“Where are you headed next?” Gavain asked.

“I’m going to visit with a young arcane. Her name is Irini,” Aria said, over the com. She’d walked back to her room, only to find her com ringing. Aria had snatched it up and listened to Gavain’s greeting.

“You’re on Scaldigir?” Gavain sounded hopeful.

“Oh, only for a short while.”

“They’ve kept you working every week this year.” Gavain’s voice rang with disapproval. He thought too many ambassadors and politicians relied on Aria’s aura reading.

Aria agreed, but she could never say it.

“I’m not working. I have leave.” Aria felt a hint of guilt at her inability to keep her own secret.

“You do? That’s wonderful. But, wait...why are you only on Scaldigir for a short while?”

“I’ve volunteered to help Irini with her power,” Aria said. “She has a magic thread of gold.” Aria didn’t mention that thread’s potential use – tracking.

“Oh.” Gavain sounded disappointed. “How long is your leave?”

“A month. I should have some left over to spend with you. Would that be alright?” Aria smiled.

She knew it would. She also felt confident that Irini would find Pan in a week or two. Aria would make sure this whole thing was over. Two years was long enough.

“I would be delighted to spend some time with you. I can’t get the time off unfortunately, but I’ll be orbiting the system for quite a while. You can join me. I have to work with Soffigen for the next six months, and…” Gavain sighed. “It’s tough. They’re upset about – Nevermind.”

Pan.

Aria’s finger hovered over the com button. “I’ve got to go, Gavain. I…”

Aria wanted to say she loved him, but some older arcanes hovered outside her room. She’d forgotten to close her door, and they might overhear. They always got antsy when young arcanes tried to marry early and take a break from service. Arcanes in their twenties and late forties on were workhorses, and Aria fell solidly in that range. She was only twenty-seven.

“I’ll look forward to seeing you.” And saying certain words, someday.

With that, they wished each other goodbye. Aria scooped up her tea set and hurried back to the garden.

Aria poured tea. She had a little kettle, complete with two cups. When not in use, they all fit together – tea for two. Pan had given her the item as a gift, joking that Aria should never have need of more cups because the two of them would be hard pressed to make additional friends. In a way, Pan had been right.

Among the arcanes, Aria still had a lack of friends. At first, it had to do with her lack of work with her peers. Then, it had to do with Aria’s friendship with a reaper.

This girl, Irini, half Aria’s age, didn’t know she was supposed to steer clear of the reaper’s friend.

Irini accepted her cup. “Wow, I just… This is the first time I’m really talking to another arcane – who isn’t a mentor, I mean.” Irini’s bubbly aura, fizzled and popped.

Aria had to look away. It was so bright and so yellow. Underneath, Aria could just make out curly, white hair, and grey skin.

Aria smiled. “I didn’t spend much time with older arcanes when I was your age. You’ve only been with us for about four months.”

“Oh, I know. I just never expected someone like you to ask someone like me out to lunch. And, to help me learn. You’re such a well-known arcane, and I really look up to the people who don’t participate in combat because I’m never going to participate in combat.” Irini barely paused for breath, but she did indeed draw breath. “You’re one of my favorites. I mean...uh...that came out wrong. I mean, I knew about you before I was arcane. I always thought you were so cool, and you were involved with the whole rea…” Irini stopped.

Aria saw yellow concern bleed over yellow happiness. Irini even started to turn a bit orange, a hazy shade of anxiety. The girl seemed to deal in nothing but shades of fire.

Aria waved a hand. “Don’t worry. I don’t mind talking about her. Actually, I was hoping we could.”

Aria watched Irini and waited for her reply. She got her first inkling of Irini’s answer in Irini’s aura, through chaotic flickers of surprise and suspense.

“Do you know everything I’m thinking?” Irini asked.

Aria smiled. “No. Just everything you’re feeling.”

Irini’s aura twisted, torn between pink admiration and a deep yellow anxiety. “Okay. When I said you were one of my favorites, I didn’t mean I stalk you or anything. I just want to be clear about that.”

Aria smiled wider. “I didn’t think you did.”

“So...what about...her?” Irini leaned forward.

“Pan was always a good friend of mine. I’ve been worried about her. It’s not like her to kill innocent people, even if they are our political rivals. I think I have a chance to talk to her. You see...we have to train you somehow.”

Irini’s mouth fell open. “Do...Do the mentors know you want to make me practice on the rea...reap…”

Aria put a finger to her lips and shook her head. “No, please let’s keep that quiet. If you refuse, I won’t press you into it. But, I don’t want you to say anything about it, whether you help me or not.”

Irini’s aura dimmed. She glanced around the courtyard. “Okay. But, if she’s doing bad things now, don’t you think it’s a bad idea to talk to her?”

Aria set her cup down. She wondered the same thing herself. Aria took a deep breath. “She sends me these drawings.”

Irini listened. Her aura drew in, and Aria got a good view of the girl’s large eyes, round face, and tight curls.

Aria spoke low, “Usually, I can’t see drawings. I can’t see paintings, and I have to use a new screen to see digital art. Everyone who touches an object leaves behind a little bit of their aura. The aural light covers the lines in the drawings. Does that make sense?”

Irini nodded.

Aria smiled a little. “These drawings that Pan sends me...I see them perfect. I don’t know how Pan did it, but the lines and the aura are one.” Aria fiddled with her cup. “She did it for me. She never used to draw like that. She never drew in color, and now, she does.” Aria shrugged. “I just can’t see her as an evil person.”

Irini’s aura faded to a gentle cream. Her mouth hung open.

Aria could feel Irini’s attitude changing. Then again, Aria always suspected that Irini would be easy to convince. She knew the girl idolized her. She’d heard rumors. Plus, Aria had the drawings and the honest emotional connection to convince some of the hardest opponents of Pan. It helped that Aria didn’t need to act the part of a concerned friend, but she still felt a twinge of guilt as Irini fell into line.

“What does she draw?” Irini asked.

Aria looked into space, past Irini. “She draws the events that transpired before she left Scaldigir, albeit with some surreal elements. She draws me and Sotir. She sent me a few drawings of space.”

Aria went quiet. In her mind’s eyes, she saw Pan’s drawings. She’d almost forgotten the picture of space, with its view of public car-based transport, stars, and a backdrop of colorful clouds. A note had fallen clear of that picture. It read: not accurate. Space is boring. Embellished – for Aria.

“You okay?” Irini asked.

“I’m fine. Let’s get back to business. How do you feel about tracking Pan?” Aria looked Irini in the eyes.

Irini bit her lip. She looked all around the garden, and her aura swirled in blue and yellow. “I want to do it…but I’m not really an expert tracker. I don’t know how.”

“I have some ideas,” Aria said.

Irini looked at her lap and twisted her hands. “I have to be honest. I’m a bit afraid of her. What if she wants my power?”

Aria shook her head. “I can assure you. She won’t. She would never hurt you. She’s a grave robber.”

Aria studied Irini’s aura. The girl was all anxiety and fear, yellow and orange.

Aria added, “I won’t force you.”

Of course, I will manipulate you, but…

Irini raised her head. Her aura flared, in too many colors. “I want to help you. I definitely want to help you find her.”

She’s so eager to please – to please me.

It reminded Aria of a much younger Pan. Pan had been eager to please the elder arcanes and their mentors, very long ago, right when they started. Then again, hadn’t Aria felt the same?

Aria narrowed her eyes and further studied Irini.

Irini’s aura flickered with anxiety, hope, and fear. Beneath all that light, Irini sat with an awkward look on her face. She seemed stiff, and after a while, she avoided Aria’s eyes.

Finally, Aria said, “Alright. I want to leave in a couple of days. Do you think you’d be ready to do that?”

Irini leapt up. “I’ll get packed now! I could leave now if you want.”

Aria held up a hand. “I still have to get us a ship. Oh, that reminds me...you do feel comfortable flying a ship? I heard you did, but it’s so rare...”

“I do! I can definitely fly a ship. I used to pilot my dad’s ship when I wasn’t supposed to. I can park in space docks and get out of them. And, I’m alright with steering and courses. I’m a bit shaky on landings and takeoffs.” Irini’s eyes widened. “And, I can’t dodge anything. We’ll just die if someone shoots at us.”

Aria blinked. “That’s fine. I’m just glad you can fly. I can’t even see out a windshield.”

Irini shone bright, so enthusiastic. Her emotions blocked Aria’s sight of potential base colors, but Aria suspected she’d see more of the same beneath it all – a lot of yellow.

“Don’t worry, Aria. I mean...can I call you that? You’re not a mentor, so…”

“Yes, Aria is just fine. And, you can call mentors by their names too. You might as well dispense with titles.” Aria put a hand on her tea cup. “Oh, and call Pan by her name. She wouldn’t mind. I think the last thing she would want is to be known as the reaper.”

“I’ll…try…” Irini said. “Where should I meet you?”

“I’ll come get you when everything’s ready.” Aria planned to make it ready right away.

Irini skipped along after Aria. She knew Aria could see her acting like a seven-year-old, but she didn’t care. She already got a job! A job, and she wasn’t even an arcane for six months. That was pretty rare. Most people had to wait a year or two before they were deemed ready to work. Some notable exceptions included the seer, Sotir, some girl that could influence the emotions of others, and now – Irini. Yay!

Irini almost missed a skip. She remembered one other who got early jobs, the reaper: Pan. Back when everyone thought she was just a ghost seer, the reaper – uh, Pan – got a job three months after her Shift. She was only twelve, and she had to investigate murders in a popular child’s play place. Pan seemed cool, but a little intimidating.

“Here we are,” Aria said.

Irini stopped. Aria must be joking. The ship looked awful. A small cockpit sat ahead of a long, corrugated cargo. It looked like...Irini didn’t know what it looked like, but it seemed to have a very specific purpose.

“Uh, what kind of work does it do?”

“It’s a trash ship.” Aria shrugged. “I know. It does stink inside. This is the best I could do. All of our ships are on patrol because of Pan. I can’t get a good one for training.” Aria gestured to the trash ship. “I had to ask a favor of a detective to get me this ship. It was impounded for…some reason or other. No one was going to reclaim it.” Aria seemed to deflate. “Well, I wonder if he could have done better. He’s still a little sore about the Pan incident.”

“Wow. I can smell it from here.”

“It’s nothing to look at either. Not the usual array of color.” Aria walked to the door and keyed it.

“What’s it look like?” Irini asked.

“It’s gone kind of...brown, and not a nice natural brown. More like one mixed with an ugly shade of yellow or green. It also, quite literally, has stink lines.” Aria stepped on to the gangway and paused a moment. She blinked fast, stunned by the smell.

“Neat,” Irini followed Aria aboard. She whirled to face the wall, found the interior control, and keyed the door shut behind her. She regretted it instantly, but she had to get used to the stink. She had to buck up and smell the rot.

Irini headed for the cockpit and discovered that it was also the kitchen and sleeping space. Two bunks occupied the back wall, visible from the helm. The garbage scow could house four people. The microwave sat just ahead of the sleeping quarters, and the kitchen table occupied the wall across from the microwave. They could eat almost where they slept. The piloting space presented the most open area. It contained only two chairs in a space that could take four. Irini would call the living space compressed, cramped even. It made the garbage tank inescapable.

“I didn’t think we had a ton of garbage to deal with.” Irini held her nose. Her parents always said that Scaldigir was the most environmentally friendly society.

Aria waved a hand in front of her nose. “Well, this particular scow takes garbage and recycling to processing plants on the edge of our solar system. I suppose that counts as friendly to the environment. And, as recent as two years ago, we did burn garbage on planet. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but that’s about to stop. Ever since Pan burned those…” Aria paused and straightened. Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh, nevermind.”

Irini frowned. Holding her nose, she said, “I’m glad I don’t have to drive one of these forever.”

“It’s pretty bad,” Aria said. “Do you think you can focus like this.”

“Oh yeah, please. I need something to do.” Irini dropped her bag, took the helm, and began takeoff procedures.

It seemed a lot simpler in a garbage scow. Nothing fancy, just the basics. Irini got them in the air, and to her surprise, the scow handled okay. Once they got into space and put some distance between themselves and their homeworld, Irini paused. Time to do her job.

“Enjoying the view?” Aria stared at the windshield with empty eyes.

“No, I’m about to conjure up some thread. I just need a minute.” Irini closed her eyes and envisioned Pan’s scary reaper face, intense, angry, and cold. She tried to add Aria’s idea of Pan into the mix and managed to soften the look, just a little.

Irini opened her eyes and saw a golden thread. It shimmered on one of her fingers and led out through the windshield, ahead into space. “I got her,” Irini breathed.

“Good. Let’s go.”