"Ryyn, he's coming to," the girl's voice cried.
Ool looked up. Standing over him were two figures in white tunics. Both had the same blue eyes and short golden hair. He closed his eyes and shook his head to clear it, then wished he hadn't.
The girl laughed happily.
"You're not seeing double," she assured him. "Don't you remember us?"
Ool opened his eyes once more. The words, the girl's tone, set his fuzzy brain to working. Of course—the man was Ryyn, who had been one of his best friends at the Academy. Ryyn, whose brilliant mind had already won him a recommendation for a place on the committee; the youngest man ever to be considered.
Then the girl—the girl who had come after him—must be Ryaa, his twin sister. Ool remembered her as a slim, boyish kid. There was certainly nothing boyish about her appearance now.
Ool tried to sit up and instantly Ryaa was by his side, helping him.
"Just take it easy," she advised. "Ryyn is going to give you something to make you feel better."
"Ryaa, I am not in the business of making hangover remedies," Ryyn growled. But at the same time he thrust something into Ool's hand. "Drink," he commanded.
Ool obeyed, shuddering.