People begin to stand. Some lay a hand on my shoulder as they pass by. I stay with Glacia and we follow Victoria and Officer Remmit. Orcher is busy talking with Belvun’s president, Theodore Garner. I hold onto Glacia’s hand and look out at the flowers and plants arranged around the park in colorful patterns for the funeral. One of the trees rustles and a clatter of chirps escapes the leaves, then several Dell Washers burst out and flutter away, swooping over one another and playing in the air.

I manage to smile.

When I wake up, my hotel room is filled with the pinkish light of dawn. My eyes adjust to the brightness, and just before I move to get out of bed, I remember I’m not alone. Glacia is lying on her side, facing away from me. Even a month ago, I still hoped I would sleep with Ladia again. Now I don’t want to return to those empty days, or sink back into my cravings. Glacia and I… We need each other, I think. At least we do for now, because we have reasons to. I just hope those reasons let me need her a little longer.

Glacia rolls onto her back and stretches her arms above her head. She yawns and squints at me. It takes her a moment to smile. We watch each other until I notice her eyes starting to droop again, so I poke her stomach to keep her awake. She twitches and groans, then buries her head between the pillows and refuses to come out. At last I’m able to coax her up again, and she leaves to pack her room.

Later, we meet in the lobby and leave the hotel. Undilaen Officials and hovertrunks crowd the sidewalks, so Glacia and I board a bus to the maglev train station at the front of the Embassy. Once we reach the docks, we assign our trunks to a transport and walk to the edge of the field for one last look. The Belvun Embassy glistens in the pink light of dawn. Hovercrafts wander between the glassy towers, birds flock around them, and clouds drift high above.

Glacia and I watch the train glide away to receive another load of passengers. It races over the field and up the slight hill to the city station. Before it’s too far away, I take a picture of the Embassy and the forest. Then I turn around and take a picture of the gray mountain and all the transports on the docking platform, some of which are already lifting into the air. I’ll make a portfolio for my sisters like Father always did for me. They’ll want to hear a story, a story like one of Father’s grand adventures.

This time, I will have my own to tell.

END BOOK ONE