One of Alban’s officers left Aria an active but muted com. They’d taken the liberty of calling Gavain for her.

Aria arranged her curls. She tried to get the tangles out. Then, she realized, Gavain wouldn’t be able to see her. At this distance, there was no way they could have a video call.

Aria closed her door, hopped back on the bed, and faced the com. She leaned over it and held her hand just above the mute button. Aria felt the infamous butterflies. What might Gavain say?

Aria tapped the button. “This is Aria.”

“Aria. Thank the Mother Tree, I finally got in touch with you.” Gavain sounded exasperated.

Aria hung her head. “Why did you want to talk to me?”

“You went missing and didn’t check in on your training exercise. One of your mentors got in contact with me.” Gavain’s sigh came through the speaker. “What were you thinking? Chasing after Pan like that? Did you do it on purpose?”

Aria felt the time for lies had passed. “Yes, I did. I knew that Irini’s power could find Pan. I just wanted to try before someone else did.”

“You used that girl, Aria.”

Aria looked away from the com. “I know.” And, I’m only a little sorry.

Aria tricked Irini. Irini probably wanted nothing to do with her now. So much for friendship. So much for wrongdoings being limited to reapers.

“Aria.” A long pause followed. “It’s okay. Let me explain why I’m so concerned. About two years ago, I approached the arcanes and discussed the possibility of being your spouse. Do you know what they said to me?”

“What?”

“Get in line. Apparently, you have a fair share of admirers, even if it’s on a superficial level, and the arcanes weren’t about to turn them all away.” A soft thump, akin to a hand against wood traveled from the speaker. Gavain said, “I think they planned to convince you one of the other choices was better. There were some high-level people on that list.”

“I know. It’s my fault.” Aria bowed her head.

“No, of course it’s not.”

“It is. When I turned seventeen, I used to watch the auras of men I liked and act according to their desires. I did it on purpose.” Aria clasped her hands tight. “I never wanted to end up alone.”

She could hear Gavain breathe, but of course, she could see nothing. She listened to those breathes for the span of a long moment, sitting as still as she could.

Gavain said, “Then, we make a pair. None of those men you worked on are around anymore. I talked to most of them. I convinced them to let you go. I introduced some to other women. I got everyone off that list. So, I’m just as bad.”

Aria wore a smile – a bittersweet one. She had set up that gauntlet for Gavain.

“Aria, one of us has to behave respectably if we’re going to stay together. By doing this, I’ve gained you an early break. But, it wasn’t right. Now, I realize you didn’t know and probably shouldn’t…”

Aria picked up the com and held it in both hands. “About your activities? – no of course not. But, I knew about the deal. Since you’re the only suitor come to call, you can convince the mentors I have a chance of never procreating, thus reducing the population of arcanes. Which is why they’re willing to give me control sooner.” Aria smiled. “I can’t wait to get free. I only have a year left.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Gavain stuttered. “That’s right. But, everyone knows what I’ve done. So please, please, don’t do anything that might jeopardize this. By the way, how did you know?”

“Commander Alban told me,” Aria answered.

Gavain said, “Now, I know you want to help Pan, but she might have to be on her own.”

“I’m still going to help Pan.”

“What?” Gavain snapped.

Aria’s words tumbled out. “I’ll only do what is good and proper to help her. I wish I could do more, but I won’t.”

“Good. Good.”

Slowly, Aria let her gaze drift down. Her view passed the small com and settled on a cloud of aura. “Do you think she’ll be okay?” Aria asked. “I don’t feel very much like a good friend.”

“Aria, she has to face the consequences of the things she’s done. But, yes, there’s a good chance she’ll be okay. Whenever the reaper comes up in negotiations with other species, I have been instructed to play it off. Make it seem like less of a problem than it is. I’m absolutely certain that Scaldigir wants to see a lot more of Pan’s reaping.”

“Okay.” Aria sighed.

“I can’t talk long. Just stay safe and follow the rules, alright?”

“I will do my very best,” Aria promised.

Aria relaxed. She let the com fall into her lap. She couldn’t make any more mistakes on their quiet ride home because what mistakes would there be to make?

Pan’s cell door turned clear. On the other side, stood Irini. Pan rose from her seat and came to the door. She’d hoped to see Sotir, or even Aria, but she felt glad to see Irini, just the same.

“I didn’t fix one of the parts,” Irini said.

“That’s fine. Alban probably broke a bunch of new stuff. The tug’s not going anywhere.” Pan tried to smile. “So, you got two done – just playing Spirit board?”

Irini smiled and nodded. “Yeah. Brynn is kind of creepy though.”

Pan’s difficult smile faltered. She frowned. “Don’t worry about Brynn. We’re done with her.”

“Even if she haunts you to death?”

“Even then.”

Silence settled. Pan kept her eyes in her cell, and Irini neglected to stare in. They shared the moment in proximity alone.

Irini shifted. She looked up and around. She checked the door’s frame. Irini shrugged. “I’d break you out, but…”

Pan waved a hand. “Don’t break me out. You did enough.”

“I used my power to find where they’re holding the tug. And, I used it to see if your ghost was around. I can’t get to the ship.” Irini shook her head.

“Well, good job using your power, but like I said, we’re not going to break out. Out of curiosity, did you find the ghost?”

Irini shook her head.

“Good.”

Another long pause followed.

Irini stepped close to the door and whispered, “Hey...Is my power good? Is it something you’d take if you could?”

Pan felt her eyes narrow. She studied Irini. She owed the girl the truth. “Yes. Your power is very good. One of the best. Anything you want, you can find. If you were dead and gone, I would take that power. But, I’m not going to kill you just to get it, and I won’t stand by and watch someone else do it either.” Pan’s eyes flicked to the floor. “Take good care of it. Be the best...thread follower?”

“I don’t really have a title yet.” Irini half-smiled.

“They’ll think of one,” Pan said.

The two stared at each other. To Pan’s eyes, Irini looked determined but also wary. She seemed to look past Pan, into the future. Pan saw in Irini elements of her own past. She finally understood what the mentors tried to convey when they said things like: I remember that age or you remind me of myself.

The arrival of Aria broke the moment.

“Aria!” Irini whirled to face Aria and grinned.

Aria didn’t grin or even smile back. “I never expected to see you here. Irini, I’m so sorry I got you caught up in this. I feel...I used you.”

“No, you didn’t. My first job has been an adventure.”

“She’s very chipper,” Pan said.

“She is.” Aria studied Pan. “Let’s try to do this by the book. I spoke to Alban. Your chances to get through this and come home are good. Just have some faith.”

Pan nodded. “Okay. I’ll trust you.”

Now, Pan shared a look with Aria. It felt old and unused, but they could dust it off and make it comfortable again.

Aria smiled slowly. “Alban is going to take some more convincing. Also...” Aria glanced side to side. “What did you say to Sotir? He was pretty happy.”

Pan felt her cheeks warm, but a thrum of mischief egged her on. “I threw myself into his arms. I told him that if they took me prisoner, he could be my warden, and it wouldn’t feel like a prison sentence at all.”

Aria laughed. “Really do it. I want to see his aura after that.”

Irini scrunched her nose. “Uh…you like Sotir? But, he’s arcane. I thought that we’re supposed to spread the arcane around…to other families.”

“We are,” Aria said with a nod. “But, Pan hasn’t followed rules in a while, and Sotir says there’s no harm in it.”

Pan set a hard stare on Irini. “He started it.”