The night was dark and chill, a million stars gleamed through the still air, the milky glow of the starstream spread in a wide band across a blue-black sky; the Hunting Cat was overhead, pointing to the Western Star; the light from the almost-full moon threw inky shadows of the two dragons, six Elves and Ierreth onto the smooth rock face deep inside the crater of the long-extinct volcano.

– Go, said Ierreth to the Elves. Your little ones will be quite safe. When I left them, Sienne was telling Dinithu a story about a bear and a honey-tree. Jekavi is making a new boat. They are content.

Farinka laughed quietly, and looked over towards Jevann. –Any feelings? she asked.

– Difficult to describe, answered Jevann. I feel the beginning of a legend.

– Not the beginning, Jevann. A continuation, added Louka. I feel it, too. I didn't know precog was catching, she added, laughing up at him.

– It's not; it's inherent, said Jevann, putting an arm around her shoulders and meeting her gaze with his own. It just requires practice.

– So when will I see what I need to see? asked Nemeth, smiling.

– You will only ever see what it chooses to show you, said Jevann. The problem then is interpreting it.

– Come,said Hlammaeth.It is time to leave. We do not fly in daylight. The Sea-Elves will know we are flying – but humans have not seen us for centuries, and I would rather keep it that way; at least for a while.

Farinka vaulted onto Hlammaeth's broad neck behind Nemeth, with Sherath jumping lightly up behind her. Hlammaeth turned his head towards the other dragon.

– Are you ready?

– Yes.

– Hold tight, Children of Shiannath, said Hlammaeth, spreading his wings and springing up into the air. He spiralled upwards out of the crater, the great wings beating slowly and almost silently in the darkness; Ymbolc drew level, on their left, with the moonlight picking out the outlines of Tarke, Louka and Jevann.

– Oracle awing in spring? suggested Farinka to Sherath.

– See what I mean? he countered. It sticks with you, doesn't it?

They flew carefully, watching their shadows speeding over the ground beneath, careful to keep those shadows away from the villages and towns so that their shapes would not be silhouetted against the moon; they flew swiftly, and within a short while were over the open sea.

Farinka looked down, seeing first two, then three, then twenty or more Sea-Elves following the shadows across the water, the moonlight catching in bright flickers on their satiny backs as they jumped. She felt the dragons' Awareness fan down towards the water, the Sea-Elves' Awareness remained locked with the dragons' and the Elves'; a mind-fused D minor chord which reverberated and modulated eerily through the ether, into a C major, then G minor, then B flat major and back to the original D minor; then repeated again. The chord was supplemented by whale-songs, carried up to them through the Sea-Elves' Awareness in a haunting echo of their own mindmusic, filling out the harmony with a melody of their own. Farinka's mind fizzed down into and focussed on the melody, knowing it was familiar, and trying to place it.

– They are with us, said the Sea-Elves. They know you are flying. Where are you going?

– Nahrsalk,replied Hlammaeth.

– The Bondmaker, whispered the Sea-Elves.

The mindmusic washed through Farinka's memories, finding for itself something within those that they developed into a compelling repetitive echo of. She smiled; laughing both at herself and at the aptness of the memory.

The Sea-Elves laughter reached her. – We heard it first from you,they said.

– What's the song? asked Sherath quietly.

– We're walking in the air, sang Farinka softly, hearing the original modulations clearly in memory. They were picked up instantly and joyously by the Sea-Elves, and developed into something that seemed to span the entire night. ...floating in the moonlit sky....

– That is beautiful, whispered Hlammaeth. Continue.

***

They crossed the Southern coastline between Kahraek and Nahrsramin, the coastal mountain strip rising before them, the flanks of the mountains moonlit on the one side, and in deep blackness on the other as they climbed into colder air to rise above them. Farinka watched the mountains pass by underneath them, feeling nothing but stone, snow, and mountain creatures below.

– It was Mons Dei that you dreamed of, Farinka, said Hlammaeth, for her ears only.

Farinka was vaguely Aware of Jevann, Louka and Tarke talking with Ymbolc, flying some hundred yards to the east of Hlammaeth.

– Jevann said, when I first came, that precog often gave him a picture of where, and some idea of what, but seldom when, answered Farinka as quietly. If I had known the when, I would have known it was not these mountains.

– And it would still have made no difference, said Hlammaeth, again for her Hearing only.

He opened up his Voice to the others. There are some things that you cannot change, even with foreknowledge. Sometimes patterns are set by decisions which are not your own; you have the power to decide not to be a part of that pattern, but your decision would have no power to affect the others within that section of the pattern – only your own. And if someone else's decision that youareto be a part of that pattern outweighs your own decision, then you will be a part of that pattern. The future is set as the result of decision. Without decision, all is undecided.

Mons Dei has been there waiting there as a possibilityon all your threads, to use Mishaar's words, since you yourself were born. Though the outcome of it was never clear to me, I saw it too. I know nothing of your world, but yet I was Aware of the moment that you were born, and the moment that you left.

– So where does my thread go from here? asked Farinka.

– I do not see everything, said Hlammaeth. And even if I did, I am not permitted to say. Where you go from here is up to you, and parts of your pattern are already set by decisions that you have already made. I am not permitted to upset the balance, only to assist in its restoration. I am honoured to do so. My place in this pattern is also and has always been part of my own thread – of which I see little – butwhich other threads joined mine in this part of the pattern was decided relatively recently.

Tarke took a mental breath for a question. Ymbolc 'swamped' it.

– Apologies, Tarke, he whispered to her,but on the rare occasions when Hlammaeth doesdecide to impart vast amounts of information, it is unwise to do anything which might bring his attention to it. If, that is, you wish him to continue.

– If where I go from here is up to me, how can there be threads which you can see? Farinka asked.

– It is possible to see, at some times, some places in which the pattern brings threads together, Hlammaeth answered.There are some parts of the pattern which are inevitable – written – but the particular threads that form that part of the pattern, the way the patterns develop, and therefore the span of time between those points is influenced by the threads themselves: the independent choices of the people whose threads they are. Those independent choices themselves often make a further part of the pattern inevitable; and from the moment that that independent choice is made, another part of the pattern, at some point in the future, is written. A choice may merely delay part of the pattern, or it may change it completely.

Before Mishaar decided to pick up the Turgel chain and the sapphire, it was not inevitable that it would be himthat brought that chain north. That chain could have got to its rightful owner in any number of possible ways. It was inevitable that it would do so, but the way in which it was to do so was not set until Mishaar made that decision.Once that decision was made, it was inevitable both that Mishaar's thread would meet and cross your own, and that the Evil One would intervene to try to prevent the restoration of balance.

Sherath allowed his curiosity to hang like smoke in the air of Hlammaeth's mind. Hlammaeth acknowledged its presence with a mental smile. – Patience, little one, he responded, strictly for Sherath's Hearing.

– The option of handing that chain over did not occur to Mishaar at Dakesht;Hlammaeth continued in Open Voice,he chose to leave without handing the chain over, and rejoin your group at Tashik and then travel on with you from there. At the moment he had finalised that decision, the Evil One picked one of several possible times and places to intervene – by forcing you to a confrontation at Mons Dei, which was convenient. At the moment that the Evil One made that choice, an element of the future pattern was set, and Farinka saw part of that future patternin her dream.

Jevann had seen shadows of it, the possibility of it, earlier; at the moment when Mishaar first decided to come North, which coincided with the moment that Mons Dei was mentioned in the course of your conversation.

Farinka felt Jevann's acknowledgement of the moment.

– It was the combination of those two things which enabled Jevann to see an indistinct shadow of that possibility, continued Hlammaeth. When that part of the pattern was not set, but merely one of several options which could happen. The confrontation was inevitable, but the time and place were set, and therefore Mishaar's own involvement in that confrontation, by Mishaar's decisions, first to bring that chain North, and secondly to accompany you from Tashik.

Foreknowledge, when it happens, generally follows close on an independent decision by one or more of the parties concerned which coalesces part of the future pattern, Hlammaeth continued.If a decision is reversed or changed, the pattern could change again; but a shadow of that pattern could have been recognised, as a possibility, in foreknowledge, by any one of the parties involved in that latent section of the pattern.

There were two people as definite targets in that confrontation; the Evil One lost sight of that chain, and therefore both Mishaar as the one who had been carrying it, and Sherath, as its rightful owner, were targeted.

– 'Rightful owner'...? queried Sherath on a dragon-only wavelength.

– Were you unaware of that? asked Ymbolc softly.

– It hadn't occurred to me,said Sherath with a smile.

– If the boulders aimed at Sherath had struck a little harder, said Hlammaeth to all,he would have been killed immediately and both he and the chain would have been swept away.

– And what would have happened to the pattern then?asked Louka.

– It would have been delayed, but not prevented. The Sea-Elves would have relocated the chain. Fortunately, the rock trolls were frightened – both by your presence and by the Coercion of the Evil One projected through the Black Worm – and the aim was not accurate enough to kill; although without the intervention of Raffi as healer, which even Sherath did not notice at the time, the injury that Sherath received from that second boulder would have resulted in his death later that day. He was bleeding inside, although his concern for you hid that bleeding from his Awareness. He did not know how close he was to death.

Sherath remembered that creeping, insidious coldness. – Probably just as well I didn't,he said.

Hlammaeth spoke for Farinka's Hearing alone– and his concern was not for the Journey, nor for Shiannath's quest, but quite simply for you yourself. And that concern overrode all other considerations; if it had come to a choice between the quest and your safety, Sherath's first choice would have been your safety.

– Raffi intervened, Ymbolc said in Open Voice at the same time.For such as Raffi, and Gay, and Azra, and the others, it is permitted, if they are Called by one or more of the parties involved – though even they are not permitted to intervene without that Call. They are closer to the Patterner than we are. If Farinka had not Called, then Moondust assuredly would have done so. It had become necessary.

Hlammaeth continued.– Moondust's continuing challenge to that Black Worm upset the Control that the Evil Onecould exert, and fogged the Sight of the Evil One to the point where the precise position of the chain could not be determined or even guessed at. The Black Worm tried to shake the unicorn's resolve so that the Sight of the Evil One could be restored. That attempt failed; and the special character of Sherath – neither enabled nor not enabled – makes it impossible for the Evil One to See the chain that Sherath carries.

There was instant tingling curiosity from Louka, Jevann and Nemeth.

– I think we could talk about that one later, suggested Sherath somewhat ruefully. Since we apparently have to.

– No,said Hlammaeth. We talk now. Sherath's own position in the pattern was set centuries ago, when he made an independent choice to put himself in a position which resulted in an injury sufficient to prevent him Journeying, knowing that that was a possibility; and reinforced by his choice, again independent, to eat the willow leaf that Shiyeth brought back from the Hidden Valley. It was reinforced yet again by his choice – again independent – to take on the quest that Shiannath chose not to. At that point, and not until that point, did Sherath's thread and also Farinka's become a vital part of the pattern as a whole.

The possibility of that occurrence was latent when Sherath and Shiyeth were conceived as twins; one of the few instances that involved no independent choice by any of the parties involved except the Patterner. That possibility, the potential for someone to make those choices, has occurred many times; there have been many sets of twins in Shiannath's line – but only one Sherath. Sherath is who he is, what he is, by his own choice.

Nemeth laughed, –Me, too,he said.

– It is the same with Nemeth, agreed Hlammaeth. It was not until Nemeth first heard of the Bondmaker that he had any affinity with it, and when he did, it was no more than the affinity of all of Miirshekaar's descendants. The intertwining of those threads has been reinforced many times by Nemeth himself, was reinforced again when Mishaar came to Dakesht, and finally set only yesterday, when Nemeth challenged my description of him as 'Miirshekaar's heir'. Six of Miirshekaar's heirs have come to me, each filled with the knowledge and pride that he was 'Miirshekaar's heir'; none met that challenge adequately because none until Nemeth knew it for what it was. Nemeth's pride – if one can call it that – is in himself as himself –not as 'Miirshekaar's heir'. Miirshekaar has had many heirs, but only one Nemeth. And not until Nemeth met that challenge did I knowhim for what he was. And at the moment that I knew, Nemeth knew that I knew.

Nemeth gave Hlammaeth's neck an affectionate pat. – And you knew that I knew that you knew. And so on ad infinitum. Everyone felt Hlammaeth's smile.

– There are many latent parts of future patterns which now become possible because of the unique relationship – both genetic and the strong emotional bond – between Sherath and Nemeth, commented Ymbolc.

Hlammaeth said quietly to Ymbolc and Farinka: – One part of a future pattern depends on an independent decision which might or might not be made by Tarke; and the strength of the bond that exists between Nemeth and Sherath is an integral part of that decision and all that may – or may not – follow from it. The choice is entirely hers, and the option for that choice was made more possible when Shiannath refused the quest. Many hundreds of years ago.

There is now, because of Nemeth's decision, only a very limited time in which she can make that choice, and Mishaar's choices and what followed on them have also become part of the pattern which now gives Tarke the option of making that choice.

Ymbolc spoke openly. –The threads are all interwoven in many ways, as the result of many choices made by many people at many times.

– I also may now, or in the very near future, make a decision which could influence that pattern–and that is a choice which only I can make,added Hlammaeth.

– Have you made that decision? Nemeth asked Hlammaeth softly.

Hlammaeth was silent for a few moments, then answered Nemeth alone. –Yes, Nemeth. I have decided. And no, I will not tell you either what the decision is, or the pattern which it may affect.

– Hlammaeth, what sort of choices make Elves different from Men? asked Farinka.

– Elves, in some instances, have choices open to them which are not open to humans.

– Like what? asked Farinka.

– Because Elves live for so long, they may choose when to have Children. An Elf will not bear a Child unless she chooses to do so. Consider the smaller animals. An insect may produce hundreds of offspring in the space of a year – simply because they do not live for long, and they are prey to many animals. To a lesser extent, the same applies to mice; they may have many litters in a year. If a cat loses her litter, she may have another one within the year. If a packbeast, an ox, a goat, a sheep, does not conceive, she will continue to come into season, within that part of the year when any offspring conceived would have a good chance of survival, until she does conceive. All are prey animals, and they do not live for very long.

– To a lesser extent it is the same with humans, commented Tarke, though in humans the act of making love is more important as an ongoing part of an emotional bonding process, and because of that they are much less likely to conceive. The bonding process is ongoing; the ability to conceive is periodical.

– It is the same with Sea-Elves, said Ymbolc. They, humans, and Elves build and reinforce bonds by lovemaking. With unicorns and Elves, the bonding is the motive, the reproducing only incidental and a matter of conscious choice; if Elves or Unicorns conceived even as often as humans, the world would soon be overrun with them, because they live for so long. Therefore a female unicorn or a female Elf cannot conceive unless she choosesto do so.

– What about the joining in spirit? asked Farinka. Sherath said that because the Sons of Shiannath's line could not be joined in spirit, they could sire Children from more than one mother – but not the daughters as well. I don't understand. She was Aware of intense – but unspoken – curiosity from Nemeth, Sherath and Tarke, and to a lesser extent from Jevann and Louka.

– Although it was quite possible for it to have happened, said Hlammaeth, there have been no daughters of Shiannath's line who have conceived without first being joined in spirit. It is a relatively unusualoccurrence among Elves, but not impossible. The daughters of Shiannath's line were always able to be joined in spirit, the sons were not. If a female Elf is joined in spirit with a male, she cannot conceive a child of an Elf with whom she is not joined. Therefore the sons of Shiannath's line could – and can – only sire Children from females who were not alreadyjoined in spirit with another Elf. There is nothing to prevent that female Elf from becoming joined in spirit with another Elf after she has conceived a child; many did. So she could become joined in spirit with another Elf while carrying a Child of Shiannath's line, but she could not become joined in spirit with the father of that Child.

– Complex,said Tarke. But interesting.

– I thought you might find it so, said Hlammaeth. The bonding formed by the conception of an Elf-Child, he continued, is more strong than that formed by lovemaking alone, and almost inevitably results in a joining in spirit of the parents if they are not already joined. Most are. So once a Child has been conceived, it is unlikely in the extreme that the parents would not be joined in spirit, and that the mother would therefore be able to conceive further Children by a different sire. Unless the first male Elf had died. The traditional joining in spirit is exclusive – it is a lifelong bond, and usually happens very soon after Journeying, and before the Elf chooses to conceive.

Louka thought for a few moments. –So if conception is limited by the female, not the male, then it would be possible for a male Elf, who was already joined in spirit with one female, to sire a Child with a female Elf who was not already joined in spirit with another male.

– Yes. If that female chose, answered Hlammaeth. Being joined in spirit prevents neither partner from lovemaking outside that bond; it is, for Elves and their kin, a way of confirming and enhancing an already strong emotional attachment, and explains in part the powerful and lasting relationships between Elves. The desire and ability to form and cement such powerful ties of affection is an important part of what they are. So it is possible for a male Elf to sire a Child on any female not joined in spirit to another Elf. A female Elf can conceive when she chooses, with whom she chooses, until she is joined in spirit, and after then only with the male Elf with whom she is joined.

– Doesn't anyone ever get jealous? asked Farinka.

– Farinka, do you comprehend jealousy?

– I know people get jealous.

– But do you comprehend jealousy?

– No.

– Could you feel jealous?

Farinka searched her Awareness deeply for a few moments. –No, I don't think so. My Awareness – the essence of what I am – can perceive that only as a very moving physical expression of a touchingly beautiful emotional and spiritual harmony. And without any limitations of gender, as well. It is lustless – if one defines lust as sexual appetite in the absence of affection; which itself I find hard to comprehend.

– Your perception is the way that it is because you are an Elf, said Hlammaeth.

– You've lost me, Hlammaeth. What difference does it make?

– Sexual jealousy is based entirely on reproducing and ensuring the survival of your own true heirs. It differs from one species to the next. If a lion takes over a pride, he will kill all the cubs sired by his predecessor; the females will then be able to conceive again, and they will conceive hiscubs, thus ensuring the reproduction of his true heirs.It is not in his interests to expend time and energy in providing for the cubs of another male, because it would prevent him for an entire year from reproducing his own true heirs.

Animals will defend their territory vigorously if the territory itself is their only way of finding a mate and therefore reproducingtheir own true heirs. If the survival of their offspring is dependent on a territory, they will also defend that territory, to ensure the survivalof their own true heirs. Male animals of most species will either mate with a vast quantity of females, or fight vigorously for the exclusive rights to one female, to ensure the survival of their true heirs.

Humans, wolves, some of the cats, bats, and some of the other social animals who form strong ties of affection are slightly more advanced; they will help to care for or even adopt the offspring of another parent, particularly but not exclusively if they have no offspring of their own. In a wolf pack, the cubs are usually the offspring of the senior pair of wolves, but the whole pack works together for their survival.

Jevann spoke. – In many instances they are closely related, but not in all. An unrelated outsider accepted into the pack, because of the ties, not of family but of affection, will give as much effort as any other pack member to protecting those unrelated cubs.

– This is quite true, said Ymbolc, The meerkats will also protect offspring other than their own, taking turns to watch over all the offspring, but not usually suckle them; humans, wolves, bats and some cats will sometimes even suckle offspring not their own. Elves will do so as a matter of course, and that cements still further the bonds between all the adults and all the Children. But even humans are often still ruled by the survival pattern of many animals; again, in part because they do not live as long as Elves, so they have fewer chances. And Dwarves can be violently jealous, in spite of their great lifespan – it is one of the inherent differences between Dwarves and Elves which makes them so incompatible when it comes to breeding, and thus one of the things that makes a 'split' so dangerous.

– The danger comes from radical fundamental incompatibility, said Tarke.

– Dwarves are as unable to comprehend the absence of jealousy as Elves are to comprehend jealousy, added Sherath.

– Humans can always, of course, choose to produce any reaction other than jealousy – in which they are higher than the other animals,said Hlammaeth. But humans seldom use that ability to choosetheir reactions; they simply react, as animals do. Most humans fail to fulfil their potential in the matter of choice. Fortunately for them, they are not judged against the standard that is set for Elves. If they were, most would fail. But there is nothing except their own choices which prevents them from reaching that standard. Some do; even as some Elves reach the standards that are set for the Great Worms, the unicorns and the dragons.

– Sherath is one such, said Ymbolc for Farinka's Hearing only. Nemeth may well prove to be another – his emotional and spiritual bond with Sherath is strong enough.

– To continue, Hlammaeth said, the burden of caring for Elf Children, because they can be so demanding, is to a great extent shared by all in the group, so the full burden of ensuring the survival of your own true heirs, once born, is not borne by you and your mate alone. Secondly, once a female Elf is joined in spirit with a male Elf, then it is physically impossible for her to bear the Child of a male Elf to whom she is not joined; the 'exclusive breeding rights' to that female are guaranteedfor as long as the male lives.

There is therefore and never has been any benefit of any kind in sexual jealousy for Elves; they have never had it, they do not have it, they will not have it; it is completely foreign to their nature, they are incapableof feeling it. Which is why you, being an Elf, cannot comprehendjealousy, although you canrecognise it in humans and the other lesser species. For myself, as a dragon, the same also applies. As it likewise does to the Great Worms. Elves, unicorns, dragons, Great Worms: we are all higher species, more advanced. The half-Elven are a funny mix; they do not become joined in spirit, but because they have inherited Elvenness with many of its characteristics, they have also inherited the inability for sexual jealousy to some extent. They are part-way between Elf and human in that regard; for them, lovemaking is more of an emotional bond-former than a method of reproduction – even more so than it is with humans. An Elf, a half-Elf or a Sea-Elf will not make love with anyone with whom they do not have an emotional bond which they wish to enhance. Rape, or any other form of sexual assault – which occurs among humans – is as incomprehensible to those of the Elven heritage as jealousy is.

He banked slightly, drifting south-east, now wingtip to wingtip with Ymbolc. The mountains receded behind them.

– Nahrsalk,said Ymbolc after a while, dropping down through the air.

At first there was little to be seen of Nahrsalk save a series of regular shadows cast against the ground on the side of a gentle hill, but as they descended the outlines of buildings began to be clearer.

The dragons extended Awareness down amongst the ruins, broadcasting reassurance and greeting.

– Children of Ishaemra, fear not, said Ymbolc softly. The son of Nehhuare comes.

They landed softly in the centre of a large courtyard, their wings raising a small cloud of dust, and looked round, seeking the physical presence of those whose Awareness they had reached.

The Southern Elves were statue-still, almost invisible in clothing that camouflaged their outlines. A penetrating Awareness probed searchingly; there was a faint movement several yards to their left as a tall Child dropped the loose hood from around her head, her dark hair suddenly visible against the muted background. She walked towards them as they dismounted from the dragons.

– Greetings, Little Sister, said Ymbolc, reaching his nose out towards her. She stroked it absent-mindedly, her eyes on Nemeth.

– You are the son of the sister of my grandsire. It was statement, not question.

– Yes, answered Nemeth, extending Awareness gently towards her.

– Anyone who had ever seen Shamin would have known you for one of his line, son of Shithri.

– We must go, if we are to be back before dawn, said Hlammaeth. We will return.

The dragons lifted into the air, raising a second cloud of dust.

"You are Nishihra?" asked Tarke.

"I am. And you?"

"Tarke."

The others introduced themselves; the Southern Children had gathered round them.

– What of Mishaar? asked Nishihra.

Farinka's wall threatened to engulf her again.

– I'm sorry, said Nemeth softly.

Nishihra's eyes closed in pain; Farinka felt the dizziness from the Southern Elf's Awareness flooding through and finding kinship in her own; was Aware herself of a different bond, built, sustained and cherished over more than three hundred years, and an irreparable sense of loss that in a different way matched hers. She felt Sherath's Awareness enveloping their own, and softly pervading it with his warmth; tinged with some curiosity.

Nishihra turned to face him. –Unconventional, I know, she said defiantly, for one in my position to choose a half-Elf. But I had chosen, whether he knew it or not. I wanted a Child of Mishaar's – and that Child would have been full-Elf. By my choosing.

– I would neither have questioned nor condemned your choice for a moment, Nishihra,whispered Sherath gently. Nor would any of us. It would have been a good choice.

– For one of a royal line, Sherath, you are unusual. My sire would not have – did not – agree with you.

– I am Sherath first, Rihal second. So-called 'royal' pride is a failing; if 'pride' in your royalty detracts from your compassion, your understanding or your tolerance, then you cease to be worthy of the responsibilities that your heritage, your authority and your power involve. You lead by example, not by rote. If the leadership is intolerant, conceited, arrogant, egotistic, overbearing and lacking in compassion, understanding and true justice, then inevitably those faults will be copied by some of those under that leadership and resented by the others. Such characteristics in anyone who holds any position of leadership or honour, whether inherited, given or earned, are irresponsible. A position of leadership or honour is a responsibility to be wielded for the benefit of those under that leadership, not a weapon to be used against them. Ultimately, a leader is followed by choice, not by force. Power should never go to a leader's head.

Nishihra stood looking at him for a moment, then her face creased into a smile. –I like you, Sherath son of Shithri, she said.

– Most people do, said Nemeth, his Voice tinged with laughter as he looked at his brother. I'm quite fond of him, myself.

Sherath laughed. –Likewise, he whispered, flooding Nemeth's Awareness with love. Nishihra, is it possible that we could sleep for the rest of the night? I know that Nemeth wants to be on the move in the morning; we have had a sleepless night so far, and will have a tiring day and another half of a sleepless night tomorrow, I expect, and none of us is at our best when exhausted.

----

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