“Why doesn’t he wake?” Hi Shri asked, anxiety singing through her tone. Bali lay under a heap of blankets. He was breathing again, and with a normal rhythm, Phyr noted. This was a vast improvement over when Phyr had awakened, moments after Aa deposited him in Hi’s nest, to find Maat frantically blowing air into Bali’s lungs, after which Bali had coughed up a lot of water and begun breathing on his own. Bali didn’t wake up, and shaking or other attempts to rouse him brought restless shifting at best.

            Shiv Ali had appeared twice during the night and once during the following day, to examine Bali. Despite the worry that was plain for anyone to see in his face, he would only say, “Shaae hasn’t taken him yet. There...

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