[i]At least Ambra isn't neglecting herself,[/i] Vel thought as she stirred the soup she had ordered. [i]And she feels more useful than I do right now, that's certain.[/i]

Vellia just sat at a table in the tavern, minding her own business, but not completely oblivious to what was going on around her. There had been a familiar voice shouting, but Vel couldn't put a name to it.

A familiar voice shouting . . . she would figure it out eventually. She downed another couple spoonfuls of soup, and was about to join Neo at his table when the voice shouted again.

[i]Who? . . . Could that be? . . . But I thought . . .[/i] Vellia's mind was racing at the idea. [i]No, it's got to be your mind playing tricks on you, Vel. There's no possible way he survived. But maybe, just in case . . .[/i]

Vellia slipped up the stairs--forgetting her soup and her stomach at this point--to wait and see if she could recognize the voice again from any of the rooms. She didn't want to intrude on anyone, but could it be possible that he survived and made his way to this same inn? It seemed too good to be true, but she had to make sure. That voice had become one she learned quickly, but anything that sounded even remotely similar would have startled her. She had to hear to be sure that what the voice was saying would line up.