Kaylin exhaled. “It’s a kind of magical thing. Sometimes I can see things through the wing I can’t see otherwise.”

The old woman’s eyes rounded briefly as the implications sunk in. “You—you can see them?”

“I can see them—but only with the help of my companion.” She then turned toward the two, the girl still halfway hidden behind the young man. “I’m Corporal Neya, of the Imperial Hawks. You are?”

The man looked to Mrs. Erickson, but Mrs. Erickson was momentarily at a loss for words. It was clear he intended to wait until she found them again.

“As I told you, she’s a Hawk. It’s her job to look out for people like me.” Mrs. Erickson’s voice was quavery. “I...didn’t realize she’d be able to see you. No one else has ever been able to see any of the friends I’ve made who are...like you.”

This didn’t seem to comfort the young man; the young woman, however, had inched out from behind his back and was now more visible. What Kaylin heard in the older woman’s voice, she also heard, and her expression was complicated. If the young man didn’t care all that much for Mrs. Erickson, it was clear his friend did. She turned to look at Kaylin.

“I’m Amaldi,” she said quietly, in soft High Barrani. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Kaylin could hear her. Her voice was soft and yet somehow deep; if aural tones had been something as mundane as money, hers would have been worth a fortune, it was so rich in texture.

“I’m Corporal Neya, as I said.”

The man turned to look back at Amaldi, the line of his shoulders tense and slightly drawn in.

“Please,” Amaldi said, more edge in her tone. “If we had never been willing to take risks at all, we wouldn’t have Mrs. Erickson as a friend.”

“Mrs. Erickson obviously means us no harm.”

“Yes. And she brought the corporal to meet us.”

“Oh, no, dear. I didn’t expect she would ever be able to see you. The corporal wanted to ask a few questions, and she offered to accompany me. I was meant to be an interpreter or a translator—but I see I’m not needed.”

“What did she want to ask?” This was the young man again, his voice deeper than Kaylin would have expected, given his appearance—and exactly as friendly as he appeared, otherwise.

“I told her about the young man.”

Both Amaldi and her friend stiffened.

“I mean, I told her that you were worried about him. Corporal Neya is his partner. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the Hawks always have a partner. Hers is Corporal Handred. She seemed surprised that I knew who he was.”