There were paint splatters on the floor and walls of Sinitïa’s room, even a few on the bed where Jeanne lay—though none on Jeanne herself. Sinitïa was barefoot and wearing only a plain shift. She was also covered in paint splashes—on her shift, face, and arms. She was standing by an easel with a large canvas on it. The painting was a mash of colours in the background—as though she had just thrown paint at the canvas. Over top of the chaotic background was a somewhat twisted image of a pale, bald person—an Isyar—with white eyes and… Were those fangs? The Isyar had fangs.

“Is everything all right?” Jorvanultumn asked.

“I’ve been painting.”

“Rather violently,” Captain Gen said. He was seated in the corner near the door, free of paint splotches.

“I was angry,” Sinitïa said.

Gen chuckled. “You certainly were. It’s been...interesting, I suppose is the word. Not exactly entertaining, but interesting to watch.”

Jorvanultumn approached the easel and peered more closely at the painting. There was a small mark in the Isyar’s left eye. “Is this…?”

Sinitïa scowled. “Chian, yes.”

“Why does she have fangs?”

“I asked the same question,” Gen said.

“Because I wanted her to have them. It shows she’s a liar and can’t be trusted.”

“It makes a certain sense,” Gen said. “I’m not an expert in art, but I will admit that if I saw that hanging somewhere, my immediate response would be to assume the Isyar was cruel or untrustworthy. It’s really very good. You’re quite talented, my dear.”

Sinitïa’s scowl deepened. “I hate her.”

“Understandably, I should say.” Gen stood up. “Well, my dear, now Jorvanultumn is here, I need to attend to my business, but if you need me, just call. I or Miana will be here as fast as we can.” He headed for the door, but stopped to clasp hands with Jorvanultumn first. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Hilkorultumn is still alive,” Jorvanultumn said.

Gen smiled sadly. “I meant Chiansamorkin. You obviously loved her a great deal, and her betrayal must hurt.”

Jorvanultumn closed his eyes briefly and nodded. “Thank you.”

Gen patted him on the arm. “I’m here for you too if you need me.” He pushed the door open.

“Etiënne?” Sinitïa called.

He paused and looked back.

“Thank you for being here with me.”

“Any time.”

“And thank you for being my friend.”

Gen nodded and gave her a quick salute. “My pleasure.” He headed out the door, Jeanne bounding after him.

Sinitïa waved to the dog, then threw herself onto the bed. She rolled over onto her back and looked up at Jorvanultumn. “How are you doing?”

“I am fine.”

She looked at him with narrow eyes. “I don’t believe you. Like Etiënne said, you loved Chian. So did I, but you probably loved her more. I don’t believe you’re not hurting.”

He shrugged. “I do not wish to burden you with it. You are burdened with enough already.”

“But that’s what friends do. They listen to their friends’ problems and help if they can.” She sat up and patted the bed. “Sit with me?”

He sat on the bed beside her. “I have some good news.”

Her eyes widened. “Do you know where Meleng is?”

He shook his head and her head slumped. “I am sorry. I did not mean to get your hopes up.”

“That’s okay. I didn’t really expect that’s what the news would be anyway. You’d have been a lot more excited when you got here.”

He smiled. “I suppose you are right.”

“What’s the news?”

“The Lamdritta has dismissed your case. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, that.” She shrugged. “I don’t really care about that. What about your...thing?”

“My elispt?”

She nodded.

“They have also found in my favour. They have ruled that my actions are justified.”

“That sounds good.” She smiled. “I’m glad for you.”

“They have also decided that Paydamat will come with us when we leave.”

Sinitïa scowled. “But I thought you wanted Mikranasta to.”

“I do, but they have made their decision.”

“Well, it’s a dumb one. I don’t like Paydamat.”

“You should not be so hard on Paydamat. She is a very powerful mentalist. She will be able to help Felitïa.”

Sinitïa looked away from him. “If you say so.”

They sat in silence for a few moments. Eventually, Sinitïa tapped him on the arm. “Tell me about Fevionawishtensen.”

“What do you wish to know?” he asked.

“How did you meet?”

“It was nothing special.”

“Tell me.”

“I was in the library in the basement of the Governance Building. There was a disagreement between two other Isyar over a book. It was not extreme. It was just an argument with a lot of yelling and a few threats. The Élite were called and Fevionawishtensen was the one who arrived. I only saw her from a distance at first, and she saw me. When the bond between fomasee forms, it is very fast. It takes no time at all.”

“So you just knew?”

“We just knew, though we did not get a chance to introduce ourselves to each other until the next day.”

“That must be so weird.”

“What do you mean?”

Sinitïa leaned back, extending her arms behind her to support herself. “Just seeing someone and knowing you’re fo-ma-say or whatever it is.”

“Fomase,” Jorvanultumn said.

“Fomase,” she repeated.

“Very good. That was almost perfect.”

She grinned. “I’m not good at other languages. But anyway, yeah, to just know that you’re bonded or whatever to someone else. That’s weird.”

“It is the way things work with Isyar.”

“It’s a nice story though. I’m glad you found her.”

He smiled. “As am I. She will still be coming with us back to Arnor.”

Sinitïa sat back up. “Yay! When we get back, will I be able to call her Feviona? Is that the right short form?”

“That is the first portion of her name, yes. As for whether you can call her that is up to her.”

“Why is it so important to use the whole name?”

He looked at her and smiled. “Names are important to Isyar. They hold our histories. The first part of the name is what makes the Isyar unique. It holds their personal history. The second part of the name conveys the family history, which is just as much a part of the Isyar as their own personal actions. To leave off the end of the name is to say their family’s achievements mean nothing.”

She scrunched her nose and stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. “I don’t really get it, but I respect it. I won’t call Fevionawishtensen by a short form unless she says it’s okay.”

“Thank you.”

“I like her. I really do. I hope she doesn’t betray us too.”

He glared at her.

Her face reddened. “Sorry. I didn’t mean...just…”

He shook his head. “It is all right. I understand.”

“I didn’t mean to bring up Chian. I know how hurt you are even if you won’t admit it.”

Stolen story; please report.

He lowered his head and sighed. “I have not denied it. I just…”

“Don’t want to burden me, I know.” She took his hand and held it in both of hers. “Come on, tell me.”

He put his other hand on both of hers. “You are right. I am hurt. I grew up with Chiansamorkin. We were best of friends and inseparable. Everyone thought the bond would form between us when we came of age. We thought so too, so much so that we would pretend it already had.”

Sinitïa curled her lip. “That means you had sex, doesn’t it?”

Jorvanultumn chuckled. “Yes, though that was not the entirety of it.”

“It’s okay. I won’t judge.” She smiled smugly. “Go on.”

“There is not much else to tell. We had a falling out when I bonded with Fevionawishtensen, then I had to leave for my elispt. We made up when I got back a couple days ago and you know the rest.”

“And you decided to make her part of your family!” Sinitïa clapped her hands. “I like that bit. The fomase?”

“Fomaze,” he corrected.

“Fomaze,” she repeated. “Fomase and fomaze, is that right?”

He nodded.

She beamed. “I’m starting to get it!”

“You are. However, the fomaze will not be happening now.”

She gave him a sad smile. “Not with Chian, anyway. You loved her, didn’t you?”

He tried to respond yes, but the word choked in his throat. He coughed to try to hide the reaction.

Sinitïa wiped a tear from her own eye. “I love her too. Not like you did, I’m sure. I didn’t know her as well as you. I only knew her a couple of days really. I think. Days are hard to count here.”

Jorvanultumn wiped his face with his sleeve, then took a moment to compose himself. “Yes, I loved her. Almost as much as I love Fevionawishtensen. Maybe as much. I…” The words choked in his throat again.

Sinitïa took his hand again and looked him in the eye. Her own eyes were filling with tears. “It’s okay. We’re alone. You don’t have to put on the brave act.”

He nodded and closed his eyes, tears pouring down his face. She put her arms around him and held him tight while he cried. She was crying too.

He was not sure how long he sobbed into her shoulder, but by the time they were both done, his head ached. He was otherwise feeling better though—mentally, at any rate. His body still ached from the beating Chiansamorkin had given him.

Sinitïa sniffled and wiped her eyes. “It’s hard to lose people.”

“Meleng is not lost. We will find him.”

“Yes, but he’s gone until then, and it’s hard.”

He nodded. “Yes, of course. I am sorry. I did not mean to imply it was not.”

“That’s okay.” She sniffled again and then was quiet for a moment. Then she shivered. “I had a dream last night that I found the person who took Meleng. He didn’t know I was there, so I snuck up behind him and put my hands…” She shivered again. “I put my hands around his neck like this.” She leaned behind Jorvanultumn and put her hands around his neck. “Then I...I…”

“You strangled him?”

She let go of him and lay on her side, curling up into a ball. “I...I killed him. I’ve never killed anyone before.”

“And you still have not. It was just a dream, Sinitïa.”

“I’ve never killed anyone in a dream before either.” She curled up tighter. “I screamed at him too. I said terrible things. You know how sometimes you think words that you wouldn’t actually use?”

“I think so.”

“In the dream, I said the words. I was so angry. Am I a terrible person?”

“No, of course not. Anger is a natural reaction. Meleng is your friend.”

She sniffled and sat up slowly. “He’s my best friend. More, really. I never really had a friend before him. Not a real one. My handmaids would be friendly with me, and we would laugh and tell stories, but it wasn’t really friendship, you know? My mother loves me. I know she does, and I love her too. But she also thinks I’m stupid and she won’t let me meet people and experience the world. I know I’m not very smart, but…” She paused and turned her head to look at him. “Meleng would have stopped me to say I shouldn’t say that I’m not smart.”

Jorvanultumn smiled. “Yes, you are right. I apologise. You should not be so harsh on yourself.”

“That’s okay. I’m just kidding around a little. I’m not smart. Meleng just says that to be nice. Anyway, the only people I was allowed to spend time with was Annai and her friends, and they always treated me terribly. They made me feel stupid. Then Meleng came, and he treated me like...a person. I wasn’t an annoyance like Annai treated me. He actually listened to me, and he answered my questions. Everyone else always hated answering my questions. But how was I supposed to learn anything if they wouldn’t answer my questions? Meleng actually respected me. And they hated him for it. Then through him, I met other friends, like Felitïa—well, she’s my sister, but also my friend—and Nin-Akna, and you.” She looked at him and smiled. After a moment, her face fell. “I miss him, and I’m so scared I’ll never see him again.”

Jorvanultumn placed a hand on her back. “I understand, and we will find him.”

“Everybody thinks we’re boyfriend and girlfriend, and I suppose, in a way, we are. Just not in the sex way.”

“You love him?”

She nodded and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “More than anything. I think I only realised how much after he was gone, so I’ve never really told him. I think he knows, but… When you talk to him, do you ever talk about me? Has he ever said anything?”

“I have questioned him about his feelings for you before. I think he is confused, but I do believe he loves you. Like you say, not in the sex way, but I believe he loves you like you were his fomase.”

“Can you be fomasee without sex? I know you can do fomaze like that, but fomase?”

“Sinitïa, love does not require sex.”

“Then why does everyone treat it that way?”

Jorvanultumn hesitated a moment, trying to think of a good answer. None came to mind. “I do not know, but does it matter what others think?”

It took her a moment to respond, but eventually she shrugged. “I suppose not.”

“Then I think you have your answer.”

She huddled over and peered at him, smiling coyly. “He’s my fomase?”

“If you wish him to be and he wishes you to be. It is not automatic like with Isyar.”

She hugged her knees to her chest. “When we find him, I’ll tell him how much I love him. I want him to know.”

“I think that is a good plan. Talking of plans, do you still want to paint and watch for signs?”

She sat up straight. “Is that still possible? We don’t have Chian anymore to make the heating stones.”

“We do not need her. I have a way I can do it myself with some help from Fevionawishtensen.”

“Then yes!”

“Then we should get ready. It will be dawn in under two hours. We need to get things set up.”

She jumped to her feet. “I’ll get cleaned up and dressed.” She bounded over to the chest with her clothes, but then she paused and turned back to face Jorvanultumn. “I have an idea. Not for right away. It would be after we get Meleng back.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “Go ahead.”

“You know the fomaze thing. It’s about expanding families, right? About making good friends part of you family?”

Jorvanultumn nodded. He had a suspicion where she was going with this.

“Well, now that you don’t have Chian, I thought...well, I told you what my family is like with me. I love them, but I can never go back to them. I’d have to leave Meleng, and I can’t do that. They’d kill him if he went with me, so we have to stay away. So I kind of don’t have a family anymore, except Felitïa, I suppose. And Meleng… Has he ever told you about his family?”

“He told me a little when we first met, but he does not talk of them much.”

She frowned. “Yeah, he doesn’t talk about them with me either, except when I asked him about them. Even then, he didn’t say much. Did you know he hasn’t heard from them in a really long time?”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “I know.”

“I think he’s afraid they’re dead or they don’t want him around anymore, so he doesn’t really have a family anymore. But he’s your friend, right. You two are like best friends. He loves you even if he doesn’t say so. And you love him, right?”

He nodded again.

Sinitïa scrunched her shoulders and tilted her head. “So…?”

Jorvanultumn stood up. “You are suggesting Fevionawishtensen and I perform the fomaze with you and Meleng.”

She smiled coyly again, but said nothing.

“It has never been done with humans that I know of.”

She slumped. “Is that a problem?”

“There are some who would say it is, but no, I do not think it is a problem.”

Her eyes widened. “Then you’ll do it?”

At first, he was not sure why he had not thought of this before, but the answer was soon obvious. He had been too caught up with Chiansamorkin. Until Meleng had disappeared, he had virtually ignored Meleng and Sinitïa. But Meleng was a loyal friend. Without Meleng, he would have had a much harder time enduring his time away from Isyaria and his time away from Fevionawishtensen. The answer to Sinitïa’s question was obvious.

“If Fevionawishtensen agrees, then yes.”

She squealed, ran over to him, and threw her arms around him. “Oh thank you!” She kissed him on the cheek. “I bet this will make Meleng really happy!”

“We do have to find him first,” he reminded her.

She nodded vigorously. “There’s a room just down the hall with a bath. I’ll go get cleaned up and dressed.” She took a step back from him, her face turning serious. “Then I’ll get my paints and we can go find the asshole who took my Melly.”