“As do I,” Eddard whispers.
“Soon, others will join us, such as Elric and Dogan,” Grixis says.
Eddard nods. “And, in time, more.”
Grixis sighs. “One can hope.”
“Should we involve the Penticari?” I ask.
Grixis glares at me. “No—never, for if they knew…” He bows his head in shame.
Eddard looks at the screen, his nostrils flaring in contempt.
I, too, hate the sight of the princess.
“We need to encourage cohabitation,” Eddard says. “It worked for Ramsey and Asha, to the shock of us all.”
“Elena will not allow courtship to happen too fast,” Grixis argues.
“But if we can get more men—” Eddard begins.
I cut him off, saying, “It will not work in our favor if the men are not properly bonded to these women, which will not happen if they pair with just anyone.”
Grixis nods. “Think of what a disaster it would have been if someone had paired with Amber too quickly.”
Eddard and I grumble in agreement.
Grixis scratches his chin. “The Come Together Festival was a success, and we will soon have more.”
“And the festival celebrating Elena’s baby will surely encourage courtship,” Eddard says.
“It is good that we have something to work on,” I say.
“Caen, Brock, Haelden, and Orvell will probably never warm to the Penticari,” Grixis adds. “And one day, they may become our enemies.”
I mislike his words, but cannot deny them.
“Is that all?” Eddard asks. “As I can press on Meg to take the festivals seriously. She will encourage the women to be welcoming of the men.”
“Nori has become a problem,” Grixis says, seemingly out of nowhere.
“How so?” Eddard asks.
“She has seen the Pattern of Tempest, which I did not think was possible.”
Eddard’s eyes light in alarm.“Great Tempest…”
“She knew not what it was!” I argue.
“I fear she will find out quickly. And what would we say?”
Centuries ago, when the first of our seed arrived on Cryon 2-7-9, human life began in the way that it was meant to in order to ensure the planet was ready for us.
Before we were exiled here, others were sent before us, and with them, the pattern meant to force the evolution of the native species. Not the humans, but insects, animals, and any living thing we might need.
The pattern is but a small thing, working tirelessly to force adaptation.
Never in our wildest imaginations did we expect Nori to discover the pattern, and it would be foolish of us to believe that she will not eventually discover their nature.
