"Log, PF plus ten Tellurian days, addendum two. Lieutenant Seward reporting in.

"Stupid molecular chirality. Tellus's biology is left-handed, so you'd think it would be fine to eat aside from the expected alien toxins. Problem is, the chemical tests show traces of right-handed molecules as well. I'm putting something together to extract the inedible bits from the plants.

"Speaking of left hands, I'd bet mine that we're not seeing Terran animals because the genotype seeders aren't adapted to the situation. The flora would be as poisonous to them, and any other Terran fauna, as it is to us.

"On second thought, don't take me up on that bet. I think I'm going to need both my hands for the foreseeable future."

--Recording recovered from Site Resh, reconstructed 1887 CE (restricted access)

----

5 Rising Withering, 1886 CE

Palace of Governance, Acerbia

Closing his ears as someone else might close his eyes meant that Tvorh wouldn't be able to hear anything at all, and the last thing he wanted to do was make the Princeps angrier by appearing to ignore him.

So Tvorh had to sit in the Ducal conference room, miserable and frightened and totally aware of the fact that the Princeps of his adoptive bloodline was staring forgebone daggers at him, because his hearing meant that he couldn't not look.

"Gone," Dorsin said quietly.

Tvorh nodded, hanging his head. Even that didn't keep him from being able to make out the stern tension on Dorsin's face.

"He got vamped, Dad," Senrii said. She was sitting in a nearby seat--just sitting. Like a normal person. Not with her feet up on the conference table. At first Tvorh thought it might have been because her injury was still giving her pain, but he could hear the tension in her voice.

Something bad had happened between Senrii and Dorsin.

The princeps gave her a look as if he didn't even think she ought to be here. "The Erus can give me his own explanation," he said.

Senrii shrugged. "Just saying, he wouldn't be the first Erus of Nethress to get suckered into stupid decisions because of a nice pair of--" She glanced at Piotr, who stood guard over the door to the conference room. "Pair of cranial lobes. Look, you can't blame him for that. Not unless you want to blame yourself, Dad." She raised her hands in surrender. "Just. Saying."

"This is not about blame," Dorsin said, his voice quivering with barely-controlled anger. "Thiyyatt was our hope for a permanent cure to the genophage. Now it appears that she's discovered the cure and disappeared with it." Dorsin put his hands on the table and leaned toward Tvorh. "Erus, you must bring her back."

Tvorh almost sobbed with relief. He was half expecting to be thrown out of Gens Nethress, to be tossed back into the Chasm with his sisters. Just as quickly, the relief vanished. "Alone?"

"I cannot afford to send anyone else with you," Dorsin said. "And you were the cause of this failure. It is yours to rectify."

"But--" Tvorh began.

"Dad," Senrii said, "you sure can afford to send some support with him."

The door to the conference room opened up. Eztli strode in and slid into the chair next to Tvorh. "Pardon my latecoming," she said, sounding like she didn't care much about whether anybody did pardon her or not. "I'm unaccustomed to late-night meetings."

"This is a Nethress family discussion," Princeps Dorsin said. "You are not welcome."

"This is a discussion about the vanished Last Era from the Last Era," Eztli said.

"And how would you know about that?" Dorsin asked. The question was full of menace.

Eztli seemed not to hear the threat. She smirked. "You believe me to be a spy seeking the secrets of your family. Why not play the role? Let us pretend that I have hidden resources of which you know nothing, princeps."

Dorsin's eyes bulged, but it was Senrii who said, "Eztli."

"Apologies, Ductrix." To Tvorh's surprise, Eztli seemed to mean it this time. "I oughtn't respond to your father's sniping in kind.

"I was working late, and heard in passing from certain of your guards that Tvorh and Thiyyatt left the Libraratory together. That departure went against our joint agreement to keep the princess close. I had intended to come to tell you that the two of them seemed to have run away together, but here is the Erus, looking beleaguered." She gestured toward Tvorh. "It is no great leap to guess Thiyyatt fled. And as she is a shared Libraratory resource, the loss of her concerns me as much as it does you."

The door to the room slammed open. An out-of-breath runner entered. "Princeps. The perimeter defense's reports."

Dorsin snatched the document from the man's hand. He scanned it, then looked up at Eztli. Tvorh didn't need to be able to see to sense the menace in his gaze. "Yes, I'm sure it does," Dorsin said through gritted teeth. "Since you are here, kindly tell me why Tvorh's lungboat, which is restricted to the city and which Thiyyatt stole, was emitting your skywhale's transponder codes?"

Eztli blinked in obvious surprise. "That malfeasant spider-humping little shark," Eztli breathed. Tvorh had never seen her lose her temper like that.

"You gave her your codes."

"Princeps--"

"Codes that our family entrusted to you, for the sake of our ceasefire," Dorsin said. "Codes that include a stand-down command for the automated perimeter defenses."

Eztli stood. "No. I gave her a radio and some of our encryption codes, however. I thought she could help us locate more Last Era transmissions. She must have used them to crack your security codes. Princeps, I had no idea she would do this."

Dorsin turned from Eztli, as if her very presence was foul to him. "Senrii, where are these excess resources you think I can dispatch with Tvorh?"

"Well, you've got a daughter who isn't doing anything," Senrii said. "I mean, she was supposed to be a Ductrix and all, but she's in time out now, so..."

"You are not in time out. This is not punishment."

Senrii raised an eyebrow and studied her fingernails. "Can't rule. Can't fight. You give me the side-eye every time I leave the hospital. Sure seems like time out to me."

"You aren't--"

"Ready, yeah, Dad, I know!" Senrii shouted. The outburst shocked Tvorh back into his seat. Probably just because his ears were sensitive. Yeah, that was it. "I'm never ready for anything. I'm either a fragile girl or a stupid girl. You can't trust me with anything."

"Tvorh," Dorsin said, "check with the perimeter for records of the lungboat's last known trajectory and put together a plan for tracking Thiyyatt down. We can't let her get away."

"Can't even trust me with the fact that we're not even Ortus Nethress," Senrii muttered.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Dorsin rounded on her. "What did you say?"

"I said we're not even Ortus Nethress, and you never bothered to tell us! You're adopted, Dad. Don't you think that fact is something you might want to share with your family, seeing as how you're, you know, Princeps Nethress?"

The whole room fell still. Now everybody was as shocked as Tvorh felt. Even Eztli, who to his hearing looked like she'd swallowed a Chasm rat.

"Enough," Dorsin roared. "Maga Senrii Generosa Orta Nethress Ductrix Acerbiae, if you are so bloody bilious certain that Erus Tvorh needs your help, then get out of this room and prepare for your journey!" He shot a look of seething hatred at Eztli. "And get the Nxtlu spy out of here, too."

Eztli folded her fingers in front of her. "Princeps Nethress, I am not a--"

With a shout of inarticulate rage, Dorsin leapt over the table at Eztli. Propelled by the Symbiont, she was on her feet in an instant, but that instant was all it took for Dorsin's bulk to crash into her.

Papers flew and flower-tipped stalks rising from the surface of the table broke as Dorsin smashed Eztli through the open door.

"Dad, stop it!" Eztli dashed from the room, and Tvorh followed hot on her heels. Even before he cleared the doorway, he could hear the shape of the struggle--the smashing of wrists and knuckles against the marble floor, the grunts as Dorsin and Eztli rolled back and forth.

Tvorh could also hear the surprise of Uxor Principis Oralie, who stood in shock like a statue halfway down the hall.

Piotr got to the struggling Generosi first. Eztli had her legs and arms wrapped around Dorsin from behind in a rear naked choke as Dorsin slammed her backward against the floor again and again. Piotr tore Dorsin from her grip, and the Princeps gasped as the Tutela hauled Eztli to her feet.

Was it bad for Tvorh to feel relief that he wasn't the target of the princeps's anger any more?

Dorsin tensed as if to charge again, but paused. "Oralie?"

The uxor principis seemed small, reluctant to Tvorh's ears, but that changed the moment that Dorsin said her name. She stood up straight and came striding with assurance down the hallway, her arms swinging at her sides. Every step echoed with womanly anger.

She came to a stop a few feet from the scrum. "What is going on here, Dorsin?"

Tvorh was no idiot. Maybe if he kept silent, Dorsin would forget that he was here. Apparently everyone else had the same idea.

Dorsin included.

"Are you mad?" Oralie asked, crossing the remainder of the space between them. Her face roved from Dorsin to Eztli and back again. "Is the peace between our families broken? Are you trying to drive us back into war?"

"Just a little dustup, Mom," Senrii said at last. "No big deal. Right, Eztli?"

Eztli shook herself free from Piotr's hand and smoothed the creases in her blouse.

Tvorh held his breath. He couldn't afford a war. None of Nethress could afford a war. He couldn't see his sisters dead. That was even worse than seeing them on the street.

"A dustup," Eztli agreed. She nodded at Dorsin. "Tensions are high. The occasional squabble is to be expected."

"Tensions are high?" Oralie tilted her head. "Dorsin, what have I missed?"

Tvorh hoped to his fathers Dorsin wouldn't tell on him.

"Oralie," Dorsin said, "I thought you were asleep."

"I was," Oralie said. She glanced at the gathering. "I woke and needed to speak to you. Dorsin, what have I missed?"

Dorsin was still seething, so Senrii spoke up. "Tvorh lost Thiyyatt."

Dorsin would have been better.

Oralie listened quietly until Senrii had finished filling her in. "And then I... guess I said some things I shouldn't have..."

"Yes, I suppose tensions are high," Oralie mused. "Dorsin, I heard from Rosabella. That's why I'm awake. That's why I came to find you."

That was weird. The uxor principis had heard from Rosabella while sleeping?

"A moment, my husband?" Oralie gestured toward the conference room. Dorsin nodded and joined her within, closing the door after them.

That left Piotr, Eztli, Senrii, and Tvorh standing in confusion in the hallway.

"Look, Eztli, I'm sorry," Senrii said.

Eztli raised a hand as she picked a black hair off of her skirt with the other, from where Dorsin had lowered his head to tackle her. "The fault isn't yours, Ductrix," Eztli said.

This was awkward. And Tvorh still wasn't sure if he was on the outs with Gens Nethress. The answer was in that conference room, but the door was closed.

Luckily, his ears were very good.

"What are you doing?" Senrii hissed as Tvorh put his ear to the marble floor.

"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm listening."

She blinked at him, then rolled her hand quickly in a circle. "Well? What are they saying?"

So Tvorh relayed the conversation.

"I need you here." Dorsin's low voice was urgent. "With Senrii and Tvorh gone and the others focused on handling their fiefdoms from afar, there's nobody else for me to turn to. You are regent, Oralie. Acerbia is your responsibility now."

"Our family is our responsibility, Dorsin," Oralie said. "And that includes Rosabella, whatever the Nethressian General Principles declare."

"Perhaps it was a dream," Dorsin said. What was he talking about? "Are you certain it wasn't a vivid dream?"

"Synapsis is different," Oralie said.

"What would Mom know about Synapsis?" Senrii whispered to herself. Eztli stole a look at her.

Tvorh turned his attention back to Oralie's words. "...told me to confirm with Akiyoshi Tutela Takahashi. He found the document that led her there. She said it was named, ah, Interference of Two Suns with the Amber Minds, perhaps. I'm going to call on Takahashi next. If he knows anything about this, it will support Rosabella's story. Dorsin. She needs us."

Eztli seemed to pale as Tvorh relayed those words. Senrii started to grumble something to Piotr, but Tvorh waved a hand and shushed them.

"I freed her forty years ago," Dorsin said. "Perhaps I should..."

"I am sure she would adore you all the more for it, Dorsin, but your family--your whole family--needs you here, and she asked for me specifically. I'll go to the Nameless City. I'll demand they release her."

"It doesn't make sense. Why would they hold her hostage? Why would they do those things to her?"

"Because it's a test, darling. I'm the one they want."

"That doesn't make me feel better about this."

"Oh, Dorsin. You worry too much. A week there, a week back. Send me with plenty of aerosol to keep me healthy, and I'll speak to the High, I'll answer their questions, and I'll be back in your arms before you know it."

Tvorh scrambled up as the door opened. Dorsin, looking tired and put-upon, looked at each of the four in turn. His eyes settled on Tvorh. "Erus, please prepare for departure. You must find Thiyyatt. Our family's survival depends on it."

Eztli stood aside to let Dorsin past. Oralie followed, head held high.

"Well," Tvorh said as they disappeared down the hallway, "I guess this is so long. Got a crazy Last Era princess to capture."

"Not on your life." Senrii punched him lightly on the arm. "I mean, you're not going alone. On your life. Because, you know, you'd probably die. Your Symbiont is strong and all, but I don't think having you wander around the Wildlands for months on end would end any other way."

Tvorh winced. Not what he needed to hear.

"So, we going, kid?"

Tvorh shrugged. "Feel like dying with me?"

"Har har."

Piotr cleared his throat. "Ductrix."

Tvorh heard a shadow of a smile cross her face. "Yeah?"

"I cannot countenance your departure without backup. Please." He went to one knee. "Allow me to accompany you as well."

"Well, three's company, am I right?" Senrii jerked a thumb toward Eztli. "What about you, Eztli? I'm sure you're just dying to come along with us, right?" She shook her head. "If only we knew where we were going."

"I am," Eztli said. "Because I do."

"Um," Senrii said. "What?"

Eztli walked to the wall and put out a palm as if to steady herself on it. A wave of nausea passed over her, making her smell of sickness to Tvorh's Symbiont-enhanced nose. It passed quickly. "I cannot say that it's related," Eztli said. "But your mother mentioned a mind of amber. I recently completed an assay to a Last Era site, guided by Thiyyatt. It was a building of amber. There was a Tool inside, of course."

"An amber mind?" Senrii asked.

"Afterward, when I told Thiyyatt what happened at the site, she took it in stride.

"Wait, wait, wait." Senrii waved a hand to stop Eztli. "What happened?"

"A fight with Chimeras, followed by behavior I cannot explain. They began to operate like a true hive, or like soldiers rather than monsters. I know, it sounds mad, but there was a change among them. Almost as if a single intelligence was guiding them all at the same time from afar."

"A single Synapsis source?" Senrii asked doubtfully. "Connected to a lot of Chimeras at the same time? Is that even possible?"

Eztli shrugged. "Do you believe in coincidences?"

Senrii shook her head.

"Nor do I. Thiyyatt sent me to that site. She wants something from it, perhaps. I'll show you the way there. That is, if you will have me, Ductrix Senrii." Eztli held out a hand toward Senrii.

Senrii took it and squeezed it. "Welcome aboard, Ductrix Eztli."

"That's great," Tvorh said. "But the Wildlands will eat us alive. I don't know the first thing about surviving in the wilderness or tracking people."

"Huh," Senrii said, leaning against the wall next to Eztli and crossing her arms. She looked meaningfully at Tvorh, though the meaning mostly seemed to say you're daft. "If only we knew somebody who grew up in the Wildlands."

Oh, dear.

He hoped Aoife had forgotten about their spat.