Pale grey. Not the black of my walls. Almost indistinguishable from the general greyness of the Room. No wonder I’ve never noticed you before.


    Where did you come from? Or did you come from anywhere at all? You’ve been here the whole time, haven’t you? I just didn’t notice you. Like the vision of the people in my head. They were there long before I noticed them. For how long? The well? It all goes back to the well, doesn’t it?


    Why are you here? Who put you here?


    She is powerful indeed if she can detect us in this place.


    Who are you? Where are you? No, no. That’s not now, is it? That was then. I saw something then and you won’t let me remember. What are you hiding?


    The most beautiful woman.


    I can almost see. It’s there, hidden from me, but I know it’s there. I need to remember.


    Felit?a.


    Yes?


    Felit?a.


    Who are you? What do you want?


    Felit?a.


    Stop calling my name if you’re not going to reveal yourself to me.


    Felit?a, you must listen to me.


    I can see you! Except...I can’t see you. But you’re right in front of me. I know you’re there! Show yourself!


    Felit?a, you must listen to me.


    No wait. This was then. It’s not now. I saw you then, and I can’t remember now because you won’t let me. Why won’t you let me?


    Felit?a, you must listen to me. You will soon forget this, but you must remember.


    I’m trying.


    Zandrue. Rudiger. Borisin.


    Pain.


    Meleng. Corvinian.


    I’ve dealt with her shoulder, but the ankle’s going to be the difficult part. I’ll need a splint.


    Wait, what?


    Jorvanultumn.


    Quilla. Kindanog.


    No! No, not yet! I’m remembering! I’m finally remembering! Don’t do this yet!


    Nin-Akna.


    about her rather than to her, but she decided to heed Meleng’s earlier words and not speak. Her throat hurt too much anyway. And she was so tired.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    “Yes, you do. They used me. They knew I’d want to do something like this, so they set things up so I could. I was so sure I could get in and out undetected.”


    “Okay, now you’re just being stupid, Felit?a,” Quilla snapped. “You don’t know the Volgs used you. You don’t know they set you up. You’re trying to help me. You’re trying to do good.”


    Her initial instinct was to insist that no, Quilla was wrong. She had messed up. But if Cerus was right, if the Volgs really had been itching for war the entire time, they would have found something else. They probably would have blamed her anyway.


    “Garet said you found something,” Quilla continued.. “A locket or something that might help.”


    Cerus cleared his throat. “Those were her words, yes.”


    “No one knows it was him,” Cerus replied. “The Volgs said you had an accomplice, but they did not identify him. Your mother has assumed it was Meleng, though no one else has. So Garet has not been banished. Neither has Quilla. Yet. Though I think your mother is actively looking for an excuse. Oh, Sinit?a sends her best wishes. She would really like to come see you, but Annai is being too attentive. Luckily, Annai hasn’t recognised the crutches Sinit?a’s making for you for what they are. She just thinks they’re another of Sinit?a’s silly art projects. Sinit?a says they should be done soon.”


    Cerus started to leave, but paused again. “One more thing. You should stay down here. I know it’s not the most comfortable place, but I’ll make sure you are supplied with amenities. Whatever you do, don’t try to return to your apartment.”


    Maneshka ran her fingers through Felit?a’s hair. “Do not worry. I made my decision as much as you made yours.”


    are big,” Meleng said. “I guess it makes sense they’d want big jewellery.”


    Quilla took the locket back from Meleng. “We’ll find her.”