Ranvir sat on the potragos, Frija resting her head on his thigh as she slept next to him. He gently wiggled her nose back and forth as he once more examined the paper Kyriake had sent him.

Resting on the table, it was stained with water marks from his touch. The parchment had been soaked through in several places, and the ink had run. It was a simple message, brought by a psykimes messenger boy.

Hello Ranvir.

Mihail has arrived at the Sentinel’s local charter and demands to see you. It would appear somewhere between his Perception and Abilities figured out that you survived.

I don’t ask this lightly of you, but I can see the man is grieving. He wants to talk with you, but what he wants is answers. I will not make this demand of you, Ranvir, but I will tell you to consider his wishes.

May Nysea’s blessings visit your home, Kyriake Warden of the Sentinels, Master of the Legea Charter.

He sighed and gently shifted Frija. Her head rested on a towel. Not to protect his thigh from drool, but to protect her from being too drenched. He tugged on the loose bun of hair at the nape of her neck. It was tied off with a bland, unpainted ribbon. He should probably get her a prettier one at some point.

He shook his head and returned his attention, not to the paper, but what it meant to him. When it had first arrived, he’d been filled with trepidation and excitement. It was marked with the official green of Kyriake’s Warden signet, meaning official business.

Was it someone from the Sentinels who’d heard what happened and had called for him? Or maybe they thought as little of him as King Phormos did. Maybe she was calling him in because she needed Ranvir to complete a task? But that couldn’t be. She wouldn’t force him to leave, right? He’d only been at home for a week. Why didn’t that thought fill him with comfort?

So many thoughts and emotions tied into a letter before he’d even opened it. Ranvir clicked his tongue against his teeth. That meant nothing to the torment of colors that had been assailing him since reading it.

All he wanted to do was wash himself of the affair. Forget about the Orykto fold and all that transpired within. But the fold wouldn’t let go of him, yet. The idea of leaving Mercy’s Redoubt without answers didn’t bother him particularly. They were murderers attempting to kill him; he wasn’t required to give them anything.

But by singling out Mihail as an individual, Ranvir lost the anonymity that had protected him before. Suddenly, guilty and bloated yellow was stuffing itself. Angry and seething red boiled and bubbles. Worrying thick web strands of black balked at his every idea.

It was a lot.

Too much.

In the end, they’d dragged him out of the house. If only to silence them. Ranvir reached out and crushed the paper. Moments later, Frija yawned and rolled over to look up at him. “Are we there yet?”

Ranvir smiled at her. “Soon.”

She sniffed once and closed her eyes once more. They’d left Menace behind today. The kitten hadn’t been happy about it. Ranvir could hear it tearing at the door when they’d left. Well, he’d been carrying Frija as she refused to leave without the cat. Unfortunately, this was an all too simple example of why Menace, why they both, needed to experience being alone. Ranvir dreaded what the kitten would’ve done to the home once they returned.

Half a flare later, Ranvir woke Frija, who suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be angry Menace isn’t coming along. Waiting for them at the station was someone Ranvir wasn’t sure he could call a friend, but bound by circumstance and trust. Also, Frija had been pestered him about her ever since he mentioned her name.

“Hello Alexis,” he greeted, tapping his jaw.

She returned the gesture with a gentle smile. “You look somewhat recovered.”

Ranvir smiled, a flickering blue relief interspersing itself on his otherwise convoluted feelings. “And you look almost like a girl.”

Alexis’ lips quirked, but otherwise didn’t react to the comment. Instead, she turned to Frija. “And you must be the daughter he fought so hard to meet again?”

Frija grabbed Ranvir’s hand, though she was determinedly not looking at either of them.

“At least be polite,” Ranvir whispered to her. When she didn’t react, he knelt next to her, gathering both her small hands in his. “Frija, I know you don’t like this,” he spoke intently, looking her in the eye even if she wouldn’t meet his. “But this is for the best. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but Menace needs to learn how to be alone. He needs to learn how to exist by himself. Right now he’s a kitten and everything seems pretty great, but as he gets older, it’s going to affect his behavior in ways that in the end will be bad for him. Do you understand?”

Frija pouted and shook her head.

“Fireheart,” Ranvir whispered, leaning in close. “We’re making him a little sad now to avoid much sadness when he’s older,” he kissed the back of her hand. “Does that make sense?”

Frija sniffled, and he could see tears in her eyes. He wanted to hug her and wipe them away, but he didn’t feel that was what she desired. Instead, he watched her intently. Frija visibly stiffened her face. She wasn’t happy, but she was determined.

He made eye contact and took in a deep breath. Frija followed his lead for several moments. Ranvir noticed Alexis waiting on them, as well as several passersby having to walk around them. He still didn’t stop until his Firehearth looked calmer.

“Say hi to Alexis properly, then we can get going.”

Frija turned and tapped her jaw twice. “Hello Alexis. Dad has told me a lot about you,” she sniffled once and wiped her nose with a finger before Ranvir could get a cloth to her.

“Hello Frija,” then Alexis looked to Ranvir. “Shall we?”

They all headed to the Sentinel charter house. Alexis had business with one group and had agreed to take Frija shopping later. Now that Ranvir had more keys, he decided Frija shouldn’t wear rags bought with the idea that she’d grow into them.

Arriving, they were greeted by Kyriake and Alexis’ contact. She swiftly concluded her as Ranvir knelt next to Frija to explain the situation to her. “Alexis is going to take you shopping. You’re going to look for new clothes…”

Frija balked at the idea of walking around Legea without him. Ranvir himself didn’t like the idea, either, but it was as he’d explained earlier. It was important that Frija learned to develop bonds with others. Experiencing places with people other than Ranvir was an important way to do that, according to more than a few children’s education books he’d read.

Ranvir cradled her cheek, and most of her head, in his hand and kissed her on the forehead. “Firehearth, it is just until I’ve finished my business here, then I will come find you, okay?”

Frija pouted and glanced at Alexis with untrusting eyes. Second thoughts filled his head, then. Frija hadn’t even really had time to meet Alexis. The young woman maybe had little experience with children. If she couldn’t make Frija comfortable with her, then this wouldn’t become a developing and growing experience but could instead-

Alexis rolled her eyes at him and knelt next to Frija. “I know the best sweets merchant in town,” she leaned in a little closer. “He’s just got a fresh shipment of raisins, too.”

Frija somehow struck a pose of both great interest and mild reticence.

“But you don’t have to come,” Alexis continued. “I’ll just eat them all by myself, then.”

The struggle in Frija was writ clear on her face as she kicked at the dirt. Then Alexis started walking away. Reticence turned to panic on his little girl’s face as she sprang after her. “Wait!”

Ranvir stared after Alexis, open-mouthed.

“Come now, Ranvir,” Kyriake said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “She’s a merchant. What did you expect?”

Sighing, he stood. He pretended not to notice Kyriake wiping her hand on the side of her leggings before turning towards the main building.

“I don’t know Mihail’s exact stat distribution, but I would expect that he’s overheard you at this point,” she turned to look at him. “So there’s not much point in hiding it now. I’ll be right next to you. I won’t let him threaten you, not that I’m sure he could, even without your arm. But do be gentle with him. You’ll know what I mean when you see him, but he’s not in the best frame of mind at the moment.”

Ranvir nodded. Together, they entered the building, Kyriake taking him to the room set aside for their meeting. Hopefully, this will shut the door on this entire event, Ranvir thought to himself as Kyriake opened the door.