“Is that about you?”
“When was it out?”
“Six months ago.”
Zephyr shrugged.“Probably.”
Hemma cackled.“Why aren’t you with him?”
“He’s a them.A them.He splits into storms.They are the ones who form the band.”
“Oh, the element you are missing.Nice.”
“What?”
“Air.”
“No one needs that much air.Especially where he wants to put it.I don’t think it’s right, plus the lightning tickles.”
Hemma blinked.“Wow.I...wow.Wait, so you have a comfortable situation in Renovik?”
“Yup.A cute little house just for me and everything.A tiny garden and a stipend to buy clothes and food that I don’t grow.Well, I did.I don’t know if it has been reassigned.It probably has.”
“You think that Trisk is still after you?”
“Pretty sure.This has set off an alarm for them, and I have a few hours before I need to hide again.Fortunately, they can’t see through water, so if I hang out in a pool, I should be good.If you hear thunder in a clear sky, I am out of here.”
“Can I show you where I work?We have a pool, and you can hide there.”
“Sure.”
Khytten came back with a mug.“Here you are.Why are you hiding?”
Hemma filled her in while Zephyr sipped the coffee.
Khytten blinked.“Trisk?Like Trisk, Trisk?”
Zephyr nodded and slurped more coffee.“Yup.Believe me or not, he’s gonna show up here in about thirty minutes.”
Hemma asked, “How did you meet him?”
“He was my point of contact when I fell through my first vortex.I ended up at his feet, and I was brought to the council.Then, I returned to my cell, and I worked at sneaking out actives in mortal danger, one at a time, stealing their records as I went.”
Hemma was stunned.“How many did you get out?”
“Uh...over a thousand.”
Hemma started laughing.“They are all alive?”
“They are.Now that the walls have fallen, a few might want to get in contact with family, but these were all the ones without immediate family to leave behind.”
Hemma grinned.“I hope Keska tells Salmet.”
Khytten nodded.“If she doesn’t, Salat will.Or I will.Hang on.”
She made a call and briefed the Prefect of Aksalla.The shriek of “What!”was heard as Khytten laughed.
“I need to talk to her,” the voice said through the open com.
