Page 136 of Dark Rover's Shire

"I have so much I need to tell you, but I do not want to distract you from your work. I need you to make a figurine of Khiann that will make you dream of him and help me find him. We are running out of time."

She thought about the flickering Cyra had talked about, and her gut clenched.

Esag swallowed. "I'm doing the best I can." He motioned for her to follow him.

They continued through the house to Esag's makeshift workshop—the closet had been transformed, the skylight flooding the small space with natural light, and the shelves lining the walls holding tools and materials instead of clothing. But the figurines were what drew Annani's attention.

Khiann's face gazed back at her from multiple angles, carved in different stones. Each was exquisite, capturing some aspect of the man she still loved with every fiber of her being—his strength, his kindness, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. But Esag was right about something missing from each one of them.

"They're technically perfect," Esag said miserably. "But they're dead stone. No spirit, no spark. Nothing like how I remember him."

"I have a portrait of Khiann in my bedroom." Annani lifted one of the figurines. "The clan works with an artist who can draw eerily accurate portraits of people just from their descriptions. Would you like to see it?"

"I would love to." Esag reached for a clean rag and resumed wiping his hands as if their cleanliness would provide him with the answers he was seeking.

"Come to think of it." Annani put the unfinished figurine back on the shelf. "Perhaps I should ask Andrew to arrange a meeting between you and the artist. If he draws a portrait of Khiann from your memory, it might help you with the carving."

Esag looked doubtful. "I don't really see how it could help, but at this point, I'm willing to try anything."

"Then it is settled. I will have Andrew arrange a meeting as soon as possible. In the meantime, you should come to my house, so I can show you Khiann's portrait."

He dipped his head. "I would be honored, Princess."

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