dwindling.” He looked at Imenja. “Perhaps we can all meet at dinner tonight.”
“I’ll see to it,” she replied.
“Now, I have another trip outside the city to take you on.” Nekaun touched Auraya’s shoulder lightly and she tore her eyes from Mirar’s smug expression to look at the First Voice. “It will take half of the day to get there, so we should leave without delay.”
Mirar watched Auraya leave, his eyes narrowed, but as Imenja turned to him he looked at her and smiled broadly. She nodded at a corridor leading in another direction. “Would you like to see the Star Room, where we hold our ceremonies?”
He nodded. “Sounds fascinating.”
As they set off at a leisurely stroll, Reivan analyzed the conversation between Mirar and Auraya.
“I would have expected otherwise based on the rude reception I received in the north.”
“They just haven’t got to know you yet.”
Auraya won that exchange, Reivan mused. The former White had insinuated that Mirar made himself unwelcome wherever he went. She might have a point.
Mirar had made a veiled jibe about the White sending the Siyee on a doomed mission, but Auraya hadn’t appeared ruffled. Then Mirar had taunted her, pointing out that she could do nothing to him here.
“... Just the two of us. Pick up again from where we stopped.”
Reivan caught the chuckle that welled up inside her. Auraya won that exchange, too, she thought. She all but pointed out that his safety depended on us, and that she was willing to kill him if the Voices gave her the chance. But Mirar had the last word, I think. What did he say again?
“I’m sure my new friends would like the opportunity to join in... your time here is finite and mine is not.”
She frowned. Had Mirar guessed that the Voices didn’t intend to let Auraya leave? Or was he merely pointing out that the Voices had more reason to protect him than her, since he was immortal and would be a more useful ally in the long term?
He’s smart enough to have guessed the Voices’ plans, Reivan decided. Anyone who thought the situation through carefully could have.
But had Auraya?
Mischief leapt up onto the mattress. He spent a few minutes roaming about, assessing the best position to sleep according to merits only he understood. When he found a satisfactory place, he curled up and sighed.
Staring at the ceiling, Auraya considered what she had reported to Juran that evening. Or rather, what she hadn’t reported.
:Mirar is here, she had told him. We encountered each other in one of those accidental crossing of paths that obviously wasn’t accidental.
:What happened?
:Nothing. He pointed out that the Voices would protect him and that the Siyee mission was doomed.
:I fear he is right on both counts.
She hadn’t told Juran about her and Mirar’s agreement to act as if they were enemies. It would make it obvious that she didn’t consider Mirar an enemy, and that would hardly please Juran. She didn’t want to give him any further reason to distrust her.
Now she had the last task of the evening left. Each night since she had first dream-linked with Mirar they had communicated the same way. Tonight they would have much to discuss. Closing her eyes, she sought the state of mind she needed.
:Auraya.
It took her a moment to realize she must have fallen asleep straightaway.
:Mirar?
:At last! How late do you turn in?
She felt amusement at his impatience.
:As late as I wish.
:Ah. It’s like that, is it? Got all haughty since the Voices started treating you as an honored guest?
:Only when I need to. Did we do well today?
:It was a start.
:Ha! I came up with the best snappy replies!
:I had the last word.
:You did, she agreed.
:So where were you tonight? I was looking forward to continuing over dinner.
:Didn’t Imenja explain? We roamed so far from the city that we couldn’t get back in time.
:Is that the truth, then?
:Yes. Of course, Nekaun and I might have spent a little longer than necessary inspecting the glassmakers’ workshops.
:Well, I suppose the Voices expect you to avoid me.
:And I’m afraid I’ll run out of snappy replies if we meet too often.
:You have a collection of them, then?
:A handful. All waiting for the right moment.
:Who’d have thought you’d have such a talent for bitchiness?
:Thanks. So have the Voices made you any offers yet?
:No. They questioned me about the Dreamweaver law against violence the day I arrived. Maybe my answer put them off.
:Hmm. Remember, even if they don’t offer to kill me for you, they might still offer to kill you for me.
:Then they’re being remarkably good at hiding it. We’ve been talking a lot about the Dreamweavers and my place among them. Whether I am a leader or guide. Imenja said that whether I want to be their leader or not, Dreamweavers regard me with reverence. The trouble with being dead for a while is people have a gilded image of you in their minds. I assured her that I never let them worship me before, and I will not now. She said she believed me.
He had turned serious, and Auraya had a disturbing feeling she was talking to Leiard. She pushed it away.
:I suppose she read the minds of Dreamweavers in order to find out what they think of you.
:Yes. Oh, something she said... I think they know you can read minds.
Auraya felt a chill. Was there any danger in the Voices knowing she could read minds? Jade had thought it would be dangerous for the gods to know Auraya had regained the ability, but she had meant the Circlian gods.
Still, it was possible that the Circlian gods occasionally read the minds of Pentadrians. Unless...
:Do you think only the Voices know, or others?
:I don’t know. I could search some dreams tonight and see if I can find out for you.
:Yes. I’ll do a bit of mind-skimming, too. There might be someone still awake.
:When you do, look for any thoughts about the Elai. I overheard a comment when I arrived suggesting that they were sinking ships.
:Sinking ships? That is an alarming possibility.
