They made the turn onto the path that led to the lecture halls and Yenni found herself caught in Carmenna’s dismayed gaze.

“Weysh, Yenni Ajani, excuse me.” She gave them a small, awkward bow, her hair falling forward to obscure her face, and began to hurry away.

“Ah! Carmenna, just a moment,” said Weysh hastily. “Have you seen Noriago recently?”

“Not since that day in West Castle West.”

“Do you know what that Noriago did?” said Yenni. “He attacked Weh-sheh with some kind of powder and now he cannot smell. If you know something you must tell us!”

Carmenna glanced down at their joined hands, and guilt pooled in the pit of Yenni’s stomach. She let Weysh’s hand go.

“I heard,” Carmenna admitted. “Everyone is talking about it. I’m so sorry, Weysh. That’s just horrible.”

Yenni saw Weysh sniff the air instinctively, trying and failing to read Carmenna’s scent. “You truly don’t know anything?”

She glanced once more between the two of them. “No, I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“I see,” said Weysh. “Well, please be careful, Carmenna. Noriago is clearly unhinged. Academy security have him on a watch list, and every dragon on campus has their nostrils open, so to speak, but off campus try not to be alone, en?”

She nodded. “I’ll be cautious. Thank you for your concern.” She paused and glanced between their two faces again before she said at last, “Congratulations.”

“Erm, thank you,” said Weysh. He cleared his throat. “So, I don’t suppose you’ve learned of a way to heal pimentel damage in any of your classes, en?” He said it jokingly, but Yenni could sense the desperation underneath.

The look Carmenna gave him was full of sincere pity. “Nerve damage is some of the most difficult to heal, Weysh,” she said sadly.

“Weh-sheh will be just fine,” said Yenni confidently. “He’s going to his stepfather’s healer and—ah!” The mention of Weysh’s sick stepfather reminded her of her own, and of the wither-rot. “I have some news! My tribe has discovered the cause of the wither-rot!”

“What?” cried both Weysh and Carmenna. Without going into too much detail, Yenni explained that her mother had relayed Mainard’s information to the healers back home, and what they had deduced.

“So it is this spirit that is making people sick,” Yenni finished. She watched Weysh and Carmenna expectantly, but they were both giving her a familiar look—the same uncomfortable shifting of the eyes some did at the sight or mention of runes.

“What is it now?” Yenni cried.

“A spirit is causing this illness? You mean, like a demon?” asked Carmenna.

“Yes! A demon.”

Weysh blew out a breath, and Yenni rounded on him. “You do not believe me?”

“No, no! It’s not that, lovely. It’s just, well, it’s hard to believe in general, en?”

“But why is that?”