Threan was an easy language to sound out--the alphabet was very phonetic, if arranged unusually on a page. But it was a language that was intended to flow smoothly from one syllable to the next, and so the stilted reading made for delayed recognition of what was actually being said. At first, Ravi assumed Alex was practicing by reading out of the Book of Alm, which he'd been using to teach him from.

But Tabea was not a name out of that book. Ravi's head snapped up. He saw the cover and a growing look of horror spread over his face as Alex kept reading.

He abandoned the cat, nearly tripping over her as he rushed to the couch to snatch the book out of Alex's hands. "Where did you get this?" he demanded, one hand on the armrest, the other holding the book up by his shoulder, out of Alex's reach.

And then that last line's meaning sank in and embarrassed outrage turned to indignant outrage. "Oh my god--did you just spoil it, too?!"