between them, filled only by the occasional drawn-out intake of breath as Minta puffed away on his pipe, and the high-pitched whine of the carving.

“It’s reassurin’, isn’t it?” Minta asked. “It’s like it’s her way of sayin’ she’s watching’ us.”

“It’s irritating,” Nathaniel replied. “It gets in your head and there’s no escape from it.”

He fully expected Minta to become angry at this statement, but Minta seemed not to hear him at all. Nathaniel turned back around to find him gazing up into the night sky. He followed his gaze to see Ashidi’s star hovering just above the sanctuary wall.

“That was an interesting performance today,” Nathaniel said. “Annyka translated some of your words for me.&rdq...

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