The night after Shay’la makes her overtures to him, Vardeus discovers much to his excitement that Kephissa and Valnek are alive… but when Tamaris of the Underworld arrives on the Raft Elves’ island, he also discovers that it is possible for someone to be only slightly less unwelcome among his strange little benefactors than he is himself.
Already severely embarrassed at himself for breaking down in front of Quietharm and Flashfire, Vardeus finally comes across Splash, the Raft Elves’ reclusive healer — and is badly shaken all over again by how she chooses to go about finally mending his broken ribs.
