Despite Suzanne having witnessed the events of the previous night and having discerned Shahab's intentions from his expression in the darkness, the words hit her like a resounding bell in her ears. She responded with the same bitter smile, her voice barely audible, "Great. At least it was him who broke the rules and departed from the group without permission."

Parisa, taken back, rose abruptly. "What? What are you saying? Are you still half-asleep or something?"

Suzanne calmly retorted, "If you can just calm down for a moment, I will explain." She gestured for Parisa to take a seat once more. Suzanne began her explanation while gazing at the winter morning sky from her prone position. "In the middle of the night, I was awakened by the soft sound of footsteps, but since I recognized those steps, I didn't make a move. It was Shahab, and he went to Tizpa, woke him up gently, and told him they had to leave."

Perplexed, Parisa inquired, "What did he mean by 'they had to leave? Go where? Weren't we supposed to..."

"I'll relay exactly what I heard," Suzanne responded. "Bear with me for a moment. Shahab was wearing the special glove he uses to contact his father, which leads me to believe he received an order from him. Yes, he informed Tizpa that they needed to depart. It seemed Tizpa was not a willing participant in this decision, but he complied with Shahab's instructions and began gathering his belongings. I suspect their intention was to follow our initial plan, but independently, in their own manner, without us interfering, heading west. Shahab probably believed that given the local geography, the closer they got to the west, the more likely they were to encounter divs, which could provide them with vital clues. Furthermore, unlike the southern route, they wouldn't be moving farther away from Ashuban."

"If that was their rationale, it doesn't sound entirely unreasonable, although the west can be more dangerous. However, I'm still at a loss as to why they chose to separate from us."

Suzanne possessed an alternative answer to this query, but upon studying Parisa's countenance, she decided to withhold that particular answer. "You know Shahab better than I do. This way, there won't be anyone commanding or forbidding him anymore – not that he was following my lead before! He might believe that by seizing control of the situation himself, he can overcome any challenges. He probably thinks that before the two of us return to Ashuban, he and Tizpa will have returned with triumph and gathered vital information. By displaying what they've acquired, they might hope for forgiveness and rewards, making everyone forget their transgression of breaking the rules. Of course, it's not entirely improbable that the Azarbars would consider such a course of action."

Suzanne was loath to witness the sadness on Parisa's face and understood the turmoil within her heart. Nevertheless, she deemed it prudent not to divulge the other possibility that had crossed her mind as a motive for Shahab's departure. Even Shahab himself might not have been able to disclose it directly to Parisa.

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Parisa was from outside the Seven Families, and Shahab was not one to readily express his thoughts. Now, unable to articulate his feelings, he was unwilling to risk incriminating himself. Hence, the most prudent course of action was to separate from the group, allowing them to interpret his actions as a display of pride rather than an unwillingness to be a witness to the probable suffering Parisa might endure in the days ahead. Shahab left them with the wounded pride of an Azarbar who acknowledged his inability to protect the person he loved.

Suzanne pondered, "Wouldn't a higher form of love be demonstrated by his remaining with Parisa?" She didn't know. What transpired within people's hearts and minds remained an enigma.

The memory of the firefall resurfaced in Suzanne's thoughts. When Arjang met his demise in that man's grasp, Suzanne, cradled in Parisa's arms, shared a fleeting gaze with Shahab. The distance was considerable, the night was dark, and Suzanne's mind was cluttered. Nevertheless, she could not discern apprehension in Shahab Azarbar's eyes or misread it. She had gained a thorough understanding of the Azarbar family through the grand events of the Seven Families, from the youngest to the oldest, and she was certain that members of this lineage were unafraid of death and the loss of their own lives, regardless of right or wrong. Therefore, what she perceived in Shahab's eyes in that moment – failure, the seething flames of anger consuming his very essence, coupled with despair and a reluctant acceptance of defeat – were all rooted in his concern for another individual. An individual for whom he had once placed his royal gaparo as a makeshift pillow to grant her a more comfortable rest, only to swiftly withdraw it moments before anyone (including her) had taken note of the gesture.

Suzanne mused, "A young Azarbar lad, so tormented that he left behind the one he adores! Poor Dianush is unaware of the emotional volcano he is accompanying!"

Parisa's words drew Suzanne's attention, pulling her back from her contemplative reverie. "They can't be far away. We have to go after them."

As Suzanne turned to face Parisa, her expression conveyed a mixture of surprise and helplessness. She continued with a sense of urgency, "Don't tell me you're actually considering letting them go! I understand that you're unafraid of the two of us venturing alone into the heart of the divs, unafraid of Parsin being nothing like the depictions we've read in our books. But do you not have even a slight fear that when we return – if we return! – Tarikan might question the decision-making you've demonstrated in this mission?"

Suzanne pushed aside the mental image of Tarikan leaning over her, depositing the black stone into her pocket. Rising from her seat, she began gathering their bags and the other items they had brought from Ashuban, responding patiently as she worked, "You can rest assured that nothing holds a higher priority for me than my family's name. If you consistently evaluate my actions through the lens of my devotion to my family's reputation, you will easily grasp the rationale behind my choices. My personality isn't overly complex, truly."

Parisa expressed her astonishment with a solemn tone. "It's precisely because I know you and your character that I'm utterly flabbergasted by your decisions!"

Suzanne expounded, "My standing as a representative of Azarpeiks has likely been tarnished beyond repair in relation to the mission that brought us to the south. However, in Parsin, I can make amends, compensating for any damage many times over, provided I gain a comprehensive understanding of what is transpiring here and communicate precise information to the Council of Kazhamuzes."