"No."
"But they tried."
"They always try." Simple. Certain.
I lower myself further, letting the heat take more of the strain.
"You should come earlier," he says after a moment.
"Earlier than this?"
"Yes. It stays quiet longer, before others come through."
"I might," I say.
"Good."
Another pause moves between us, unforced. Then, "You did not come here just to heal."
I look toward him. "No."
He nods once. "I did not think so." He leaves it there and does not ask for more.
I let myself sink deeper into the water, the heat moving through muscle and bone, loosening what has been held too tightly for too long. For the first time in days nothing presses in on me.
When I return the chamber is not quiet.
"You should have told me?—"
"I was told she was within the palace?—"
"You were told wrong?—"
I push the door open. Colsar stands near the center of the room. Cambra is seated with Ari in her arms, already feeding. Kiss fusses lightly against Saurin's shoulder.
Colsar turns. Relief moves across his face first, then something harder behind it.
"Where were you?"
"The pools."
His jaw tightens. "You left without telling anyone."
"I told Saurin."
His eyes move to her briefly, then back to me. "Ari was hungry."
"He is being fed." I nod toward Cambra. Ari is calm, already taken care of.
Colsar goes still. "You did not discuss this with me."
"You were not available."
Silence.
Saurin moves quietly. "Come," she says, and Cambra rises immediately with Ari while Saurin adjusts Kiss and follows. The door closes behind them.
Colsar's attention returns to me fully. "You do not make decisions like that alone."
