* * *
Kael gaped at Irenya, astounded. Mikey smiled indulgently at her, not at all bothered by her strange request.
‘I am not asking you to do anything except hold the thing,’ she told Kael. ‘I don’t want Orienstar interrupting us while I’m trying to … I have to tell Mikey something very important.’
The birthmark and the long thin scar on the fleetwalker’s face stood out against his pale skin. His brown eyes filled with concern. Irenya took pity on him. ‘Look, I’ll hold it, as long as you promise to help Mikey … He might need …’ She finished with a helpless shrug.
Kael ran his fingers through his prematurely white-streaked hair, the expression on his face marginally less worried.
They were sitting in Mikey’s apartment on his much-loved, huge and colourful cushions. Irenya grasped the
