Jorvanultumn’s head swam. He had learned a lot in the last few hours. None of it was confusing or difficult to understand. In fact, it was all quite straight-forward and simple. The problem was more the fact it even existed. He had spent the last year or so dealing with human and Volg Darkness Worshippers—Darkers as his human companions called them. He was used to the idea of people worshipping Night. Just not Isyar worshipping Night.

There was no good reason he should be so shocked. Why should Isyar be any less likely to worship Night? That was apparently part of the reason for his elispt—the reason why it was so much more difficult than what other Isyar had to do upon reaching adulthood. Learning about other lands was meant to teach that Isyar were no more special than anyone else, no matter what Isyar society believed and taught.

Evil was everywhere. Even at home.

“You must be vigilant at all times,” Hilkorultumn had said. “Look for the signs.” He had then listed numerous signs—visual, social, and mental—that could indicate a member of the Pundritta. Ten signs for every discipline. Few of the signs on their own were enough to condemn anyone, and few members of the Pundritta displayed more than a couple of the signs.

In other words, it was next to impossible to identify the Pundritta.

“Just watch carefully,” Hilkorultumn had said.

“And what do we do if we find one?” Jorvanultumn asked.

“Whatever is necessary. They have to be taken out, for the good of our people and of the world.”

“How many have you found?”

Hilkorultumn frowned and took a moment before answering. “None. Neither has your diare. My diare was the last to root any out. However, she kept extensive records. I’ll give you access to them.”

“But if membership is passed from diare to siare like everything else, shouldn’t it be obvious? Just look to the descendants.”

Hilkorultumn shook his head sadly. “I said they have to be taken out. I wasn’t exaggerating. We leave no family. Plus, they do occasionally convert other Isyar, allowing a new family line to begin.”

“Is it possible you got rid of them all? Maybe they’re all gone?”

“No. They’re just in hiding, but they’ll be coming out now.”

“What makes you think that?”

Hilkorultumn put a hand on Jorvanultumn’s shoulder. “Think about it. Think about everything you’ve told us, the things you’ve experienced. The Volgs are active. The human Darkness Worshippers are active. Ours soon will be too. My diare was certain of it.”

So now Jorvanultumn stood in his room going over the signs in his head, trying to remember them all, and trying to make sense of everything that had happened. He needed to go over Hilkorultumn’s diare’s records and study the pictures of the symbols the different disciplines of the Pundritta used.

This was not what he had come here for. His trip here had been so straight-forward: convince Mikranasta to come with him. Now there was all this extra.

Though he could not deny this was important. Not just to his family. If the Pundritta became active, they would eventually oppose Felitïa. He had to do what he could to help her and stop them.

He was not supposed to tell anyone about this, but both Hilkorultumn and Davorultumn agreed that it was acceptable for him to tell Meleng and eventually Felitïa. He would tell Fevionawishtensen, too. He had not been given permission for that, but it was not something he could hide from her. She deserved to know. Besides, as much as Davorultumn might deny it, Jorvanultumn doubted he had not told Mikranasta. He would probably tell Chiansamorkin as well—but Fevionawishtensen first.

However, before he could do any of that, there was a dinner to attend. These discussions could wait until after.

He and Davorultumn had arrived back home to find preparations already in progress. Fevionawishtensen and Chiansamorkin had taken care of it, and Mikranasta had readily agreed.

“Didn’t bother to wait for my opinion, I see,” Davorultumn had muttered.

Mikranasta grinned at him. “You would have agreed. You know it, and I know it.”

Jorvanultumn had soon found himself in the way, so he had retired to his room to gather his thoughts.

There was a knock at the door. Chiansamorkin peered in. “There you are.” She came forward and they touched foreheads and wing tips. “Hiding away?”

He sighed. “I was in the way. I can’t cook—that’s one skill my diare did not successfully pass on to me—and Mikranasta did not appreciate my attempts to help her decorate.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“At least you’ve learned to use the informal with me.” She grinned at him.

He smirked. “We are going to be fomazee.”

“A bit ridiculous it took that to get you to do it.” She laughed, then kissed him.

“I suppose so.” He stared into her clear eyes and at the tattoo at the back of the left one. He still felt...unsure around her like this. They had been this close in the past, but since meeting Fevionawishtensen, he had not touched wings with anyone.

Chiansamorkin sighed and stepped back with a shake of her head.

He looked away from her. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine. We’ve thrown a lot at you in the short time you’ve been back. We’d have taken more time with this, except you weren’t likely to be here very long, so we rushed things a little.”

“We?”

“Fevionawishtensen and I. Who else would I be talking about?”

“You’ve been planning this awhile?”

“A little. She said the two of you had talked about it before.”

He nodded. “We did. And I do want this. I just…”

“I understand. I think. Well, maybe not, but I accept it. Crazy thing is, turns out we might have had more time after all.”

“What do you mean?”

She walked over to his desk and picked up one of his element decahedra. “I have to tell you something, and Fevionawishtensen says you will argue it with me.”

“What?”

She faced him, twirling the fire decahedron between her fingers. “I’ve decided to teach Sinitïa.”

Jorvanultumn gaped. “You...really?”

“I’m the only who can. I wouldn’t trust a human to handle her potential, and no other Isyar would even consider it.”

“That...that’s amazing. I don’t know what to say. I’m certainly not going to argue it. Why did Feviona—”

“That’s not the part she said you’d argue.” Chiansamorkin put the decahedron back on the table, straightened herself up, and took a deep breath. “When you leave here, I’m coming with you. So is Fevionawishtensen.”

“What? But—”

“What other choice is there? I can’t teach her here. People would notice eventually. Plus, she’d be alone, separated from her family and friends, not to mention the cold. I have to teach her to move properly and be responsive to her body’s movements. I can’t do that if she’s bundled up in multiple layers of thick clothing.”

Jorvanultumn stared at her. On the one hand, this would solve a major problem for him. There probably was no better teacher for Sinitïa. He would also like having her along. It would be a real chance to rebuild the closeness they once had. On the other hand, it was an incredible disruption to her life. “That makes sense, but what about your duties on the Lamdritta?”

“I’ll take a leave of absence, and if they don’t like it, fuck them. I’ll resign and they can hold competitions for my replacement. This is more important. Besides, I can always come back in a few years and challenge for the position again.”

“Can you do that? Has anyone ever done that before?”

She sighed. “Please don’t argue. I’ve made up my mind and Sinitïa has already accepted me as her teacher. I’m going with her, which means with you, no matter what you say.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “If that’s what you want.”

“It is.”

“Then I’m happy to have you along.”

She smiled.

“But Fevionawishtensen is Hgirh. She can’t just leave.”

Chiansamorkin’s eyes narrowed. “She’s also made up her mind. You have a better chance of convincing me not to go than her, and you have no chance of convincing me. I think you know that.”

Jorvanultumn groaned. She was right. If Fevionawishtensen wanted to come, then she would come. Besides, he would be glad of their company. Maybe they could even help him convince Mikranasta to come.

A thought occurred to him. It was an impulsive idea, but it might help a little.

He walked up close to her and kissed her. “Let’s make the fomaze official tonight after dinner.”

Her eyes widened and she smiled. “Truly?”

“We need witnesses and there will be lots to choose from. It will also help give an explanation why you’re leaving with me. You can’t exactly tell people you’re leaving to teach Sinitïa.”

She smirked. “Good point. Though there is the Lamdritta. They might make me recuse myself before the vote tomorrow.”

Jorvanultumn sighed. “I was forgetting that.”

“Of course, we could just not tell them. It’s not like it’s any of their business anyway. Besides, even if they do make me recuse myself, you don’t need to worry about Sinitïa. They will find in her favour. As for your situation, the worst that will happen is they will let your diare determine your punishment. Surely he won’t be too harsh on you.”

Jorvanultumn would have thought otherwise a day ago, but now that Davorultumn had forgiven him, he was more confident that Chiansamorkin was right. He smiled at her. “So, tonight then?”

“If Fevionawishtensen agrees, then yes! Tonight!”

He put his arms around her and they kissed again. Then he just held her, relearning the feel of her.