“You’re going to get through this. Our people are going to get through this.”

A single tear rolls down my cheek, and I turn into him fully and let it. He holds me a moment longer before I smooth my cheek clear and put some space between us. I don’t know what’s sustaining me at this point, but my next words come out easier.

“Thanks.”

His beautiful eyes smile at me. I look away.

“I’m gonna keep looking for Bati. I want to see what he knows and I need to find any spell books they have here.” I put even more space between us, finding surer footing.

He peers through the crowd, looking too. He’s a good foot taller than me, so I imagine he can see a whole heck of a lot more. His brows dent. Then he waves over someone. A brawny man parts the crowd, carrying a piece of armor. He hands it to Jhamal.

“Thank you, coquella.”

They grip arms.

“Shaun, did you ever get to meet Jelani?”

“No. Jelani, good to see you are well.” I can’t tell if he means it, but I greet him as pleasant as I can. We give each other a nod. I grimace at the icky feeling sloshing through me. I look for some other corner of the room to hide in. I need a moment to myself. If I fall apart here, if guilt erodes me from the inside out, I’ve only failed again. I’ve only brought more death upon my home.

“Have you seen Bati?” I ask Shaun, and the way he shakes his head tells me he isn’t gone. I clutch my chest in relief. “Okay, I’m just gonna go look for him.”

I turn to find a line of people waiting to greet me. Some in armor like Shaun’s and a few in rippled armor like the Yakanna. Several others in long robes as well. I say hello and apologize to every single person that says hello to me. Most bow, which makes me shift on my feet. So I apologize again. Eventually, they back away, smiling.

The next in line is a man in ivory robes. He talks so fast, I have to focus on his lips to get everything he’s saying. He has reddish-brown hair and small ears. He looks so much like… Rahk.

Triggered, more snatches of memories come to me. Screams echo in my head. The taste of smoke lingers on my tongue. Sticky. My face is so red. Fragments of images flash before me, familiar pieces and some I’ve never seen.

I tug at my arms and the strap holding me to this metal table groans. A man with long lashes and kind eyes in a white lab coat joins his side and presses something cold to my lips.

“Where am I?” I ask. “Wh-what are you—”