Laini spent the next few nights tossing and turning, barely able to sleep and the only one who noticed was Nebedtka. He was surprised their father didn't check on her after he told her about this 'light'.

Finally, after the fourth night of restlessness, he ambushed Laini in a hallway when she wandered away from her room for air. She let out a loud gasp, clutching her chest in surprise before she kicked him in the leg.

“You…foul, boy WHAT are you doing?!” she angrily grabbed him by the ear to drag him down to her height but he playfully managed to get away.

“I’m worried for you,” he said through his chortling. “Ever since father spoke with you, you’ve been distant. I don’t like it."

She huffed and moved passed him, continuing her march outside. It was well after midnight and the fires of the palace and temples were the only thing that could be seen along the landscape.

“Well, what did he say to you?” Nebedtka demanded as he followed her. She really wasn't sure if she should tell him but Nebedtka was persistent when he wanted to know something. His pursuit would never end until his curiosity was satisfied.

Laini stopped next to where the family kept their horses and leered over the backs of a few of them as they picked their heads up to look at the intruders next to them. She squeezed the railing and glared at nothing. Nebedtka tilted his head, waiting for her to speak.

“He said he had considered taking me along when he goes to fight the creatures he says are out there...but he took it back after he said it...,” she sighed.

“Ah,” he replied. Laini furrowed her brow and shot him an incredulous look. “Did you he tell you he thinks you’re powerful, too? And the light...?”

“You knew about this…?” she was dumbfounded. He shrugged. “But, you sound angry?”

“Angry? No. If what he said was true, I would hate to possess what you do but...I agree with him in that neither of us should walk willingly into that life. Even from just reading about it, it’s very dangerous.”

“But...you don’t think we could be of use to him? You don’t believe we can help him? Yes...it might be dangerous but wouldn't we be stronger together?” she huffed.

“Your eagerness intrigues me,” he chuckled. “You don’t believe that these things exist and yet, here you are, willing to jump into whatever darkness may be lurking out there if father asked you to.”

“I would do whatever he asked of me,” Laini shook her head decisively.

“Except sit still…”

Laini glared at him again.

After a moment she turned her body to him and leaned against the pen.

"What is this 'light' he spoke of?" she asked, running her hand along her face. Nebedtka stared at her before letting out a heavy sigh.

"The Hebrews speak of such things more than we do I think..." he murmured. "A power said to originate from the god they worship but I think there is far more to it than that. That is one subject that I am barely beginning to read about. Their language is very different from ours...but I believe our way is just as valid to describe it though I am learning to use our words to compare the ideas. It's difficult...Our forebearers...the ones who wrote about the gods and the way the afterlife works; they barely understood the scope of what's out there."

Laini shook her head. There was never a point in poking him for things he didn't know. But her mind...this whole time...

"I hate the idea that father is facing something dangerous on his own and won't allow us to help him... and I just have this feeling he is keeping something from me; from us..." she distorted her face. "This is the one thing that has consumed my sleep of late..."

"He himself doesn't know yet of what it is," he shrugged in defense. "That is why Khafre asked him to study the situation here. Try to give him time to prepare. I doubt he's doing this to be mean to us, Laini..."

“Tell me what to look for, brother,” she said, bending over to look up through her brow at him. She wrung her hands around the wooden pole and squeezed it so hard it nearly cracked. “Tell me how to find them.”

“You are not prepared for what you will see…” he replied, growing more uncomfortable with every second.

“Then tell me what you know. You study these things...you know what to look out for and even how to fight them, you’ve said as much many times in the past. I will not drag you into this; all you have to do is tell me...”

Nebedtka’s eyes grew more alarmed. If he was persistent in his pursuit of knowledge, Laini was persistent in her pursuit of action. They were perfectly balanced that way.

“And it’s not even that I want to fight them but to at least see something of them,” she nodded her head to try and convince him she was in no danger.

“Even seeing them...some grow angry when you see them. Especially those who are going about their business as they’re supposed to."

“Please,” she begged, grabbing him by the arms. Nebedtka furrowed his brow and stared down at her for a moment. He could feel her angst and brought her closer to his chest. “Every time I look at father with doubt...I can tell it hurts him. I don’t want to hurt him anymore. Just one will be enough.”

“I do not believe you...,” he shook his head but in a way agreed with her. He bit down on his lower lip and sighed. “But I also know you're going to insist and pester me about this..."

He lifted his head in thought and then down as he weighed his decision. Laini moved her hands slowly up to his shoulders and waited until he finally sighed and gave a small nod.

"I...suppose just one. But I am going with you.”

Delighted, Laini shook her brother by the shoulders and wrapped her arms around his, binding them to his body.

“There is some preparation, I think before we can do this,” he nodded, “give me time.”