Jareen led the vienu back to her little house. Apart from being newer and of marginally better construction, it was not so different from the hut on the outskirts of Forel. The roof was made of split wooden shingles and a simple blanket served to separate two small rooms. In the front room, she had a few rough chairs and stools. As they stepped inside, Jareen motioned for the vienu to sit. Coir entered last, having invited himself. He lowered his body onto his usual stool as the vienu settled the child on her lap in a chair. Now that they were alone, the child appeared a little braver, raising his head. After a cursory glance at the room, he settled upon Jareen. His colorless eyes were unsettling. Jareen knew that her own eyes looked like that, but she did not have to look at herself. No wonder so many stared at her. The lad's eyes were haunting, as if there was nothing shielding the child's soul.

"I am Lovniele," Jareen said. She bent down so that her head would be on a level with the child's. "Who are you?"

"This is Mleni," the vienu said. The child hid his face again.

"And you?" Jareen asked. "You are his mother?"

"Yes. I am Forane."

"What has brought you through the dangers of the Mingling?"

"Word has gone through the enclaves that the Children of Vah can bless the afflicted and bring them healing," Forane said. "There were those who asked why our afflicted go to the Mingling. They said, 'is not there a Son of Vah among us?' One evening we received a message from the ancients, to bring Mleni to the tir, along with his clothes and toys. They mentioned nothing about the rest of us."

"Did you not trust your ancients?" Jareen asked.

"Why should I trust them?" Forane asked. "Most of the ancients in Elnwé belong to one Tree, now. They have always sought the well-being of their own. They do not heed the will of the people."

"How did you escape?"

"Our Tree is of little import in the enclave, but my younger brother was to stand watch that night on the eastern trail. He came with us."

"Did they not pursue?"

"I'm sure they did, but the border of Chemil is near. We pretended to be afflicted, and we skirted their woods close enough that any armed pursuit would draw Chemil's ire. They quarrell. We did not stop until this day."

That last statement Jareen believed; Forane's face was haggard, and it did not look as if she had slept in some time.

"I see," Jareen said absently, still looking at Mleni. The lad had forgotten enough of his shyness to turn around in the vienu's lap and stare at Jareen with equal interest. No doubt, Jareen was the first other Insensitive he had seen as well. She would look as startling to him as he did to her.

"Well, you are safe here, insofar as any of us are safe here," Coir said.

Forane looked askance at Coir and did not respond.

"We have little to eat at the moment," Jareen said. "Otherwise I would offer you refreshment after your journey."

"We brought some food," Forane said, clearly relieved to escape speaking with Coir. "There is a little left. We could only carry so much."

Jareen nodded.

"If you have any seeds," Coir interjected, "in any of your food, please, preserve them. They will be collected."

Forane shifted in her chair. With all likelihood, he was the first human she had seen, an experience no doubt as odd as seeing another Insensitive.

"Our people will find you somewhere to settle for now. We are still in the Mingling, so stay away from the eaves. Is there anything else that concerns you?" Jareen asked.

"Is it true?" Forane asked. She glanced at Coir and then back to Jareen. "This blessing of Vah. . . could he. . . is it something he might be able to do?"

Coir's eyes flashed to Jareen, a look of warning flickering across his face. It was not needed. Jareen had to try not to tense.

"I will have to test him," she said. "I can do so now."

"Please," Forane said. "It would be a blessing to know if my little Mleni could join you in helping our people."

"Very well. I must ask you to step outside."

Forane's smile faded.

"It is necessary," Jareen said before she could respond. "The presence of someone sensitive to the Current would hinder the test. You may remain five yards from the door of the house, but no closer. There is no other entrance or exit to this house. You may trust in his safety." Jareen stood up, ready to see the vienu out.

Forane glanced around the room. At last, she nodded.

"As you say, Daughter of Vah." She lifted Mleni and set him upon his own two feet on the floor. She leaned forward.

"I will be right outside the whole time," she said. "The Daughter of Vah is like you. Don't be afraid." Forane touched his lower lip. "Remember."

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Mleni stood still, not even moving his fingers. Forane glanced at Coir. He hadn't risen.

"And. . . he can stay?" she asked.

"He is not Sensitive to the Current, either. It is why the human is so useful to me." The faintest smirk flickered at the corner of Coir's mouth.

"As you say, Daughter of Vah."

Jareen nodded, and with obvious reluctance, Forane stepped outside. Coir rose, latched the door behind her, and moved to the little window. It was made of a lattice of strong wood, letting in some light but keeping out any of the Mingling's beasts. Coir lowered a woven grass mat to cover it.

"She is standing back," he said.

"Keep an eye on her."

Coir returned to the door and peered through a narrow eyehole as Jareen sat back down and looked at Mleni.

"Little one," she said. "I have a son. He is much older than you, but I am a mama. I would do anything to protect him if I could."

"Where is he?" Mleni asked. It was the first he had spoken.

"He had to go away," she answered.

"Is he like us?"

"No, he is like his father, who was not like us."

Mleni thought about that for a time, but nodded.

"Whatever you tell me," Jareen said, "I will not be angry, I will not hurt you, and I will not tell Forane." Jareen leaned forward and clasped her hands together, looking at her own skin. "You and I are alike, Mleni. There are not many like us." She looked back up at him. "Is that vienu your mother?"

Mleni squinted, the muscles in his face flinching. A flush crept up from his neck, spreading to his cheeks. It was impossible to hide a flush on the face of an Insensitive. Jareen knew that about herself. It was part of why she had always liked wearing the face covering of the Silent Sisters. Watching it on another's face for the first time was fascinating. Mleni did not respond, but he lowered his eyes. Jareen knew the answer.

"What did they say they would do if you told?"

"Hurt my sissy."

"Did they take you from your mother?"

"She gave me to them."

And now he cried. He was such a little child. Jareen clenched her jaw, anger rising at the thought of a mother handing over her son. She found herself on her knees, her arms wrapped about Mleni as his tears dampened her shoulder.

"Some of the others of their party have joined her," Coir whispered. He was still peering outside.

"Do you see any of our people?" Jareen asked.

"I see Eltereve," Coir answered, "working in the garden."

"Take that pitcher and call to him to fill it with wine, loud enough that they can hear. When he comes to the door, command him bring the sentinels."

As Coir obeyed, Jareen put her hand on the child's translucent hair, holding him close to her chest. She couldn't help but think of Faro when he was so young.

"All will be well," she said. She had no doubt that the snakes who waited outside could sting, but she hoped it wouldn't come to that. She heard Coir call, followed shortly by whispered words. He stepped back inside and latched the door, sliding a stout branch into brackets to bar it closed. The builders had constructed the precaution for fear of the Mingling, and Jareen was glad of it, now.

"I think they're suspicious," Coir said.

"And our people?"

"None yet."

Without even thinking about it, Jareen lifted Mleni in her arms. He had stopped crying, but his eyes were still wet. She paced the short few steps back and forth across the room.

"Here they come," Coir said.

"Let me," she said, nudging Coir aside so she could look through the hole. Three of their sentinels approached with arrows ready, as well as Sela, one of the council members, unarmed but with hands marked by the Change.

Forane stood with four others of her group, and they saw the approaching sentinels as well. Now, other sentinels approached from the south. It did not take long for word or signal to spread in the little camp. She watched the indecision in Forane and the others. One of the vien still had a bow, but it hung useless at his side. It would be death to draw it. Jareen feared the Current, more.

The sentinels' faces showed wariness as they approached; Eltereve could not have told them much, and no doubt they were unsure why they had been summoned.

"Have them take the newcomers," she said to Coir. "Find them all. Get me Liethni as well."

Coir nodded, unbarred the door, and stepped out as the sentinels arrived. Jareen closed the door behind him. She would not take the child out, nor leave him alone. Forane and companions did not resist. Jareen could see the resignation in their body language as the sentinels disarmed them. One of Jareen's vienu searched Forane, finding a long knife in her sleeve. Jareen was thankful that Forane had not been tasked with assassination first. She had brought her into her house without any attention to safety, distracted by the shock of seeing an Insensitive child.

It did not take Liethni long to arrive. With some coaxing, Jareen handed the child off to her.

"Keep him here until they are away," Jareen said, and with a deep breath, she stepped outside the little house. Much of the camp had assembled, with others still converging. A few sentinels fell in beside her as she approached the spies, clearly intending to protect her.

Six. . . There were only six.

"Were there not seven of them?" Jareen asked as she neared.

"We have not found the seventh yet, Daughter of Vah." It was Oreann who spoke. He held a spear toward the spies. Jareen locked eyes with Forane, whose expression remained rigidly blank.

"Find the seventh of their number," Jareen told Oreann, "but be careful. They are spies of the enclaves." There was a murmur among the gathering, and many scattered in obedience to begin the search. Oreann called a few names and hurried toward the southeastern trail. Now, she looked to Sela, who stood with folded arms and empty, marred hands.

"Do we have anyone here from. . ." she glanced at Coir.

"Elnwé," he said. She nodded.

"I am, Daughter of Vah," a nearby vienu answered. Jareen recognized her face, but she had forgotten her name. The vienu had been afflicted when she arrived over a month ago.

"Do you recognize these?"

"He looks familiar." The vienu pointed at one of the vien. "I have seen him with those who fought the Nethec."

Jareen glanced at the hands of the spies. Most showed at least some sign of the Change, but not enough to suggest they helped uphold the embraces of their enclaves. If she had to guess, they would all be similar—veterans or members of Trees trusted to be faithful by the enclave ancients. Forane spoke, interrupting Jareen's thoughts:

"If you truly wish to help," she said, "then tell us the secret of the cure. There are other Insensitives in the enclaves. Why keep this to yourself? Or do you lust for power over these misguided ones?"

Jareen hated the feeling of being stared at by so many. Those who trusted her would expect some wise answer. She had no answers, no clever stratagems, nothing but a practical cure hid by layers of deception. She didn't know how to protect whatever other Insensitives might dwell in Isecan. She looked to Coir, but there were no answers written on his face. What did she care about these fools and their enclaves? She wanted her son and to live in peace. The thought of Faro reminded her of the frightened child in the house behind her. What would the enclaves do to him?

"Don't worry," Jareen said at last. She spoke in a low tone, so that those present strained to listen. "I won't be here long."

One way or another, that would prove true. The aches in her joints reminded her every day and night. She turned to Sela. "The council can decide what to do with them." With that, she walked back to the house.

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