Relos Var frowned as he entered the cottage, gesturing to light various candles around the room. “I did, but I’m not sure…” He paused, looking around as he studied the area. “No one’s here. I suppose it might have been cloud lightning in the distance.”

“I think this may have been an unfortunate idea,” the woman said and turned to leave.

“It’s fine,” he reassured. “You’re not breaking any laws. Or even any rules.”

“If I were,” she answered, “please be assured you and I would not be having any kind of conversation at all.” She gestured. “What is this place?”

“One of my students uses it as a retreat. She’s away on business, so this is very safe from prying eyes.”

The vané woman swallowed and looked away, her expression unhappy. She appeared to be a young woman—except the tension around her eyes and mouth made her seem older. “Have you found him?”

“Please, sit down. Would you prefer coffee, tea? There’s brandy, if you’d rather.”

She pulled out a chair and sat down. “Have you found him?”

He hesitated as he sat down himself. “Yes.”

She exhaled in relief.

“I can’t retrieve him from his current location. But rest assured he’s safe and with people who will treat him well.”

Her eyes flashed open again, hot with building rage.

Relos Var lifted a hand. “This may work out in our favor. This way we avoid the shuffling required to keep my various ‘friends’ from running into each other. I should send Khaemezra a thank-you gift.”

“Khaemezra!” The woman’s expression could’ve murdered gods.

“Yes.” He smiled. “Aren’t the betrayals we suffer from family just the worst?”

Her angry expression broke, and she chuckled. “That would be one way of putting it. So she has my—” She paused and winced, pressing her lips together.

Brother Qown felt himself startle. He wondered if she hesitated from caution or if she’d been prevented from voicing her thoughts. He’d become sensitive to such nuances.

Relos Var’s expression turned sympathetic. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted it to turn out this way for you.”

“I blame myself for thinking the gods were even interested in finding a different solution. But no … Every other race has suffered. Why stop now with the job unfinished?” She inhaled to calm herself. “Speaking of unfinished business, do you have Valathea?”

Relos smiled and ducked his head. “I do. Although it wasn’t easy to get her away from the Devoran priests, let me tell you.”

She shook her head. “I don’t understand what they thought they’d accomplish by kidnapping her.”