Elderaan’s fuzzy image stood in front of her, shifting slightly up and down in height, but otherwise unmoving. How much hair he had, the shape of his chin, the size of his ears—they changed as Felitïa changed them, never quite looking right. Why was it so hard to get something as simple as his nose right? Was it big? Pointy? Gods, why couldn’t she remember?

Beside Elderaan was an image of Miana. That image was perfect. Of course, there was also another image of Miana in the queue, and Felitïa could simply check with that one to be sure she had this one accurate. She did her best not to use the queue image with this one, but somehow, she couldn’t manage that. She didn’t need to look at the queue in order to see it. It was both fascinating and frustrating.

Beside Miana was an image of Sinitïa. It was more solid than Elderaan’s image, but still not quite perfect. Felitïa had needed someone she felt somewhat close to, but who wasn’t in the queue. Unfortunately, there weren’t a lot of people who fit that description. She did feel close to Sinitïa, but the truth was, she didn’t really know Sinitïa that well. All her closest friends were in the line-up.

Finally, beside Sinitïa was an image of Maneshka.

Except it wasn’t Maneshka.

It was supposed to be, but no matter what Felitïa did to bring up memories of Maneshka, the image kept looking more like the woman from her childhood memory by the well—the beautiful woman with the Staff in the gleaming white surroundings, the one whose voiced echoed endlessly in her head. That woman and Maneshka didn’t have a lot in common, but for some reason, the image kept looking more like the woman with the Staff. Their hair, for example: They both had roughly the same hair colour, but that was where the similarity ended. Maneshka’s hair was very short in tight curls, whereas the other woman had long dreadlocks. Yet no matter how often Felitïa gave the image Maneshka’s hair, it kept growing out into dreadlocks.

Memory was imperfect—she knew that—but it was so frustrating that she couldn’t fully remember the people who were dear to her. No, not frustrating. Rage-inducing. It made her so angry.

No, wait. That wasn’t her anger.

But there was a lot of it. So much.

“Felitïa!”

She opened her eyes.

Zandrue ran up to her, slamming her hands against the rock to either side of Felitïa. Felitïa pressed her back up against the rock as Zandrue loomed over her, her breath warming Felitïa’s face.

“Miana fucking knows!”

Felitïa turned her face away and tried to push back farther into the rock, though it didn’t move. “Knows what?” Though she didn’t need Zandrue to answer. There was only one thing that would make Zandrue this angry. Gods, she should have expected this.

Zandrue slammed her hands against the rock again, then backed off a little, breathing heavily. “You know what I mean. How could you?”

Felitïa grimaced. “I didn’t… I mean… That is, when our minds blend, we…”

“You can see everything in the other person’s head, yeah, I get it.” Zandrue kicked the ground, sending up a small spray of dirt and stones. “But I figured you could… I don’t know, hide a few things.”

Felitïa rose slowly to her feet. “Oh gods, Zandrue. I didn’t think. I…”

“Yeah, I noticed that. You…” Zandrue took a step towards her, one hand raised menacingly, but she stopped and turned around. “You’re my best friend, Felitïa. I love you. But you find one person to fuck and you spill all my secrets.”

Felitïa approached Zandrue and reached out a hand towards her shoulder, but Zandrue swiped it. “Gods, Zandrue, I’m so sorry.”

Zandrue started to walk away. “Fuck off, Felitïa! I trusted you!”

Felitïa put a hand to her face and held back the tears. Gods, she had never considered this possibility, but she should have.

“We better get moving,” Zandrue called back. “We still have a couple more days’ journey ahead of us.”

“What about Miana?” Felitïa called after her.

“They’re coming. They’re just giving me a wide berth. You’d be wise to do the same thing.”

Felitïa nodded slowly, even though Zandrue couldn’t see her. With a sob, she lowered her head and let a few tears fall. After a few moments, she turned to grab her pack.

Borisin stood by it, staring at her.

What are you looking at?

You, obviously.

Felitïa grabbed her pack, threw it over her shoulder, and turned away from him. I don’t need another lecture right now, thanks. She started walking along the road in Zandrue’s direction.

Yes, you do. Borisin easily trotted up and fell in beside her.

Felitïa sighed. There was no way she was outrunning him.

You don’t want another lecture, but you need one.

She’d already argued with him once today, had tried to explain to him that what she was doing with Miana was not the same thing she had planned to do with Sinitïa. I already told you…

Yes, you told me a lot of things, and I’m telling you some things back. What just happened is a good example of the harm you can cause. To be honest, I was worried about the danger to you or Miana, or whoever’s head you decided to reside in. I didn’t think about the indirect damage you could cause, but hell, you’ve caused it. Zandrue’s incredibly important to Rudiger, which means she’s incredibly important to me. I know she’s important to you, too. You owe her more than just tearful declarations that you’re sorry. You need to fix things, and you need to do it soon.

Felitïa gritted her teeth, and tried to calm her own anger. With Zandrue’s and Borisin’s flooding her head, there was already enough anger without adding more to it. Are you finished?

Borisin snorted. No, but I’ll lay off for now to see what you do. Don’t disappoint me. Miana’s coming. He sped up, and trotted towards Zandrue.

“Felitïa!”

Felitïa sighed and stopped, letting more tears flow down her face. Zandrue’s and Borisin’s anger was diminishing as they got farther away, and the new emotions approaching her were less harsh—still as intense, but at least softer. There was concern, guilt, love, and a lot of trepidation.

Felitïa turned to face Miana and tried to give them a smile.

Miana approached her slowly and put their arms around her.

Felitïa buried her head in Miana’s shoulders, and sobbed. She wasn’t sure how much time passed, while they both stood there, hugging each other tightly, but eventually Felitïa lifted her head and let Miana wipe away her tears.

“I’m sorry,” Miana said. “I shouldn’t have let slip what I know.”

Felitïa kissed them. “It’s all right. It’s not your fault. It’s mine for not anticipating it. I should have realised the things you could be learning. I don’t mind you knowing everything there is to know about me. I want you to know everything. But the things I know about other people…”

Miana wiped away another tear from Felitïa’s eye. “I understand.”

Felitïa stared into Miana’s eyes. There was a tear there as well, and she wiped it away. It was funny how sometimes decisions just happened without conscious deliberation. Yet decision made, she still hesitated to say it. Could she keep it? She’d made this decision a couple times now, and had failed to keep it. Would this time be any different?

“We have to stop, don’t we?” Miana said.

Felitïa smiled sadly. “Yes, we do. I know you said I need to face a challenge and—”

They placed a finger over Felitïa’s lips. “Yes, I said that, and I still believe it. But there are different ways to face a challenge. If we have to stop for a while, then so be it.”

“It might be a long while. I’ve got a lot of learning to do, and I don’t quite know how I’m going to do it. I don’t think there’s much more I can learn from Mikranasta. She’s not actually a telepath.”

“Find another telepath then.”

Felitïa laughed. “Yeah, like there’s one of those around every corner.”

Miana put their hands around Felitïa’s neck and pulled her head down closer to them. “It’s a challenge. Face it.”

Felitïa grinned and kissed them. She embraced them tightly as feelings of lust burst from them. Gods, this wasn’t going to be easy.

She let go of Miana and took a step back. Her heart was beating rapidly, so she breathed in slowly while it calmed a little.

“Oh, you should know that we were attacked by Darkers in Kiff. I don’t know how they found us.”

Felitïa groaned. “Some of them seem to have ways of finding us. Maybe things like the crystal we got off Dyle Aderman. I don’t know. I’m glad you’re both okay.”

Miana nodded. Sadness emanated from them, though they weren’t showing it. “We should catch up to Zandrue and Borisin.”

Felitïa looked down the road. Zandrue and Borisin were topping a hill in the distance and dropping out of sight. “Not too close though. We should give her a few hours to calm down.”

“Fair,” Miana said, and started along the road.

“I still love you, you know,” Felitïa said.

“I know. I’ve felt it. That kind of love doesn’t die easily, and it won’t die in me either. I can wait. I’m a patient person.”

Felitïa linked arms with them. “Are you, though?”

“Of course I am.”

“I don’t know. I can think of several moments in your life where patient would not be an apt description.”

Miana scoffed. “Nonsense, I’m the most patient person you’ve ever met.”

“That is definitely not true.”

Miana laughed, and Felitïa soon joined in.

* * * * *

They caught up to Zandrue a couple hours later in the early afternoon. Zandrue had stopped and was sitting by the side of the road, eating lunch. Borisin was grazing a short distance away.

Felitïa motioned to Miana to stay back, and approached Zandrue. “Want to talk?”

Zandrue shook her head. “Nope.” There was still anger emanating from her, though not nearly as much as before.

“Oh, um… Miana and I will just be over there then if you change your mind.”

Guilt overtook the anger coming from Zandrue, and she reached out for Felitïa. “Wait. You asked if I wanted to talk, and I don’t. But we do need to.” She patted the grass beside her.

Felitïa smiled and sat beside her. “I know it’s not enough, but I want you to know I’m really sorry.”

Zandrue nodded and held out a stick of yak cheese. “I know you are. It’s just…”

Felitïa broke off a piece of the cheese. “It’s what?”

Zandrue chewed on a bit of cheese for a moment. “You didn’t even think of it. Weirdly, if you had consciously decided, fuck Zandrue, and had knowingly told Miana, I’d have a better time dealing with it. I could just slit your throat and be rid of you.” She grinned at Felitïa.

Felitïa chuckled.

Zandrue’s smiled drooped. “But it didn’t even occur to you. You didn’t even think of me.” She bit into some more cheese and looked away.

Felitïa stared at her piece of cheese. She didn’t really feel like eating it. “I let things get out of control, I know. I never imagined falling in love would make me forget my friends. Forget you.”

Zandrue glanced back at her. “In love, eh? That serious?”

Felitïa shrugged. “I think so. I’ve never felt anything like it before. Even Maneshka didn’t feel like this.”

Zandrue sighed. “You really needed to get laid years and years ago, so you could have learned how to handle it.”

“Easy for you to say. You had your pick of partners. The only one I was ever interested in turned me down.”

Zandrue turned to face Felitïa again, a grin on her face. “Yeah, I suppose I did.”

“We’re going to stop. Miana and me. I thought you should know.”

“Are you? Really?”

Felitïa nodded. “Really. We won’t have sex again until I’ve figured out my abilities and can properly control them.”

“I don’t really care about the sex. I want you to be happy. It’s only the mind blending.”

“I know, but I can’t have sex with them without our minds blending. It’s difficult for me to even be near their head without blending with them.”

“And can you be sure you can resist the temptation?”

“I hope so.” She looked at Zandrue and smiled. “With help.”

“And where do you expect to find help?” Zandrue popped the last of her cheese in her mouth while Felitïa resisted rolling her eyes. “Oh, you mean me?”

Now, Felitïa rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, I suppose I can give you a good slap whenever you look like you’re going to blend with Miana. Or I could always kill them. Can’t blend with them that way.”

Felitïa just stared at her.

Zandrue laughed. “Or I could just keep you apart. Are you going to eat that?”

Felitïa looked down at the cheese in her hand. “I don’t know. I…”

Zandrue snatched the cheese and popped it in her mouth. “Too late,” she mumbled while chewing. She looked up and towards Miana. “You can come over now. I won’t kill you.”

Miana walked over. “I’d like to see you try.”

Zandrue chuckled.

“Don’t worry,” Miana said. “I won’t tell anyone.”

Zandrue nodded. “Yeah, I figured that. Thank you.” She reached into the pack near her and pulled out some more cheese and dried meat, which she passed round.

They then spent a few minutes having a light lunch before starting out again.

Felitïa approached Borisin as they walked. I take it you heard what I said to Zandrue?

I did, and I want to say, I always knew you’d make the right decision in the end, no matter how dumb the decisions leading up to it.

But if I keep making bad decisions that don’t work out, eventually only good decisions will remain, so of course I’ll make a good one eventually.

Precisely.

So you never really trusted me then?

I trusted you to make a bunch of dumb decisions before making the right one. He whinnied in what sounded almost like a laugh.

Felitïa just shook her head.

The journey was long and tiring. Although they were going both up and down a lot, overall, they were going more up, and the air was getting thinner. By the time they reached the monastery, they would be at the highest elevation they’d been at so far. It was going to take some getting used to.

At night, they came up with a new sleeping arrangement. Felitïa and Miana slept some distance apart, and Zandrue slept between them. If Felitïa’s mind reached out during the night, there probably wasn’t much Zandrue could do about it, but having Zandrue between them was at least a comfort when Felitïa lay down to sleep.

The first night was the toughest, mainly because of the worry. Felitïa tossed and turned continually, only falling asleep for short periods before waking again with a start, convinced her mind had touched Miana’s. It hadn’t—she was just having bad dreams—but it was still frightening. When nothing went wrong the first night, it made the next night easier, and the one after that even more so.

Each day of the journey, Dvang continued to loom ominously to the north, occasional thin plumes of smoke rising from it. In the afternoon of the third day since leaving Kiff, a rumbling came from the direction of the volcano, and moments later, the ground shook. It wasn’t violent, but it was enough to make stones on the ground shake and roll, and the group paused in their movement to make certain they didn’t lose their footing.

“Are we really sure that thing is safe?” Zandrue said.

“It hasn’t erupted in centuries,” Miana said.

Zandrue frowned. “Doesn’t that make it more likely to erupt now? I mean, it has to erupt eventually, right? The more time that passes, the more likely it becomes, right?”

“Not at all,” Miana said. “Rumblings like this have been common for centuries with no eruption. It’s safe.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

After they resumed walking again, Felitïa leaned in close to Miana. “Are you actually sure?”

Miana shook their head. “No, I actually know nothing about volcanoes other than it’s been centuries since Dvang last erupted, but I figured it was best to keep Zandrue at ease.”

In the morning of the fourth day, they finally caught sight of their destination. It started out as just a tiny red spot on the side of the mountain east of Dvang at almost the elevation of Dvang’s top. Over the next couple hours, it gradually got a little larger, until Felitïa could distinguish its white walls from the side of the cliff. The red was the top of the walls, while its roofs were yellow-gold. From this distance, it looked almost like a natural part of the mountain, those walls and roofs seeming to grow organically from the cliff side.

There was still a long way to go, though. Even as they got close to the side of the mountain, they still had to follow the winding road up the cliff. It could take hours. Hopefully, they could make it before nightfall. Camping on the side of the mountain wasn’t appealing.

“You know,” Zandrue said, “it’s not often I envy men—Volganth men I mean—but I would sure love some wings right now.”

Miana gave Felitïa an amused look. “I guess she’s accepted that I know.”

Zandrue strode forward. “You know. No point not accepting it.”

The monastery came in and out of view as they climbed the trail, blocked by the trees and brush that grew out of the side of the mountain, or by the rocky cliff-side itself. It was an exhausting trip. The trail got steeper the higher they went, though it was particularly taxing at the switchbacks. They had to stop to rest frequently. Miana handled the altitude best, but they were all breathing heavily and gasping for air before long. Borisin was hit the hardest. He wheezed for much of the journey.

Are you sure you’re all right? Felitïa asked when they were about three quarters of the way there.

I’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about me.

But I do worry about you.

I’ll be fine.

There was no point arguing with him. Besides, he was managing it.

After about three hours, they reached a flat outcropping. It hadn’t been apparent from farther below due to the camouflage of the trees, but had occasionally come into view when they had been at the right angle during their climb. It was surprisingly large, extending back into a cave in the mountainside. There was a large garden on one side, and several small buildings to either side of the cave entrance. Goats and yaks freely roamed the outcropping, and chicken coops were visible just inside the cave. Colourful prayer flags hung over the cave entrance and throughout the garden.

The monastery itself was still several hundred feet farther up the mountain, though it wasn’t clear how to continue. The road seemed to stop here.

Two men in burgundy robes approached them, pressing their palms together in front of their chests. Miana stepped forward and returned the gesture. Felitïa made the gesture as well.

Miana talked with one of the two men for a few minutes. He was tall and elderly, with wrinkled brown skin that hung slightly off his thin cheeks. His head was shaved bald, but there were hints of grey-black stubble on the sides of his head.

Eventually, Miana turned to face Felitïa and Zandrue. “This is Kunchen and this—” they indicated the second man, a shorter, younger man also with a shaved head— “is Jampa. I’ve told them—”

Kunchen cleared his throat. “I apologise for interrupting.” He had a thick accent, but he spoke slowly and otherwise clearly. “If you don’t mind, I would love the opportunity to practise my Arnorgue. It has been many years since I last used it.”

“You speak it well,” Felitïa said. She stepped forward, pressing her palms together again and bowing her head. “I am Felitïa Asa Folith. You’ve already met Miana, and that’s Zandromeda Armida.”

Kunchen and Jampa both bowed their heads. “You are welcome here,” Kunchen said.

Borisin didn’t quite snort, but he did blow air heavily through his nose. Ahem.

“Oh, and this is Borisin.”

Kunchen bowed his head to Borisin. “Few travellers bring horses here. It is a tiring journey for them. We will take care of him for while you continue to the monastery.”

Jampa approached and reached for the reins, but Borisin bore his teeth at him, and Jampa stepped back.

Borisin, let him.

Borisin breathed heavily, but lowered his head.

Zandrue patted Borisin’s neck and took the reins. She handed them to Jampa. “He can be a little stubborn.”

Jampa bowed his head.

“Will he be all right at this altitude?” Felitïa asked.

“He is in good shape,” Kunchen said. “He will probably adjust faster than you. It is merely the initial journey that is taxing.”

Jampa started to lead Borisin towards the cave. There’s another horse here. I can smell her.

“Do you have other horses here?” Felitïa asked.

“One.”

Told you.

I believed you. I just didn’t want him asking how I knew.

“Horses are fast,” Kunchen continued. “They are useful if we need to send an emergency message.”

They better have good grooming here, Borisin said as he and Jampa disappeared into the cave. I tell you, the things I put up with for Rudiger.

“Something amusing?” Kunchen said.

“Hmm?”

“Your smile looks amused.”

“Oh, sorry,” Felitïa said. “Just an amusing thought.”

Kunchen bowed his head. “Please, follow me. I will get you some refreshment, and you can rest a little before you continue. There is still quite a climb ahead of you, and you are expected.” He turned and strode towards one of the buildings.

Felitïa looked to Miana, who shrugged. Then she hurried after Kunchen. “We’re expected?”

Kunchen climbed the small flight of stairs at the building’s entrance and opened the door. “You are, yes. Your friends are welcome to join you, of course.” He motioned for her to enter.

“Me specifically?” Why was that not surprising?

“Oh yes, we’ve been expecting you for a long time. You’re late. The abbot says you’re twenty-seven years and eleven days late.”

Felitïa climbed the steps and went through the door. The building was just a single room with a curtain partitioning one corner. Prayer flags hung on the walls, and a prayer wheel stood in the corner beside the curtained-off area. Several cushions lay in a circle on the floor. “That’s very specific. Twenty-seven years and…” Wait, had he said eleven days? It was currently the twenty-fifth, eleven days since… “That’s exactly my age.”

“Is it? What a coincidence.” Kunchen walked over to the curtain and pulled it back. Behind it was a small kitchen. He retrieved a bottle of something and began pouring its contents into cups.

Zandrue slipped past Felitïa and sat on one of the cushions. “I think that’s a bit more than a coincidence.”

“Do you?” Kunchen said.

“I do.”

“That is your right.” He placed the cups on a tray, then added several wooden bowls and a larger one, as well as some spoons.

Miana squeezed Felitïa’s hand, then took a seat on another one of the cushions.

Kunchen carried the tray over to Felitïa. The cups contained a pale liquid, while the large bowl was full of yoghurt. Felitïa took one of the cups. Then Kunchen carried the tray over to the others and placed it on the floor between the cushions.

Felitïa took a sip. The drink was thick and sweet, almost like a nectar, but with the tang of alcohol.

“Chang,” Kunchen said.

“Oh good.” Zandrue took a cup and drank from it. “Much preferable to tea all the time.”

Felitïa looked to Miana.

“It’s a barley wine,” they said.

With a smile, Felitïa took another sip, and sat beside Miana.

“Water boils at a much lower temperature up here,” Kunchen said, sitting as well. “So we make chang here instead.”

“It’s very good,” Zandrue said. “My compliments.”

Kunchen bowed his head to her, and began spooning out yoghurt into the bowls and passing them around. Once they had eaten their fill and had finished their drinks, he collected the cups and bowls, and carried them back to the kitchen.

“You should resume your journey now. It will be dusk soon, and you don’t want to climb in the dark. The stairs can be treacherous.”

“Stairs?” Zandrue said.

Kunchen nodded. “The rest of the way is by stairs, and one misstep…”

“Yeah, I get it,” Zandrue said. “I guess we should get started. Will you be joining us?”

He sighed. “I spend most of my time here these days with Jampa, tending the garden and looking after the animals. I am getting a bit too old for the stairs. However, I will accompany you on this occasion.”

Felitïa stood up. “You shouldn’t feel obligated to come with us. We would be happy to have Jampa as our guide or make our way ourselves.”

Kunchen chuckled. “Oh, I feel no obligation. I just want more time to practise my Arnorgue.” He stuck out his tongue.

Felitïa laughed and pressed her palms together. “We would be honoured to have you with us.”

“This way.” He led them out of the building and past the garden. At the far side of the outcropping was a pair of junipers, one of which was growing up from over the cliff edge, apparently growing out of the mountainside itself. Between the two trees, a narrow staircase, carved out of the rock itself, started up the side of the mountain. “We will need to go single file. I will go first. Watch your step. There is no rail.”

Kunchen started up the steps, and Zandrue followed right after him. Then Miana went, and Felitïa took the rear.

“How many languages do you know?” Zandrue asked as they climbed.

“Twenty-three.”

“Impressive,” Zandrue said.

“I am currently learning my twenty-fourth: Isyarian. It is very difficult without a fluent speaker to practise with.”

Zandrue looked back. “Maybe we should get Jorvan here, Felitïa.”

“Who is Jorvan?” Kunchen asked.

“An Isyar friend of ours,” Zandrue said.

“I would indeed be interested in meeting this Jorvan. You must bring them next time you come.”

“We’ll do what we can,” Felitïa called up. Once they were at the monastery and she had had enough time to be familiar with it, it would certainly be possible to teleport people back and forth. Would such an ostentatious display of the Staff’s powers would be a good idea, though?

The climb took awhile, although probably not as long as it felt. The sun only moved a few degrees in the sky, so it couldn’t have been more than half an hour.

As much as she tried not to, Felitïa found herself taking frequent looks over the cliff-side to her right and then left after the one switchback. The wide, open chasm dropped for thousands of feet. Far below was a sea of green, the tops of the trees on the valley floor. The tiny specks of numerous birds flew over those trees—flew far below where she now stood.

The view was spectacular and breathtaking. The thin air made that breathtaking description somewhat literal, and dizzying. Vertigo threatened to overtake her a couple times, and she had to pause and clutch the cliff face for a few moments before continuing on.

At long last, they reached the top, where there was a small rocky outcropping with a fence along the edge. The fence was decorated with prayer flags. A few goats grazed on thin grasses here.

Kunchen bent over for a moment, breathing heavily.

“You all right?” Zandrue asked.

He slowly rose again, nodding while still breathing heavily. “As I said, I am getting too old for that climb, but I will be fine.”

The monastery had several levels, and further wooden staircases led up to the higher ones. There was only one narrow door on this level. While they stood catching their breaths, that door opened and two monks came out. They both had shaven heads like most monks, though one of them was a woman. Because she had avoided going into towns in Singea, Felitïa hadn’t seen a lot of people, and even fewer monks, but Miana had always talked of the monks as though they were all male, and the very few Felitïa had seen had all been male.

When the two monks reached them, Felitïa pressed her palms together, and bowed her head.

The monks lowered to their knees and then lay down flat on their chests, faces to the ground, their arms extended forward and pointing in Felitïa’s direction.

Felitïa shook her head and hands. “Oh, there’s no need for that. I…” She looked to Kunchen.

The older monk moved out beside the prostrating monks. “No, there is every need. I was not informed before, and I apologise for the informal greeting below.” He then lowered himself to his knees, but before he fully prostrated himself, he looked to Miana and Zandrue. “You two must prostrate yourselves to her if you wish to enter.”

“You can’t be serious,” Zandrue said.

“I am. This is the second most important event in this monastery’s history. You must prostrate yourselves to her or you will be barred entry to the monastery and must turn back.”

Miana turned to face Felitïa, backed up a little, then prostrated themself.

“Suppose it can’t harm,” Zandrue said, and prostrated herself.

Kunchen bowed his head to Felitïa, then prostrated himself as well. The three monks all began chanting in Singean.

Felitïa looked over them all. What the hell was she supposed to do? They were just lying there, unmoving. Zandrue occasionally glanced up, but then put her head back down as soon as she saw no one else had moved.

Perhaps she was supposed to say something, but she had no idea what.

She was about to ask Miana what the Singean word for rise was, when a presence that wasn’t Miana’s, Zandrue’s, or any of the monks’ appeared in the Room in her head.

Who are you?

I am Khenpo Sangye Bhasundar, but you may call me Bhasi. Welcome, Will-Breaker. Welcome home.