That night, we reach some semblance of a plan.

In the time before Dager's ascension, Elder Paschal was in possession of a key. Köv had seen it trade hands often enough between the hunting parties. Where it is now, though, assuming it hasn't been destroyed, is the present mystery.

"He couldn't destroy it," Mab reasons. "They still need to be able to cross the border." Balai produces enough food to support those few who are left—or at least it did, when Incarnates and able bodies were available to till the land—but cutting itself off entirely would be foolish. In spite of Dager's myriad assertions that it is for their protection.

"He has to have it," she asserts.

"That's what I feared."

Agan is adamant that they have not been identified on their attempts at entry. If Dager knew that they were camped so close, he would have been on them already. Yet the recent skirmishes would have him on high alert.

"Gen can fly over without attracting much attention," Agan volunteers. Already, the hawk has provided us with surveillance of the current situation. Gen is to thank for what little we knew of our enemy. "If we went at night, he could get closer. Land, even. Gen can carry a key. It's just... if Dager has it inside..."

"Tiva is good at getting into places he shouldn't," Teak offers with a self-conscious grin.

"But can he pick a lock?" Köv challenges, unconvinced. "If you think he's just left the front door unlocked then-"

"Actually," Mab interjects. "I know of a way." Mab's bedroom window, it turns out, has a fatal flaw.

"I broke it one night" She admits this with a flushing of cheeks. Then, to our presumed judgement, she adds: "What? Sometimes I needed a break... Especially if they were fighting." She sighs at the memory.

"I would just go out and sit on the roof. Look at the stars... Anyway, I kicked it one night. I heard my father coming upstairs, and I was in a hurry to get back inside, and... now... it doesn't close all of the way." A slow grin dawns on her features.

Of any of us, Agan seems to have the deepest connection with her Incarnate. The reedy girl reports that, if she concentrates, she can inhabit his mind, seeing through his eyes and offering subtle suggestions. Teak appears baffled by this possibility.

We trial the break-in through the morning, Agan attempting to train Teak in sympathy without much success. Teak sits cross-legged on the dewy grass, eyes shut in fierce concentration as Tiva frolics, unaware. It is clear that Agan's patience is thinning, but she presses him regardless.

"Find him," he commands. "In your mind."

"I'm trying," Teak admits with exasperation before his focus is broken. He opens his eyes in search of a life raft. "Hey, do you think we could try this again after lunch. I think we'd both focus better, if we were full."

"We don't have time," Köv growls from his place in the trees. "We need to end this. There are people dying in there. You need to concentrate. For once in your life-"

"I think maybe a break is a good idea," Ohna concedes.

"We've been here for weeks," Teak pouts. "I don't know why there is such a rush now."

"Because now that Kal is here, we actually have a chance," Mab explains, cutting her eyes at Köv.

We eat in silent discord, and Agan starts again with redoubled effort. Köv and Grif stalk off on the pretense of finding dinner. In these factions, I find the courage to ask Mab what has been plaguing me.

"Has anyone seen my family?" Mab frowns before answering.

"Agan hasn't seen anything of them, Kal. I'm sorry."

Her words pierce me to the core. Does that mean that they have left? The alternative is too much to consider. Either way, I worry that I will never see them again. How will I ever find them again, if they have gone? Mab puts a hand on my shoulder as I slump to the ground.

A shout from the clearing dispels my dread.

"He did it! Look! He's eating!"

"I think maybe he was just hungry, Teak..."

"We just had lunch," Ohna says, and Agan offers an unamused nod.

"I'm certain I am getting it," Teak pleads. "I just need a few more hours. I'll be ready by tonight."

The four of us exchange a worried glance, but we haven't much choice.

As darkness falls, Köv returns, and we take our places. Teak and Agan sit side-by-side with their Incarnates. Gen stretches his wings with a powerful confidence as Agan strokes his head. Tiva curls contentedly in Teak's lap. At the signal, the hawk soars, and Tiva merely yawns. Teak laughs uncertainly as he brushes the animal from his lap and urges him toward the wall. The raccoon scampers toward it, then, with a backward glance, lurches his round body up and over and out of sight. That the fate of our mission, our people, rests in his tiny, clawed hands is not in the least bit reassuring.

"I'm at the house, Teak. Where are you?"

"I think he got distracted by a trashcan," he says apologetically. "I can hardly see anything. It's so dark."

"He's nocturnal. He should be able to see."

"Yeah, but I'm not." A collective sigh rises, and Teak seems eager to make up for the delay, for he interrupts. "Okay. I think I'm here. Chez Daguer." When this fails to illicit the response he had hoped, Teak continues. "Man, everything is dead. The flowers, I mean... He is climbing the vines, but... Oh! Shoot, little buddy! Be careful!"

"He can't hear you."

"I know. I can't help it. The vines are crumbling, but he's climbing the trellis."

"Just try to concentrate."

An expectant silence falls in which I swear I can hear my own heartbeat. Ohna clutches my hand, and I squeeze hers in return. Teak shoots a fist in the air, and we all flinch.

"Yes! He's on the roof! Go, Tiva! I am going to give you so many berries when you get back!"

Köv mutters that he could do with a little less eating, but so far none of us hold it against him. If Tiva can get us that key, I will never criticize his weight again. I will feed him off my own plate.

"Great!" Mab instructs. "My window faces the garden. You should be able to reach it from there."

"I see it."

I can almost imagine that window glinting in the moonlight myself. Tiva's little paws, clutching at the gap, prizing it open, just wide enough for Gen to slip inside.

"I'm in," Agan updates.

Gen creeps along the floor, the situation requiring more stealth than flying would allow.

"What about your mother?" I think to ask.

"Separate bedrooms," Mab assures without allowing the question to break her determination.

"Oof," Teak interprets. Then comes another oof when Ohna elbows him.

"I'm in his room," Agan reminds us, ever focused. "Where would it be?"

"Hmm," Mab ponders aloud. "Check the dresser."

"I'm going to need you again, Teak. Look sharp."

Teak, who had hoped to remain safely on the rooftop, grumbles as he directs Tiva into the master bedroom.

"Follow the sound of the snoring," Mab suggests with a roll of her eyes.

"Got it."

"Quieter!" Agan demands.

"Sorry."

"Start with the bottom drawer."

"And don't make too much of a mess," Köv directs. "The longer it takes him to notice, the more of a head start we have."

"Yeah, anything else or can I get on with it?" Agan and Köv take the hint and fall into respectful observance. "Nothing here. I'll move onto the next."

"I'll look around the rest of the room," Agan offers. Restlessness grows as minutes elapse without updates.

"What's happening?" I ask when I can stand the suspense no longer.

"Everything's fine... I guess. Just... Haven't found it."

"Try the closet!" Mab realizes suddenly. "Top shelf!"

"Door man?"

Teak's brow furrows as he whispers futilely under his breath. Stretchstretchstretch.

"Not tall enough."

"Try jumping?"

"Quietly."

"Okay," he says, followed by a "hup... hup.... HUP! Got it! Yes!! After you, bird lady."

I picture Gen swooping into the closet, hopping along the shelves.

"It's filthy in here," Agan comments, annoyed.

"He never lets the servants in his personal chambers."

"Suspicious."

"I think he's beyond suspicion at this point."

"Alright, I am getting out of here. Tiva is getting restless. Up to you, Gen."

"Wait on the roof. I'll need you to close the window behind me."

"Got it."

"No," Agan says with a grin. "I got it."