Sinit?a stomped her foot down as Jorvanultumn entered her room. He took an involuntary step backwards and Sinit?a giggled. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”


    “It is all right,” Jorvanultumn said. “What are you doing?”


    She was wearing very little, only a thin shift and she was barefoot. She was smiling despite her make-up being smudged with tears. “Chian’s teaching me magic!”


    Chiansamorkin shrugged. “She needed a distraction. It’s not really magic yet. She needs to learn how to move her body first. So we’re just doing some basic forms. Speaking of which, that wasn’t bad, Sinit?a, but you are still too loose. Remember the tension when you created the stone. You still have the stone, don’t you?”


    “Mikranasta and I went to see Paydamat to ask about Nascanmat’s presence last night. We wanted to talk to Nascanmat, but she would not allow it. She denied he was there and suggested someone else faked his presence.”


    “But she acknowledged that he is young and inexperienced.”


    “Do you believe her?” Chiansamorkin said. “Paydamat, I mean.”


    “I don’t,” Sinit?a said before Jorvanultumn could answer. She sat on the corner of the mattress and crossed her arms over her lap. “She’s mean.”


    “That doesn’t mean she’d kidnap Meleng,” Chiansamorkin said.


    “She threatened him. Maybe she thought he wasn’t doing a good enough job getting me trained.”


    Jorvanultumn sat beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “We will find Meleng, Sinit?a. I promise you. But I do not believe Paydamat is responsible.”


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


    Jorvanultumn nodded. “He might, and we will not ignore the possibility. But we need proof, no matter who is responsible.”


    “Fine, but how do we get it?”


    Jorvanultumn stared at her as she began to bounce about a little. “I do not understand.”