“Zandrue!” Felit?a stepped back through the arch.


    “Felit?a? Oh gods, Felit?a!”


    Zandrue rushed forward and hugged her. Felit?a hugged her back as best she could, although it was hard to apply any pressure to the hug without using her hands. Feelings of relief and joy—both hers and Zandrue’s—swam through her head


    A huge weight lifted off Felit?a. Since getting to Ninifin, she hadn’t had a chance to even begin a search for the boy. She had been hoping learning the Ninifin secrets would help her, but that hadn’t gone well so far.


    “We should go collect him,” Zandrue said, “and then head for Fra-Mecatl’s ranch. Rudiger and the others might need our help.”


    “I know. That’s why I’m waiting for them to come back. We’ll regroup here.”


    Zandrue nodded, but disappointment flooded Felit?a’s senses. “You’re right. I guess I’m just anxious to...”


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    Felit?a nodded. “Of course. Whatever makes you comfortable.” She felt anxiety again, but this time it was her own. She had a strong suspicion of some of what Zandrue was going to say, but there was a lot she still didn’t know either—such as why she needed to keep taking off with so little notice. The thought that Zandrue might finally tell her was nerve-wracking.


    Felit?a.


    Felit?a.


    Felit?a!


    Felit?a!


    “Felit?a!”


    A familiar child looked back at her. “Corvinian?” His hair had been dyed black and he was tanned, but it was him. She confirmed it by checking the Room and finding no presence of him there. She looked to Zandrue who was standing by the stairs.


    She motioned for him to sit at the table. “I’m sorry it took so long. Tell me what you’ve been up to all this time.”


    knew it! ”