A sharp rap on the door snaps Jorrel’s attention from the heavy, hide-bound parchment papers resting on his lap. Noticing the long shadows stretching across the room, he realizes he lost track of time again. As the door creaks open, a distinctive sniff precedes the hooded figure sauntering in.

“Rel! What luck shines upon you that your favorite sister is early,” an affectionate tone laces the steely voice.

He reclines in his chair. “I couldn't possibly know what you’re talking about, Amina. I'm completely ready.”

She pushes back the fur-lined hood, revealing her once lengthy hair shorn down to stubble. Taking advantage of his shock, she gestures at his state of near undress, ''Bare feet and half dressed will make quite the statement, little brother. Where are those two urchins you can’t seem to be without?"

“Does this, uh, statement of your own mean what I think?"

“Undecided.”

Rel’s hands fall from behind his head with a slight tremble as he eagerly leans forward, eyes shining with curiosity, “But that never happens!”

Amina grasps for the pendant of a necklace she no longer wears, “That’s what I thought, though I’ve been assured there’s nothing to worry about. I qualified.”

“They said so?”

“Not exactly. The simulation just … didn’t end. I completed the final task, but the veil remained. The elders said not to worry and nothing since.”

“How long before the veil lifted?”

“That’s not all,” she continues, ignoring his question, “you and I both know my training was more formality than function. Be respectful, learn the basics, take a modified exam, pass.” She worries the ends of her thick scarf with scabbed and calloused fingers, absently dropping strands from the frayed hem. “Well, I swear to the spirits, they were trying to make me quit. Nothing was easy, and nearly all the other novices refused to help. I was legitimately injured, more than once, and it would have been worse had Varden not pestered me to help work his Convergence before you were strong enough. Or had the tall girl been just as selfish as the others.”

“The tall girl? Wait,” he lowers his voice, “are you even supposed to be here?”

“You don’t have to whisper,” she laughs, “they can’t hear you. Which is good because I was ordered to remain within Inaru territory weeks ago. They seem more concerned as each day passes, but I’m not about to let their ignorance cause me to miss your first ceremonial appointment. I’m still shocked you lasted all these winters with your soft constitution.”

He ignores her taunts. “I’m flattered, but I’m willing to bet your escape had more to do with enjoying a festival put on by Yamma Kostis. Only the finest music for a Kostis.”

Rel’s easy smile contrasts his roiling thoughts, wishing Amina had been around the last two winters. He had stumbled upon a handful of odd events that couldn’t be mentioned without confessing to affairs that would have him strung up by his ankles. The potential trouble hastened Rel’s plans to quietly separate himself from Watcher duty. Their older brother abdicated his claim to lead before disappearing on a ship shortly after Rel’s fourth winter, and Rel’s plan to follow in his footsteps now stood in jeopardy due to this potential problem. Even worse, Amina’s soul bleaching stare leads him to believe he hasn’t kept his plans quiet enough.

The pounding of boots echo throughout the hallway, dispelling the wisps of their brewing storm. Amina spins on her heels, and reaching for her hood, she starts to disappear into the corner until she recognizes the two squabbling voices that accompany their clomping feet. “Ah, your imps weren’t far off after all,” she says before melting the rest of the way into the shadowy nook flanked by two bookcases.

A neatly dressed girl dips through the open door, closely followed by a taller boy near the same age.

“Hand it over, Varden,” the girl says.

He reaches into the folds of his kaftan and flicks a small green stone at her. “It’s yours for the week, Vala. I don’t want to hear about it going missing, either. You couldn’t disappear a river rock, let alone an Augmentation Stone.” He turns to fix Rel with a blank stare.

Vala palms the stone smoothly, tucking it inside a silky pouch slung beneath her cloak. Clapping Rel on both shoulders, she gives him a little shake, her dark curls bouncing alongside her cheeks. “You never disappoint. I bet Varden you wouldn’t even have your boots on.” Her crooked smile makes one eye squint more than the other.

Rel chuckles and shrugs at his friend, “Why you would ever take that bet, Varden?”

“My never ending optimism?”

Vala chuckles. "More like forgetfulness and..." she trails off as her nose begins to violently itch. She swipes at her face only to feel a sharp tug on her earlobe. Spinning in confusion, she notices Rel shielding a grin, and her face flushes brightly.

Amina’s squeaky laughter spills out as she steps into the light, bringing her hands, and the invisible prodding, to rest. Vala’s attempt at indignance quickly melts into a smile as she rushes to give Amina a hug.

Amina returns it warmly and looks Vala up and down. “You hit a growth spurt after I left?”

Vala squares her shoulders proudly, “I was only fourteen then, a girl can still grow in two winters. I’ve been told my father’s side of the family runs late.”

“Not to the taverns,” Varden quips.

Raising her hand with a flick, Vala sends Rel’s bedsheets slithering like a serpent across the floor and up Varden’s body to coil around his head, but he holds his hand out and motions it away and back at Vala, and the sheets quickly twist into knots around her ankles.

Amina drops into a dramatic bow before heading to the door. “As much as I enjoy watching you three play, I have a few things to handle before the ceremony starts. I assume I’ll see you all there.” She gives Rel an accusatory look and slips out with only the faintest click of the latch behind her.

Vala manages to get the sheets untangled in short order, though slightly out of breath.

Varden spreads his hands with exasperation. “Really, Val, you shouldn’t struggle with blocking a simple channeling anymore.”

“Gems are just so much more convenient,” she says, “why should I bother wasting time trying to match your knack with the Convergence when I can swipe from my father’s collection? Especially since we’re not supposed to practice channeling outside of formal instruction.”

“A knack? You know how much extra time I've put in, all while staying under the radar of the Council. Everybody practices a little outside the rules. And they’re not your father’s gems, they belong to the Collaboration. He’d skin you alive if you touched even one.”

“Let’s not get sidetracked,” Rel interrupts before the two of them devolve into one of their days long arguments, “it’ll be tight this time, but I still think the sheer volume of supplies is enough to risk it. Did you get everything?”

The combative smile slides from Vala’s face. “Of course we did, but are you sure you don’t want to wait? If you get caught again, it won’t be so easy to talk your way out of it. Every Clan Celus will be there, and I’ve been hearing some strange rumors out of Ocohn. The ships have been light.”

Rel dresses quickly as he considers her concerns. Vala’s ability to gather and glean information while simply going about her day was more than he could have hoped for, but it wasn’t always entirely accurate.

“There’re always rumors coming out of Ocohn. Spinning fables before every Collaboration is one of the ways they stay warm. Those icy bastards love to stir up trouble.” He waits for Vala to push back, but she remains silent.

“Turns out the expanded southern port is why the Council nominated the south to hold the ceremonies,” Rel continues, “it was an undisclosed smuggling port used by the Reckoners before the land was redistributed under the treaty. I’ll slip through the tunnel leading to the abandoned cove from the sketches you two managed to dig up.” Rel eyes his friends, weighing their reaction. “If you think it’s a bad plan, speak up. I won’t do this without you two, so just say it and be done.”

Vala and Varden look at each other briefly before Varden tosses him a set of keys attached to a green gemstone-laden ring.

“You know we're in," Varden grins, "everything you asked for is in a grain sack behind the stables. We’ve got you covered until the naming ceremony starts. Those keys will last a few hours before turning back into mud, so don’t waste any time.”

Rel nods, “I’ll be at the farthest dock just before sundown. My mother isn’t ready to make the announcement. She’s ignoring apothecary recommendations on portal stones, but she convinced old Wardley to quietly arrange a ship after the ceremonies to avoid a second jump. That’s where we’ll stash the goods.”

Vala steps forward and slides a thick ring with a pale yellow gemstone on Rel’s little finger, “Solid plan, but if you run into any trouble just use the shifting trick I taught you and don’t let anyone too close. Show me one more time.”

Rel concentrates on connecting with the Convergence, sensing its direction and speed, envisioning the flow of Shade magic like a river running downstream. Since the last two years of practicing in secret with Vala, he can transition much quicker, and within a few seconds, he adapts its course. Deftly channeling the current through the ring, Rel’s face shimmers until his distinctive features blend into an unassuming and average-looking younger boy who could easily pass for an errand-runner. His light eyes swirl into a deep brown, soft brown hair darkens and curls under his collar, and his full mouth thins until he looks like anyone but himself. The image occasionally blurs ever so slightly, but it would do in a pinch.

“Perfect,” Vala says as he releases the connection, “but you’ll exhaust yourself if you try to maintain it for longer than a quick escape. Now take these and hurry.”

Rel’s palms are slick as he takes the Kostis territory maps from Vala, tucking them underneath his bag and rushing out. Only slightly preoccupied with the possibility that his sister is about to ruin everything he’s been working for, he calculates the odds for success one more time.