"Imagine a prodigy dunamancer saying there was no time." It's a jab, but a gentle one. Verin isn't angry. Their lives had drifted into different spheres and their orbits did not often cross. Verin misses Essek, some days feeling it more than others. And part of missing ihs brother is knowing that Essek spends far more time alone than he does.

Then hearing he'd gone to Vurmas, of all places... Essek says it's for a change of pace, but Verin can't quite believe him. There has to be something else. He remembers hearing the news and thinking, almost immediately, What happened?

"Well, you're seeing me now, thanks to... whatever brought me wherever this is."