It took me a second to realize it was an invitation. An invitation to what, I was not completely sure, but the way he watched me, measuring my reaction, made it clear that he was waiting for me to respond. I had no idea what the proper response was, so I didn’t respond at all. Sorcha plucked the plum out of my hand, took a bite, and gave it back. He left me in the kitchen. I listened to him walk the stairs as I idly ate the rest of the plum. When I was done with it, when there was nothing else to do, I went up the stairs myself. Sorcha was already asleep. He was curled up on the inside, facing the wall, still clothed. I lay down next to him and was asleep myself soon after.

It was Dirva who woke me next. He shook me gently by the shoulder, whispering my name. He loomed over me when I opened my eyes.

“Dirva. Good morning.” I was relieved to see him. He was a fixed point of familiarity, a remnant of the Empire. I noticed he was still dressed in Semadran clothes even if I wasn’t.

Dirva held a hand to his lips. He pointed at the door. I nodded and pulled myself up. Dirva was already at the door, his left hand on the knob. It was already half-turned. And then Sorcha rolled over. “What time is it?” he murmured. “Where you off to?”

“Oh, I…Dirva’s come to get me.”

Two things happened at exactly the same instant. Dirva opened the door, his back still turned, and Sorcha shot across the room and grabbed Dirva by the back of the shirt. “No you don’t, you bastard,” Sorcha said. “You’re not sneaking out of my room without even a word to me.”

Slowly, deliberately, Dirva turned around. The way he looked at Sorcha was so strange. His face was tender and suspicious at the same time. He slowly rested his hands on Sorcha’s shoulders. Carefully, he smiled. “I didn’t want to wake you.”

The harshness in Sorcha’s face evaporated, just like that. He wrapped his arms around Dirva and buried his face in Dirva’s chest. “Holy shit, Lor, you’re really here.”

“You’re grown,” Dirva said.

Sorcha laughed. “You’re old.”

“I am,” Dirva said. “I am at that. I need to speak to Ariah.”

Sorcha pulled away. He crossed his arms against his chest. “You been speaking to him for four years. I’ve not seen you in twenty-five.”