Alründ:

A floral breeze floated in from the back doors, giving the illusion that this was just another sparring session. That scent was also a reminder that anywhere there was a window or glass door in the house a rose garden could be seen on the other side, such was Lücan's obsession with the flowers. The younger Sepheri all noticed it—the flowers, at home and here. No one ever said anything. It was one of those topics off limits with Lücan—unless you were asking for a duel. As Alründ hadn't mentioned the flowers, he'd clearly hit one of Lücan's other nerves, because the way the Head Sepheri relinquished Theo's staff showed he was long past his threshold.

Alründ should have been terrified, but he regretted nothing.

Was it so wrong to give her the necklace? he thought. I'd been careful. Why can't he see that?

Hardening his gaze on Lücan, he angled the staff across his body. His wings tensed from his shoulder-blades to where they skimmed the plastic mat, ready to launch into the air at a moment's notice. If he lost a feather during this fight he was really going to be annoyed!

Is there anything you'd like to tell me? Lücan asked.

No, replied Alründ.

Lücan scoffed aloud, making all three Sepheri in the archway flinch. It was strange to hear that scoff alone, echoing around the room. Then Lücan was in Alründ's head again, louder than before, You think you were being careful? You think giving Ash that gift with diamonds from your old planet was careful? If anything might trigger her memories it is rare and familiar objects she'd seen as a child. Surely, you must have considered this?

Alründ's jaw ground painfully. I'd considered it. Of course I had.

And the inscription! Lücan continued. You wrote that in her native tongue, like a puzzle waiting to be solved. You even wrote that if she deciphered the inscription she would remember! And what happens if she remembers, Alründ? Think about that.

He didn't want to think about that. He'd been stupid. But he was still angry. You read the letter?

She had that letter memorized by the time I'd arrived! Lücan said. It wasn't hard to read.

Alründ clutched his staff, as if he could pull energy from it like one of their starshards. It gave him nothing. You've erased it all?

No. I believe you should be the one to do that. And while you're there, you can take back the necklace dangling from her throat.

No, Alründ shouted.

Calm as can be, Lücan swiveled his staff to align with his height. Alründ guessed he was an easy opponent to what Lücan was used to, and his mentor was making that perfectly clear. Lücan's voice filled the room, "It will be done. Tonight. Before you leave."

Leave? Alründ thought. I cannot leave! Lücan's separating me from Ash. A punishment. He can't do this!

Alründ swung his staff clean and fast, aiming for Lücan's fancy tie, along with his throat. The bamboo in Lücan's hand vibrated as his staff blocked Alründ's, twanging loudly. Alründ swung faster, harder than when he'd punched that tree. He was blocked again. Over and over he swung and jabbed, only to be countered repeatedly, while Lücan stood exactly where he'd begun.

Alründ threw his staff to the floor and launched a kick to Lücan's heart, but the young Sepheri was on the ground in seconds, winded. He hadn't even seen Lücan move, just felt the pain of where his mentor's staff had connected with his thigh. Horrible to think that by Lücan's standards it had been a gentle hit—a deterrent, Alründ suspected.

Grappling for breath, Alründ pushed up and barreled towards his opponent. He was thrown into the air, and before he could fan his wings he was passing over Lücan's head. Alründ fell hard, retracting his wings in record time. But it was too late, the nerve-endings of each wing seized with pain, even as they slid into the canals deep within his back. He cried out as white feathers floated around him. Dozens of them, loose and unattached to his wings.

As he rose to his feet, his eyes stung with the threat of tears. He didn't want to fight—Lücan had been more of a father than Alründ's had ever been—but the thought of leaving Ash was unbearable.

"Enough of this," Lücan murmured.

Alründ nodded, then humbled himself by bowing. Lücan had been right in one way—that inscription had been foolish. Alründ should never have asked her to remember. He should never have put those few words on the back of that star. He'd just wanted her to know.

Lücan laid a hand on Alründ's shoulder. I am sorry this is the way of things. I would have them different if I could. I've tried. You know I've tried.

The young Sepheri nodded. That silly bond Ash had made with Will when they were six. Lücan couldn't undo it then, and he'd never found a way since. He had tried, it was true. But Alründ wondered, often, whether his mentor had missed something... A starbond so young had never happened before. The rules had changed. Not even Lücan knew how it would eventuate, not even The Fates themselves. There had to be a way to break it.

The room turned icy in an instant and a sick feeling twisted in Alründ's hearts, like the universe had changed all of a sudden. At the very same moment, Will groaned from the archway, clutching his chest.

Lücan's skin turned a frosty blue. His hand tightened on Alründ's shoulder and he crumpled to his knees, bringing Alründ with him. Alründ reached out to steady him. The suffering in Lücan's eyes was painful to watch.

"Will," Lücan breathed. "Alründ. We must go home."

Alründ barely saw it, but he was snatched up under Lücan's arm and sped towards the archway. Will was snatched up, too, and they were flown out of the French doors. Alründ never smelled the roses—they were flying too fast, their ascent visible in the sky to that of a lightning bolt going against gravity, such was Lücan's ability to travel at starspeed. The air below them cracked and rumbled and the clouds disappeared until there was silence and they shot amongst the stars. But as Lücan led them into the next wormhole his voice in their minds stripped that magic away, It has begun.

Alründ didn't need to ask his meaning; he felt the clocks turning, too. If they had truly reached the time of the transition, the younger Sepheri, like him, would be coming into their gifts over the next year, which meant that the Elders were weakening and the end for Lücan's generation of Sepheri was nigh. If it had begun, one or more of them was already dead. Sepheri could be hurt, young and old alike. Worse, he feared it was his parents Lücan spoke of. If one died, the other died, too, such was their bond.

Begun? Will asked raspily.

Lücan looked down at him, as sad as that snowy day nine years before. Roses everywhere.