Yasir chuckled. “No, I was not thinking that, not at all. Everyone is present and accounted for, and we do not have any extra Chosen visiting us.” His expression sobered, and he went on, “I am sorry to hear that your own Chosen is missing, and Fatima’s as well. That is a grave matter. But come with me — I will take you to my workroom.”
He waved with one hand, indicating that Malik should follow him out of the living room where they’d been standing and talking, and down a hallway that passed the family room. In there a pretty young woman with long blonde hair lay on the couch, watching something on the large flat-screen television that dominated the opposite wall. She flicked a curious glance in their direction but didn’t speak, apparently content to let Yasir explain things to her once he
