Some hours later, at the deepness of the night, the other human stirred and groaned.

“Hello,” said Imhalla.

After a brief pause, the other man asked, “Who are you?”

His Imhallan was thick with a Bathatt accent and with the effect of spider-anesthetic.

“I’m…well… I’m Imhalla.” Why hide the fact? He was dead anyway.

This was supposed to be an easy assignment. Find the Water People, Master Ulreg had said, in the Valley of Lakes. They gather at the full moon of every month. All Launtis had to do was to deliver the King’s invitation to the Summer Feast, he said. 

But there was one problem.

The Water People would not stop talking.

Launtis, ever prepared, had arrived in the valley long before the Water people. As the sun had set over the western mountains, he watched the shadows grow long and the moon peek over the eastern mountains. Then he heard them.

Send project to printer?

Yes.

June uncrossed her legs, rose from the office chair, and stood by the printer as it whirred and clacked in preparation to print. Then it sucked up a blank white sheet from the input tray, and spit it back out.

But it was not the report that Mr. Harkey had requested on his desk by noon.

June’s dark eyebrows puckered as she glanced over the printed email. 

Well, it’s final. Yesterday was the last court date, and I’m free. It feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Part of me still feels very vulnerable and afraid, but I know this is for the best.

It was not good for the kids to watch us fighting all the time.