such a negative emotion, but nevertheless, it felt good to experience another’s emotions. That was probably not the healthiest response, but she wasn’t going to worry about that right now.

New magical threads wove themselves together, but again, she unravelled them with a gentle pull. Hedromornasta responded by creating more and more, but she just increased the speed at which she took them apart.

“What are you doing?” Corvinian asked.

“One moment, Corvinian,” Felitïa said, as she unravelled more magical threads, this time gathering them together and turning them back on Hedromornasta, blocking more from forming.

Gods, she could do that? It was almost terrifying, and it reminded her momentarily of just how much she didn’t understand her abilities, and how important the shield around actually was. But she only hesitated a moment.

I’m sorry I have to do this, but you are going to listen to me, Hedromornasta. You won’t speak to me because you don’t know my language. Fine, I get it. But I know you can use the same technique your mother uses to understand magically. You refuse to let me in, so I have no choice but to force my way in.

He continued to try to push her back, but he only lost more ground. There was strain in his eyes.

Listen to me, please! I don’t want our relationship to be antagonistic, but you keep making it that way. Please, just listen! If not, I’ll have to tell your mother. She told me that if you responded this way, I should tell her, and she would discipline you. So if you want to avoid your mother’s anger—

Diare, he said, relaxing and ending his resistance against her.

What?

Not mother. Diare. She is my diare.

My apologies, Felitïa said. I promise not to make that mistake again. Look, I know you don’t like me, and you don’t like having to do this job. You’re with me fourteen to sixteen hours a day sometimes. It’s not fair to you, and I really think your diare should be taking on more of the responsibility. However, it is what it is. I’d like to make it as painless for both of us as possible, but I need you to listen to me, to acknowledge me. I also occasionally need some privacy. So right now, I would appreciate it if you would wait in the hall. You can maintain the shield, but I will be blocking you from being in my head.

He stared at her a few moments more, his fear and anger starting to subside. Then he nodded and walked to the door. As he opened it, he turned and looked back. My diare warned me you would do this. She instructed me to resist as much as I could and report how long I held out. She knew I would not succeed in keeping you out completely. Resentment accompanied his last words. Then he opened the door and went through.

Felitïa shook her head and sighed. She could believe Mikranasta would give him instructions like that, though she could also believe he was making it up to make it look like Mikranasta had, in some way, manipulated her, and thus proving Mikranasta was superior. Or something like that.

She covered over the hole in the shield and shaped the diamond walls into an n-dimensional sphere to keep Hedromornasta and anyone else out.

“What did you do?” Corvinian said. “You just stared at each other and then he walked out. Were you doing head stuff?”

“Head stuff?”

“Yeah, you know, stuff with your head. Controlling minds and stuff.”

Felitïa headed back to the table. “I don’t control people’s minds, Corvinian, but otherwise, yes, I was doing...head stuff.”

“Impressive work, too, from what I could tell,” Agernon said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so panicked and pathetic.”

Felitïa reached across the table and took Agernon’s hand. “Go easy on him. I think he’s just a kid trying to impress his mo...his diare, and she’s not easy to impress.”

Agernon frowned. “Pheh.” He stared into Felitïa’s eyes for a moment, then sighed and pulled his hand away from hers. Looking away, he said, “You’re right though about his mother being the larger concern. Anyway, let’s get back to work.” He handed her the Pearl. “As I said, try closing your hand around it this time.”

With a nod, Felitïa took the Pearl, closed her hand around it, and concentrated.

* * * * *

It was late when Felitïa got to her room. They had made no progress with the Pearl despite trying and retrying countless different ways of holding it, angles between her head and it, with her eyes open, with her eyes closed. Hell, towards the end Corvinian suggested placing it on top of her head, and she gave it a go because she couldn’t think of anything else they hadn’t already tried.

That didn’t work either, of course.

A couple hours of that, followed by another couple hours in conference with Anita over how to raise troops in Belone, and then a brief meeting with Father Bandren for an update on news from Arnor City—which was precisely nothing. At least Bandren was actually taking things seriously now.

There had been no sign of Zandrue the whole time, and there was no time now to go see Sinitïa, who was probably already in bed. She would have to make Sinitïa a priority for tomorrow. There were only a couple days left until the memorial and she should really try to see Sinitïa before that.

Zandrue was sitting on her bed when Felitïa opened the door. “Hey.”

“There you are!” Felitïa said. “We waited for you in the library.”

“Yeah, sorry.” Zandrue’s eyes were sunken. Had she been crying?

Felitïa rushed over to her. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, just the usual.”

Felitïa sat beside her and put an arm around her. “No just about that. The usual has been pretty bad lately.”

Zandrue snickered.

As Hedromornasta took his usual spot in the corner, Felitïa looked to him and nodded towards the door. I need some privacy again. Please wait outside.

Hedromornasta stared back at her for a moment, but then turned around and went back out the door.

“Where’s he going?” Zandrue asked.

“We have a new arrangement,” Felitïa said. “I actually get to have some privacy once in a while.”

Zandrue smiled. “Nice. Any luck getting him to be more civil with people?”

“One thing at a time,” Felitïa said. “Now, tell me. What’s up?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why are you here?”

Zandrue looked her in the eye. “Can’t I just come to visit you sometimes?”

Felitïa backed away slightly. “Of course you can. I just thought…” Damn. Had she misread the situation? She didn’t really trust her ability to read people without being able to sense their emotions. Was this proving her right? “I...I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. You’re not entirely wrong, I suppose. Like I said, it’s the usual.”

Felitïa nodded. “I understand.” Perhaps Zandrue would volunteer information, so she sat there for a few moments and waited. When Zandrue said nothing else, Felitïa plucked Nesh from where he was trying to nestle in her hair and held him out to Zandrue.

Zandrue recoiled slightly. “What are you doing? I don’t like animals.”

“No, you love animals. They just don’t like you. However, Nesh here...and Lon...got used to you ages ago. They’re fine around you. So go on, take him.”

Grimacing a little, Zandrue reached out and, after a brief hesitation, took Nesh from Felitïa. With uncertain hands, she held him up in front of her face.

“Now tell me that adorable face doesn’t make you smile,” Felitïa said.

Zandrue’s mouth quivered and she shook her head.

“Really?”

Zandrue held her stance for a moment more, then laughed. “Okay, maybe it does a little. But I still don’t like animals.” Despite her words, she continued to hold Nesh and even used a single finger to stroke his head.

“If you say so,” Felitïa said.

After a moment of silence, Zandrue said, “I don’t suppose you know how Rudiger’s doing?”

Felitïa shook her head. “The shield’s still up and the line-up is still not bypassing it. But worse, I don’t even know how you’re doing and you’re right here. You just won’t tell me. The usual you say. Sure, the usual.”

“You know what I mean,” Zandrue said.

“Only a little. Zandrue, I’m worried about you. I get you’re worried about Rudiger, but you’re just retreating away. You’re not doing anything. All you’re doing is wandering around gods know where sulking.”

Zandrue lowered Nesh and glared at Felitïa. “And what are you doing to help, Felitïa? You won’t let me go to Arnor City.”

“Because it will take you months. We could bypass that if we could figure out the Pearl. We—”

“But you haven’t, have you? You’ve done fuck all.”

“That’s not true! We’re trying, and if you’d try with us…”

“Oh come on, Felitïa. You’re just making excuses.”

“Is that really what you think?” Felitïa shook her head and took a deep breath. “Look, I don’t want to fight. I want to help you. Please let me. You’ve said many times that Rudiger can take care of himself. Maybe what you need is a distraction. What about the investigation into the cathedral and the Darkers and whatever went wrong with the communications?”

“I tried that, and found nothing, remember? I’m convinced the problem is in Arnor City.”

“You found three dead bodies in the tower! That’s not nothing. Have you tried talking to Bandren about it and letting him know? He’s actually willing to listen to you now.”

“The bodies will have been moved by now, and talking to Bandren is pointless.”

“Why?”

Zandrue jumped to her feet. “Because it is. Look, Felitïa, you want to know why I came here now? I was hoping to spend a bit of time with my friend and feel a little better. I didn’t come to be lectured by the fucking Will-Breaker!”

“Lectured? I’m not lecturing!”

“Fuck you, Felitïa!” Zandrue threw Nesh down at the bed.

“Nesh!” Felitïa spun round and reached for Nesh, trying unsuccessfully to catch him before he hit the bed. “What the fuck, Zandrue?”

But with the slam of the door, Zandrue was gone.

Felitïa leaned over to find Nesh, who ran with a squeal under her pillow. A calming spell coaxed him back out. Picking him up, she examined him for any injuries. Luckily, he seemed fine. Zandrue hadn’t used enough force to cause much harm beyond fear.

Felitïa placed Nesh back on the bed, where he scurried back under the pillow again. Lon soon joined him.

What had gotten into Zandrue?

With a sigh, Felitïa lay down, being careful to lay her head on the part of the pillow where she would not squash Lon and Nesh.

Zandrue had always had a temper, and the slightest thing could spark it. But something seemed different this time. It was probably the fact Zandrue was doing so little else. When she had first volunteered to look into the Darker situation, she had thrown herself completely into the problem, like she was looking for something to distract her from thinking about Rudiger. But after that night investigating the cathedral, she had just...stopped. To the best of Felitïa’s knowledge, she had done nothing in the two weeks since. Not a single thing.

Felitïa sat back up. She should talk to Jorvan. He was assisting Zandrue in the investigation. Maybe he could shine a light on her behaviour. It was too late to go find him now, though. Like Sinitïa, he was probably already asleep—or had, at the very least, retired for the night, and she’d hate to interrupt anything he and Feviona got up to at night.

If only there were some way she could help Zandrue. But she couldn’t even tell her how Rudiger was doing as the line-up in her head was still gone, and even though she had gotten Hedromornasta to give her some privacy, there was no way she would convince him to lower the shield, even for only a second or two.

Then again...

With the breakthroughs she’d made today, maybe there was a way she could do it herself. She knew how to penetrate the shield without completely breaking it down. If she could do that without Hedromornasta noticing…

That was the hard part. Could she do it?

Maybe.

He was a competent wizard. Very competent in fact. However, as Isyar went, he was young and inexperienced. She might just be able to do it.

It was worth a try.

For Zandrue’s sake.

Like before, in the Room, she reshaped a piece of diamond wall in to a tiny point and drilled through the covered hole in the shield. However, this time, she ignored Hedromornasta’s magical energies. Instead, she opened herself to the surroundings. She just needed to let it in slowly.

The Room started to fill up. The Staff with its sparkling eyes appeared, and Zandrue appeared at the front of the line.

Hedromornasta’s magical energies stirred. The shield began to reform over the hole.

Shit. She just needed a split second more.

There! Rudiger appeared behind Zandrue in the line-up.

Then Felitïa quickly backed her mind away from the shield.

A moment later, the bedroom door opened and Hedromornasta looked in, glaring at Felitïa.

Sorry, Felitïa said. I didn’t mean… That is, I slipped when I… Okay, fine, I did it on purpose. I did it for Zandrue. You can tell your diare and I will admit the truth to her. I promise I won’t do it again.

Hedromornasta glared at her a moment, then slammed the door.

Felitïa took a deep breath and released it slowly. That had not gone the way she’d hoped. She’d overestimated her own skill—or underestimated Hedromornasta’s. Either way, she was in for a stern lecture from Mikranasta tomorrow, and it wouldn’t surprise her if Mikranasta increased the strength of the shield as a punishment.

Still, she’d gotten what she’d wanted. She’d seen Rudiger, and he was alive. His leg was not yet fully recovered, but it was healing, and he seemed otherwise fine. She would have to tell Zandrue tomorrow. And she wouldn’t let Zandrue make finding her difficult. She would find Zandrue and let her know. Begin the process of making peace with her for tonight.

Then she’d find out why Zandrue had abandoned the investigation into the Darkers, even if she had to take on the responsibility herself.