Davorultumn and Mikranasta were seared next to each other, conversing, in the gathering room when Jorvanultumn, Sinitïa, and Captain Gen arrived. They went silent immediately.

“Our apologies,” Jorvanultumn said in Isyarian. “We didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Mikranasta smiled. “Not at all. I asked you here. We were merely chatting while we waited. It might have been a touch intimate, but it’s nothing we can’t resume at another time.” She grinned at Davorultumn, then motioned them all to come fully into the room. “No Itra, I see.”

Jorvanultumn sat at the low table across from Mikranasta and Davorultumn. “He is coming soon.”

Sinitïa sat next to Jorvanultumn, and Gen on her other side. Jeanne bounded onto the table itself, though Sinitïa pulled the dog into her lap.

“I, uh…” Jorvanultumn looked at his diare, who was looking disapprovingly at the dog, and grimaced. “I told Itra you had a task for him, Diare.”

Davorultumn eyed Jorvanultumn. “I don’t have a task for him. You know that I wouldn’t.”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “I know, and I’m sorry, but I needed to say something.”

Mikranasta waved her hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter. If it gets him here, that’s all that matters.” She smiled at Davorultumn. “I will speak to him. Your reputation won’t be ruined.”

Sinitïa held up her hand and waved. “Hi.” Under her breath, she added to Jorvanultumn, “You’re talking again without me being able to understand.”

“Sorry,” Jorvanultumn replied. “I was just telling my diare—”

Mikranasta held up a hand. “Don’t worry, Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith.” She was speaking Isyarian, but it was clear Sinitïa understood her. “We aren’t ignoring you.” Mikranasta’s gaze moved to Gen, and her eyes narrowed. “Captain Etiënne Gen.”

“My apologies, madam,” Gen said. “I was not aware you could translate in the manner of Lamdir Paydamat.”

Mikranasta gave the slightest of smiles. “Neither is she, and neither are most people. This knowledge does not spread beyond here. Not to Paydamat, not to your crew, not to anyone. Understood?”

Gen bowed his head. “As you wish, madam.”

Mikranasta glanced at Jeanne, who had rested her head on the edge of the low-table.

Sinitïa gently pulled the dog’s head off the table and back into her lap.

“We need to discuss Itra,” Mikranasta said. “Jorvanultumn brought him to my attention after observing him behaving oddly with you all. I detected mental manipulation and examined him more thoroughly. Unfortunately, the distance between us limited how much I could learn. However, I did find several triggers implanted in him. Most of them are manual triggers that must be magically or telepathically sent by whoever put them there. Essentially, they allow that person to send commands to Itra. A few of them are pre-programmed actions activated by specific words or actions.”

“Such as his behaviour when Sinitïa asked to paint him?” Gen said.

Mikranasta shrugged. “Possibly, but that was a rather specific situation. That was more likely a manually activated trigger.”

“But that would mean…” Jorvanultumn began.

Mikranasta nodded. “Yes, whoever did it had to be nearby.”

“Exactly how nearby?” Gen asked.

“It depends on the power of the mentalist,” Mikranasta said. “However, assuming a powerful one, they would just need to be able to see Itra, preferably you all as well, though that’s not strictly necessary. Not being able to see you could make his actions—or, more accurately, reactions—less natural. Distance could cause that as well.”

Gen glanced at Jorvanultumn. “That could explain quite a bit.”

“Do you have any idea who did it?” Jorvanultumn asked.

“I bet it was Paydamat,” Sinitïa said.

Jorvanultumn shook his head. “I am doubtful of that. I think—”

“I’m afraid Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith may be right,” Mikranasta said.

Sinitïa grinned. “See?”

“We cannot be certain yet,” Mikranasta said.

“But are there not others who could do this?” Jorvanultumn said.

Mikranasta nodded.

“Then why do you believe it might be Paydamat?”

“Because her position brings her into frequent contact with Itra. She would have ample opportunity to put such triggers in place.” Mikranasta held up her hand as Jorvanultumn was about to respond. “More importantly, she would have ample opportunity to notice any conditioning placed on him by someone else. It is difficult to believe someone of her power would not have noticed.”

Jorvanultumn sighed. What she said made logical sense, but something still seemed wrong.

“That would mean the Pundritta got two people into the Lamdritta,” Davorultumn said.

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Mikranasta nodded. “Which would make them a very powerful group. It is distressing. Let’s hope they do not have anyone in the Lordritta.”

“Is it possible this conditioning was done recently?” Gen asked. “Recently enough that Paydamat would not have had a chance to notice?”

“Possibly,” Mikranasta said, “though unlikely. The conditioning is deep enough to imply a long-term process, but I can hopefully determine for certain once I can examine him more closely.”

“Perhaps it was put there by someone more powerful than Paydamat,” Jorvanultumn said. “Someone who could hide it even from her.”

Mikranasta looked up at the sky and muttered under her breath. Jorvanultumn could not hear her words, but he guessed that they were something along the lines of, “Nature, grant me patience.” It was something she sometimes did when she was getting annoyed at him, Hedromornasta, or Davorultumn.

After a moment, she looked down again and looked calmly at Jorvanultumn. “You are stretching things, Jorvanultumn. You’re smarter than that. There are only a handful of people in Isyaria who could do that and only one of them is here in Chithishtheny. So unless you think I did it…”

Jorvanultumn raised his hands and shook his head. “No. No, of course not.”

“Then we are left with only Paydamat. I don’t want to believe it any more than you do, Jorvanultumn, but at the moment, all signs point to her, and to her siare.” She sighed and looked to Davorultumn. “What do you think, my dear?”

Davorultumn chuckled. “I think this whole situation has shaken you a lot. You just basically admitted to being more powerful than Paydamat.”

Mikranasta gave a knowing smile. “Nonsense. Our relative power has never been tested.”

“And never will, yes, I know,” Davorultumn said. “However, to answer your actual question, I agree, we must at least consider Paydamat as a suspect. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions either.”

“Agreed,” Mikranasta said. “We will know more once I can examine—”

There was a knock at the door.

“Ah. That is probably him,” Mikranasta said. “Jorvanultumn, if you don’t mind.”

Jorvanultumn stood up and went to the door, pausing a moment before opening it. It was horrible what had been done to Itra, and they were about to put him through more of it—even if it was to find out who had done it and to undo it. Itra did not deserve it. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

Itra bowed his head. “Forgive any intrusion I have made. I have come, as requested by Davorultumn.”

Jorvanultumn stood aside. “Please, come in.”

Davorultumn had already stood and the others were getting up when Itra walked in.

“Davorultumn, you have a task for me?” Itra said.

Davorultumn nodded. “Yes, I need you to do something. I need you to...uh...to submit to an examination by Mikranasta.”

Itra took a step back. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure I understand.”

“It will be harmless,” Davorultumn said. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Mikranasta strode around the low-table, and Itra spun around and...stopped? One foot was partially off the floor as if he were about to step forward. His head was turned a little to look back behind him. There was a slight hint of a tremor in his jaw and his eyes darted about in fear, but otherwise, he was perfectly still.

Mikranasta reached Itra. “I’m very sorry, Itra. We set off one of his triggers by mentioning examining him.”

Jorvanultumn looked away for a moment. He had been through something like this before: that moment in Ninifin when the priests of Sestin had frozen him in place, then had taken control of his body and forced him to move where they wanted. But in Ninifin, it had taken several mentalists working together to control him. It had been terrifying. Mikranasta had done this to Itra on her own. Jorvanultumn could only guess at the terror Itra had to be feeling right now.

“This shouldn’t take long,” Mikranasta said. “A few minutes at most.”

Jorvanultumn circled around Mikranasta and Itra, and rejoined Sinitïa and Gen.

Sinitïa was hugging Jeanne to her chest. “What’s she doing?”

Mikranasta had placed her hands on each side of Itra’s face and was looking him directly in the eyes.

Gen put a hand on Sinitïa’s shoulder. “What she has to.”

“He looks so scared.” Sinitïa buried her face in the dog’s fur.

Jorvanultumn placed a hand on Sinitïa’s other shoulder. “It will be over soon.”

It might have only taken a couple minutes, but it felt like forever. The whole time, Itra’s eyes darted about, trying to avoid Mikranasta’s gaze. Finally, Mikranasta let go and backed up. Itra stumbled over and fell to the floor.

Sinitïa shoved Jeanne at Gen, then rushed to Itra. “Are you all right?” She helped him to his feet.

“I am now.” Itra took Sinitïa’s hands. “I am so very sorry, Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith. You have been so kind to me, and I…” He let go of her hands and turned away from her, his gaze going back to Mikranasta. There was still fear in his eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

Sinitïa also turned to Mikranasta. “What’s he talking about? Tell me what’s going on.”

Mikranasta nodded sadly. “You must understand Itra was not in control of his actions, and it is not his fault.”

“What’s not his fault? Stop treating me like an idiot and get to the point already.”

Mikranasta nodded again. “Of course. I’m sorry. Itra was involved in Meleng’s abduction. He was controlled.”

“Why?” Sinitïa asked.

“He carried Meleng after Meleng’s abductor immobilised him. Itra’s lack of magic and inability to fly means he’s spent his life building up muscles most of the rest of us pay little attention to, except the Hgirh. Most of us also pay little attention to what Itra is doing as long as he stays away from us, so he can do things in plain sight without being noticed.”

“Who did this to him?” Gen asked.

“That memory is still blocked,” Mikranasta said. “It’s a very sophisticated block and I will need more time to break though it.”

Sinitïa reached for Itra, who was hugging himself and trembling. He looked up at her touch, tears in his eyes. “Please forgive me.”

“I’m not angry at you,” Sinitïa said. “Only the people that did this to you and Meleng. Just tell me where he is. Where’s my Melly?”

“I will show you.”