Akna opened her eyes.

She was lying on her bed in her room in the Hall of Knowledge, wearing just her shift. Corvin sat on his bed across from her.

She’d been sleeping! She’d actually cried herself to sleep.

“You okay?” Corvin asked.

Akna sat up and rubbed her aching chin. “I’ll be okay.” Her shoulders, arms, and legs ached as well. Pretty much all of her ached. “Where’s Meleng? He was real, wasn’t he?”

Corvin nodded. “He’s been watching over you with me, but he had to talk to Zandrue and Ezmelda. He said he’d be back soon with some tea. Were you upset to see him?”

“Not at all. I was happy.”

“But you cried so much. I’ve never seen you cry like that before. Not that much.”

Akna looked away from him. “Yeah, that was...that was kind of embarrassing.”

“You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

She continued to avoid eye contact with him. “It was just...months of pent-up frustrations. Months of not being able to sleep. A lot of things, I guess.”

“You finally slept!”

She looked at him finally, and smiled. “Yeah, I did. How long?”

“About four hours.”

“Wow.”

“Feviona got the wheat by the way, so you don’t have to worry. She said it didn’t lose much. Well, Jorvan said she said that. She doesn’t actually speak; she uses her hands. Meleng said she’s...mute? I think that’s the word he used.”

“Who?” Akna asked.

Corvin grinned. “Feviona, short for something really long that I can’t remember. She’s Jorvan’s...girlfriend or something. She’s also sort of Meleng and Sinitïa’s girlfriend, too. Or something. I don’t really get it. Anyway, Feviona’s one of the Isyar. There are two others as well. I’ll introduce you to them if you want.”

Akna nodded slowly. “Sure.”

“And Princess Sinitïa is here, too! Another princess! Isn’t that awesome?”

Akna smiled. It figured Sinitïa got to go with Meleng. Oh well. It would be good to see the young princess again. Sinitïa had a kind of infectious optimism and happiness to her, which Akna could do with at the moment. “Give me a couple minutes to get dressed, and you can introduce me to the Isyar.”

“And Princess Sinitïa!”

“Sure, her too, though we’ve already met.”

Corvin frowned. “Oh right. You met on Scovese, didn’t you?” He turned his head away as she pulled her shift off.

“Yes, we did.”

Once she’d dressed, she took Corvin’s hand and they headed out.

“They’re probably in the Council Chamber,” Corvin said.

They met Meleng along the way. “Oh, you’re up!” He held up two mugs of steaming tea. “I...um...I only brought two.”

“That’s okay,” Corvin said. “Akna can have mine.”

Akna took one of the mugs. She was parched and cold. “Thank you.”

“How are you doing?” Meleng asked.

“Better now. I’m sorry about...you know...all the crying.” She forced herself to not look away from him.

“You don’t need to be sorry,” he said. “I don’t mind. I’m your friend.”

Akna nodded. “It’s good to see you again. I’ve missed you.”

“Same here.”

“I’m taking her to see the Isyar,” Corvin said.

“Sounds like Jorvan brought a collection,” Akna said.

“His whole family,” Corvin said.

Meleng gave a small shrug. “Not exactly, but close. Come on. They’re eager to meet you.”

Akna downed the hot tea in one, long gulp. It scorched her tongue a bit, but it felt good. She handed the mug back to Meleng. “Then let’s go see them.”

They were in the Council Chamber as Corvin had predicted, surrounded by gawking wizards. Zandrue was seated off to the side, chatting with Jorvan. The two stood up as Akna entered.

Akna approached them and started to spread her arms, but stopped. She didn’t really know Jorvan very well; they hadn’t had much time around one another before they’d gone their separate ways. Was hugging appropriate? She wasn’t even sure it would be appropriate with Arnorins, never mind Isyar.

Jorvan answered the unspoken question by spreading his own arms. They hugged.

“It is good to see you again, Nin-Akna,” Jorvan said.

“And you.” She gave Zandrue a quick hug as well.

“Feeling better?” Zandrue asked.

Akna nodded. “A little.”

Jorvan called the other Isyar over. He indicated the first to approach. “This is Mikranasta.”

The Isyar was several inches taller than Jorvan, almost as tall as Akna. She had thin, grey eyes on a face just starting to show age lines. Like Jorvan, she was completely bald and wore only a thin, pale robe open at the back for her wings. She held up her right hand, palm out. Some sort of greeting?

Akna held up her own right hand.

Zandrue leaned forward and whispered, “Other hand, and touch your palm to hers.”

Akna switched hands and touched her left palm to the Isyar’s. “I am honoured to meet you.”

Jorvan spoke something in another language, then said to Akna, “Mikranasta and the others do not yet know Arnorgue, so I must translate for them.”

“I learn soon,” Mikranasta said.

“It’s a very clumsy language,” Akna said, “but it works all right, I guess.”

Mikranasta smiled slightly after Jorvan translated for her.

The next Isyar was a little shorter and a littler broader than Jorvan, but otherwise very similar. They had the same pale grey eyes and narrow face.

“This is Hedromornasta, Mikranasta’s siare,” Jorvan said.

“Siare?” Akna asked after they had gone through the same greeting as before.

Zandrue leaned over again. “Isyar have weird ideas about family. He’s Jorvan’s brother.”

“And Mikranasta’s his mother, then?”

Zandrue nodded.

“And finally,” Jorvan said, “this is my fomase, Fevionawishtensen.”

The final Isyar was the shortest of them all, but somewhat muscular and dressed in the skin-tight uniform Akna had seen Isyar warriors on Scovese wearing. She and Akna had barely finished the greeting ritual when Mikranasta began speaking rapidly in the Isyar language.

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“With your permission,” Jorvan said, “Mikranasta would like to examine your mind. The others have told us of your condition, and she should be able to find the interference.”

“She can do that?”

“She can,” Jorvan said.

Of course she could. That was a stupid question. Jorvan had said he was bringing back one of the most powerful mentalists in Isyaria—which also meant she was one of the most powerful in the world.

Akna’s heart started beating faster. “Of course.”

Mikranasta motioned to a nearby chair, and Akna sat. The Isyar stood over her and placed her hands on either side of Akna’s head.

“You may feel some tingling,” Jorvan said, translating Mikranasta’s words.

“That’s fine. Do it.”

Tingling ran along Akna’s cheeks, neck, and shoulders. For a brief moment, dizziness passed over her as well. Or maybe she was just excited and anxious. Was she finally going to be free? Would she finally be able to sleep normally again?

Mikranasta was speaking. Akna was glad she couldn’t understand the language as she wasn’t sure she’d hear clearly over the beating of her heart anyway. She took a couple slow breaths as Jorvan started to translate.

“Mikranasta says she has found the interference. The spells were very skilfully placed and she is not surprised Felitïa could not find them. Felitïa is obviously powerful, but inexperienced.”

“Can she remove them?” Akna asked.

There was a period of back and forth between Jorvan and Mikranasta before Jorvan finally said, “Mikranasta says she can remove the effects, but she wants you to know it may not be the cure you expect. The magic has been so effective because it enhances thoughts and feelings in your mind that were already there.”

Akna frowned. “That makes sense. I’ve been having nightmares and sleeping problems pretty much since I left Scovese, long before I got here in Quorge.”

“She says those are your own problems to deal with.”

“I understand. I don’t mind dealing with my own problems.”

Jorvan hesitated a moment. “There is more. She notes that the spells have begun to weaken on their own due to not being maintained for several days.”

“That would be because we’ve taken steps to make sure whoever it is can’t get close to me.”

“We know,” Jorvan said. “Although the caster cannot get close enough to maintain the spells, the caster will be aware of their strength. The caster will not think there is anything strange if they die out on their own. However, the caster will notice if Mikranasta removes them.”

Akna’s heart sank. “They’ll know who did it?”

Jorvan checked briefly with Mikranasta, then said, “No, they will only know that someone removed the spells. However, that will make them aware we have a powerful mentalist on our side.”

“That’s not good,” Zandrue said.

“Mikranasta is willing to remove the spells now, if you wish,” Jorvan said. “She just wants you to know all the details first, so you can make the most informed decision possible.”

Zandrue put her hand on Akna’s shoulder. “If the caster learns about Mikranasta, we lose a valuable surprise.”

Akna pulled free of Zandrue’s touch. “I know.” She looked Mikranasta in the eyes. “How long will it take for the spells to wear off on their own?”

“Weeks,” Mikranasta said without waiting for Jorvan’s translation.

Akna placed her hands over Mikranasta’s and gently removed them from her head. She closed her eyes and held back the tears. She was so close. A cure right in front her her. But the element of surprise was too valuable. The unknown mentalist could just go into hiding.

“This just means we get this done as soon as possible,” Zandrue said. “We won’t make you wait weeks. Once we’ve caught this person, Mikranasta can remove those spells.”

Akna took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and stood up. “Right, are we ready?”

Zandrue grinned. “Ezmelda and I are going after Felitïa tonight. Hedromornasta is joining us. He’s a mentalist too. He’ll make getting into the palace a lot simpler. Mikranasta, Fevionawishtensen, and Jorvan will remain here to help with the defence. The palace must be aware by now there are Isyar in the city, and there’s no way to know if they’ll hold back or attack right away out of fear.”

“I’m going with you to the palace,” Akna said.

Zandrue shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I may not be at my best, but I’ve had a little sleep now, and I can assist.”

“In the Palace, you’ll probably be back in range of the mentalist who can prop up those spells.”

“So? That just means I won’t be able to sleep later. Anything else the mentalist might do to me, they could do to you too.”

“Except you’re already more vulnerable to them,” Zandrue said.

“What about Corvin?”

“I don’t want to put him in that kind of danger, no matter his powers.”

“Just by having him with me, you’ve put him in danger. How is this any different?”

“Because there’s every chance we get in a fight.”

“I’ve been training him.”

Zandrue rounded on her. “He’s a ten-year-old kid, Nin-Akna! I don’t give a shit how young Ninifins start training. He’s too young to go into battle.”

“I’ve been in a battle before!” Corvin said.

“Only because there was no other choice,” Zandrue said.

“But my powers will help! Even Mikranasta couldn’t affect me. She couldn’t detect my mind!”

Zandrue shook her head. “The Volgs could bypass your powers. Maybe the Darkers at the palace can too. I won’t risk it, and if she was thinking straight, Nin-Akna would agree with me.”

Corvin punched the chair beside him. “Everybody’s always telling me what to do.”

“That’s because you’re ten,” Zandrue said. “You’re staying here. Nin-Akna will look after you.” She glared at Akna. “Right?”

Akna didn’t respond.

“Right?” Zandrue repeated.

Akna smiled thinly. “Right.”

She turned away and wandered to one of the front corners of the room, well away from everyone else. She fiddled at the corner of a tapestry there. Who the hell put Zandrue in charge anyway?

The worst part was that Zandrue was probably right.

“Nin-Akna?”

Akna smiled at the familiar voice. She turned around and bowed. “Your Highness.”

Sinitïa scrunched her nose. “That’s okay, you don’t have to do that. You can just call me Sinitïa.”

“Thank you, Sinitïa. What happened to you?”

The young princess’s hair was a mess and she had a cut on the side of her forehead. Her clothes were covered in mud stains. “We had a problem at the docks when we arrived.”

The bangs, crashes, and yells earlier—that solved that mystery.

“The City Watch didn’t like us very much. There was a Red Knight with them. I didn’t know what they were before, but I do now and they’re really mean. They tried to arrest us all. I don’t know if they recognised me. I hope not. My mother’s not going to be very happy. It’s good to see you.”

Akna hugged her. “It’s good to see you, too.”

“Thank you for looking after Meleng in Ninifin.”

“You’re welcome,” Akna said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with him all the way to Isyaria.”

Sinitïa shrugged. “That’s okay. He had Jorvan to look after him there.”

“And you apparently.”

Sinitïa blushed. “Yeah, but I’m not very good at looking after people. I can’t fight.”

“Fighting’s not the only way to look after someone. Just being a friend helps.”

“It didn’t stop him getting kidnapped.”

Akna took a step back. “He got kidnapped?”

“Yeah, and they did things to his head. They made him have dreams and see things. He says he’s okay now, but…” There was a hint of tears in her eyes. “He tries to hide it, but I see it. He’s not entirely sure if anything’s real anymore.”

“I had no idea,” Akna said. “He didn’t tell me.”

Sinitïa smiled meekly. “I’m sure he would have eventually.”

Akna nodded. “I’m sure he would have too.” She hated to think of Meleng going through anything like that. It seemed they were all fated for terrible things.

“We found him obviously,” Sinitïa said. “And the people who took him are dead now.”

“I’m glad you were there for him,” Akna said. “You’re a good friend to him.”

Sinitïa’s smiled broadened. “He’s my fomase and I’m his.”

Akna waited a moment for an explanation. When one didn’t come, she said, “What’s a...fomahsay?”

“Fomase. It’s an Isyar thing. It’s kind of like we’re married, except we didn’t actually get married. But I love him, and he loves me.” Sinitïa blushed and turned away slightly. “Is that okay?”

Akna’s heart twinged a little. “Yeah, of course it’s okay. I’m happy for you both.”

Sinitïa turned to face Akna again, grinning widely. “He still loves you, you know?”

Akna nodded.

“Nothing’s really different than it was before,” Sinitïa said. “We’re just more open about things. Except of course, Jorvan and Feviona are our fomazee now. I guess that’s a bit different.”

“Slow down. Jorvan and Feviona are also your fomase?”

Sinitïa shook her head. “No, different word. Fomaze, or fomazee when there’s more than one, not fomase. I was confused at first, too.”

Akna nodded, catching the slight difference in Sinitïa’s pronunciation. “Why don’t you tell me everything that happened in Isyaria?”