“Yes, but do not take too long. It’s a rare honor to be so selected.” Maulana cuts his transmission. The room returns to its appearance of a hollowed-out cave pocket.

You blink as your eyes adjust. The Niyabinghi guards have vanished, as far as you can tell. You run your hands along the wall just in case. Ishant mirrors your action on the other side of the room. He shakes his head. You remain in the cave believing you can talk freely.

“What the hell was that?” Ishant asks.

“I have no idea.” You shrug. “But it’s nice to get job offers when you aren’t even looking. It gives a person options.”

“You aren’t seriously considering that, are you?”

You twist the bands of your chakrams. “Actually, it’s always been a dream of mine to join the Niyabinghi.”

“Yet you hesitate.”

“Because I know there are pieces of the puzzle missing that are keeping me from seeing the whole picture. Too many things are in motion.”

Ishant slides down along the wall until he’s seated. “Tell me the pieces you see.”

You know his game. Another of Xola’s methods. Recount what you know, aloud, to hear them, and see if you can trace any connections. Because everything is connected. There are no accidents. It’s only a matter of paying attention to the moment and listening to what the Universe is trying to tell you.

“The embassy bombing on O.E., almost taking out Jaha. Xola’s probable assassination. The Orun Gate. This budding Nguni-Dimka alliance. The Ring. It’s all too…”

“… big.” Ishant’s agreement only sends a stream of pinpricks down your back.

“Yeah. I can’t get my mind around it. I know there’s a thread that ties it all together, but I just can’t find it.”

“You need to clear your head,” Ishant says.

“I’m going to take a Saqqara back to the Dreaming City; something doesn’t feel right. Hopefully, the trip will give me time to gain some clarity. And give me a chance to talk to Selamault, get her counsel, before I have a face-to-face with Maulana.”

“I will stay here. Continue the investigation, my way.”

“You heard what Maulana said about your encryption protocols.”

“I heard him. I also think he’s full of shit.” Ishant stands up and rummages through his bag, making sure he has everything. “At least on that note. I suspect that he wanted to scare me off for some reason. Which only makes me want to go back and double-check my work to see what I missed.”

“Be careful.” You read something in his face. “What is it?”