Miana’s breath against her skin was electrifying. It made her hairs stand on end as they blew gently along Felitïa’s neck. Felitïa closed her eyes and gave the sensation full rein.

Miana pulled back Felitïa’s hair and kissed the back of her neck. Felitïa shuddered and her heart beat ever faster. Gods, she wanted this, and she’d let it go this far. They were both mostly undressed. They had privacy. Mikranasta was close enough to come quickly if Felitïa yelled, but the shield was down, and she wasn’t directly outside the door. Felitïa had a night without the shield in order to test, before leaving, how she would do. On the journey, Zandrue would be there. There would never be a better moment than now.

“You’re so tense,” Miana said, rubbing Felitïa’s shoulders. “You’re also shaking. Are you all right?”

Felitïa gritted her teeth. “No. I’m scared.”

Miana continued to rub her shoulders. “Of what? I told you I’ll only bite if you ask me to.” They kissed the back of her neck again, and Felitïa shivered—this time a good shiver.

She turned around and put her arms around Miana, pressed her body against theirs, her nose touching theirs. “I don’t know if I can do this. Last time I was with someone, I…” She had defences up, of course, but even now, the walls in the Room were rattling and threatening to collapse. There was so much lust coming from Miana, and it was mixing with and magnifying her own. She couldn’t trust the walls to stay up for long if the lust took over.

“You’ve told me about last time. I understand and accept the risk.”

“Do you? Understand, I mean?”

Miana nodded. “Yes, I do, but we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“But I do want to. You have no idea how much I want to.” She kissed them, then pulled back a little. “But I don’t want to hurt you.”

With their thumbs, Miana gently wiped Felitïa’s tears away. “If my crew ever saw me wipe tears from someone’s eyes, my reputation would be ruined. That’s how much I trust you regarding this.”

Felitïa snickered and kissed them again. “That trust might be misplaced.”

Miana kissed her cheek and then ear. “No. You’ve told me the risk. If the worst happens, you warned me. It won’t destroy my trust in you.” They kissed the side of her neck, and then her chest just below the neck.

Felitïa’s heart beat even faster, and she moaned. “Oh fuck it.” She pushed Miana onto their back on the bed, then pulled off her shift and threw it aside.

“That’s more like it,” Miana said.

Then she let both their lusts take full control.

* * * * *

They floated in the sounds of waves and running water, wind and rustling sails. Two people in one. One person as two.

They swam through memories of Elderaan and Ama, Zandrue and Nedua. Their first time on the Lustrous Rose, hoping to impress the Captain. Their graduation from the Hall of Knowledge. Chayan troops marching through their home village, searching for followers of Delam. Castroff attempting to shred their mind. Their first sexual experience with Maneshka—no, Chodhan. No, Maneshka. No…

All the while, their single mind explored their two bodies. Four hands caressing every part. Two mouths tasting all. Four legs entwined.

They needed no words. Why would one being need to talk to themself? They simply revelled in two bodies that might as well have been one given how they kept them pressed against each other. Those bodies shook from the sensations and sweated from the exertion.

The mind wanted this to go forever, but the bodies had limited energy, which was eventually used up. With reluctance, they settled down and let first the bodies sleep, and then the mind. And they dreamed as one, swimming through the sounds of waves and running water, wind and rustling sails…

* * * * *

When Felitïa opened her eyes, sunlight bathed the room. Miana stood at the window with the curtains drawn, apparently unconcerned that they were unclothed.

“Good morning,” Felitïa said.

“Good morning.” Contentment flooded from Miana, mixing with Felitïa’s own contentment—at least, she was pretty sure it was her own.

She made a quick check of the Room. Her defences were down completely, but Miana’s presence was completely separate from her own mind. Somehow, she’d made it through the night without any defences and still, nothing had gone wrong. She had no idea how she’d managed it, as even now, her mind was starting to reach out. She quickly erected her defences again.

She placed her feet on the floor and prepared to stand up. Unlike Miana, the idea of standing naked at the window did make her hesitate a little, but she desperately wanted to join them, and she didn’t want to dress yet. It wasn’t as if many people, if anyone, were likely to see them. Maybe a gardener might pass by, but other people on the grounds or guards on the wall would be too far away to see anything.

She took a deep breath, stood up and approached Miana, putting her arms around them from behind. She bent over and kissed their neck. “Your mind’s intact?”

Miana leaned back into her embrace. “I think so. I feel like me again, at any rate.” They turned around in Felitïa’s arms and put their own arms around her. “I normally like to take control during sex. I’m dominant that way.”

Felitïa snickered. “I know. I got a glimpse of some of your previous encounters.”

Miana rested their head against Felitïa’s chest. “I just melted into you. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. I loved every moment of it, and I want more. So much more.”

“I think that can be arranged. I know now that I can do this without destroying your mind. There’ll always be a risk, I suppose, but I’m a lot less afraid now.”

“Good. Do you think we have time for another round right now?”

Felitïa grinned. “I think we can—”

There was a knock at the door.

“Shit. I guess not. Yes?”

Mikranasta’s voice came through the door. “Time to get ready, Will-Breaker.”

“We’ll be along in a few minutes.”

“No escaping your duties,” Miana said.

Felitïa sighed. “I know.” She let go of Miana and began gathering her clothes.

“There will be other occasions,” Miana said. “We’re going to be spending a lot of time together.”

“Yes, with Zandrue along.”

“You could always invite her to join us.”

Felitïa laughed.

“I’m serious.”

“Yes, I have no doubt. I had a huge crush on her when we were young.”

“I know,” Miana said. “I saw it, remember?”

“I don’t think it would be a good idea to reignite those feelings. I like my relationship with Zandrue as it is. Besides, she really doesn’t like the idea of melding minds.”

Miana shrugged. “Her loss.”

Felitïa pulled her shift on. “How much do you remember of what you saw in my mind?”

“I’m not really sure. How much do you remember of my mind?”

Felitïa tried to pull up the memories. “Not sure either.”

“I suppose we’ll find out in time.”

Felitïa smiled at them. “I suppose so.”

Once they were both dressed, Felitïa opened the door and joined Mikranasta in the hall. Mikranasta held out her left hand and Felitïa grasped it with hers.

The Isyar bowed her head. “Will-Breaker.”

“I wish you’d use my name,” Felitïa said.

Mikranasta bowed her head again. “Felitïa Asa Folith.”

Felitïa bowed her head back. Asking her to use just Felitïa probably wasn’t going to work, so her full name would do.

Although the shield wasn’t up, there were no emotions of any kind coming from Mikranasta. Felitïa could barely detect her presence in the Room. Clearly, the Isyar wanted to keep to herself. Felitïa couldn’t really blame her.

Mikranasta motioned for them to walk, and they started towards the dining hall, Miana following behind. “You did well last night, Felitïa Asa Folith.”

“I’m not entirely sure how.”

Mikranasta glanced at her. “Not consciously perhaps, but clearly a part of you instinctively knows what to do.”

“I hope it becomes conscious soon.”

“It will. I have no doubt.”

They rounded a corner and two guards snapped to attention.

“You’re sure I’m ready for this?”

Mikranasta did not look at her. “You have asked me that question many times. Do you believe I am lying to you?”

“No, of course not. I’m just nervous and looking for reassurance.”

“I can give you no more than I have already given.”

They reached the doors to the dining room, and the guards there snapped to attention. One reached for the door handle, but Felitïa held up her hand to stop him. “One moment.” She looked at Mikranasta. “And you’re fine with me not leaving part of myself in Sinitïa?”

Mikranasta stopped moving, but still did not look at Felitïa. “As I told you, I agree with your reasoning. It is too much of a risk.”

“But it was your idea.”

“Even I can make mistakes. We need to take greater risks, and I jumped to too great a risk. At some point, you need to start trusting your instincts. If you believe it is too much for you, then I accept that.”

“Even though you won’t be able to monitor me? That’s the real reason you wanted me to do it, isn’t it? It would give you a way to monitor me while I’m away.”

Mikranasta turned slowly to face Felitïa, and bowed her head. “I confess that was part of the reason, but like you must learn to trust your instincts, I must learn to trust them as well. Shall we take breakfast?”

Felitïa nodded, and motioned to the guard, who opened the doors for them.

* * * * *

There were numerous emotions around her: excitement, uncertainty, nervousness, love, impatience, frustration, annoyance. Those last three were from Agernon. Felitïa would recognise his emotions anywhere. He must have just arrived. The other emotions each came from several other people, blending together into various sorts of soups: delight from Sinitïa and Meleng; wariness from Feviona, Nin-Akna, Miana, and… Was that Mikranasta? Was Mikranasta letting something through?

She was supposed to be meditating right now. In a way, she was, but she was also revelling in the sea of emotions. The world had felt so empty in the confines of the shield. When she’d gone to Arnor City, so much had gone wrong, she hadn’t had the chance to really enjoy being free of the shield. Now, she was determined to enjoy it before something inevitably went wrong again.

No. She had to trust herself. Nothing was going to go wrong, or if it did, it was going to go wrong in the most minimal way possible.

She didn’t really believe that, but somehow, she was going to make herself believe it.

A throat cleared in front of her, and she opened her eyes. Agernon stood there, holding up the crystal, which was glowing brightly.

Felitïa blinked several times from the brightness, and turned her head away. “I was trying to meditate.”

“You can mediate another time. I’m trying to show you this.” He moved the crystal in front of her face again.

“Yes, I’ve seen it before.” She tried to turn away from it again—it was so bright—but Agernon kept moving it back in front of her every time. It was close enough she could feel its heat.

“I know you’ve seen it, but not like this.”

It was true. She’d never seen it this bright. She squinted. “I assume that’s because there are so many of us here.”

Agernon grunted non-committally, and closed his fist around the crystal, blocking most of the light, though a glow was still visible between his fingers. “I’ve never brought it round when so many of you have been present before. I’m tempted to make you touch it. I’d like to know just how hot it can get.”

Felitïa recoiled. “I can feel its heat from here, even through your fist. I don’t want to touch it.”

“I only said I was tempted, not that I was going to do it.”

“I need you to give it to Feviona.”

“I wouldn’t mind studying it some more.”

“You’ve done all you can. You said so.”

Agernon frowned, but nodded. “Fine.”

The crystal was the one thing they’d had no trouble figuring out. Unfortunately, its abilities were mostly useless to them. It pointed the direction towards her. The closer it got to her, the brighter it got. It could also point the way towards anyone in the queue in her head, though it wasn’t as strong with those. They couldn’t use it to find Quilla or Rudiger because they were just too far away. However, if any of the queue were with Felitïa, its detection abilities were augmented. However, it also got really hot in the hands of any of them, especially when it was close to Felitïa. She hoped it would be helpful in finding Quilla, so she was giving it to Feviona who didn’t have to worry about its heat.

Agernon hobbled over to Feviona, who held out her hand. Agernon stared at her palm for several seconds before sighing and dropping the crystal into it. Feviona closed her hand around it.

They were gathered in the Belone library—thirteen of them. Only Borisin was missing, and they would go to the stables to retrieve him when they were ready. The library was more than large enough to hold them all, but it seemed packed anyway. Perhaps it was because there was rarely more than a few people here. Or perhaps it was because of all the emotions swirling in her head, when for so long there had been none at all. Whatever the case, it was good to have them all together in one place. It would be even better once Rudiger and Quilla were back with them, but this was nice for now.

Felitïa looked over them all, her friends, each and every one. Some, like Etiënne, she didn’t know as well yet, but they were all her family. More family than she’d ever known.

“Let’s do this,” she said.

She walked over to where the Staff was leaning against the wall.

Felitïa, I… Felitïa…

She put a finger to her lips. Shh. The Staff went quiet and she picked it up.

People in the room were moving about. She gave them a few moments while Nin-Akna said farewell to Anita, Meleng to Sinitïa, and Jorvan to Feviona. After that, there were some further farewells as well. Corvinian hugged Nin-Akna, and Feviona and Mikranasta went through a terse, mechanical Isyar farewell. Wariness and distrust emanated from Feviona, nothing from Mikranasta.

Did everyone mistrust Mikranasta? Zandrue and Agernon certainly did. Feviona apparently, too. And of course, there was Borisin. Jorvan, on the other hand, seemed to trust her. She was his mother, so that wasn’t surprising. Mikranasta was hard to understand, no doubt there. However, she had performed a great service to Felitïa. Felitïa couldn’t help wonder, though, was she letting the fact Mikranasta had saved her life bias her towards trust?

No. If Mikranasta was untrustworthy, then what was the point to what she was doing here? She was a complicated person with complex motives, but there was no reason to think she meant ill will.

Once farewells had come to an end, Felitïa joined Meleng, Nin-Akna, and Feviona in the open area of the room. “I don’t know if I can take all of you at once. We haven’t tested the limits of the Staff yet, so I might have to make more than one trip. Everyone, take hands.”

With her free hand, Felitïa took Meleng’s hand, and he took Nin-Akna’s, and she took Feviona’s. Finally, Feviona gripped the arm Felitïa was holding the Staff with.

“Meleng, do the honours.”

Meleng was the only one, other than Felitïa, who had been to Porthaven, and none of them had been any closer to Collogia, so Meleng needed to be the one to envision their destination.

“Bye, Melly! I love—”

The library vanished to be replaced by the crowded market of Porthaven. Emotions and thoughts of all kinds flooded into Felitïa’s head, and she stumbled, pulling the others with her. Many of those emotions quickly changed to surprise and fear. The fear, in particular, tore through her head, breaking through her defensive walls.

She cried out.

Feviona and Meleng held her hand and arm firmly, keeping her from falling.

“Felitïa, it’s all right,” Nin-Akna said. “You just have to relax. Remember to breathe.”

Shit, she hadn’t expected this. Not to this extent at any rate. She’d warned the others that something could happen, and told them what to do if it did, but she hadn’t taken into account just how many people might be around her. She should have asked Meleng to think of the least occupied area of Porthaven he could remember.

Dizzy. She felt so dizzy as the emotions pounded at her senses. Were people around her yelling and running? Maybe. It didn’t matter.

Pulling her hand away from Meleng, she reached for the pearls around her neck. She tried to slow her breathing and focus on her concentration exercises. Slowly, the walls in the Room formed again, and she pushed the onslaught of thoughts out, leaving only a dull roar of emotion.

“Feeling better?” Nin-Akna asked.

Still breathing slowly, Felitïa nodded. She steadied her feet and looked around.

People in the market had pulled back away from the four of them, leaving a fairly wide ring of space around them. Those who had not run were staring at them with a mix of uncertainty, distrust, and fascination.

“I should have chosen a different spot,” Meleng said, “but the only other place I could think of was the inn that got destroyed.” He groaned. “But that was in Mesone, wasn’t it?”

“It’s fine,” Felitïa said. “You should just head off and act as if nothing is out of the ordinary. Stories will get told, and eventually, that’s all it will be. A story.”

“You’re sure?” Nin-Akna said.

“No, but I can’t think of anything else you can do.”

Nin-Akna rolled her eyes. “Great.” She signed as she spoke. “Come on, you two. Let’s go. Did I do that right?”

Feviona bowed her head and gave her a thumbs up.

With a smile, Nin-Akna turned and walked towards the crowd. Meleng and Feviona followed her. The crowd parted to let them pass, people watching them with a great deal of wariness.

“Good luck!” Felitïa called after them.

“You too!” Nin-Akna called back.

Felitïa looked away from them and took a deep breath. The weight of the emotions was starting to break through again. Thankfully, from what Miana had told her, they wouldn’t be going any place anywhere near as crowded as Porthaven.

“Who are you?” The source of the question was a young woman carrying a baby near the edge of the crowd.

Felitïa smiled at her. A friend. Sending the answer telepathically was an impulse. She wasn’t sure the woman would be able to hear her over the general din of the crowd. This way, she could be sure the woman heard. You don’t have to be afraid of me. Trust me.

The woman gasped. How...how...how… her disorganised thoughts stuttered.

Okay, maybe that had not been the best idea. It was time she got out of there. Felitïa pictured the Belone library in her head, and a little jolt passed through her head. Then she was back in the library.