Kalugal took a long sip of wine before answering. "I've thought about little else since they ran. Betrayal is not something our father can forgive. He would try to extract information from Lokan using any means available to him but would probably imprison him somewhere secure instead of doing something that our mother would never forgive him for."
"You don't sound certain," Annani observed.
"Because I'm not." Kalugal met her gaze. "Navuh crossed a line I never thought he would when he authorized those massive terror attacks, especially the one at the concert. I don't think I know him anymore. Something has changed, and I would like tofind out what it is. When I talk with my mother, I'll ask her if she's noticed anything."
Annani shook her head. "Areana will not answer any questions about your father. Do not even try."
Kalugal closed his eyes briefly. "The truth is that I fear for her. What if Navuh knows about our communications with her? The device we gave her is undetectable, but my mother might not be as circumspect as she believes. Someone could have noticed something."
That was a constant danger, but the weekly conversation with Areana was a lifeline for both Annani and her. If she ever decided that it was time to leave her deranged mate, that was the only way she could request help.
"Perhaps I should summon a vision," Syssi murmured.
"And ask what?" Kian gripped her hand under the table. "Whether Navuh knows about Areana's little betrayal? Or about an escape route for Lokan and Carol?"
When put like that, he was right that requesting a vision would be futile. Those were not the type of questions that the universe answered.
Kian squeezed her hand gently. "Lokan and Carol are both capable people, and I will send a team to protect them. That's much more helpful than asking the universe for answers. You know that you shouldn't squander your gift."
He was right, of course.
Her reservoir wasn't limitless.
She'd realized months ago that, unlike the Supreme Oracle of Anumati who could summon visions at will and en masse, Syssi's gift was more like a battery that needed to be conserved and saved for moments of necessity.
Finding Khiann was a necessity. Lokan, Carol, and even Areana could take care of themselves.
