Cyra shook her head. "No, but they are all waiting." She paused, crayon hovering over the paper. "The sand sings to them."
"What does it sing?"
Cyra hummed a few notes, a melody that seemed hauntingly familiar, though Annani could not place it.
"That is beautiful," she said when the child stopped. "Where did you hear it?"
"In the dream. The sand sings where they are sleeping." Cyra selected a brown crayon and started to draw what looked like big rocks.
"Do you see these rocks in your dreams?"
The girl shook her head. "No, but maybe there are big rocks. I just see sand." She sounded despondent.
"That is alright, dear one. You have already helped me more than you know."
Cyra nodded, looking relieved, and went on adding details to her drawing. "They want to join the party."
She was probably talking about the welcoming party for Esag and the others, wishing for a brighter topic to talk about. She was just a little girl, and it was time to lighten the mood.
"When we find them, we will have an even bigger party than what we had last week. Do you like parties?"
The girl nodded eagerly. "I like the music and the dancing." She squirmed on her cushion. "I like to dance."
Evidently, Cyra had reached her limit of sitting in one place.
"Would you like to take a walk in my garden?" Annani offered.
The child brightened immediately. "Yes, please!"
They walked hand in hand through Annani's backyard, with Cyra exclaiming over flowers and then dropping Annani's hand to chase butterflies. She seemed more childlike here, giggling when the butterflies evaded her reach.
It warmed Annani's heart.
"The pretty man dreams too," Cyra suddenly said. "He dreams of you."
Annani's throat tightened. "Does he?"
Cyra nodded enthusiastically, and Annani appreciated the child's effort to lift her mood.
"He wants to wake up, but the sand song is too strong."
"Perhaps," Annani said.
"Can I take one flower for Maman?" Cyra asked.
"Of course." Annani walked over to the flower bed. "Let me get it for you so you do not hurt your fingers."
They were interrupted by Ogidu stepping out through the sliding doors onto the back porch. "Mistress Yasmin has arrived, Clan Mother."
"Maman!" Cyra ran to her, the rose clutched carefully in her small fist. "Look what the Clan Mother let me pick!"
"It's beautiful," Yasmin said, but her eyes were on Annani, questioning.
"She was a delight as usual," Annani assured her.
After they left, Annani returned to her living room and studied Cyra's drawing more carefully. Five figures in the sand, flickering between existence and void, waiting to be found.
"Ogidu," she called her butler. "I wish to visit Esag. Have the golf cart ready."
