Velra sat near the edge of the camp.
She kept glancing at Zain, who lay relaxed on one of the summoned beds.
Finally, she stood up and walked toward him.
"Master," she said, "why did you do it?"
Zain opened one eye. "Do what?"
Velra sat down beside him, crossing her legs. "Just now, you flared your ether."
Zain didn't respond right away.
"You let your presence show for a moment," she continued.
"Then you made it vanish. Completely. On purpose."
Zain smirked. "So you caught that?"
Velra raised an eyebrow. "Of course I did."
Zain stretched his arms behind his head. "Then I guess you're paying attention."
"But why?" Velra asked again.
"You flared it just as the heroes were escaping. They were close enough to feel it."
Zain sat up a little and looked at her with a small grin.
"Because I wanted them to feel it."
Velra blinked. "You wanted them to know you were there?"
"No," Zain said. "I wanted them to think something else was there."
Velra tilted her head. "Explain."
