“What does it mean?”

“They’re afraid, I think. But I could be wrong; sometimes they see things that I can’t.”

“But you can see the dead!”

“Yes. And the dead can see each other, or at least they can in my experience. The first time they reacted this way, it frightened me—I was young. But they returned to normal. I asked them what had happened, and they were surprised by the question. They don’t seem to retain or remember whatever it was that put them in that state.

“And I didn’t press it, even then. I think I was afraid they would leave.” She shook her head. “I was younger then, and far more selfish. I didn’t want to be alone, either. Now I worry about deserting them.” She shook herself. “Nothing bad has ever happened to them when they’re like this—they’ll be fine tomorrow.”

“They’ve never been like this for longer than a day?”

“No.” Mrs. Erickson closed her eyes, squared her shoulders, and said, “I’ll come by the Halls of Law tomorrow with the rest of the baking.”

Teela said muted goodbyes. Terrano said nothing, being invisible. Kaylin thought it interesting that Jamal could see Terrano when she couldn’t, but any questions about what he saw when he looked at invisible Terrano would have to wait.

The neighbor was no longer groveling on the lawn, which was the only point of cheer in the otherwise tense and gloomy walk home. Severn rewound the weapon’s chain as they reached the perimeter of Helen, who opened the door as if she’d been anxiously watching the streets for Kaylin’s return.

Kaylin hugged her house’s Avatar as she reached the front door. “How are the guests?”

“Surprisingly active, but they’ve made no attempt to leave their room. They are not, I think, afraid of the space itself, and I do not think they feel trapped. I can sense some of their emotions, but if there is thought, it is not structured in a way I was built to understand.” She glanced at Teela, and after a pause, nodded. “An’Teela wishes to avail herself of the parlor.”

“We can talk in the dining room.”

“I don’t believe she intends for all of the cohort currently under this roof to be in attendance.”

“Good luck with that,” Terrano said, snorting as he materialized.

Kaylin frowned. “We’re missing someone. Where’s Mandoran?”

“He’s not in Mrs. Erickson’s house if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Only Terrano would be that reckless,” Teela added. She was paler than usual, or perhaps her eyes were darker; the effect was like a storm warning in the harbor.

“Come to the parlor,” Helen said to Kaylin and her partner. “I’ll have food there, so you can eat while you have what looks to be a difficult discussion.”