Mikranasta sat beside the low-table, across from Davorultumn. Both had their heads raised and eyes staring into the starry sky. Mikranasta had not moved in what seemed like hours. Her eyes rarely even blinked. Jorvanultumn had always been impressed by her ability to meditate for such lengthy periods of time. However, right now, he wished she would stop. There were things to be done. Every moment wasted was another moment for Meleng’s captors to harm or even kill him.

He stared at Mikranasta. She remained unmoving, so he returned to pacing around the room, circling the low-table. When he passed Davorultumn for the second time, his diare reached out to him, and he stopped.

“You should meditate, too,” Davorultumn said. “You are too emotional right now. You’d think I’d raised a conjuror.”

“Diare, my friend—”

“I know. All the more reason for you to be calm. You are no good to him in your current state.”

Jorvanultumn sighed. “Yes, of course, you’re right, Diare.”

Davorultumn motioned to the stool beside him, and Jorvanultumn sat on it. He had already tried meditating, after he’d talked to Mikranasta to request her aid. Not surprisingly, she had already known about the Pundritta, though she was sceptical of their involvement in Meleng’s abduction. Still, she agreed that at least one Isyar was involved.

Hilkorultumn had been furious to learn that Davorultumn had told Mikranasta about the Pundritta years ago. While he agreed the knowledge had to go public eventually, Davorultumn had acted far too soon. Hilkorultumn had stormed out, telling Jorvanultumn to come see him about his diare’s records.

And then the meditating had started. Jorvanultumn had not lasted long, and Davorultumn had stopped and restarted several times.

Jorvanultumn looked up at the sky again, though he did not expect it to go any better than last time. Thinking about things rationally, what he really needed was sleep. He had been up all night. Dawn was only about five hours away. But sleep was another thing that was not going to happen right now. He had a better chance with meditation.

He silently recited a prayer to Cosmos, asking for strength of mind and purpose. Then one to Power, asking for the power to defeat whoever had taken Meleng. Finally, he asked Nature to keep Meleng safe and uninjured.

He breathed slowly, relishing in the cold night air, expelling his nerves, anger, fear little by little. His tense muscles loosened—just a little at first, then more, One by one, they relaxed. He continued to breathe slowly.

Took you long enough.

It had been a long time since he had heard Mikranasta’s voice in his head. He had always found mental communication more personal and intimate than speech.

That’s because it is more intimate, Mikranasta said. Our minds are touching. Figuratively speaking, of course.

He had also forgotten how easy it was to accidentally broadcast top-level thoughts.

You would have been a terrible mentalist, Jorvanultumn.

So you’ve told me many times. Though I’m sure if you had been my teacher, you would have found a way to make me excel.

You flatter me.

Always.

He felt her blush. It was always a weird sensation to sense a feeling that was not his own. It was not something Mikranasta did very often, but ever since he was a very small child, she had occasionally shared a feeling or two with him. As a child, he had enjoyed it. As an adult, he was unsure what to make of it. It did, however, give him an idea of what Felitïa must deal with all the time as she sensed feelings unwittingly sent to her.

You see? Everything I do has a purpose in the end.

Jorvanultumn chuckled. You did not know that would help with Felitïa when I was a child.

So sure? Very well then. Maybe you’re right.

This making me wait was all to get me to relax, wasn’t it?

Partially.

You could have just told me.

Sometimes, you have to realise things on your own.

And the rest of the reason? You said it was only partially the reason.

We needed to wait for the Governance Building to open. She jumped to her feet. “Come! If we leave now, the Governance Building should be open by the time we get there.”

Jorvanultumn stood up and rubbed his eyes. He was feeling just a little groggy.

Mikranasta and Davorultumn touched foreheads and wing tips. “I strongly doubt either Nascanmat or Paydamat had any involvement in this,” Mikranasta said. “However, she may take offence at the questioning. I will do my best not to challenge her or goad her into challenging me, but if the worst should happen and she kills me, know that I love you dearly. Watch over Hedromornasta. The boy needs a strong hand.”

Davorultumn chuckled. “You won’t fight her. You don’t want anyone to know you can beat her.”

Mikranasta smiled. “Of course not, but it’s always good to prepare for the worst.” She kissed him. “Jorvanultumn, let’s go.” She spread her wings and waited for Jorvanultumn to do the same.

Jorvanultumn shook his head. “I have an injured wing, remember?”

Mikranasta folded her wings. “Oh yes, I was forgetting. If we find your friend’s kidnappers, they will almost certainly use that against you.”

“If I need to fly to save Meleng, I will. But I need to make certain I am able to do so when the time comes. I can’t risk straining my wing before then.”

“You are right, of course,” Mikranasta said. “Well, at least we don’t need to worry about getting there before it opens.” She strode on foot to the door, and Jorvanultumn followed.

* * * * *

Paydamat’s office was small. A low-table sat in the centre of the room, and a smaller, rectangular high-table sat at the far side. There was a second door in the room, which Jorvanultumn suspected opened to the audience chamber at the level of the Lamdritta’s perches, presumably close to Paydamat’s.

Getting in to see Paydamat had been easier than Jorvanultumn had expected. Mikranasta merely requested to see her, and they were shown directly here. Jorvanultumn was not sure if it was because Mikranasta made the request, or if Paydamat had simply expected them.

The Lamdir stood behind the high-table. She eyed them while the Hgirh who had shown them here placed a hand on his chest and backed out of the room. Then she came around both the high- and low-tables up to Mikranasta. The two clasped left hands. “Mikranasta.”

“Lamdir Paydamat.”

Paydamat eyed Jorvanultumn, but did not greet him similarly.

“You know why we are here, I suppose,” Mikranasta said.

“I can guess. I am told my siare was seen outside your home shortly before Meleng Drago’s disappearance.”

“We were hoping we could talk to Nascanmat.”

Paydamat turned around and walked back to the high-table. “You are not accusing my siare of anything, are you?”

“Of course not.”

“But he might have seen something,” Jorvanultumn said. “He could provide us with vital information.”

“There are already people assigned to investigate this, Jorvanultumn, and none of them are either of you.”

“The more investigators, the better,” Mikranasta said. “Especially as this situation could be time sensitive. We—”

Paydamat held up her hand. “Too many investigators can get in each other’s way. Jorvanultumn, you are still waiting on judgement regarding your elispt. Should you really be getting in more trouble?”

“Meleng Drago is my friend.”

“I know. All the more reason you should stay out of it. You are too close to the situation.” She looked back to Mikranasta. “And you. You should know better than to encourage him in this.”

Mikranasta raised her eyebrows. “Your investigators, Lamdir, are too focused on finding a human culprit.”

Paydamat chuckled. “Ah yes, I’ve heard the suggestions that an Isyar did this.” Her eyes narrowed and she scowled. “I will not allow such dangerous accusations to spread. Do you have any idea of the chaos it will cause?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Mikranasta said. “But denying the truth will only make things worse in the end. There are no humans in Chithishtheny capable of this and you know it.”

“Do not presume what I do and do not know,” Paydamat hissed.

“We only wish to speak briefly to Nascanmat,” Jorvanultumn said. “Surely it cannot harm. We do not believe he is part of it.”

Paydamat sighed. “There is no need. I have already spoken to him, and he assures me he was not there. Hedromornasta must have been mistaken.”

“Hedromornasta spoke directly with Nascanmat,” Mikranasta said. “That is not something someone is mistaken about.”

“Are you suggesting my siare is lying?”

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

“Are you suggesting mine is?” Mikranasta responded.

The two of them stared at each other for several moments. Neither of them made any movement other than an occasional blink—at least as far as Jorvanultumn could tell. He could not help feel that the two of them were casting multiple spells. They were two of the most powerful mentalists there were, capable of casting spells with only the tiniest, almost invisible movements.

Finally, Paydamat turned aside. “I suggest another possibility.”

“Go on,” Mikranasta said.

“Neither is lying. Hedromornasta clearly saw someone. We also know that a mentalist is responsible for the crime. A competent mentalist could have fooled Hedromornasta into believing he had seen my siare.”

“You believe Hedromornasta would be taken in by such a deception?”

Paydamat shrugged. “He is young and has not yet reached his elispt. It is no shame on him or you. Both you and I could do it, as could numerous other mentalists both you and I could name.”

Mikranasta sighed and nodded. “You are right, of course. Hedromornasta is young and still has a lot to learn. I will examine him to see if he has been under any mental manipulation. Apologies for bothering you, Lamdir.” She placed her hand on her chest. “Pleasant thoughts.”

Paydamat repeated the gesture. “Pleasant thoughts to you.”

Mikranasta turned for the door. “Jorvanultumn, let us go.”

Jorvanultumn placed his hand on his chest. “May the night be short.”

Paydamat merely nodded in response. “One last thing, Mikranasta.”

Mikranasta paused at the door, not looking back.

“Do not spread your suspicions about Isyar without absolute proof. I will not let chaos overtake this town.”

Mikranasta bowed her head. “As you wish, Lamdir.” She pushed open the door and walked out. Jorvanultumn followed.

They walked in silence down the circular hall, Mikranasta’s wings twitching the entire time. Jorvanultumn had never seen her display worry so openly. As the hall opened over the main entrance area, she spread her wings a little. “Meet me outside. We have much to discuss, but I need to think first.” She spread her wings all the way and leapt off the edge before Jorvanultumn could say anything.

He made his way towards the long staircase down to the entrance. It was so tempting to fly. It would be faster, and he wanted to rush forward, do everything that was necessary to find Meleng as fast as possible. But as he had told Mikranasta earlier, he did not dare risk stressing his injured wing before it was absolutely needed. So he resisted the urge for Meleng’s sake.

At the top of the stairs, there was a small nook just to the side, at the edge of the offices that lined the building’s outer wall on this level. An Isyar stood in that nook and he bent the tips of his wings to his lips as Jorvanultumn saw him.

Nascanmat was about the same height as Jorvanultumn, which made him several inches shorter than his diare. Apart from that, he shared a lot of physical characteristics with Paydamat, including her shallow eyes and thin nose. “I noticed when you came in you used the stairs,” he said quietly, “so I guessed you might do so again going out.”

Jorvanultumn looked about to make certain no one was watching, but there was no one in the hall, and no one below appeared to be looking up. Even if they were, they were too far away to notice who was talking to whom. “Your diare does not want me to talk to you. She denied our request.”

Nascanmat nodded. “I know. I wanted to speak to you anyway. I have heard it said I was at your home at the time of your friend’s disappearance. I was not.”

“Your diare suggested someone used mentalism magic to make Hedromornasta believe he saw you. Perhaps to hide the appearance of the actual person there.”

“Yes, that is my thought as well,” Nascanmat said.

“Then you have nothing to worry about,” Jorvanultumn said. “I am inclined to believe that is the correct explanation.”

Nascanmat nodded again, but glanced away furtively. “But it does not answer another question.”

“What question?”

Nascanmat looked at him with earnest eyes. “Why me? My diare says I should not worry about it, that it does not matter why me. It only matters that it was not me. But I know her. She is worried. She cannot hide that from me. And it worries me too. Why me?”

It was a good question. Part of the answer was obvious: to divert attention from the real culprit and to frame Nascanmat. But why specifically him? Jorvanultumn groaned.

“You have realised, yes?” There was a hint of tears in Nascanmat’s eyes.

“Someone is trying to discredit your diare.”

“She is a powerful person with many enemies.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “It makes sense.”

“I know she has been harsh with you and your friends, but she is a good person. Believe me. She respects you a great deal. She has confessed this to me privately. She admires your willingness to break tradition to help your friends, and she understands the difficulties your are under with the human girl. But she has Chithishtheny to think about. She is the only member of the Lamdritta who truly cares about the state of this town. The other three care more for their own power and prestige than the town. No offence, as I know you and Chiansamorkin are close, but even she is like that, perhaps less so than the other two, but she would not have challenged for the position so young otherwise.”

“She succeeded,” Jorvanultumn said.

“Just because you can does not mean you should.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “Perhaps. I promise you, Nascanmat, I do not believe either you or your diare were responsible for taking Meleng Drago, and that will be borne out when the real culprits are revealed, but thank you for talking to me. I will not tell your diare.” He placed his hand to his chest. “May the night be short.”

Nascanmat returned the gesture. “Thank you. May the night be short.”

Jorvanultumn headed down the stairs.

He found Mikranasta in the gardens, wandering between the szadan and szadene. “You took your time.”

“I bumped into Nascanmat. He wanted to talk.”

Mikranasta gave only the slightest raise of her eyebrows to indicate any surprise. “He defied his diare. I’m not sure whether to applaud him or be worried.”

“He’s worried, and he says Paydamat is too. If someone is trying to frame him, they are probably doing it to discredit her.”

Mikranasta shrugged. “It makes a certain sense, I suppose.”

“You don’t believe it?”

“It’s not the only explanation, Jorvanultumn. Perhaps they simply wish us to believe they are being framed.”

“I didn’t get that impression. Did you learn something from her? You said you needed time to think first, as though something had disturbed you.”

She gave him a thin smile and plucked a szadan needle. “Come, let’s go meditate.”

“Again?”

She frowned at him, but said nothing. Instead, she stuck the needle in her mouth and sucked on it as they walked across the gardens to the mountain path. They made their way up the mountain to the nearest meditation cliff. Mikranasta was breathing heavily by the time they got there.

There were two other Isyar already meditating there. Mikranasta edged past them, careful not to disturb them, then spread her wings just enough to allow her to sit and cross her legs. Then she looked up into the starry sky. Jorvanultumn edged past her and did the same. There was just a hint of dawn’s light over the southeastern mountains.

That is a terrible walk to make, Mikranasta said. Your wing injury is very inconvenient.

I didn’t injure it on purpose. So we’re not really going to meditate then?

A bit of amusement from Mikranasta dripped into him. I don’t want others to overhear our conversation. There could be delicate things said, and your reputation at the moment is not good.

So you did learn something from Paydamat.

Not exactly. She had very powerful defences in place, and she was attempting to probe my defences too. It was all I could do to get even the barest hint of anything from her, and that was worry about being discovered.

Jorvanultumn almost looked down at her, but kept his eyes on the sky. Wait, are you saying she kidnapped Meleng?

No. She is hiding something, but there is nothing to indicate it’s that. It could be any number of things. It does not actually eliminate her from suspicion though.

What would she gain from kidnapping Meleng?

What would anyone gain? If she is Pundritta, there could be many reasons.

If she is Pundritta, then they have infiltrated government positions.

Do you really think that’s something they wouldn’t want?

Jorvanultumn almost reflexively shook his head. No, I’m sure that’s exactly what they’d want. I just don’t get the impression Paydamat and Nascanmat are guilty.

They are mentalists, Jorvanultumn. They can give you incorrect impressions if they want.

So you’re saying you think they have something to do with Meleng’s disappearance?

Mikranasta somehow made her telepathic sigh very loud. No, but I am saying that you are dismissing the possibility based on nothing more than feeling. We need proof for whoever is responsible, whether they are or not.

What do you propose we do?

You need to look at Hilkorultumn’s diare’s records. There may be something in there we can use. And coordinate with Davorultumn and Hilkorultumn. If the Pundritta are on the move, they may be easier to spot. Those signs might be useful.

What are you going to do?

Meditate a little, then watch and see what I can see. Go. You have a long walk. Perhaps take Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith with you. Show her the symbols. She has a good eye and it might help her feel useful.

I’ll check with Chiansamorkin and see how she’s doing. Pleasant thoughts, Mikranasta.

Pleasant thoughts, my dear child.

Jorvanultumn stood up and carefully made his way past the other meditating Isyar again. Hilkorultumn’s abode was near the bottom of the mountain, and the visitors’ lodges were even farther, so Mikranasta was not exaggerating when she had said he had a long walk. Flying would be so much quicker, but he was getting better at avoiding that temptation. Walking it would be.