Shady

"Well, me and Gaius, of course. Pratik, too, I would guess. I don't know... you're welcome... I don't think he speaks Akarataran though."

"Guess that will depend on how the talk goes." Ky shrugged. "I'm sure it will be a very interesting talk. But I don't have the foggiest what it will be ...

"Maybe." Ky smiled. "I bet it'll be good no matter what it is."

"There are a lot of options," Ky conceded. Only one that she was interested in. But. Well. "What sorts of sweets do you think they have in the kitchen?"

Ky forced a smile. Apparently, she couldn't even agree with Ada without being called a liar now.

"Gods." Ky huffed. She didn't want another day -- much less sixty more years.

"It's not going to," Ky said sourly. "Gaius isn't going to let me go home until Zander says it's okay, and Zander's not going to say it's okay until he's ...

"Maybe," she said flatly, burying her hands in her pockets.

"No." Ky shook her head. "I expected it to be Pratik or Isya, though. And it's not either of them. So. My next guess would be one of the three ...

Ky let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah."

"Yeah... well... I think he's going all over. But he's starting in the South."

"Fine." Ky shrugged again. "He said Zander got attacked by spiders, but that he didn't get hurt. Rönn is going to follow him until he gets to the border to ...

"Pratik thought I should." Ky shrugged.

Her smile got ever so slightly more genuine. "It will be good for you to be back. You deserve it."

Ky tried for a smile, but it could only vaguely be considered a success. "I'm glad you'll be able to feel it soon."