Ephemeral and Fleeting

“Just go, Mara. Haven’t I done enough for you over the years?”

Her words stabbed at Mara’s heart. She cringed at the sound of them and then, swallowing hard, directed her friend toward two nearby chairs.

“Nina—”

“Don’t even try, Mara.”

“Please, hear me out.” She clasped her hand. “Let me set out my plan, and then you can respond.”

Clenching her jaw, Nina sat, glaring.

Mara looked down at their hands, once again, interwoven. She looked back up, “Our lives have been . . . connected for many years,” she said.

After pulling her hand free, Nina folded her arms. She looked away, said nothing.

“I know of your sacrifices, although as you are so right in saying, I’ve never had to experience them for myself. I want to make it right for you, but I also want to do what’s right for all of us—”

Nina glanced back and opened her mouth to speak.

“And for all of you,” Mara quickly added. “So, I’ve a proposal. We’ll leave a couple Oathtakers who are without charges here, at the compound, in the event Carlie makes her way back here. Then we’ll send a couple more back into Chiran to see if they can find out where the Chiranians are keeping her, and hopefully, to bring her back to you.”

“But, of course, you wouldn’t dream of going yourself,” Nina spat, shaking her head. “No, that would be too much to ask,” she muttered.

Mara grimaced. “I would go myself, but it’s no place for a woman. I know that thought doesn’t make any of this any easier for you. You are right to worry for Carlie and to insist that we do what we can for her—and we will.”