"A lot." Shira launched into a long explanation about how the library system worked.
Tula asked questions, Shira replied, but Tony grew progressively quieter as the discussion shifted away from him.
He looked uncomfortable now, his earlier bravado fading. His eyes kept darting to Tula, to her belly, to the way she leaned her head against Esag's shoulder, to the easy intimacy between them.
Each glance seemed to cost him.
Esag understood that pain, not through personal experience but through Wonder's. Seeing the one you loved with another was a particular form of torture.
"There's actually another reason I came by," Tony said suddenly, interrupting a discussion about archival-quality adhesives.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"I'm going to attempt the transition." He said it quickly, like ripping off a bandage. "I've decided to go for it."
Tula grinned. "That's wonderful. Have you found an inducer?" She lifted her head and looked at Esag expectantly.
If she thought he would volunteer to be Tony's inducer, she was going to be disappointed. He couldn't promise eternal friendship to someone who was going to be a thorn in his side for a very long time.
"I asked Yamanu, and he agreed to do it." Tony's posture relaxed as if the admission had released some of the tension he'd been carrying. "He said it would be an honor."
Esag was relieved. "Yamanu is an excellent choice. You can't do much better than to secure eternal friendship with a celebrated head Guardian. Yamanu has legendary status in the clan."
"That's what Kaia said." Tony's smile was more natural now, less forced. "The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday night. Eleven-thirty, at the gym. Apparently, it's tradition. Something about the symbolism of midnight transitions—new day, new life, that kind of thing." Tony shrugged. "I didn't ask too many questions. I was just trying not to panic."
"Are you really that nervous?" Shira asked, squeezing his hand.
"Terrified," Tony admitted. "I've never been in a real fight in my life. The closest I've come to physical confrontation was a shoving match in middle school, and I lost that pretty badly to the bully who wanted my lunch money."
Esag chuckled despite himself. "You are only supposed to last a couple of minutes. The hardest thing you will need to accomplish is challenging Yamanu enough to trigger his aggression."
"How am I supposed to challenge a head Guardian? I keep picturing myself getting thrown around like a rag doll."
Shira laughed. "That's indeed a problem, but there are interesting solutions that you might want to look into. Roni, our master hacker, used slam poetry to aggravate Kian enough to produce venom."
"Unbelievable." Tula shook her head. "I've never heard of anyone using such methods."
"I'm not going to insult Yamanu to get him to bite me," Tony said. "I'm going to do my best to challenge him the traditional way." His eyes met Tula's, and something passed between them—an acknowledgment of shared experience, perhaps, or simply the strange intimacy of two people who knew each other well and had created a life together even if they weren't meant to share one. "I'd like you to be there," he added and then turned to Esag. "Both of you are invited."
"Of course, we'll be there," Tula said. "I wouldn't miss it."
"I appreciate it." Tony inclined his head.
Shira watched the exchange with a thoughtful expression. She was clearly aware of the history between Tony and Tula, and she seemed to be handling it with remarkable grace.
Esag decided that he liked her. Anyone who could navigate this kind of minefield with such composure deserved respect.
"So, what happens during the ceremony?" Tula asked. "I've been to quite a few of them back in the day, but the inductees were thirteen-year-old boys. It's probably very different for adult males."
"Kian presides over the ceremonies," Shira said. "He recites the ceremonial words about the eternal bond between inducer andinductee, but he modifies it to fit the circumstances. I bet it was much more exciting back when you were a girl in Sumer."
"It was very festive, with music and dancers and food." Tula's expression grew nostalgic. "The boys were so nervous beforehand, trying to act brave, and then afterwards, once they were back on their feet, they strutted around like they had conquered the world."
Esag nodded. "I remember. But the pride was feigned. After getting humiliated in the sparring match with an older, already transitioned boy, the need to prove myself was overwhelming."
Shira glanced at her phone. "We should probably get going. It's getting late."
They all rose, and after the ritual of departure was over, Tony and Shira departed. Esag closed the door and turned to find Tula watching him with an unreadable expression.
