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.


    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.


    Pundritta.


    diare. My diare was the last to root any out. However, she kept extensive records. I’ll give you access to them.”


    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.”


    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.


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


    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.


    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.”Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


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


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


    “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.


    “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 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 Sinit?a. 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?”


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


    “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.”


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


    Lamdritta. They might make me recuse myself before the vote tomorrow.”


    diare determine your punishment. Surely he won’t be too harsh on you.”


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