I looked over at Hem and narrowed my eyes. He was sleeping peacefully, which was a rare thing for these days. I sat up and shook my head, ridding my eyes of the sleep heaviness. There was no way to know what time of day it was in Nak-Al-Burat, as we were deep underground. I could hear some muffled voices though, so I was guessing that it was early morning. There were enough people in the underground city to make me feel wary, but not enough for me to feel immediately in danger. Saliman would have said something if we were in trouble.

Slowly and quietly, I rose out of the bed and tiptoed down the nearest hallway, towards the voices. As I crept closer and closer, the voices became clearer and I could tell that they were the voices of small children. Finally I came to a room, seemingly empty except for about four or five smiling babies. I stood in the doorway for a moment, looking in wonder at the little ones. Then a smooth voice sounded behind me and I spun around, suddenly feeling guilty.

"Hello. I would say good morning, but I can't quite be sure of it."

It was a tall, pale woman. At first I thought she was angry, but then I saw the playful shimmer in her eyes, and I relaxed only slightly. I remembered her from the night before, what was her name? I was horribly tired, so names flew right past me. I was beginning to panic. I was not terribly familiar with the ways of Bards. Would she be insulted that I forgot her name?

I stammered a little. "H-hello. I'm sorry, I just heard voices.. I didn't expect children.."

The woman smiled. "It's perfectly fine. Zelika, right?"

I nodded clumsily. Remember, you stupid girl! Think! You know her name! I thought furiously.

She walked past me into the room and picked up the nearest child, a tan boy with wildly curly hair. "They were rescued from Savitir, these children. Poor little things.. But they are so sweet."

"Yes.." I mumbled, looking around uncomfortably. Wait.. Did it start with an N? Or was it an M? Mimika? No.. Nerika.. Nimikera! That has to be it.

Nimikera looked up from the child and gave me a strange look before picking up her smile again. "You've seen a lot, haven't you?"

It seemed like a strange question. I didn't know how to answer, and so I didn't.

"I mean, you've seen too much for a child your age. The young Hem also. Too much death.. All of us have seen too much."

I nodded again, and suddenly found my voice as I looked at the dark-skinned boy. "If.. If you have something to do, I can watch the little ones."

She looked a little shocked, but nodded gratefully after a moment. "Yes, I do have to speak to Hared. If you'll be alright here, I would certainly appreciate it."

Nimikera stood up and smiled at me before sweeping down the passageway. I looked down at the little boy with the wild hair and tried to smile weakly. "Little sunchild, we are much the same."

I picked him up and sat, holding the child in my lap. "But I will redeem us."

As I watched the little boy giggle and writhe in my arms, I realized that I had no choice but to accomplish what these children could not. I had to avenge the horrors that these innocents could not even begin to fathom.