I turned away; then paced. I longed to burst out into the cold day, to swim out into it and push and push my way through its cold and wet until I could not lift 1 foot again. But I could not indulge myself so. "I was not going to go. I owe her nothing. I wish never to meet her. But now, after finding the cube is gone, now, I think I must."
        Vettra shook her head as if such reasoning, if indeed it were reasoning, was fully beyond her.
        Gallett was frowning, trying to set the pieces together into something she could recognize. A tale, a sign. "There is a connection?"
        "I don't know," I said. "I have no proof of 1. It is a feeling I have. Something more is happening. Less, but more. And it is not a proclivity our species has for forming patterns."
        "Fabricating conspiracies," Vettra clarified.
        "I must see her, and Kyd. Then I will see what I think about the disappearance of the cube."
        "It may return, rider," Gallett said. "Shall I mark the slot?  Can I notify you?"
        "No. I won't be absent that long."
        "How can you know?" Vettra.
        I didn't respond and Pennbaston asked, "Where is she? Do you know where her....the...."
        "Her caven," I supplied with unfeeling swiftness. "I know. I am going now."
        "And I am coming with you," Pennbaston stood.
        "No."
        "I am coming with you, mage," she said again.
        "It would be wise, I think," Gallett said. "It would hold the Progenitor to the established road. Those whose power has grown great have been known to forget where it lies."
        "She will not force me."
        Vettra was exasperated nearly beyond words. She tossed an arm out as she stood. "Ince, you can't know that. You continually crash about as though you had created the planet. You can't know. "
        "I don't need her to accompany me," I said, ignoring Vettra.
        Gallett smiled. "But we do."