Clio's Scroll
Novelette 8,780 words Recommended by 2 award/anthology sources
"You are an exile.” “Yes. And no.” Confined in the narrow neck of the vase, Asmidiske’s voice was tiny and metallic. “An oracle is ambiguous.” They considered and rejected terminology: galaxy, light speed, time warp, circumpolar orbit. “There are not words to say it.” Conversation with the Florentine poet was like fencing with sharp swords."
Quasar links out; the story lives on Clarkesworld, where the author gets the click.