Nis’ visit with the Life Counselors lasted for almost an hour. After the initial questions about her past life, Shen and D’Aora asked about her life growing up in Dural. From time to time they would ask again about her time in the archives and her time in the wilderness but they never stayed on that topic for long. It seemed to Nis that that they were trying to keep from upsetting her by poking at those subjects for too long. Whether or not it was intentional, Nis was grateful for it. While it was true that she hadn’t had any significant outbursts from her past life, she thought she could still feel it in the back of her mind, not quite coming forward but also not fully retreating. When their meeting was over, Nis was surprised to find Kerchek, not Lesch, waiting for her.

“Where’s Lesch?” Nis asked while they walked back out to the cart.

Kerchek held her door open for her to climb in and didn’t respond until he. Too. Had gotten in as well. When he spoke, he sounded uncomfortable and confused.

“Meric requested to be taken back to Dural,” he said. “Lesch went to meet with her and see what’s going on.”

“What?” Nis thought Meric had agreed to wait a bit longer before making any such decisions. Had something else happened since their conversation last night, or had she never actually been swayed by Nis. She knew better than most that it wouldn’t be right to force Meric into staying against her will, but having someone she could talk to who knew Dural, knew the archives, had meant so much to Nis that she’d begun to take it for granted.

“Nis?” Kerchek said and Nis realized he’d been speaking and she hadn’t been paying any attention to what he’d said.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked if Meric had said anything to you about it?”

“I know she’s been thinking about going back but didn’t think she’d made up her mind.”

“She sounded pretty upset this morning,” Kerchek said, “but wouldn’t explain what was wrong or why she wanted to go back.”

Kerchek clearly was hoping Nis could fill in the gaps for him but she didn’t feel comfortable telling him Meric’s secrets.

“Do you know what’s wrong?” Kerchek asked when Nis remained silent. “Did something happen to her?”

“She can go home if she wants to, right?” Nis asked.

“Of course!” Kerchek assured her. “But she seemed so upset this morning. Lesch said Meric had been the one that was most excited to come here so we’re all just a bit confused, I guess.”

The rest of the trip back to the building where Nis and Meric were staying was spent in silence. Nis couldn’t see Kerchek’s face but his posture was stiff. Did he think that he was somehow responsible for Meric’s sudden apparent change? He certainly didn’t give off the same sense of awe that Lesch and some others had shown when they found out that Mel was one of Nis’ past lives but she figured most people here held Mel and Tique in some esteem. Having any one of them return would be a significant event, but having both was even more so. What did it mean, then, when one of them decides they’d rather go back instead of staying here?

When they arrived back at the apartment, as Kerchek called it, Lesch and Meric were there waiting for them. Nis had been worried that they would already be gone and she was so relieved to see them that she rushed over and gave Meric a hug.

“I can’t stay here,” Meric said softly. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

Nis let go of Meric and held her gaze for a few moments.

“I know,” she said, “I’m glad I could see you before you left.”

“Lesch insisted.”

Nis gave Lesch a thankful nod.

“I want you to have my things,” Meric said, taking a step back from Nis. “My house and all that. I don’t think I’ll need them.”

“I don’t think I need them either,” Nis replied.

“You can sell them, then,” Meric insisted. “I understand why none of the other lives after Tique have come here. I just wish I’d figured it out sooner.”

Nis caught Lesch and Kerchek sharing uncomfortable looks with one another but didn’t want to draw any attention to it.

“When are you leaving?” Nis asked.

“We’re ready to go whenever you are,” Lesch said.

“Are you really going to be okay on your own?” Nis asked. “You’ll be going upriver this time so it’ll be even harder going.”

“We can take her to within a few miles of Dural,” Lesch said. “We’ll arrive when it’s dark out and there are a few places near Dural where our airships can land and takeoff safely.”

Nis let out a sigh of relief, glad to hear that Meric wouldn’t need to go all that far on her own. They embraced once more and there didn’t seem to be anything else to say so Meric picked up her back and was gone along with Lesch. Kerchek remained standing in the entryway, still looking confused by everything that had happened and more than a little concerned.

“Do you need anything?” he asked finally.

“I think I’m okay for now,” Nis replied.

Kerchek was just beginning to turn to leave when something did come to mind.

“Wait, Kerchek?”

“Yes?” he said, turning back to face her.

“What do I do?”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Well, back in Dural I worked on my parents farm, and then in the archives. But, what do I do here?”

Kerchek rubbed his chin in thought, “Well,” he said, “you seem to enjoy learning so you could go to school, attend a university or learn a trade. You could also go work on a farm if you prefer that. Some people who have as much wealth as you do go traveling, visit other countries. Really, you can do whatever you want.”

Nis thanked him and when it became obvious she had no other questions for him he left.

It wasn’t even midday yet. The apartment was uncomfortably quiet and already she missed having Meric around. When she first left Dural, Nis had accepted the fact that she’d probably live the rest of her life alone, but Meric had changed all of that. Suddenly she had a friend, a companion on whom she could rely on to be there for her, and now she was gone. Although, Nis wasn’t alone here in Quet’tzos. There was an entire city, an entire country, a world that she was free to explore and meet new people. Make new friends.

There were things she needed to sort out first, of course, like making sure her past life wouldn’t be causing any more trouble, but even now as she stood there in the apartment, surrounded by things that should have been upsetting to that long-dead queen, she only felt the smallest hint of emotion from her. For the first time in what seemed like a long while, Nis actually felt calm and hopeful about what the future might hold for her.