It might seem strange, but in those days off we had, neither Eddin nor I read the list Rand'din had penned. It was like we had both decided, without discussing it, to shelve anything to do with work while we were on leave. We hardly discussed work at all. It was nice. More relaxed. We still saw each other daily and just... enjoyed each other's company. I let Eddin teach me some new stretches and exercises for my back and wings. Eluri does the exercises with me at night. I may never use them, but working on the muscles has helped them ache less during the day.

I even let Eddin convince me (though he claims it was all Eluri's ideas and insistence, and he was just relaying) to try riding Eluri. He rode his mother's griffin, Sarin, while I was on Eluri. We flew. It was... amazing. Feeling the wind and the air currents again made me wish...

But... no. I can't. As much as part of me wants to, even just thinking about it fills me with hurt and remorse.

The days passed by quickly enough, and then it was time to return to work.

That first day back, since the hunt for the traitor was over, I kept my promise to Commander Aleira and removed the masking spell token from my pocket. For the first time since my hiring, everyone in the Lower Quarter Station could see me as I am, Mark and all. I never would have had the courage to walk into the room if Eddin hadn't been there, beside me. Everyone stared. Whispers broke out. We took our desks as usual and pretended like nothing was different. The whispers continued until the new captain came in. She commended us for our work on the Dark Eaters case and silenced the whispers with a look.

Things felt different, then, and not just because of the stares. We'd known Captain Murrick wouldn't be at Lower Quarter Station, but there were other faces missing, too. I know lots of people around the city were surprised by the arrests. Commander Aleira herself lamented several names on the list. Especially General Antwin Mishkov, her second-in-command. The way she talked about him, I had to wonder if they were more than just coworkers.

So, as we navigated the city during our rounds and people kept asking us about the arrests (when they weren't spitting at me, that is) Eddin and I decided it was time to read the list. There was only one name on it that truly surprised us.

"Jezora!" Eddin exclaimed under his breath as they walked down the hallway. "Can you believe it?"

"She's not even a wizard," Vania added. "Why was she making deals with the Dark Eaters?"

"No wonder Bergin gave us a funny look the other day when we asked him how things at work were with Jezora. Wonder if he's been assigned a new partner yet." Eddin shot a look to Vania. "Maybe now that the air's been cleared, it's time for the dream team to get back together."

Vania stopped in her tracks. "What? No!" She quickly looked away from Eddin's confused look. "I mean... Why should I have to get reassigned just because he needs a new partner? I have a work partner, and we're getting along quite well."

Eddin smiled a little, looking at the back of her head as she quickly resumed walking. He followed her as they left the station, the stars peering down at them through the clouds.

Vania stopped as she realized Eddin was still walking with her. "Aren't you going to get Tarva? Or are you planning on walking all the way home?"

"Well," Eddin replied, stepping forward to stand beside her, "you always tell me Tarva's too big for the streets around your house, so I figured I'd walk you home without her tonight. I'll get her on my way back. Unless you'd like to ride?"

"No," Vania replied, lip curling. "I'd rather walk."

"Then, let's walk."

They continued down the street side-by-side. The cobbles turned to dirt and the road became darker as the distance between streetlamps increased.

"I thought... you'd be in a hurry to get home tonight." Vania looked up at Eddin as she pushed open her door. "So, I didn't think you'd come with me this time." As she stepped inside, she added, "Of course, you're welcome to come in, if you like."

"I'm never in so much of a hurry I can't walk you home." Eddin ducked as he followed her inside, pushing the door closed behind him.

"But... you said T'kanna is meeting another of her suitors tonight. And you had been given permission to be there." Vania sat on the stool, gesturing to the empty chair beside it. "I thought you'd want to get back to be there for her."

Eddin took the offered chair, Prant instantly crawling into his lap. Eluri looked over at them both, then at Vania, before jumping from Vania's shoulder to Eddin's, then crawling down to sit beside Prant.

"I'd rather spend time with you than with some arrogant a'marlon aristocrat trying to woo my sister to gain status by taking the family name."

"Oh. But, didn't T'kanna ask you to be there?"

"Yes. She did." Eddin sighed. "But, that pickpocket we ended up chasing down eight streets took too long, so I didn't get off work in time for dinner." He looked down at the animals in his lap. "She said it's fine. Dessert ended almost thirty minutes before we got off work, and she's beyond ready to send him home."

"You... were able to talk to her?"

"Yeah. She has been having Taric perch on the back of her chair during these meetings. He's been our conduit."

"Oh, so since your hawk is there, he can show you what he's seeing and you can still be there for T'kanna by proxy." Vania sighed. "That's good. I'm glad she has him there, since you didn't make it."

"Taric's not mine, Vania. He's T'kanna's. She just lets me borrow him a lot."

"I thought you said your sister didn't use her animal wrangling knack?"

"She doesn't." He paused, studying Prant and Eluri. "She learned how to use it, though, and it was Taric she trained with; there's a special bond between an animal wrangler and an animal they train themselves. He's hers and always will be." He sighed, voice quiet as he added, "She even let me bring him to Hursa. Even knowing what that might mean."

"Because she wanted to make sure you would be watched over. Since she couldn't go, herself." Vania put a hand on his arm. "Eddin."

He looked over at her.

"Your mother hasn't said anything else about your potentially being sent back, has she?" Her long fingers tightened on his arm.

"No." He reached over and gently slid her hand down his arm, until their fingers intertwined. "I am still free to stay here for now."

"Good." Vania sighed and let herself lean against his shoulder. "I don't want to have to find a new work partner."

He squeezed her fingers, smiling down at her. "I'm glad."

They sat in the stillness of the room, the lamp's flickering flame throwing shadows on the walls. Prant and Eluri settled down, snuggling together, and shut their eyes.

Vania straightened and looked up at him as he looked down at her. "Eddin, I—"

"Oh, good, are you finally going to tell him how you feel? Maybe let him fuck all the demons away?" the woman in her mind asked scornfully. "Maybe I should fuck him for you, just to get things moving. You'll thank me later."

Vania winced as her head throbbed; her fingers tightened around Eddin's.

Eluri snapped to attention, jumping up from Eddin's lap and hurrying to Vania, alternately crooning and snarling.

"Vania?" Eddin asked. He grabbed her shoulders as she whimpered. "Vania, what's wrong?"

Vania grabbed her head with both her hands, rocking forward. "Stop! Just stop! Get out of my head!"

"Vania?" Eddin reached for her again. "Is it the voice? What's happening? What can I do?"

"Make it stop," Vania whimpered, still rocking as she clutched her head. "Dizzy... pain... darkness..." She choked back a sob. "Sh-she's trying... D-don't let her—" She tilted too far, falling to the floor, hands still on her head, fingers digging at her temples. "Aaaagh!"

Vania groaned as she opened her eyes. It was dark. Her head still throbbed, as did her whole body. But, at least the woman had finally shut up. The hard wood of the floor dug into her shoulder. The warm bulk of Eddin pressed close, his arms circling her.

Crooning broke the stillness and Eluri's bright amber eyes looked at her, then the lucid nuzzled her cheek.

"Vania?" Eddin asked quietly. "Are you awake now?"

"Yes," Vania whispered. She closed her eyes, swallowing against the pain coursing through her veins. "What happened? Are... you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. You... were screaming and convulsing on the floor. I... worried you might hurt yourself, so I... tried to keep you from moving too much."

"No babbling?"

"No. Mostly screaming." Eddin paused. "You... also seemed to argue with yourself. But, one of the voices didn't sound quite like you, which was strange... It came from your mouth, but it was... different, somehow." One six-fingered hand found its way to her face, gently brushing slick tendrils of hair from her sweaty forehead. He let his hand rest, cupping her cheek. "That wasn't a Marked episode. Was it her?"

"Yes," Vania admitted.

"So, she's learned our language, somehow."

Vania whimpered and let her head tilt forward until her forehead rested on his breastbone. "She's always spoken our language, in my head. It's just... this time... she could speak out loud, too, and not just babble. She... was trying... to control me."

Eddin's arms came in closer around her. "I think... you need to see someone. Aleira said Rand'din knew nothing, just that the power coming from you felt dangerously unstable, and had a similar foreignness to the demon's darkness. It's almost dawn. Will you let me escort you to see Ab'bashura today?"

 Vania bit her lip, fighting back tears. She nodded.