A piece of wall broke off and floated around the Room. Under Felitïa’s direction, it stretched and bent around upon itself, forming its own little chamber. That was the easy part. The next part had failed on all her previous attempts, but she wasn’t about to give up.

Felitïa took a deep breath and pushed the new chamber against the edges of the Room. The Room didn’t really have edges, but she wasn’t sure how else to describe the Room’s boundary that somehow both existed and didn’t exist—a boundary that was both within and beyond the grey walls that she had no control over.

It had not been easy finding the edges. It had taken every day of the sea voyage from Scovese and most of the overland trip to Ninifin, but she had known there had to be a boundary of some sort. The whole time, she was terrified that the grey walls blocked access to it entirely. But geometry didn’t work properly in the Room, so she reasoned those walls could be confounded somehow. A week ago, she had found the edges. In the weird way that things worked in the Room, now she knew where they were, they seemed obvious, and she wondered how she could have ever missed them.

She pushed again. And again. She clenched her fists painfully and pushed one more time.

The small chamber slipped over the edges and outside the Room completely. There it formed a new Room just like the old.

Felitïa smiled.

This was the perfect day to succeed at this.

The black walls stretched up and rose towards infinity, just like the primary Room. She could pull them in, push them out, spin them round. And beyond them...

Damn.

More of the dull grey walls.

She opened her eyes and almost cried.

This was the worst day to fail at this.

Lon looked up at her from her lap, nose twitching. She picked him up and stroked his neck and back. “Failed again. I’ll figure it out eventually though. You’ll see. Those grey walls will come down.”

She picked up Nesh, who was poking through some leaves beside her. Then she stood and placed both rats in the hood of her white travelling cloak. Lon blended in well with it. Nesh, with his darker fur didn’t blend so well, but the folds of the hood generally obscured him.

Their camp was at the side of the road, just a few miles south of the city of Ninifin. To the east, a dull glow was forming over the treetops as dawn approached. Apart from those on watch, Felitïa was the only one awake. It was easier to meditate at this time, when there were fewer distractions.

It had been a long trip, but their destination was almost at hand, and with it, Felitïa hoped, an end to all the troubles of the last year and more.

By this point, their enemies either knew they were coming or they’d know very soon. The soldiers at the south gate would have sent word ahead that the Youth Guard had returned. Even if they hadn’t, the authorities in Nin-Dzibil, which they passed through a day after the gate, certainly would have. Or any of the small villages they’d passed through over the last few days.

There was no telling what kind of reception they would receive. Nin-Dzibil had greeted the Youth Guard with great ceremony and celebration, but they also learned there that everyone thought the Youth Guard had all died in a terrible accident in the wilderness. The people of Nin-Dzibil offered celebrations because the Youth Guard was still alive—at least some of them.

It was clear they had never been expected to return to Ninifin. The people who had arranged that must reside in the capital, so there was no way of knowing how they would be greeted there. They needed contingency plans, and Felitïa had a couple ideas. Not everyone was going to like them though—especially Garet.

She walked back over to the centre of camp, sat down on a log, and waited for people to wake up.

Today was one year from the day Elderaan had died. It was hard to believe it hadn’t been longer. She’d been lost for so long following that day. At least she had a purpose of sorts now.

As the sun rose, so did people in the camp. While the soldiers and servants began packing, Felitïa gathered the others together and had them sit with her.

“We should get ready if we want to reach the City today,” Ses-Inhuan said, not yet sitting.

“The others can pack,” Felitïa said. “They won’t miss the six of us for a few minutes. Please sit.”

Ses-Inhuan looked to Nin-Akna, who nodded. They both sat.

“We need to know what we’re doing when we reach the City and after that,” Felitïa said.

“I already know what I need to do,” Nin-Akna said.

“Good, I’m glad,” Felitïa replied.

“I must present myself at the Palace, no matter the danger. Please don’t oppose me on this.”

Felitïa shook her head. “I have no intention of doing so. This is your home, your business.”

“Then what are we discussing?” Nin-Akna asked.

“Contingencies. We can’t all go to the City. We need people outside in case those going in are slaughtered on sight. It’s a disturbing thought, I know, but we have to be prepared.”

“The more we split ourselves up, the weaker each group becomes,” Ses-Inhuan said.

Felitïa nodded. “I know. That’s why most should go to the city. Definitely all the Youth Guard and warriors.”

“You think we should leave the servants behind?” Nin-Akna asked.

Felitïa shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s up to you. But Meleng, Quilla, you should stay out. You too, Garet.”

Garet laughed. “Yeah, not happening, Brains.”

“It needs to happen, Garet. The Ninifins don’t trust outsiders. Your presence will make Nin-Akna’s job harder.”

Garet stood up, anger flowing from him. “Oh, but you get to go, right? You’re the special outsider?”

Before Felitïa could reply, Nin-Akna spoke up, “Yes, she is. She’s the Will-Breaker. Her coming was foretold by Eleuia. They have to let her in.”

Garet threw up his hands and started to pace. “Yeah, and I’m the Will-Breaker’s brother. They’ll accept that.”

“Maybe,” Nin-Akna said, “but I can’t guarantee it.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll take that chance.”

“No you won’t, Garet,” Felitïa said.

“Now listen here, Brains.”

“No, you listen for once. I need you on the outside looking after Quilla and Meleng because they’ll be in danger too. Not going into the city doesn’t automatically keep them safe.”

“Then we should all stick together. None of this splitting up bullshit.”

“No, this is the way we’re doing it. Now, sit down and shut up.”

Garet stopped pacing and glared at her. “Just because you’re this bloody Will-Breaker or whatever doesn’t give you the right to—”

“You’re right, it doesn’t. But I’d hope you would have realised by now that I’ve got a far better idea of this situation and how to handle it than you do. That’s what gives me the right. Sit down.”

He sputtered and gaped at her. His anger continued to wash through her.

“Garet, do as she says,” Quilla said. “Felitïa’s in charge here.”

“No, Nin-Akna is in charge while we’re in Ninifin,” Felitïa said. “I just happen to be higher in the hierarchy than Garet.”

“Garet, sit down and shut up before I have to make you,” Nin-Akna said.

Garet sat down, still gaping. His anger was bubbling up again, but it was being overpowered by embarrassment and shame. Felitïa almost felt like laughing.

Nin-Akna did laugh, sharing a giggle with Ses-Inhuan. She looked at Felitïa and smiled.

“So, what are we supposed to do out here then?” Garet grumbled.

Felitïa frowned. “I’m not actually sure. Nin-Akna, Ses-Inhuan, do you have any suggestions? Is there anywhere they could go? Someone sympathetic they could contact?”

Nin-Akna and Ses-Inhuan looked at each other. “I’m not sure,” Nin-Akna said. “I’ve spent almost my entire life going back and forth between the Palace, Grand Temple, and a couple noble villas. A couple training excursions in the wilderness, but never really getting to know much of what’s out there. We both have. All the Youth Guard. This trip has really taught me how little I know even my own land. Meleng made me realise I need to pay more attention. In Nin-Dzibil and the villages we’ve passed through, I’ve noticed poverty I thought only existed outside our lands. I don’t think we’re the best people to ask about where to go in our own home.”

“What about Fra-Mecatl?” Ses-Inhuan said.

“I don’t know,” Nin-Akna said. “You think so?”

“Who’s Fra-Mecatl?” Felitïa asked.

“She’s an elderly priest of Frana,” Ses-Inhuan explained. “She’s rarely in the City anymore, but I heard her preach once that we should be more open to outsiders. She also says that the Isyar mentioned in Nin-Papan’s writings is actually just one Isyar—the Dragon’s consort—not the entire race. It’s a pretty radical thought.”

Felitïa looked to Nin-Akna, who shrugged and frowned. “I guess some of us are more observant than others.”

“There is one difficulty though,” Ses-Inhuan said. “Fra-Mecatl’s villa is north of the City, so you’ll have to go through the City or around it to get to her. Most of the priests and nobility have villas south of the city. We’ll start passing by them in a couple hours after we set out. But Fra-Mecatl resides on the other side.”

“Sounds good,” Felitïa said. “Garet, can you get them there?”

Garet grumbled a bit and shifted his weight around. “Yeah, I can get us there.”

Nin-Akna turned to her fellow Youth Guard. “Ses-Inhuan, I want you to go with them, too.”

Ses-Inhuan titled her head and looked at Nin-Akna. “But I should be with you and the rest of the Youth Guard, surely.”

“When we left Scovese, I gave Felitïa’s sister Sinitïa my word that I would keep Meleng safe.” Nin-Akna took Meleng’s hand. “If I can’t be with him, I need someone with him I can trust.”

“I can do that,” Garet said. “Don’t worry, I won’t let any harm come to the pipsqueak.”

“It’s calling him names like that that makes me not trust you,” Nin-Akna said. “No, you haven’t earned my trust yet. Ses-Inhuan has. We haven’t always gotten along, but I’d trust her with my life. I would consider her like a sister if she’ll have me.”

Ses-Inhuan gaped a moment, then smiled. “I would be honoured, Akna.”

“Then keep Meleng safe, Inhuan.”

“I will protect him with my life.”

The two young warriors hugged each other.

Felitïa felt dizzy for a moment. It had been a long time since she had felt overwhelmed by affection, if she ever had—except with Maneshka, of course, but that was different. It was usually anger that got to her, so she’d had very little practice defending against affection—as odd as that seemed to think about. But there was now a lot of affection pouring from Nin-Akna and Ses-Inhuan, even Meleng. Quilla, too, though hers was more of the sort of joyful reaction people have to other people’s joy.

“Meleng, Inhuan will be your bodyguard while I’m away,” Nin-Akna said.

“Um, okay,” Meleng said.

There was confusion coming from Meleng, too. Felitïa had detected that a lot from him recently. She could sense that he cared for Nin-Akna a great deal, but in a different way to how she cared for him, and it confused him.

“You will need to explain my absence, though,” Ses-Inhuan said to Nin-Akna. “They probably know by now how many of us passed the gate.”

Nin-Akna nodded. “We can say we lost you on the way. They’ll probably be happy there’s one less of us.”

“Just so long as you say I went out fighting. No sickness, no falling in a pit. I died protecting you all from a jaguar. I killed it, but unfortunately, it took me with it.”

Nin-Akna giggled. “If you want.”

“Or you can make up something realistic,” Ses-Inhuan said. “Just make it a little flattering.”

Nin-Akna nodded. “I will.”

Ses-Inhuan stood up. “Then we should get ready to move. Meleng, Quilla, Garet, collect your things. We’ll leave ahead of everyone else and make our way east.”

Garet jumped up. “First, let’s get one thing straight.”

“Yes, let’s,” Ses-Inhuan said. “I’m in charge.”

Garet groaned.

“You can be in charge in Arnor all you want,” Ses-Inhuan said, “but not in Ninifin. I’m in charge, right, Akna?”

“Inhuan’s in charge, Garet.”

Garet clenched his teeth and stomped off.

Quilla got to her feet. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep him under control.”

Meleng waited a bit longer, held back by Nin-Akna. “Be careful,” the young Ninifin told him.

“I will,” he said.

They hugged and she kissed him on the cheek. “See you soon, I hope.”

After a few more moments, Felitïa and Nin-Akna were the only ones still sitting there, while the camp was deconstructed around them.

“I’d like to delay our arrival a little bit,” Nin-Akna said, breaking the silence. “Just till tomorrow morning. If we arrive shortly after dawn, they’ll have to prepare any reception for us during the night.”

Felitïa nodded. She could see an advantage to that.

“I really don’t know what will happen to you there,” Nin-Akna continued. “I told Garet they would have to accept you because you’re the Will-Breaker, but I don’t actually know that. Given they appear to have wanted the entire Scovese delegation dead, I doubt they’ll care much about killing the Will-Breaker.”

Felitïa smiled at her. The girl was more observant than she realised. She just lacked confidence. She was a bit like Meleng in that regard. Maybe that was part of what attracted them together.

“I know,” Felitïa said. “I fully expect to be arrested at the very least, if not outright attacked. Don’t worry. I can defend myself.” She wasn’t entirely sure of that, but best to let Nin-Akna believe it. “Most of the pressure’s going to fall on you, though, once we’re there. I’ll do what I can to help, but most of it will be up to you. At least at first. Feel up to it?”

“I want to say yes, but you’ll just see through that, won’t you?”

“My telepathy’s not perfect, Nin-Akna. I can sense your fear and anxiety, but that doesn’t mean you’re not ready.”

Nin-Akna closed her eyes and lowered her head for a moment. The emotions flowing from her shifted. They were still the same emotions, but more ordered, controlled. “I think I’m ready.”

Felitïa nodded. “I think you are, too.”