“I don’t know,” Hilfa said. “It is like what many Saeli believe. Plato says excellence is the greatest good, but our culture, the religion we follow, has always put discovery first, science, knowledge.”

“This is the religion that’s more like philosophy?” Sokrates asked.

“Yes. Other Saeli cultures worship other gods and have other priorities. But those of us who went into space, with Jathery, value discovery. I have heard that the Amarathi prioritize ubiquity and connection over everything else.”

“Perhaps it is meant for the Saeli, because gla gave me no hint of that when I was trying to talk to gla outside,” Sokrates said. “But how interesting. Learn, experience, comprehend?”

“Pity gla didn’t stay around so we could ask gla now whether it’s for all of us,” Jason said.

“Let’s ask Grandfather,” I said.

“Or Athene,” Sokrates said, thoughtfully.

Jason let go of my hand, and it tingled where he had been holding it. He had hugged me earlier, when he came in. I hadn’t meant to trick him into a form of marriage. I knew he was in love with Thetis. But since she was included, I hoped he didn’t mind too much. He seemed to be taking it very reasonably, thinking about the details, exactly like you’d expect from a Silver really. Though Sokrates was thinking about details too. We’d work it out.

II. Thetis

Everyone looked up as we went out into the garden. The night was growing chilly, though nothing like as cold as the night before. “What have you been up to?” Dad asked, his brow furrowing as his eyes passed over us.

“We have been forming a pod,” Hilfa said, all at once like that with no warning.

“What!” Dad could sound so cold and disapproving sometimes. I shrank back, then stopped myself. Never let them think you’re inferior.

“Jathery was attempting to attack Hilfa,” Sokrates explained. “As pod members, we had the right to witness the interaction. Without that, gla would have done something unreasonable.”

“Unreasonable! You probably did exactly what gla wanted,” Athene said, rolling her eyes.

“I think so. I freed Hilfa. I freed all the Saeli,” Marsilia said to her.

“You’ve been forming a pod with my daughters and Hilfa?” Dad looked at Sokrates as if he was about to erupt. Ikaros was grinning.

“And Jason,” Sokrates said, reproachfully, waving a hand at Jason, who was standing next to me looking embarrassed. I took his hand defiantly. “The number five seems to have some significance to Saeli. I don’t know if this is empty numerology, or if it truly has a kind of Pythagorean significance.”

“There have been human-Worker marriages,” Crocus said, as he and Grandfather came closer to join the group, no doubt attracted by the volume of Dad’s expostulation. It was still strange to see Grandfather looking not much older than me. I wasn’t used to it.