Namaari sat leaning against the headboard of her bed, watching as Raya paced across her room for what felt like the hundredth time. "Could you please stop doing that? It's really starting to stress me out."

Raya stiffened, then quickly moved to sit down in a chair on the other side of the room. As soon as she sat, her leg began to bounce against the floor and her fingers tapped on the arm of the chair.

Namaari stared at her for a second, then frowned. "That really isn't any better."

Raya grimaced and leaned forward with her forearms propped on her thighs. "Sorry. I'm just tired of waiting. It's been an hour since your mother told us to wait here."

Namaari nodded, reaching down to pick at a loose thread on her sheets. "At least we didn't have to wear our formal clothes for the entire night."

Raya let out a half-hearted laugh. "I suppose that's true."

There was a knock at the door, and Namaari rose to answer it. Raya jumped to her feet and stood behind her as she opened the door to reveal a messenger standing in the hallway.

"Chief Virana requests your presence," the messenger announced.

Namaari nodded and the messenger turned to lead them down the stairs. They followed him to the north wing of the palace, walking through the now-empty hall where the party had been earlier this evening. They didn't pass any guests on their way across the palace, but Namaari noted that there were more guards on patrol than usual.

The messenger finally stopped outside the door to a small room, holding it open and ushering them inside. The interior of the room was simple, the only decoration being a small jade bowl that sat on the table in the center of the room. There were chairs around the edges of the table, with the two across from them occupied by Benja and Virana. They were speaking to each other in low voices but ended their conversation when Namaari and Raya entered the room. Virana nodded to the messenger, who bowed and closed the door behind them.

Benja leaned forward with his hands clasped on the table, giving them a warm smile. "I hope you're both doing all right, given what happened earlier."

"Do we have any more information on Bayani or what he was doing?" Namaari asked. She moved her hands behind her back so her mother wouldn't see her fidgeting.

Benja sighed. "We took Bayani into custody after the incident at the party. We've questioned him, and it seems that this was an isolated incident." He paused, his eyes moving slowly between Raya and Namaari. "He will be released in the morning."

Raya let out a noise of disbelief. "That's it? You're just going to let him go?"

"Yes." Virana said sharply, making both Raya and Namaari flinch. "From what we can tell right now, Bayani acted alone and has no plans to follow through with his threat. I will have someone follow him after his release, but I can't hold a Heart citizen prisoner without any evidence."

"Besides," Benja added, "If we try to hold him it's more likely that others will take notice of his cause. He could become a martyr."

Namaari felt her stomach drop. "So, you think there are others who agree with him?" She kept her gaze on Benja and hoped he wouldn't hear her voice shaking. "Other people who think we need to be punished somehow?"

Benja sighed and got up to walk around the table. He put a hand on Namaari's and Raya's shoulders and looked at each of them in turn. "Revenge is not justice. And you two have nothing to atone for. You fixed the Dragon Gem and reunited Kumandra." He squeezed both of their shoulders gently. "Now, please, go get some rest. It's been a long night and I think we all could use it."

Raya opened her mouth to respond but stopped when Benja shifted toward her. He held one hand to her face and used the other to brush her hair behind her ear. "Please, dewdrop. We can talk about this more in the morning."

Raya's jaw tensed, but after a few seconds she nodded. Benja smiled at her, then placed a hand on her shoulder again and steered her toward the door.

Namaari watched them leave, then turned to find Virana had moved around the table to stand in front of her. "Mother—" she began, but Virana raised a hand to stop her.

"I know you have questions, kitten," Virana said, giving her daughter a fond smile. "But Chief Benja is right. It's been a long night, and there will be time to discuss this in the morning when emotions aren't running quite as high." She gestured toward the door, and Namaari left without another word.