Hi dad, hi mum, hi Dezin, Tani, Rilly.

I hope you are all well. Rilly, are you talking yet? Is she talking? Dezin, how is my pond of mud? I’m sure you’re taking good care of it. FOR ME. Just kidding, it’s yours.

I’m fine, I’m very fine. Special Forces are like a holiday. I still have a lot of training every day and there’s plenty to learn and yet the way we are treated here makes me feel I’m on my days off. Not like in the Academy it was bad, nothing like that! It’s very different, everybody calls each other by first name (apart from Greghom, I can’t call him Verlar because of Verlar. Btw, he’s in the Navy and a dragon master (or whatever it’s called when you dedicate your life to animals and it’s not veterinary)). There are only two of us: me and a guy from the Northern, Eluik. He’s very nice and friendly. I’m nice and friendly too, mum (I know you asked).

Yesterday I was officially made a Special Forces Officer. Yes, I’m an essudus now. I can’t tell you what exactly was taking place, all I can do is repeat what I said in my previous letter about the ‘born not made’ thing. Next time I see you I will be roaming the village looking for my innocent victims (that one’s for you, Dezin).

Say hello to everybody. See you in the summer.

Love you

Ota

Hey Ota babe!

You are not writing, you bitch! Didn’t you receive my previous letter? I know: you did and you planned to write back but every day there was no time or you were forgetting and by the time you remembered you were like „Nah, too late. I’ll write during the Fes”.

I’m falling for a tall elf from somewhere in the middle of the country. His family is from a village in Sjaell but they moved out when he was three because of his father’s job. My dad would be very proud. You know, pureblood! I’m not sure if he’s into me very much but I’m sure he’s into me for some good nighttime. Festive Week, here I cum! (ups, did I misspell that?). And how about you? Are there any other newbies with you? If not I’d go for this Greghom. He’s still young and has nice buttocks. Don’t tell me he doesn’t! If there are newbies and only girls I would go for Greghom. Oh no, I just remembered he must be back in the SMA! Ok, I’d be careful with my seniors. But. If there are other newbie guys... come on, love or not love, you don’t need that, trust me. Just do a favour to your body. It’s tiiiiiime!!!

But if you don’t feel like – don’t. If you don’t want to – don’t let a blonde slut get into your head. I love you Ota, the way you are. But if you make a decision and you don’t tell me, with details, I’m not your friend any more. You have been warned.

Love you, write to me, I’ll write after the Fes about the tall man.

Always yours, Kyeta.

Did you hear from Verlar? Are you sure he’s in the Navy, not in a secret Poetry Troops?

Hi, Ota!

How are you doing my friend? Are you a proper essudus now? I’m enjoying my new life, especially the side one. Navy is good but I don’t find my new colleagues as attractive as people in the Academy. We, southerners, keep to each other. There are some snobby guys from the Central and irritating giggling girls from the Northern. I just do my job and don’t try to interact with too many people apart from my SMA pals. My schedule is more packed than everybody else’s but I’m really glad about it. I spend two days every week in a dragons centre to work with krools and sometimes wingfingers. The taming method I accidentally invented five years ago is working well. I've been asked to write another paper about it and who knows, maybe it will be a base for a new manual. I like krools more and more, they are truly magnificent dragons. The way mothers keep their eggs in the front arms is such a heart-melting view! Did you know the males care for the chicks too? They do, help to feed them and protect the nesting mothers. It must be because during the mating season the males shagged many partners, it’s like a polyamory orgy! After that, no one knows who fathered what egg and it’s one big family. When the chicks are old enough to feed themselves the males retreat and people move full-time to initiate the taming. The keepers stay close to the mothers so the chicks get used to the human smell, (they ‘present’ themselves after the hatching, but then don’t spend much time with young ones leaving happy families on their own). The females treat the tamers as part of the pack and the chicks pick that up from them, but any visitors or simply people other than the tamers are not allowed. I haven’t been allowed either, this season’s mothers are dragons that haven’t known me too well and they would attack me thinking I might hurt their babies. Plus my smell would confuse the little ones. I’m working with a group of young krools who will be mating the coming season and I will be part of the chicks taming group. Meantime I’m learning wingfingers’ saddling. Back in my village, I was flying them saddleless. This way is easier, easier than horse riding (did I mention there's a horse’s stable too? Yes, there are eleven horses here too).

Did you hear from Kyeta? How is she doing? She's probably a star by now. She could always make everybody like her, she’s such a wonderful being.

Take care Ota, have a fantastic Festive Week.

Verlar

Hey bitch!

You were absolutely right. I did receive it, forgot, put it back for the Fes. I’m sorry, sorry, sorry.

Your letter arrived before I started writing mine and this time I’m doing it! So good to know you are doing well, you enjoy the section and new routines. I’m happy here too! Since last Sunday, I’m officially an essudus and I can wear this sexy uniform. Are you having time off during the two years? I’m going to visit my family in the summer (that’s when I will have my time off. It’s part of the training too – we need to get used to, you know, being essudi. You know what I mean. Not being shy and walking drained because you didn’t have guts to Demand).

Yes, Greghom was in the SMA but he returned for the Fes. Thanks to you I can’t look him in the eye now. You are going to pay for that. No, I’m not going to look at his backside instead. What is it with the buttocks anyway? Am I missing something? Buttocks are just buttocks, every pair is the same. Having said that – you actually have very nice ones.

Alright, maybe you have won. There are two of us here (newbies), the other one’s name is Eluik and he's from the NMA. We are friends and since I already had some wine tonight and he’s sitting in the same room with me, maybe I should go for it.

Bye bye, I WILL tell you.

Yes, I had a letter from Verlar. It was a normal letter, I honestly and sincerely don’t know what you mean.

Your bitch, Ota.

So, until now Ottaine managed to go through her life without a single relationship. She liked talking about men with other girls, especially Kyeta, but to be honest, men or architecture or the new ales in ‘Released Peacock’ all were the same. None excited her more than the other. When the age of mid-twenties approached, Kyeta started pointing towards male buttocks and broad shoulders, or slim chests and stick-like legs, or fluffy (bear-like as Kyeta called them) stomachs and strong hands (I know, Ota my love, every girl has a different taste) and just any kind of beauty she could spot. Young and smooth freshmen? Older professors and retired officers? No? Come on Ota, I know you’re picky but... don’t you want to just, you know, lose your virginity before it’s awkward to admit you’re one? And so when Kyeta’s letter came Ottaine took a bottle of home wine and talked to Eluik. She didn’t like him ‘this way’ and for him, she was a good friend. They had a lot in common, not just being essudi but coming from large families and secretly liking poetry. They found each other very easy to be with and both had almost (Eluik) or none (Ota) experience despite their age. And so that evening they talked about sex and after they finished talking they went into his room. It was three in the morning, the Four Stars shone in the sky as they fell asleep with smiles on their lips.

Ottaine kept her promise and wrote to Kyeta. Kyeta wrote to her about a short ‘but satisfactory’ relationship with the tall man.

Eluik and Ottaine remained lovers for the rest of the winter, spring and the beginning of summer. They truly liked each other and Eluik fell in love with Ota a little bit, Ota liked his company and was glad she knew ‘how it is’ which was... nothing special. She still couldn’t understand why Kyeta was so keen about this whole sensual thing. She never initiated sex and never trully enjoyed it.

When the full summer came she welcomed the season with unsettling relief. They were to leave the Domicile for one month each, but not at the same time. That meant not pretending for almost two months! She hoped that when Eluik goes first to his old hometown she would start missing him as someone more than a friend, and what if she doesn’t?

When they saw each other after those four weeks Ottaine was glad to see her friend but did not experience any deeper feelings. Eluik was nervous and withdrawn. Something happened and he didn’t know how to talk about with a woman who was, after all, his first proper lover, somebody he was in love with less than a month ago, and he was about to spend all the time with for the next year. When finally they were alone in her room in the Domicile, he couldn’t hold it any longer and dropped the bomb:

‘Do you love me?’

Ottaine went pale and stammered back:

‘What??? Eluik, why? But... I don’t know. I... do I know what love is?’ the words of the truth just came out on their own.

‘Listen, Ota. I must tell you something. When last winter we became close I fell in for you. I really did. And I was sure that was true love... until very recently... I met my old friend, a woman I used to know for years... we spent time together and...’

‘And you truly fell in love with her?’ she asked hopefully.

‘Yes.’ he said quietly and his eyes lit.

‘Eluik, my friend,’ she said, taking his hand and feeling so relieved she couldn’t hold back a smile. ‘I had a wonderful time with you, we gave each other what we needed, but to be honest I don’t think I ever loved you the way I should. So... be with her. I’m so glad you told me this, I was afraid I was breaking your heart by not loving you the way people tend to love each other. I do, as a friend and I liked our nights together but I will give them up without looking back if you don’t want to do it anymore. So…’

She couldn’t finish because Eluik shut her mouth with a kiss. The last kiss. They were friends again and what happened didn’t destroy it, didn’t make them feel awkward. He could talk about his girl far away, she could still pour her soul out in the evenings. And in the future they imagined, they lived happily ever after.

Ottaine was excited about seeing her family. Recently she had so much on her head that she didn't write to anyone, family or friends. Kyeta sent only two more very short letters with ‘I'm so tired, night night’ being the last sentence in each. Verlar wrote one letter about krools' hatchlings that are as playful as puppies. Her parents have never been much of letter writers and Ota didn't know what they really think about their daughter being in Special Forces. She was really curious about that. In a letter she sent just before her departure she just shortly told them that she will probably be at home on such and such day and promised to help with the harvest.

On the second evening after Eluik's return, Ottaine walked five miles to the nearest train station at the end of a wide valley.

The night train journey was not exhausting but Ottaine couldn't sleep anyway. It was the first time she had to make an energy Demand without Domicile's neighbourhood's help. Obviously, she felt awkward, to say the least. She would always remember how she sheepishly approached a woman in a waiting room an hour before the train's departure, how she stammered on the words and how great she felt a few moments later. The woman only said with a bored voice: ‘First time? I live nearby. I know there are two new ones in that mountain of yours. No need to act so dumbly. Just get on with it, we all know the law.’

Sitting in the carriage and listening to rhythmic puffing, Ottaine wandered in the kingdom of dreams, seeing herself always happy and successful, being praised for glorious victories in foreign lands, fighting arm in arm with Kyeta and flying wingfingers over the salt sea. She changed trains twice on sleepy stations with sleepy cashiers, boarded half-empty trains that took her towards more familiar landscapes of wide valleys and fields yellowed with a crop seen in the breaking light from the eastern horizon.

Virikko's farm buildings were still soaked in the morning fog. She had been walking eleven miles from the station with a backpack that seemed to weigh nothing at all. Her high spirit, strong muscles and buzzing energy lightened it. When she was close enough to see the village she realised life hasn't changed as much as she thought at first. Her energy level started slowly but constantly dropping and the sleepless night, walk and uncomfortable stripes started reminding her that, after all, she's only a human and will never stop to be. She dragged herself to the first houses and barns, smelled the sleepy sheds and dew-wet hay, so familiar and sweet to heart. She caught herself wishing someone would see her, a proud Special Forces officer with her cloak unbuttoned and thrust on the backpack, the near-black green uniform, and boots not so shiny after the long walk. Finally, her wish was granted. She met Mr Baker (that wasn't his surname but she couldn't remember his real name, maybe she never knew it?) and his son, carrying the eggs from the coop. They stood still when they saw her, staring at her, Mr Baker wrinkled his brow. Suddenly his eyes opened wide and he cried:

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'It's Lileghom's daughter!'

'Good morning Mr... good morning sir. Hello Iniss. It's a foggy morning, isn't it?'

'Why didn't your father tell me his daughter is in the Special Forces? Iniss, did you know?'

'No!', said Iniss a bit too loud vigorously shaking his head. Ah, old Mr Baker, never liked being omitted in any of the village gossips.

Ottaine walked on, aware that despite the early hour Iniss was running from house to house and by the time she walked two streets further Dezin was up and getting dressed. Her big, thirteen years old brother ran at her with krool's speed screaming her name. Wasn't he supposed to be too grown-up for that?

'Dezin, do you always have to be such a stupid mushroom?' she said angrily with a tear in her eye and holding him so tight he couldn't breathe.

'Always stupider with you, sis' he replied with a broad smile. 'People in the village take me for a fool anyway, and that's the way I will carve my path to the bright future. You should know, dad forbid us telling everybody you got into essudi. He said we don't need too much attention but I know, Ota, that he just wanted this very day to be Lileghoms the centre of attention.'

'Yeah... you must be right. I know our dad,' she said looking around at the small gathering around her and little five feet five inches Dezin. 'How did you know I'm already here?'

'Haha! She asks how I know! Walks around the village wearing green-black, with murder in her eyes, and asks how did I know you're here? Everybody knows! It's a small village.'

'Ok Dezin, you want a show? I'll give you a show. I'm completely nagged. I need an adult for Demand. Yes, bro, an adult. You're not an adult.'

Twenty minutes later she was sitting in the kitchen watching her mother putting on the stove the old red kettle with painted white flowers. Ottaine loved that kettle since it was one of the very few things that haven't changed since she was a little girl: the texture of white walls, the creaking and squeaking of the floor in the bathroom, the draft filling the lounge with the garden aroma of mint and basil, and the red kettle with white flowers.

On the day of Ottaine's arrival, Mr Lileghom told everyone about his Special Forces Officer daughter up to the point when people seeing him were greeting him with ‘yes, I know, your daughter. You've already told me four times.’ Ms Lileghom wasn't much of a talker but the pride on her curled lips and elevated head were saying it all. Ottaine was happy to see her younger sister Tanantaya (or Tany for the close ones) and little Unirelle (called Rilly) Tany's three years old daughter. They lived nearby and Tany was visiting them every day now when Ota was staying in the family home.

Dezin was dancing with joy since his favourite sister was home. She was grown up but he knew she would not refuse ‘going crazy,’ chasing fireflies in the night and swimming in the lake at four in the morning. His mischievous attitude did her a big favour on the first day. He came to her with a list of neighbours (‘no underage unless they lied to me, Ott’) who were happy to serve their local attraction (he really put that phrase on top of the list) any time. How did he do it? Ottaine could only guess that his unbreakable humour with a charming personality did the job. When she saw it, she wanted to refuse with (maybe a little fake) disgust... but before she said a word she realised she actually needs her neighbours' help in the following weeks. Anyway, what was the purpose of the time off Domicile training? To do exactly that: get used to it. From what she was told, within time, she will learn how to effectively distribute the energy and need of Demands will become much rarer. Now, however, she was still a hatchling, with zero real-life experience and little practice. She took the list with gratitude.

The time with family was very precious. She found farming much more fun now, having more stamina to do it. The downside was she was repaying her Donors by taking their work in the time of harvest. Yet still, she had time to swim in the lake, catch fireflies, hang out with old friends and catch up with their heart problems and business plans. Also, listen about her schoolmates' babies' poos. She travelled to the nearby town with old girlfriends to see a circus and take part in a fair for opening a mechanical spinning wheels' factory. She was helping to choose dresses (‘yep, that's fine. That one's fine too, oh... you're welcome’) and shoes (‘ok, as long as it's comfy’) and on one of the days in town even visited a fortune-teller’s tent (‘you will marry a tall curly-haired man from overseas and have four sons. Five goldens please’).

One day her old friend, Iyyev, now married and expecting her second baby, asked her over a grandma-made kombucha.

'Is this true what the rumour says, about the war overseas? Is Solummger going to send their soldiers?' she asked.

'I know nothing about that. I heard some people on the top,' she moved her hand towards an imagined mountain, 'worried we will be forced to meet the Treaty obligation. Some others say their war is nothing more than the usual border turmoil.' she finished.

'I heard otherwise. The conflict is different, they don't just fight with each other but over something, not the borders. My uncle met an old friend of his whose daughter works in the government and she says it's all out of the pattern. Skey-Er and Landhapis engineers and financial elite are secretly working on a deadly weapon in a secret base in the Nogo Forest, and forcing their governments into this war to test it and if Solummger joins they'll test it on us.

'Oh, dear', Ottaine sighed silently. 'Do you know how much worth all those rumours are? I'd be surprised if there was a single grain of truth in it.'

'You say my uncle is lying?'

'No', she replied slowly and cautiously, 'And maybe neither his friend nor friend's daughter or whoever else that was. Things just got misinterpreted, misunderstood, people colourise what they hear.'

'So what else would it be?'

'Just a normal border conflict, exaggerated this time. Maybe there were some significant casualties, burnt village, killed children,' she said casually.

'How can you be so cold! Is that what you are now? Cold, heartless monster?'

'Gods, help me...', Ottaine rolled her eyes, 'No, I'm just telling you what could happen, not what did. Something made this conflict worse, that's it.'

'That's not what I heard. Uncle said clearly: it's not a border turmoil this time.'

'Alright, I don't know anything specific. Life in the Academy, as in Domicile, is the same as usual. That's all I can tell you. I'm not spreading any rumours or personal opinions.'

'Well, if you find anything let me know. But I believe when they say it's all about a new weapon. Say what you want.'

'Believe what you want, answer the facts.' said Ottaine dryly.

'Why do you think it's not? When was the last time someone checked the Nogo Forest? Eight thousand years ago? Hundred thousand?'

'Actually, it's closer to two million. And when was the last time something strange was seen there? The answer is ‘never’. From the land, from the sea, from the air it’s trees and birds, the only known Nogo revelation is the Turquoise Parrot, a species unknown before. A parrot.'

'Then why is it forbidden to enter? Ha?' Ota's friend found the argument as old as civilization.

'Come on, everybody knows why. It's a wildlife sanctuary and, if they survived, home to wild dragons. The Forest has been sealed for millions of years by a wall, now by this electric fence, for a good reason: do not disturb and do not get accidentally killed. No Landhapis and no Skey-Er could possibly breach the International Nogo Forest Decree. Period.'

'Well, we'll see. I bet you're wrong.'

'How much?'

'How much what?'

'How much do you bet. I'm in.'

'Ottaine, I don't recognise you. You are not taking it seriously! Well, it would be you going to war, not me.'

'Alright, the war is real between those two, yes, Solummger might join Landhapis if it escalates further. Well, if I'm killed by a secret weapon I can only hope it is quick and efficient. Let's talk about something else. So when exactly are you due?'

After that day she was asked about the war several times. The news about Landhapis and Skey-Er 'going bananas' spread fast. Ottaine being away from the army had not much more news than civilians but the neighbours kept asking her anyway. Will Solummger join? What exactly is in the mutual assistance pact? How evil Skey-Er is?

She started remembering that almost a year ago, at the beginning of the Three Days, Greghom returned from Rekeeren, the capital city, from a meeting with generals and didn’t look very well the next few days. The continental conflict had already been on for several weeks. Was it a warning the overseas ally might call for the Treaty obligations?

She still had five days of the holiday left when a letter arrived. With Shove's seal, in a red envelope meaning something urgent. It was an order (yes, this word was used) of her immediate return to the Domicile.

Dezin was inconsolable. The mother looked at her sadly saying 'so after all, the rumour was true? Solummger is going to war?' Ottaine didn't know the answer and didn't share with her mother the thoughts that were passing her head: this might be it, Landhapis have called. She packed her stuff in silence, her throat soared when her little niece walked in to hug aunty and cover her face with wet kisses. The next morning the whole village (or at least it seemed to her like it) walked her to the railway station. Her father cried when he saw the gathering.

'It's as if I was taking you to your wedding', he said. 'So, kid, do you ever think about getting married? Or do the barracks make you focus only on guns and tanks? Eh? My little duck, if you ever get married I will make you such a wedding the world hasn't seen yet!'

'Oh, dad, why do you say such things?' she said back a little annoyed. 'Are you trying to make me feel rushed into something I don't want? There's nobody on the horizon.'

Her father looked at her for a long moment with a smile, then hugged her tightly and said into her ear:

'You have always been different from your sisters. That's good, kid, remember. That's good. I love you so very much, little duck.'

Before boarding the train she managed to say goodbye to everybody. She felt a tear rolling somewhere below her eye when she squeezed Dezin's shoulders and realised next time she sees him he might be a man. She said she hoped to see all of them again soon, maybe in six months, maybe a year. Rilly will be saying full sentences and Ota will say ‘Oh mine, look how big you are!’, Dezin will start growing a silly-looking moustache and his voice will change from boy mezzo-soprano to a baritone. Crops will grow, cows will make milk, the mayor's trises will lay more eggs and little dragons will be the next season's local attraction. That's what Ottaine dreamed of when the train was slowly moving away from the platform with a rhythmic puff.

She sat by the window on the top tier in an empty compartment. The morning chill, emotions and drained energy made her fatigued. The stay in Virikko was great, really great. Everybody was either friendly or curious and she never met anybody directly hostile. Virikko and its neighbourhood held essudi in high esteem yet Ottaine knew very well there are people and parts of the country where the situation is very different. Verlar once repeated to her a conversation he had during his short stay at home after the third or fifth year. He met a drunk fisherman by the docks. He spotted Verlar's military engineering textbook and asked:

'Oh boy, you are Vorgeghom's boy! You learn to be a soldier. Do you have to live with essudi in your school?'

'Well, yes, and they have to live with us', Verlar replied with amusement.

'But don't worry,' he continued, 'the teachers live in a separate building and there are no essudi among students.'

'There are no but there can be!', the fisherman showed his concern. 'When such an essudus (deity forbids) gets your trust, invites you to pubs, buys you grass and brings lassies, and then... boom! Before you know it you are done, gone! Ashes. The monster sucks your soul out of ya. You wish you could’ve seen before but how could ya!'

They laughed at it then, now she was not finding it funny. Being 'one of them' made her aware of potential mistrust she might evoke in some people and its consequences, rational or not. She thought of Kyeta. There were people out there in the world who would not see Elves as humans. (Of course, there were some Elves, Ottaine met them in Sjaell, who regarded themselves as the only true humans. Other Elves looked at them as pitiful loonies but was it changing anything?). With essudi, things were somewhat different. The Solummger law was indeed making essudi superior in a way, with the Demand privilege and their high officers status from the start. It was necessary but it was not just. Essudi could be objects of jealousy and the fact they would not cross the line under the threat of very severe consequences would not make people change the way they look at them.

With such thoughts, she covered herself with her coat inside-out and fell asleep.

Hours later she was woken up by raised angry voices:

'Go outside and leave normal people alone!' an elderly woman was crying.

'This is my compartment, my seat, you can fuck off, you cunt!' a male voice with 'I-graduated-four-grades' articulation was heard.

She opened her eyes ready to face hate and disdain.

The compartment was full. A woman with a sleeping baby was sitting opposite her, squeezed to the window. Next to her were two young men, with heavy acne and eyes with such a look that when you stared deep into them you would be taken straight to the occiput, without any disturbance caused by neural activity. Opposite them were two elderly people, a woman was sitting next to Ottaine (it was her voice Ottaine had heard) and a man with a look of shock and disgust was next to the door. The two pricks were holding their feet on the opposite bench, shoes on the floor, the urge to open the window was very strong. They had just opened two bottles of lager, four more were clattering on the floor.

'How dare you. Such a young man and what kind of language do you use!' said the elderly man very softly.

'Got a problem, cunt?'

'You should leave this compartment, enough is enough. I'm going to look for an inspector.'

'No, you're not going anywhere, oldie.' said one and the other started standing up, his fist dangerously moving towards the man. He did not finish the threat because another voice joined the quarrel:

'I see you have too much energy to contain, right? Yes, you will leave this compartment, both of you, now. And you will be a little useful,' said Ottaine standing up. Her uniform was now plain seen. They couldn't fight. Even if they did not answer the Demand an essudus always had enough strength to make any man obey, whether by physical or mental restraint. The silence fell, Ottaine waited for a moment without any movement, then the two angry men picked up the empty bottles (the full still in their hands) and left the compartment with Ottaine following them.

They all returned after some time, Ottaine feeling refreshed and the two young men looking rather harmless. They sat down without a word and rested. The three other passengers smiled and the woman with a baby whispered: ‘Thank you, Ms officer’.

It was the most important experience for her. Enough wanting to apologise for being who you are, enough feeling sorry for having needs. Yes, she was an energy vampire and she was going to use it for everybody's good, just like any other Domicile's past or future inhabitant.

The rest of the journey was very pleasant. The two youths were napping quietly after Ottaine made them put their shoes on (yes, earlier on they went out with her barefoot). She changed trains in the afternoon on one busy railway station and continued the journey in a packet express. She stood in the crowded corridor ignoring suspicious looks and returning with a smile to the friendly ones. The landscape was changed, the train was passing through narrow and deep man-made hollows in the rocks and dark tunnels. In Lil Hill, the train was changing its route towards the East Plains and that's where Ottaine and about half of the passengers took off. She went to the waiting room where Loileh was waiting for her.

'Good afternoon. I have hired a cart for us. Did you have a nice time with your family?'

'Yes, it was absolutely brilliant. Why did you call me back?' Ottaine wanted to get straight to the point.

'We are calling everyone back. That war is the reason, I'm sure you have guessed that. Solummger cannot hold the Treaty in limbo anymore, the economic repercussions would be too heavy. Our soldiers are being sent to the continent, Verlar Greghom has already arrived in Landhapis and gone to the war.'

Her voice in the last words bore scared tenderness that made Ottaine chill. In her own opinion she has never been good at reading people, always blind to affections and so-called obvious signs. Was it the country Loileh was worried about or her old schoolmate?

'The war... after all. What is it about? I heard crazy-sounding rumours in the village.'

'We will discuss it in the Domicile, Ota.'