Somewhere above, as if waiting, the loversuns still shone.


    enveloping.


    meinstead.


    losteach other so quickly.


    couldsmell her, but that was awash in everything else, nothing but a tinge. Hinte had been more than enveloped, she’d beenswallowed, just like me.


    walkand ask unanswered questions? It should have been worth it. Instead, I’d lost Hinte again.


    gone.


    Tremble before me!


    sinking.


    <hr>


    Below, furious molten glass burned beneath a fa?ade of hardened dust and glaze. The heat of the lake’s blood rose and animated the air, driving it upward. I found it curious, as that same heat wore me down, draining my energy with every step I took toward… with every aimless step forward. No sign of Hinte.


    allof it.


    burn, even from strides away. Hinte and I could avoid them???—??we did???—??but I only learned thatafterHinte snatched me from the path to one. I hadn’t known about them then, and Hinte hadn’t told meanything.


    stink; if it wasn’t sohot; if the air wasn’t so dark andspooky; if the ground wasn’t the worst of lousy desert sand and ice-covered watercombined; if, honestly, if I just wasn’t here.


    <hr>


    For all I missed having Hinte around, it didn’t really change that much. You were stillsifting, in spirit: trudge warily over a flimsy skin; pray the stars it doesn’t smash open beneath you; bear the heat, and dryness, anddust;drink your water, but not too quickly; get used to the rumbling quiet, because Hinte definitely wasn’t going to make any talk.


    hatesifting.” My lips had already moved before I’d startled and covered them.


    burst, my legs punching me up, my wings spreading. I might have squeaked. But the voice sounded like Hinte, fearless Hinte, determined Hinte. So I hadn’t squeaked at all???—??I wouldn’t squeak with her watching. She’d brought me with her for a reason, and that reason couldn’t have been making pathetic sounds when she called my name. Even if it were completely out of nowhere, with no warning at all.


    thatwas definitely what held me back.


    passit to me? Smile gone, I snapped my tongue and aimed a glare at Hinte.


    dryand seemed tinted vaguely green.


    dropit. I wasn’t that useless.


    worthy, in her estimation. But I would bleed these crabs, brew her the purification mixture as a gift, and it would prove I could be an alchemist just like her. She would finally tell me why she came to the lake.


    * * *