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here at the Overseer’s command.”
    “My mother sent you here? To Spierel? Why?”
    Yoté pulled out a small leather pouch from inside his coat and gave it to her. “The Overseer thought it might be safer here, away from the Hodyn. Lord Homim’s been keeping it since I arrived.”
    “Then why did you stay? And why are you giving it back to me now?”
    “I thought it likely you’d return this way once you found Caleb Stenger and Lord Soren. Lord Tenlar sent out several scouts to learn of your whereabouts.”
    Telai nodded. “Spies, indeed,” she said, remembering Tenlar’s boast at Gebi. “But I never thought you’d be one of them.”
    Yoté blushed a little as he gestured at the pouch. “It was the First Underseer’s decision to return the coin to you—but at my suggestion,” he added, as if hoping to recover his standing.
    “Against the Overseer’s orders? Yoté!”
    “No, my lady!” he blurted. “Your mother commanded Lord Homim to keep it safe until the time came to use it again. Now that you’re going on this quest I suggested you were the most in need of it. He agreed.”
    Telai realized how much Homim had respected and honored her with this gesture. Yoté had done no less, despite all his flattery and histrionic concern.
    She gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “Thank you, Yoté,” she said. After another bow and a promise to visit her later, he departed.
    Telai resumed her seat by the window and emptied the pouch into her hand. The engraved eye and tiny figure huddled inside still sent a shiver down her back. It took no leap of imagination to guess what purpose it might serve. If Ada’s only hope lay far away in Tnestiri, they would eventually need to confront Heradnora—which meant finding Warren. The very thought of that confrontation sent a tremor through her soul.
    Yet why had Rennor given the coin to her in the first place? It was unlikely he had meant it to be used against his own daughter. And why was it so attuned to Warren? Rennor must have discovered something special about the boy, a mystery that still eluded her despite her powers of clairvoyance.
    Again she summoned her gift of laroné, concentrating on the disc as it rested in her palm. Though she was well practiced at it by now, a new barrier thwarted her vision. Blurry glimpses of heavy, stout forms flitted through her mind, and she had little doubt that they were Hodyn. But there was no sense of location, nothing clear or sure enough to tell her where the boy was or what he was doing. Perhaps now, she thought bitterly, Warren’s spirit was too faint, too overpowered by the thief who had robbed him of his own flesh.
    The eye and its mysterious little occupant kept taunting her, and in a fit of pique she turned it over, exposing the innocuous, flat surface on the opposite side. It felt much more comforting in that position, as if she had shielded herself from its penetrating stare.
    The room seemed to darken suddenly; then she shook it off and returned the coin to its pouch.
    She told herself she was too tired to sort it out, that there was plenty of time to figure it out. She had enough to worry about right now.
    ♦
    Caleb slept on, as if recovering from all the ills that had befallen him since Udan. Eya entered occasionally, and in time suggested Telai get some rest, promising to summon her when he awoke. Telai only smiled and shook her head. Toward evening Soren and Tenlar paid a visit, and the old Raén offered the same advice, but with far different results.
    “Caleb Stenger is well cared for, and his wound is healing. You should be resting. We’re set to leave the morning after next. Why do you keep this useless vigil when the future of Ada lies in doubt?”
    Telai’s cheeks fired. “My vigil is not useless!” she snapped. The others glanced anxiously at Caleb, but he lay quiet, undisturbed. “Duty, duty, always duty—when I’ve already given my word to honor it. My duty to Caleb is no less honorable, and I won’t