    you, but we’re not going to fight a war for you. That you must do
yourselves, and you are not yet ready.”
“And you?”
“I am here for you and your people, as was my mate. He died to
buy Nizhoni and you time to escape. I know your loss of her is great,
but you are young, and you only knew her for a few short months.
Tricnollak and I were life mates for hundreds of years. His absence is
an emptiness in my soul.”
A wave of grief shook over Fintan’s body again. He began to sob.
She’s gone.
*
He must have fallen asleep then, because when he opened his eyes,
Trichallik and Smith were gone. Ayako and Zack were sitting at the
base of his bed again.
“Good morning sleepyhead,” said Zack, trying to inject some
cheer into his voice, but not succeeding.
Ayako reached out and held onto Fintan’s hand.
He rubbed his eyes and looked at them. Ayako’s eyes were puffy
and red, and Zack looked tired and empty.
“It wasn’t a dream was it?” asked Fintan. “She’s really gone, isn’t
she?”
Ayako nodded and lowered her head.
“Fintan,” said Zack. “I’m sorry if this is insensitive, but what
really happened out there?”
He remembered what Trichallik had said. “I’m sorry,” said
Fintan. “I don’t really remember that much.”
“But what attacked us Fintan?”
“I don’t know.”
“Fintan?”
“Zack, I can’t talk about it, ok?”
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