Page 114 of Guiding Desire

“Can you find something like that on your own?” Taros asked Col.

Col shrugged. “I have no idea. I’d have to create a program that can use my access to track scans to get into buildings, then filter by time between scans to building entrances.”

Orrey looked at Col. “Why don’t we compare those two scans we already know about from when we ran into that secret meeting with the surveillance feed? It would allow us to narrow things down even further.”

Everyone stared at Orrey, and Senlas leaned in. “There is very little surveillance on the Grounds, at least beyond the entrances.”

“Almost none,” Karmine said.

“You can run around naked, and no one will ever see,” Taros said.

“Oh, we’ve all seen it,” Karmine said.

“On multiple occasions,” Senlas added.

Vin put his plate on the table, cutlery clinking. “Can you get anywhere with this before we have to go on mission, Col?”

Col thoughtfully finished the last bit of his crumble. “I can try. It’ll be a big data set, and some of it will be stored in-building for the older ones. I don’t want anyone to notice me doing this either.”

“Good point,” Orrey said. “By the way, is it a problem? That we are doing this?”

“You’re a collaborator at worst,” Senlas said, rubbing his Conduit’s back. “But no. There’s nothing wrong with looking at data Col has a right to access because of his rank.”

Col nodded. “Only we don’t want Alesa to get suspicious in case he’s keeping an eye on data requests. I talked to some of the Conduits on his team. He doesn’t like them channeling anyone outside the team, and he apparently has a lot of private meetings with his Guardians, though not that many with the Conduits. And he has that thing about Conduits on the team offering channeling to any team member who wants it.”

“Hound-fucker,” Vin said.

Orrey looked thoughtful, as if he were trying to understand the reaction.Or maybe make it make sense when custody-ship still exists,Senlas thought.

“I hate to say it, but unless he’s made any of this a condition of joining or non-compliance a reason for being removed from the Agri-Team, he’s within his rights,” Karmine said.

Taros piled more of the dumplings onto his plate. “Yes, which is ridiculous to start, but I wonder why Conduits—anyone, really—would join his team.”

“He’s a really smooth talker.” Col fumbled with the sleeve of his shirt, something he did as a way to keep himself from biting his nails.

Seeing Col lost in thoughts or memories that made him this uncomfortable only made Senlas pull Orrey closer. “I’ve been wondering whether I should tell Loquin anything about this. I like him. His team were happy to let us take the lead, and they handled the ambush well.”

“Better not,” Col said. “I just don’t like this at all. I don’t like that we don’t know who Alesa has been talking to.”

“This is really serious, isn’t it?” Orrey turned to Senlas, then to Col. “What if we asked the protectors for help?”

“We can’t bring them onto the Grounds, and sharing data pertaining to Conduits’ or Guardians’ personal affairs without their consent is something that would get us in trouble,” Karmine said.

“Well, there’s nothing right now that can be done.” Senlas put another slice of herb pancake on Orrey’s plate. “We might as well cherish that we’re all together now.”

“And cherish you’ve found me a little brother,” Col said.

“Stop! Hold on.”

Taros handed Vin his half-empty plate given that there was no more room on the table and headed into the kitchen. When he came back, he was carrying six round-bellied spirit glasses on a tray and the fire berry wine Orrey’s father had gifted them in his other hand.

Karmine clapped his hands. “Good idea! We haven’t really done this together. Orrey, you’re cleared, right?”

“Since yesterday. I will warn you that this is one of the stronger ones.”

Col clapped Orrey on the shoulder. “The stronger the first drink you share, the deeper the friendship.”

“I’ve never heard that. Is it a Conduit thing?”