Six tiny globes, about the size of a walnut, rose into the area, floating around us and above. Orata’s cameras.

“You are live,” Orata said into my earpiece.

Right. No more private conversations. I muted the sound on my screen so it wouldn’t interfere.

The back door of the inn opened, and Gaston emerged, leading Ellenda into the light. She still wore the gold paint and her rough-woven dark garment. Her expression was flat.

Tony melted back into the dark entrance. He would be going back to the Ocean Dining Hall to help Sean.

Ellenda approached Kosandion. He inclined his head a couple of inches. “Welcome, kalenti.”

Ellenda bowed her head slowly. No response. Off to an awesome start.

“Shall we walk?” he asked.

“Yes.”

The two of them strolled down the path, leaving about a foot of space between them. I followed a couple of steps behind. Orata’s orbs followed. My screen did too, sliding along the path.

“What branch do you hail from, kalenti?” Kosandion asked. His voice was calm and light. Reassuring with its warmth.

“My people come from Sahava.”

“The land of cliffs and dark forests, where the glowing ava flowers bloom in the deep.”

A little bit of life came back into Ellenda’s voice. “Yes. Have you ever been?”

“My mother took me there when I was young. We spent four days in the House on the Cliff. I remember sleeping in the spider cocoon hammocks suspended over the raging sea. I thought it was the best bed ever invented.” Kosandion chuckled softly.

“I’m surprised. The cocoon hammocks scare outsiders.”

“I’m not an outsider. I’m a child of the Dominion and a child of the Uma. One doesn’t exclude the other.”

“I meant no offense.” Caution iced over her voice.

Kosandion offered her another smile. “I took none.”

They reached the pond where the stone path curved around the water. The pond took up a whole acre, a shallow, crystal-clear body of water with a large flat rock jutting out a few feet from its left shore. Little fish darted in the cool depths, and brilliant water lilies bloomed on the surface. Stone benches along the path offered places to rest. This was Sean’s favorite spot. When the inn had a lull of visitors, we came here to swim in the pond, sunbathe on the hot rock, and drink beer.

Kosandion and Ellenda continued down the path.

“Do you truly mean that?” Ellenda asked softly. “Are you a child of the Uma?”

Kosandion pulled his left sleeve up and raised his arm. A row of intricate white tattoos shot through with gold marked his dark skin.

Ellenda stopped and turned to face him, a resolute expression on her face. He pivoted toward her. They stood on the path, perfectly still, the same straight posture. In that moment, the two of them looked like they belonged to the same people.

Ellenda took a deep breath.