There were paint splatters on the floor and walls of Sinit?a’s room, even a few on the bed where Jeanne lay—though none on Jeanne herself. Sinit?a was barefoot and wearing only a plain shift. She was also covered in paint splashes—on her shift, face, and arms. She was standing by an easel with a large canvas on it. The painting was a mash of colours in the background—as though she had just thrown paint at the canvas. Over top of the chaotic background was a somewhat twisted image of a pale, bald person—an Isyar—with white eyes and… Were those fangs? The Isyar had fangs.


    Jorvanultumn approached the easel and peered more closely at the painting. There was a small mark in the Isyar’s left eye. “Is this…?”


    “It makes a certain sense,” Gen said. “I’m not an expert in art, but I will admit that if I saw that hanging somewhere, my immediate response would be to assume the Isyar was cruel or untrustworthy. It’s really very good. You’re quite talented, my dear.”


    “Understandably, I should say.” Gen stood up. “Well, my dear, now Jorvanultumn is here, I need to attend to my business, but if you need me, just call. I or Miana will be here as fast as we can.” He headed for the door, but stopped to clasp hands with Jorvanultumn first. “I’m sorry for your loss.”


    Gen smiled sadly. “I meant Chiansamorkin. You obviously loved her a great deal, and her betrayal must hurt.”


    “Any time.”


    “The Lamdritta has dismissed your case. You have nothing to worry about.”


    “My elispt?”


    They sat in silence for a few moments. Eventually, Sinit?a tapped him on the arm. “Tell me about Fevionawishtensen.”


    “I was in the library in the basement of the Governance Building. There was a disagreement between two other Isyar over a book. It was not extreme. It was just an argument with a lot of yelling and a few threats. The élite were called and Fevionawishtensen was the one who arrived. I only saw her from a distance at first, and she saw me. When the bond between fomasee forms, it is very fast. It takes no time at all.”


    “Fomase,” Jorvanultumn said.


    “Fomase,” she repeated.


    “It’s a nice story though. I’m glad you found her.”


    “That is the first portion of her name, yes. As for whether you can call her that is up to her.”


    “I like her. I really do. I hope she doesn’t betray us too.”


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    He put his other hand on both of hers. “You are right. I am hurt. I grew up with Chiansamorkin. We were best of friends and inseparable. Everyone thought the bond would form between us when we came of age. We thought so too, so much so that we would pretend it already had.”


    “There is not much else to tell. We had a falling out when I bonded with Fevionawishtensen, then I had to leave for my elispt. We made up when I got back a couple days ago and you know the rest.”


    “And you decided to make her part of your family!” Sinit?a clapped her hands. “I like that bit. The fomase?”


    “Fomaze,” he corrected.


    “Fomaze,” she repeated. “Fomase and fomaze, is that right?”


    “You are. However, the fomaze will not be happening now.”


    He tried to respond yes, but the word choked in his throat. He coughed to try to hide the reaction.


    Sinit?a took his hand again and looked him in the eye. Her own eyes were filling with tears. “It’s okay. We’re alone. You don’t have to put on the brave act.”


    He nodded and closed his eyes, tears pouring down his face. She put her arms around him and held him tight while he cried. She was crying too.


    He was not sure how long he sobbed into her shoulder, but by the time they were both done, his head ached. He was otherwise feeling better though—mentally, at any rate. His body still ached from the beating Chiansamorkin had given him.


    Sinit?a sniffled and wiped her eyes. “It’s hard to lose people.”


    “Meleng is not lost. We will find him.”


    “That’s okay.” She sniffled again and then was quiet for a moment. Then she shivered. “I had a dream last night that I found the person who took Meleng. He didn’t know I was there, so I snuck up behind him and put my hands…” She shivered again. “I put my hands around his neck like this.” She leaned behind Jorvanultumn and put her hands around his neck. “Then I...I…”


    “No, of course not. Anger is a natural reaction. Meleng is your friend.”


    “That’s okay. I’m just kidding around a little. I’m not smart. Meleng just says that to be nice. Anyway, the only people I was allowed to spend time with was Annai and her friends, and they always treated me terribly. They made me feel stupid. Then Meleng came, and he treated me like...a person. I wasn’t an annoyance like Annai treated me. He actually listened to me, and he answered my questions. Everyone else always hated answering my questions. But how was I supposed to learn anything if they wouldn’t answer my questions? Meleng actually respected me. And they hated him for it. Then through him, I met other friends, like Felit?a—well, she’s my sister, but also my friend—and Nin-Akna, and you.” She looked at him and smiled. After a moment, her face fell. “I miss him, and I’m so scared I’ll never see him again.”


    She nodded and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “More than anything. I think I only realised how much after he was gone, so I’ve never really told him. I think he knows, but… When you talk to him, do you ever talk about me? Has he ever said anything?”


    “I have questioned him about his feelings for you before. I think he is confused, but I do believe he loves you. Like you say, not in the sex way, but I believe he loves you like you were his fomase.”


    “Can you be fomasee without sex? I know you can do fomaze like that, but fomase?”


    It took her a moment to respond, but eventually she shrugged. “I suppose not.”


    She huddled over and peered at him, smiling coyly. “He’s my fomase?”


    She jumped to her feet. “I’ll get cleaned up and dressed.” She bounded over to the chest with her clothes, but then she paused and turned back to face Jorvanultumn. “I have an idea. Not for right away. It would be after we get Meleng back.”


    “You know the fomaze thing. It’s about expanding families, right? About making good friends part of you family?”


    Jorvanultumn nodded. He had a suspicion where she was going with this.


    “I think he’s afraid they’re dead or they don’t want him around anymore, so he doesn’t really have a family anymore. But he’s your friend, right. You two are like best friends. He loves you even if he doesn’t say so. And you love him, right?”


    Jorvanultumn stood up. “You are suggesting Fevionawishtensen and I perform the fomaze with you and Meleng.”