Page 97 of Alien Burn

Tivek nodded, but the stem snapped between his fingers.

Sereya knew only what Tivek had told her before Dhomhes arrived. He and his mother had come for a lineage attestation that should have been a small part of preparing for the rite.

It was plainly taking up more space than that.

“What happens in there?” she asked.

“They ask Mother to prove things they already know.”

Dhomhes's jaw tightened.

Tivek glanced at him. “I know. You're waiting for the answer about why my form is different. I'm waiting too.”

“I haven't forgotten.”

“I didn't say you had.”

The edge in Tivek's voice surprised her. His brother didn't answer it with one of his own.

After a moment, Tivek added, “I just don't want every conversation about the rite to turn into this.”

“All right,” Dhomhes said.

“And I don't want to be the interesting exception. I'd like to come up with a decent piece of stone and have someone complain it's smaller than theirs.”

Dhomhes considered him.

“Kessin will do that even if you bring up half the mountain.”

Tivek huffed a laugh.

“There. Something to rely on.”

Sereya squeezed Dhomhes's hand once. He glanced down at their joined fingers, then at her.

She could have kissed him for that answer.

The thought arrived so clearly that she looked away before he could see too much of it.

Tivek began winding up the sling.

“Does it bother you?” he asked her.

“What?”

“That I don't have his title.”

“No.”

He studied her for a moment, trying to decide whether she understood.

“Father's second union,” he said. “That's the part some people can't get past.”

“I understood.”

“Oh.”

“Should I be offended about the rope on your mother's behalf?”