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There won't be anything they can tell us, Tom," Agatha says in an undertone.

"Agatha thinks we can find out what happened to Verity in books," Thomas says, ignoring her, "but I don't see how we'll ever know the truth if not from the people who were there. You knew her, Alvis, at the Academy. She mentioned you when she was home."

"She—she did?" You're not sure if Alvis is startled by the idea of Verity hinting at any aspect of her plan, or by her mentioning him to her parents at all.

"Nothing like this happened to any of the other Fairgrieves, since Damian, and his demon blood showed from the start," Thomas says, his expression turning more somber. "You saw her, you spoke to her. What happened to Verity? Is there any chance she'll come back, the way she was before?"

"She's not coming back, Tom," Agatha says softly. "They threw her in the portal. Demons can't come back through the portal."

"People who've never been anything but human for twenty-one years can't turn into demons, either," Thomas says, reaching for her hand. "Something happened here that never happened before."

Both the Carrases are looking expectantly at you now. You don't need Alvis's glare to remind you of the warning he gave you outside.

"I'm afraid Verity really is dead," you say.

"But it's such an odd story, there must be something else," Thomas persists.

You shake your head. "I'm sorry."

Thomas opens his mouth to ask another question, then shuts it, sagging against his wife. Alvis gives them his apologies as well and claps you on the back as you leave.

Next

"That ought to keep them from asking questions," Alvis says with a relieved sigh as you emerge into the afternoon sunlight. It's not very late in the day yet, but the last week of travel is wearing on you. Alvis seems to be feeling similarly, because he suggests looking for somewhere to rest and prepare to stand guard at the portal tonight. You have several hours yet until there's any risk of it opening again, if matters proceed as they did before.

Then Alvis frowns. "Your friend Min, or Meredith's friend Min. If they're following us, we ought to go looking for them."

It only takes a few quick questions around Pasema to learn that a Sienhan singer is performing at an inn called the Gilded Gate tonight, so that solves the question of accommodation as well.

The Gilded Gate may be the largest inn in town, but in Pasema, that doesn't count for much. It's about half the size of any of the inns in Archa, but there's a sizeable crowd gathering outside. Word seems to have gotten around that you and Alvis are in town, and you're quickly rushed through an adoring crowd up to the inn's front door.

Waiting to meet you at the door is a tall, slim figure, somewhere above thirty, with a straight-backed military bearing. They nod crisply as you approach. "Captain Haris, of the Pasema militia," they offer in introduction. "We'll be there to back you up at the portal tonight."

"We're still rounding up volunteers in town," Haris says. "More than we had three years ago, to be certain, but then you were all so reluctant to accept help then. I wasn't captain yet three years ago, but—"

Haris breaks off, narrowing their eyes at a young man pushing his way up through the crowd. "Jun, Alvis," he pants, thrusting his hand forward for you to shake. "The demon three years ago was nearly at my mother's doorstep—you saved all our lives! I wanted to be sure I had a chance to thank you."

"You're meant to be guarding the portal, Dalton." Haris's tone is stern, but their expression softens as they watch Dalton eagerly grasping your hand. They place their hand firmly on his shoulder and pull him gently away from you. "Dalton's one of our newest volunteers, so you'll be seeing us both later tonight," Haris explains as they usher Dalton through the crowd.

Inside the inn, a young serving-girl offers her own effusive thanks as she leads you into the common room. It's just as packed in there as it is out on the street, but—almost startlingly—not everyone watches as you enter. Several of the villagers are staring at the raised platform at the other end of the hall that serves as a stage. Seated on the platform, tuning their instrument, is Min, wearing an extensively decorated blue Sienhan robe and a wide grin.

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