The black walls rose up, their pieces slotting into each other until they formed a complete circle around the Room and rising into infinity. Then, with a slight nudge, the infinite tops and bottoms bent inwards and linked together, and with another nudge, they folded out into other impossible directions as well, forming an n-dimensional sphere. Felit?a held them like that and waited.

  This is the extent of your defences? Mikranasta said.

  I can spin them to knock thoughts and presences aside, or move them out to push things back. At her words, the sphere began to turn, the individual pieces of the wall moving in different directions, slipping over one another, yet still always maintaining a closed spherical shape.

  Adequate, I suppose, but I can see it is a strain on you and requires effort.

  It does. How much effort depends on the strength of what I’m trying to keep out and how much there is.

  Mikranasta’s disappointment hit Felit?a so hard, it nearly knocked her mental presence over.

  You did that on purpose, Felit?a said. She suspected the disappointment wasn’t even real—or rather, Mikranasta was disappointed, but she hadn’t sent her actual disappointment at Felit?a.

  I did, because you’re thinking in old terms, Felit?a Asa Folith. Your abilities have changed. You’re more powerful now. Don’t be limited by your preconceptions of before.

  But that’s the thing. Even before, I barely knew what I was doing. Half the time, I didn’t. I had to discover things by pure chance and instinct. I don’t doubt there are better ways of doing things, but I have no clue what those things are.

  Disbelief actually knocked Felit?a over this time.

  Felit?a righted herself by turning the Room around her. It was quicker that way. She let her own annoyance flit around Mikranasta, but held back from knocking her over with it.

  Good, you’re getting the idea. Yes, you need to discover things and you’re going to still need to discover things. I can give you guidance, but I cannot teach you. I know mentalism magic, but I am not a telepath. There are overlaps of course, but they are not the same thing. But instinct can be a powerful source of innovation. Let your instincts find new things and then refine those things, just like you use instinct to empower your spellcasting.

  I understand. I just…

  You just what?

  Felit?a sighed. She didn’t like admitting her feelings to Mikranasta. They were perfectly normal things and not particularly secret, but she always felt as though Mikranasta was judging her for them—probably because, half the time, Mikranasta outright admitted to judging her. But she needed to be honest with Mikranasta if she wanted Mikranasta’s mentorship to be of any help. I’m impatient. With everything that’s going on, I worry that I can’t wait long enough to truly learn my abilities. I’m worried about Zandrue. I’m worried about Rudiger. I’m trying coordinate with Cerus and Amar Padara and others regarding our response to Lidda Plavin. I have to keep Agernon placated every time he’s around you or Hedromornasta. And there’s the memorial for my parents coming up, and I haven’t really had a chance to mourn. I keep pushing on because there’s so much else to do.

  Amazingly, Mikranasta didn’t send any disappointment or annoyance or other emotion at her. There are others who can do some of those things. To start with, you shouldn’t be taking such a direct hand in the memorial. Let Lady Anita Belone do that. When we are finished here, you should go to Sinit?a Alessia Deanna Folith. Spend time with her and mourn together. It’s been nearly two weeks, and you haven’t done that.

  You’re probably right. There was another problem, of course, that made seeing Sinit?a difficult, and Felit?a was pretty certain Mikranasta knew what that was.

  Good. Shall we continue?

  Sure.

  Bring a piece of the wall over. Examine it.

  Felit?a turned her attention back to the wall. She had momentarily forgotten about it. It had stopped spinning, but was still in its spherical shape. Unfolding it, she brought a piece over to her. It was black and perfectly smooth and featureless. Exactly what she expected. It was her creation, after all. I’ve done this many times. What am I looking for?

  You tell me.

  Felit?a turned the piece of wall around, flipped it over, and spun it around again. It’s a wall. I’m not sure what else to say.

  Why a wall?

  Because walls block things. I mean, it’s not really a wall. It’s just my mind’s representation of whatever I’m doing to shield myself.

  Precisely. Your subconscious chose a wall because it’s a point of reference you can use. Now, pretend it’s a real wall. How would you strengthen it?

  Make it thicker perhaps. But that would need more effort to create and probably maintain as well.

  How else?

  Felit?a smiled. She had an idea was Mikranasta was getting at, and it made a lot of sense. Stronger material.

  What’s it currently made of?

  Felit?a laughed. Gods, she was an idiot.

  What are you laughing at?

  Myself. I should have seen it. The wall’s not made of anything really. It’s just...a wall. I wanted to block things out and I thought of a wall, but not what it was made of. That’s why it’s so featureless. I never thought what it was made of would make any difference.

  And with some people, it might not make a difference. Everyone is different, which is why you must discover some things on your own. Your mind—for now, at least—requires tangible, precise metaphors. There may come a time when you no longer need that, but for now…

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  I need to make the wall out of a stronger material. What was the strongest material she could think of? Diamond was particularly hard, wasn’t it? Could she make the wall out of diamond? Would that require more effort than making it out of the nothing she was currently making it out of?

  Don’t overanalyse it, or that could counter the benefits, Mikranasta said. Choose a material and raise the walls. Do it now!

  Felit?a dismissed the remaining piece of black wall, then raised the black walls again, this time… No. Not black this time. Just as quickly as they unfolded, she folded them up again. Then she unfolded the diamond walls. They rose as high as the old walls, sparkling white, gleaming in the light that didn’t really exist here. They formed first the circle, then bent over in every conceivable and inconceivable direction to form the n-dimensional sphere.

  Felit?a laughed, that laughter carrying through into her physical body. It worked! And it hadn’t taken any additional effort. Although…

  It still takes the same effort as before, she said.

  But hopefully stronger, Mikranasta said. Give me a moment.

  A flicker of mentalism magic tapped the walls, then another and another, each one just a little stronger than the one before. At first, it took no extra effort to maintain the walls, even when the strength of the taps reached levels that would have had her struggling in the past. Eventually, she started the walls spinning, which took the same effort as before, but just the fact it had taken so much longer to be needed was a massive victory. After another little while, the taps became strong enough that she expanded the walls outwards and pushed Mikranasta’s magical presence aside.

  “Well done,” Mikranasta said in the real world. Her words were heavily accented, so she was actually speaking Arnorgue rather than using magic to translate Isyarian. “I...believe...you can do more, but it is start.”

  Felit?a stopped the walls spinning and let Mikranasta back into the Room.

  That is all we need to do for today, Mikranasta said. Go now and see your sister.

  Felit?a looked away, but nodded.

  Mikranasta approached her and placed one hand on Felit?a’s shoulder and with her other hand, lightly took hold of Felit?a’s chin, gently turning Felit?a’s head to look her directly in the eyes. Felit?a didn’t resist. There was a look of understanding in Mikranasta’s eyes. If you are worried about displaying emotion in front of Hedromornasta, I think you know now what to do.

  Felit?a stared back into Mikranasta’s eyes for a moment. Then it came to her and she smiled. Yes, I think I do. She hugged Mikranasta. Thank you.

  Mikranasta smiled back at her. If Hedromornasta makes a fuss, tell me immediately the next time you see me. I will discipline him appropriately.

  Felit?a nodded. I will.

  Mikranasta backed up a little and placed her left hand on her chest. Pleasant thoughts, Felit?a Asa Folith.

  Felit?a returned the gesture. Pleasant thoughts, Mikranasta.

  As Mikranasta left the library, Hedromornasta entered. Felit?a offered him her left hand, and he stared at it. It was a greeting they didn’t usually go through. Even though Jorvan had confirmed this was the appropriate greeting for a relationship such as the one she and Hedromornasta had, Hedromornasta rarely liked to acknowledge her beyond what was necessary for his duties.

  When Hedromornasta didn’t take her hand after a few moments, Felit?a gave up. She’d hoped to make things as pleasant as possible before she blocked him out of her head. He would still be able to maintain the shield. He just wouldn’t be privy to anything that went on in her head.

  She’d wait until she got to Sinit?a before blocking him, though.

  She had barely made it out the library door before Fineus, one of Anita’s courtiers, approached her, bowing low. “Your Highness, a new message from your brother, his Majesty, the King, as well as messages from Amar Padara, Antonis Elaster, and Sylvia Verun.” He held out a small stack of papers.

  With a sigh, Felit?a took the papers. “Thank you. I’ll read them and prepare responses.” Now that the church’s message delivery system was working again, she didn’t seem to get a moment of rest before another message arrived. They were important messages, of course, but still… She sighed again. She was going to have to postpone going to Sinit?a.

  Instead, she went back into the library and sat at the table, laying the messages out in front of her. She started with Cerus’s. It had a new seal—that of the King of Arnor.

  My dearest sister,

  I can now confirm contact with all provinces, and with only one unfortunate exception, they have all sworn fealty to me. Even Lidda’s younger brother, Jamis, has offered me his fealty. Indeed, it turns out Father was already arranging for him to become lord of Plavin-Tyl once Lidda had been deposed and executed. Unfortunately, her coup occurred before that could be finalised.

  The exception I mentioned is Elooria. Governor Destudia says he will not swear fealty to anyone until a formal coronation has occurred. At that time, he will swear allegiance to “whoever that is”. Destudia may have been Father’s cousin, but his family has ties to the Plavins, and he is known to have been a close friend of Mitchal Plavin. I fear he may try to turn Elooria’s forces against us. Technically, as he is a governor rather than a lord, it is much easier for me to remove him from his position. However, I suspect any attempt to do so will simply be ignored. I am currently looking for a way to contact other noble families in Elooria who may be willing to stand against Destudia. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

  In better news, Lady Sildane has agreed to allow our forces to congregate in Aristan. I have sent messages to all the other provinces to begin raising forces and marching or sailing there, as appropriate, to the plains just outside Beldrum. I will be setting out there myself in the next month. I would ask that, as soon as you are able, you join me there. Leave Sinit?a in Quorge. The front lines are no place for her.

  I am aware there is a risk this is a distraction and that gathering our forces in Beldrum could leave other parts of the country vulnerable to a Volg attack. As such, I am asking the provinces to maintain some standing forces in their own territories, especially in coastal cities like Cilling or Fal.

  I look forward to seeing you, although I wish it were under better circumstances.

  Ever your loving brother,

  Cerus, Third of His Name, King of Arnor

  Felit?a folded the letter and placed it aside. Travelling to Beldrum would be awkward and time-consuming. Of course, if she could figure out how to use the Pearl… Alas, it wasn’t like she was making any progress with that at all. She would have to start making plans for a trip to Beldrum.

  She read the letter from Amar Padara next. He repeated an offer from his previous communication for Felit?a to visit him in Dorg, where they could discuss prayer beads as well as efforts to strike back against Lidda Plavin. If she was going to Beldrum, she was going to have to turn that offer down, and given Padara’s age, it was unlikely Cerus had asked him to join them in Beldrum as well.

  Verun’s letter was short and concise, outlining simply that she was in communication with Anita and Padara to move Orthalin troops through Orwin and Belone to join with both the Orwinian and Belone forces along the way.

  Elaster’s letter, on the other hand… Felit?a groaned as she read it.

  Your most gracious Highness,

  I have recently learned that you have exiled Ninifin royalty residing with you. I had a long-standing, close relationship with Ninifin’s previous queen, Nin-Xoco, which has given me a standing of high regard with the Ninifin court. I believe I could use this standing to help support Nin-Akna’s claim to the throne, and in doing so, secure us Ninifin’s aid against Lidda Plavin. I humbly request that you put me in touch with Nin-Akna at the earliest opportunity.

  Your brother’s loyal subject and yours,

  Antonis Elaster, Lord of Nallin.

  Felit?a knew all about his “long-standing” relationship with Nin-Xoco, which amounted to nothing more than a series of courting her hand, which Nin-Xoco turned down every time. They never met, and they certainly never had a relationship, long-standing or otherwise. She sighed. She’d let Nin-Akna know, but she doubted Nin-Akna would want to respond in any way.

  She took a few minutes to pen responses to Cerus and Verun—a response to Elaster would have to wait until she’d talked to Nin-Akna—then went back into the hall where Fineus was still waiting. She handed him the letters. “Have these taken immediately to the cathedral. Make sure they arrive with my personal seal.”

  Apparently, she had a personal seal now. She hadn’t seen it yet and had no idea what it looked like, but she had one. Anita had had it designed for her, insisting that her communications needed to look official. The more “official” they looked, Anita had said, the more people would take Felit?a seriously. Anita was probably right, so Felit?a had agreed to it, but she had not yet seen the design.

  Fineus took the letters with a bow, and backed away.