Page 75 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

"How long has the tour lasted so far?" Khiann asked.

"This is the longest Ani has ever been absent from the capital." Aru set his coffee cup down. "Any specific reason for your worry?"

Annani sighed. "It is always in the back of my mind that this tour is taking too long. I am afraid that El will decide to send Ani to more distant colonies, and I will not get to talk to her for hundreds of years. But the reason for my increased concern is a vision that Syssi had."

She told him about the floating crown, the island shrouded in cold fog, and the three dragons flying over it.

"Negal said that El sends people he wants to get rid of to colonies infested with dragons, where they fall victim to the deadly predators. Can you check with Aria if Ani is going to visit any such colonies? And if so, perhaps Sofringhati can contact her to warn her."

Aru frowned. "The crown could be Ani's, or it could be El's, or it could be nothing. A foggy island could be anywhere, and there are several worlds that have dragons." He shook his head. "But there are plenty of stories about dragons on Earth, including in movies, so that could have influenced Syssi's vision. Dragons could also be a metaphor for trouble."

"Syssi's visions are always rooted in reality," Annani said.

"The best I can do is pass it on." Aru leaned forward. "Perhaps Sofringhati can summon a prophecy based on Syssi's vision."

"I appreciate it," Annani said.

Aru stayed another hour, answering Khiann's questions about Anumati, the beauty of its capital city, and the Eternal King's rule.

When he rose to leave, he shook Khiann's hand again.

"Your sister is very brave," Khiann said.

Aru nodded. "She is, and so are the queen and Sofringhati. I lie awake at night, worrying about them."

After Aru left, Khiann sank back into the cushions and closed his eyes. "I know what dragons are. It is strange that I do. Did we have legends about dragons?"

"We did," Annani said. "I assumed the primitive humans saw our flyers and thought they were flying lizards, but perhaps there was more to it than that."

27

NAVUH

Navuh had left the walker in the apartment, folded beside the wheelchair he had sworn never to use again.

One hundred and twelve steps without the walker.

The corridor wall was concrete blocks, cool and a little rough under his palm. He kept his hand on it, not for support so much as for stability, because he still got dizzy sometimes. If he fell and broke something, it would set his recovery back.

The first twenty steps were nothing. By forty, his thighs were burning, and by eighty they were shaking. He usually took a short break at the eighty-step mark, just standing for a moment with his hand braced against the wall to catch his breath.

Daniel and Areana stopped as well, his honor guard waiting patiently for him to continue.

"You are doing better every day," Areana encouraged him. "Today you reached the eighty-step mark half a minute earlier."

He cocked a brow. "You are timing me?"

"I just started yesterday. I thought you would want to measure your progress."

"I do. Thank you. Just make sure to stop the timer when I take my break and restart it when I resume my walk."

"Of course." She smiled. "Do you want me to time your breaks as well?"

"No. Not yet."

Another thirty-two steps to the elevator. At the elevator, he leaned against the wall while they waited. He leaned against the wall inside the elevator as well.

Now, sixty-three steps to the pool.