The banquet itself went rather well I think. Khora and Aidan, understandably, got much attention. I danced with those I should until Radan gave me an excuse to get away from it for a while. When my attention was no longer focused on those I was conversing or dancing with, something seemed odd. There was a hole in the general atmosphere of pleasantness and when I looked closer I saw someone hiding: hiding very well. Neither Lyse, Athal nor Khora seemed to have noticed this woman. The way she hid herself, though, was different from how I was thought in subtle ways, so I suspected a dandar. I put aside my curiosity to warn Khora, and then Lyse and Athal. Lyse summoned one of the Sworn and he arrested the person. Athal sealed the palace and then the dancing continued and things seemed to become even more pleasant. Athal started playing and Khora sang. And if you know them you will not be surprised to hear that together they put on a performance that was beyond my meager skill to describe.

The next morning Khora and Hediyeh had something to show me. We went to the small dining hall and they showed me how they dance for Anshen. In spirit it was like a devotion, but expressed from the soul through the body instead of the voice. I want to learn how to do that too. I also want to learn something of a dance for Athal, before he is off to war if I can manage.

Then we went to see the dandar Khastana at the Order house. I say “we” because Khora wanted to come along. I think she wants to heal her, especially after what we did to her, but that may not be enough for me.

When we passed through the school quarter some Iss-Peranians prostrated themselves for Khora. If I didn’t know that Khora considers this to be quite wrong and if I would want people to do this for me, I might have become jealous. She told them not to do it and pointed out that I was their queen. I guess they don’t see it that way. I can not blame them for putting their hope in Asa ascending the throne of Albetire in some way, but it’s not going to happen. I try to be a queen to all people living in Valdyas, but I wonder if there is a way I can be more than just the queen of this country they live in.

I started asking Khastana questions and so did Khora, and she was much more friendly than I had intended to be, but I let her to see how it would end up. She had some kind of hard spirit armour. It was foul, so Khora started to peel it away. This was obviously painful to Khastana and we were not quite sure that it was a good thing, but we continued to remove it anyway. Or Khora did, I just shielded the exposed places to try and comfort her. Dayati saw what we were doing and wanted to get Lyse, but we were done when she came and too drained for anything else. So Khastana was sent to have a bath and Khora and I went to have one at the palace. I was left with the impression that Khastana was a mess inside, like having her feelings and memories stuffed in random drawers and corners or under carpets. She needs to clean up inside.

If, when we are done with her, Khastana is still dandar, she still needs to be dealt with. She is still not welcome. My hope is that she can become something else. Perhaps work on having other dandar follow in those footsteps.