Narsi tried to wrench herself free to no avail. She stopped for a moment when Lorag clamped his hand around her shoulder. Halfway through his attempt at persuasion, she pushed her lips together and tried to push Lorag's wrist away. Curiously, Lorag found her grip stronger than both Rhazii and Julan's, but Narsi was still no match for him.

She grunted angrily when Lorag finished talking. "Fine!" She stopped and caught her breath. "Fine. I'll go. Just...let go'a me, alright?"

Narsi pushed Lorag's hand off her shoulder and followed along with her head down.

She had nothing else to say before meeting Meesei. Whether Meesei had held back on her drinks before they got there was up to fate.

[hr]
Janius felt his own heart beating faster as he approached Zharanthixil's hut. He held optimism that did not quite comfort him. His mind was not willing to think about the most likely response Kaleeth's father would have to seeing his face again, but reality soon played it out for him.

Keeping himself reserved, Janius clasped his hands together in front of himself when Zharanthixil addressed him. Janius bowed his head respectfully. [i]"Hello, Zharanthixil,"[/i] he said with a neutral look. [i]"It has been a long time."[/i]

Only then did the details come out in the corners of Janius' eyes. His mother-in-law was conspicuously absent, in body and in trace. An invisible ribbon tightened around Janius' throat.

He checked to make sure Julan was still beside them.