Tess. The feel of her shoulder is a comfort to me. I've known her all my life, I think; all the life I know, even though I didn't remember her until I found her again. There's a great babble of voices, and then the man who turned into a lion and then back again returns to his lion form.

"Is everyone here part animal?" I say faintly. "I wonder if I should check for a tail."

"Let me as all of you a question; Does the word Excolo mean anything to anyone here?"

"All roads lead," I say promptly, and then frown. "I don't know where I heard that."