Snow swirled through the air, carried by the wind off the mountaintop and over its lower slopes. Some of the snow moved counter to the wind, captured by elementalists for their own needs. Most of it, though, fell over and around Chithishtheny—the parts of the town not enchanted to keep the snow out, at any rate.

Jorvanultumn breathed deeply of the snowy air. It was cold and he shivered slightly. It was nice to feel cold for a change, instead of the heat of Arnor. Even winter in Arnor rarely felt truly cold. He had spent so much time being uncomfortably hot; a bit of cold felt like paradise.

Since arriving nearly two days ago, he had not really taken a moment to appreciate being back. There had been too much on his mind. There was still a lot on his mind, but it could not hurt to take a moment or two. His diare was unavailable, probably hiding away where he always went when he did not want to be disturbed. Mikranasta was busy. He should check in on Meleng and Sinitïa, but they were probably fine for the moment. He also did not want to return to them until he had had the chance to speak to the Lamdritta on Sinitïa’s behalf. He had promised to do that, after all.

The wind picked up slightly, and he longed to be able to leap into the air and fly with the wind beneath the stars. Flying through the mountains was both calming and exhilarating. But he was trying his best to be good. Every time he had flown in the past few weeks, it had seemed important at the time. Yet Meleng was right. His wing would never fully heal if he kept straining it.

It had taught him how hard it was to move around Chithishtheny without flying. He had a newfound respect for Itra and others deprived of flight for being able to climb the steep paths along the mountainside. He had made the trek up to the Governance Building a couple times now and it had winded him each time, and it was only halfway to the highest of Chithishtheny’s buildings.

He stood outside the doors of the Governance Building right now, waiting for word on whether the Lamdritta would agree to see him.

“Jorvanultumn.”

He turned at the sound. “Lamdir Paydamat.”

She stood in the now-open doors, her wings twitching. Behind her stood a shorter, younger Isyar with shallow eyes and a thin nose. He seemed familiar, but Jorvanultumn could not quite place him.

Paydamat held out her left hand to him. “I wish to speak to you.”

Jorvanultumn clasped her hand. “Of course.”

She indicated the Isyar behind her. “My siare, Nascanmat.”

That explained the familiarity. Jorvanultumn had seen Nascanmat once or twice years ago, generally behind Paydamat. They had never interacted with one another. Jorvanultumn held up his right palm, and Nascanmat touched his left to it.

Paydamat motioned to the gardens. “Shall we?”

Jorvanultumn nodded. “Of course, Lamdir.”

Paydamat set a brisk pace along the central path into the gardens. Nascanmat remained a short distance behind them.

“I understand you wish to address the Lamdritta,” Paydamat said.

“Yes, Lamdir. I was hoping—”

Paydamat held up a hand. “I would ask that you do not. Chiansamorkin will likely convince the others to let you, and I cannot convince them otherwise without giving away my reasons.”

“I am not sure I understand, Lamdir.”

She stopped walking and turned to face him, looking him directly in the eye. “The truth about Princess Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith must not come out. Those who know have been sworn to secrecy, except you. I need your oath you will keep it secret.”

“I do not intend to spread the word, but—”

“Your oath!”

Jorvanultumn hesitated a moment. If she would just let him get a word in…

“Your oath!”

“With respect, Lamdir, you cannot make such a requirement of me. I—”

“I will not repeat myself again. You will give me your oath or I will give you my oath that you will not accomplish what you have come here to accomplish.”

He sighed. It was not worth antagonising her. “I swear I will not inform anyone who does not already know.”

“Good.” Paydamat gave a curt nod and resumed her brisk walk.

Jorvanultumn hurried to stay beside her. He glanced behind. Did Nascanmat know? It did not matter right now. “However, Lamdir, there is still the matter of Princess Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith’s encounter with Lammdir Griholbovroh.”

Paydamat waved her hand dismissively. “You need not worry about that. Griholbovroh will calm down. Indeed, I suspect he has only continued to make a fuss because he knows it annoys Chiansamorkin and that amuses him. He does not like her. He blames her for her diare’s death. They were friends.”

Jorvanultumn gulped. “I did not know he was dead. What happened?”

“A tragic accident. Last year.”

“Why does Griholbovroh blame her?”

Paydamat shrugged. “I am not certain. Something to do with her being too intent on winning her position as Lamdhir that she ignored her diare’s distress.”

“I see.” He did not really. Paydamat’s answers were far too vague, but perhaps he should let Chiansamorkin tell him when she was ready.

“My point,” Paydamat continued, “is that he will tire of his exaggerated vendetta against Princess Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith as long as he does not learn the truth. If he does, he will kill her.”

“What if someone requests she demonstrate her abilities?”

Paydamat glanced at him and rolled her eyes. “There is no reason any Isyar would request a magical demonstration from a human, no matter her potential.”

“I suppose not.”

She looked at him again, this time longer. “Look, I know you are concerned for your friend, and that is commendable. However, you chose to bring her here. You must live with the consequences of that decision.”

“Yes, Lamdir.”

She stopped walking again and smiled. “Very good. Then I take it you will withdraw your request to address the Lamdritta.”

Jorvanultumn nodded.

“Excellent.” She placed her hand on her chest. “In that case—”

“There is one other thing, Lamdir.”

She frowned and lowered her hand. “Yes?”

“Meleng Drago.” He had already backed off from antagonising her, and this might do just that, but he owed it to Meleng to say something to her.

“What of him?”

“You frightened him.”

“Of course I did. He needed to understand the danger.”

“So you did that by levelling your power against him without proper challenge?”

Her eyes narrowed. “It was necessary.”

“And you gave him an impossible task.”

“Getting her trained should not be an impossible task.”

“Getting her trained here in Isyaria for the short time we will be here is.”

She straightened up to her full height—several inches taller than Jorvanultumn—and stared down at him. “Are you questioning my actions?”

Jorvanultumn gulped. “Yes.”

She scowled. “Let me rephrase that. Are you challenging my actions?”

Jorvanultumn shook his head. “No.” That would only result in his death. “Merely questioning.”

“Then we are done here.” She slapped her hand over her chest. “May the night be short.”

Jorvanultumn placed his own hand over his chest. “Pleasant thoughts, Lamdir.”

She wheeled around and stormed off towards the Governance Building, nearly colliding with someone coming out. The second Isyar hastily stumbled aside to let her pass. Nascanmat said a quick apology to the individual, then followed after his diare.

Jorvanultumn nodded to the other Isyar as he headed into the building himself. “I may have made her a little angry.”

“Eliïspt,” the Isyar muttered and stomped away.

Jorvanultumn sighed. News had definitely spread. He did not even know who that person was, but they clearly knew him.

With a shake of his head, he crossed the wide entry chamber to the administration centre where he could formally withdraw his request to speak to the Lamdritta. After he had taken care of that, he crossed the entry chamber again with the intent of heading home...or no...he needed to see Meleng and Sinitïa first.

“Jorvanultumn!”

It was Chiansamorkin. She was standing with Fevionawishtensen near the stairs to the upper levels. He headed over to them, specifically towards Fevionawishtensen, but Chiansamorkin moved up to him first. They touched foreheads. “We were hoping to find you,” she said.

“I’ve been attending to some business.” Jorvanultumn looked past her to his fomase. Fevionawishtensen did not look bothered that Chiansamorkin had placed herself between them, though Fevionawishtensen was good at not showing emotions.

“Another petition to address the Lamdritta?” Chiansamorkin said.

He shook his head as he walked to Fevionawishtensen. “Withdrawing my petition actually.” He and Fevionawishtensen touched foreheads and wing tips.

“I don’t understand,” Chiansamorkin said. “I told you I’ll get them to agree to see you.”

“An agreement with Paydamat. She says she’ll make sure Sinitïa is fine.” He stared into Fevionawishtensen’s eyes as she stared back, smiling.

“I passed her a few minutes ago,” Chiansamorkin said. “She didn’t look happy. Are you sure about…?”

“I made her a little angry, but I trust her when she says no harm will come to Sinitïa.”

“That’s probably right,” Chiansamorkin said. “Not from the Lamdritta anyway.”

Jorvanultumn reluctantly separated from Fevionawishtensen and looked over to Chiansamorkin. “I don’t think Paydamat knows you know about Sinitïa. Is this true?”

Chiansamorkin shrugged. “I haven’t told her, so I presume not.”

“Probably best not to tell her.”

“Wasn’t planning on it.” Chiansamorkin indicated Fevionawishtensen. “I take it she knows?”

“Yes, she knows. Though Paydamat also doesn’t know that, but we should—”

Chiansamorkin laughed.

“What?”

Chiansamorkin held back further laughter and shook her head.

“What?” He looked back at Fevionawishtensen, who had a wide grin on her face. He must have missed her sign something. “What?”

Fevionawishtensen tried to look innocent.

“She commented that of course you told her. You know better than to hide anything from her.”

“That doesn’t seem very funny.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Chiansamorkin took his arm. “Come, let’s go somewhere else. Best not to discuss this in here where anyone could overhear us.”

Fevionawishtensen took his other arm, and they headed for the doors.

“Are you still unable to fly?” Chiansamorkin asked.

“It’s not that I can’t fly. I just don’t want my wing—”

“Maybe we should carry him.”

As they passed through the doors, Fevionawishtensen released his arm so she could sign, Like a diare carries their infant siare.

Chiansamorkin laughed. “He’s a bit big for that.”

Fevionawishtensen looked Jorvanultumn over and nodded. Good point. She took his arm again.

“Are you done making fun of me?” Jorvanultumn said.

They both laughed, Chiansamorkin loudly and Fevionawishtensen silently.

They led him through the gardens towards the path back down the mountainside. Chiansamorkin plucked a few needles from a szadan as they passed. “These look a little riper than last time.” She shoved one in Jorvanultumn’s mouth as he tried to question their actions.

Jorvanultumn chewed it. It was a little sweeter and not bad. He swallowed. “What did you two want to talk to me about? If you’re done laughing at me, that is.”

“In a moment.” Once they were out of the gardens and on the path, Chiansamorkin glanced at Fevionawishtensen. “I think we’re far enough from others that he won’t be too embarrassed now.”

Fevionawishtensen nodded.

“So, what’s this about?” Jorvanultumn asked.

Fevionawishtensen signed, Fomaze.

Jorvanultumn looked at her blankly. “Fomaze?”

She nodded.

“With…” He glanced at Chiansamorkin, who was grinning and nodding. “With her?”

Fevionawishtensen nodded again.

“But…” He glanced at Chiansamorkin again. How did he discuss this in front of her?

Chiansamorkin let go of his arm. “Why don’t you two discuss it a bit? I’ll fly over the gardens a couple times and come back.” She leapt into the air, leaving him to face Fevionawishtensen.

All signs of laughter were gone from her, and she gazed sternly at him. You told me when we met that, when she got over things, you wanted us to include her as fomaze.

“Yes, when she calmed down and when she had a fomase of her own. She doesn’t have one yet.”

Fevionawishtensen sighed. And you think she will?

Jorvanultumn shrugged and broke her gaze. “She might.”

Fevionawishtensen stepped closer to him, grabbed his chin, and turned his face to look at her again. She has no one else. Her diare is dead, you know?

He nodded. “Yes, I heard.”

She will never have a siare. We could bring her into our family so she doesn’t have to be alone.

“I...I’d like to, but the fomaze is between two pairs of fomasee.”

It is?

“Yes.”

Who says?

“Well, it…” He had no idea who had written the rules of the fomaze, or why they were the way they were. Were there any actual written rules?

No one says. That’s because it’s just a tradition. There are no formal rules. It is not like the elispt. Others may disapprove, but let them. We can do as we like. They can’t stop us.

Assuming she was right, it was something he wanted. Or used to want, at any rate. He was not entirely sure anymore. It had been so long and he was still not sure how he felt around Chiansamorkin.

Fevionawishtensen looked at him, waiting.

“Do you want this?” he asked. “She was my childhood friend, not yours.”

You’ve been gone two years. I’ve gotten to know her. Yes, I want this.

Jorvanultumn took a deep breath. He needed to be more decisive. This return home was making him question himself too much. “All right. Let’s do it. But not right away.”

Fevionawishtensen rolled her eyes. No one is saying we should do it right this instant.

“You’re right. Sorry.”

She put a hand on his cheek and leaned up to kiss him. Then she waved to Chiansamorkin, who was still circling over the gardens.

Chiansamorkin was clearly watching for a signal as she immediately flew over to them. She looked expectantly from Jorvanultumn to Fevionawishtensen and back again, her wings quivering.

Fevionawishtensen nodded.

Chiansamorkin put a hand to her mouth. She was shaking. “Really?” She looked to Jorvanultumn for the answer.

He nodded. “Really.”

She flung herself at him, throwing her arms around him. “Oh, thank you! Thank you!” There were tears in her eyes. She wiped them away and kissed him on the cheek. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

He shrugged. “I have an idea.”

She held onto him for a few moments longer. Then she kissed him on the cheek, let go, and stood back. She glanced at Fevionawishtensen. “Not trying to hog him from you.”

Fevionawishtensen gave the slightest of shrugs and smiled. We’ll need to discuss when this will happen.

“There’s no rush,” Chiansamorkin said. “We should probably wait until everything with the Lamdritta is resolved first. Oh, probably shouldn’t announce this to anyone yet either. The others on the Lamdritta already consider me biased and if they find out about this, they might make me recuse myself, and then you’d lose your best champion.”

Jorvanultumn frowned. “I hate to say this, but shouldn’t you probably recuse yourself?”

She shook her head. “Not as far as I’m concerned. At least not until after the ceremony. Which is why we wait to resolve your case first.”

He did not fully agree with her, but he needed a champion on the Council. Bending the rules was probably necessary.

“So what do you say we make some plans?”

Agreed, Fevionawishtensen said.

Jorvanultumn sighed. “I really need to see Meleng and Sinitïa.”

Chiansamorkin grinned. “Then we’ll come with you, right Fevionawishtensen? We can make plans on the way.”

Fevionawishtensen nodded.

Jorvanultumn agreed and they began the trek to the visitors’ lodges.

* * * * *

“What’s your favourite colour?”

Meleng jolted up. He’d just laid his head down for a moment, and had started to doze off. Maybe he’d even fallen asleep. Had he missed anything Sinitïa had been saying?

She was standing by the window in his room, looking out it and not at him.

“Uh, colour?”

“Yeah. What’s your favourite?”

Meleng hesitated a moment. “I’m not really sure. I’ve never really thought about it.”

She looked at him with a frown. “That’s what most of my family says, too. Except Gabriella. She says hers is red. Nobody ever pays attention to colours.”

Meleng rubbed a crick in his neck. “What’s yours?”

“Periwinkle.”

“I’ve never heard of that.”

She stared at him. “Really?”

He nodded. “Really. I have no idea what that is.”

She giggled and sat on the mattress beside him. “But you know everything!”

“No, I don’t. You just think I do.”

She grinned. “You mean I found something I know that you don’t?”

“There are probably lots of things you know that I don’t.”

She beamed.

“So what is it?”

“It’s like a mix of blue and violet. I could get my paints and mix some periwinkle to show you.”

He shook his head. “That’s okay. I don’t want you to waste them.”

“Most of my family probably doesn’t know what periwinkle is either.”

“I hope you’re not grouping me with them.”

She grinned and shook her head. “Never. What’s your family like? You’ve never told me.”

“You’ve never asked.”

“So tell me.”

He thought a moment and shrugged. “I don’t really know a lot about them. My father arranged my apprenticeship when I was really young. I don’t remember a lot before that.”

“Do you have any brothers and sisters?”

“Not that I know of, but it’s possible some were born after I left. I rarely heard from my family after I started my apprenticeship. I got a couple messages the first few years. Then they stopped.”

Sinitïa frowned. “Why didn’t you go see them when you finished?”

“I tried, but then I met Jorvan and we got caught up with Corvinian and Felitïa.”

“Maybe you can go later. I can go with you if you want.”

He smiled at her. “Maybe.” He didn’t tell her he had no idea where his family was. He was lost when he met Jorvan, searching aimlessly. And given that he hadn’t heard anything from them in nearly a decade, they either didn’t want to see him or were dead. He wasn’t sure which one he preferred.

Sinitïa’s frown deepened. “I’ve made you sad, haven’t I?” She put her arms over his shoulders and pulled him closer for a hug. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.”

There was a knock at the door.

Meleng pulled back from Sinitïa. “Yes?”

The door swung open and Jeanne bounded into the room at the heels of Captain Gen. Miana Ting followed them. “Hope we’re not interrupting anything private.” Gen winked at Meleng and Sinitïa.

Sinitïa reached forward with open arms as Jeanne bounded into them.

“We were just talking,” Meleng said.

“Excellent,” Gen said.

Sinitïa pulled Jeanne over to the mattress and ruffled the dog’s hair. Meleng wasn’t sure he liked the idea of the dog on his bed. Her paws could have been everywhere and her fur still glistened from melting snow. Sinitïa noticed him looking at her, and turned Jeanne’s head to look straight at him. “You never pet her.”

“Oh, uh…”

The dog stared at him a moment, a few tufts of hair hanging over her wide eyes. Then she struggled against Sinitïa’s hold, and Sinitïa fell onto her back with the dog on top of her.

Gen removed his scarves and gloves, and sat on the bench in the room with a sigh. “I’m starting to worry Jeanne likes her more than me.”

Sinitïa giggled.

“So tell me, lad, how are the two of you managing?”

“Well…” Meleng shifted positions to avoid Sinitïa’s squirming. “We’re doing okay, I guess. We’re still waiting—”

“Splendid!” Gen clapped his hands together. “I wanted to let you know that Miana and I will be negotiating with the Lamdritta soon over the sale of our goods. This usually takes a couple of days and we won’t be available much in that time. If something urgent comes up in that time, you can get a message to us through my number two. He’ll be overseeing the rest of the crew. For the most part, they don’t leave the other lodges. They like the warmth and other comforts there.”

“He means the drink,” Ting said.

Gen chuckled. “The Isyar make an interesting drink called hpaks. It’s basically just the juice of those vine-like hpakrik plants. However, when fermented, it makes a very potent alcohol. The Isyar always provide my crew a generous supply. I sometimes think they do it to stop too much of my crew from overrunning their town.”

Ting rolled their eyes. “That’s exactly why they do it. I should have thought that was obvious.”

Gen sighed. “I was trying to make the Isyar sound as generous as possible. At any rate, I just thought you should know why we might not be around much over the next couple of days.”

“Thank you for letting us know.” Meleng stood up, as Sinitïa’s squirming with the dog was getting a bit much. “If you’re meeting with the Lamdritta, do you think that means they’re finished deliberating Sinitïa’s case? And Jorvan’s?”

Gen shrugged. “Honestly couldn’t say.”

“It’s just we’re not really sure what we can do while we wait. We don’t know how safe it is for Sinitïa to wander around, and we’ve seen so little of Jorvan since we got here.”

Gen shook his head sadly. “I wish I could help. The Isyar can be hard to predict sometimes. I’m so sorry I didn’t warn you about Itra. My mother often complained that I overlooked the obvious. It seems she had reason.”

“It’s not your fault,” Sinitïa said, still rolling about with the dog.

“Maybe not all the blame, but some is certainly mine to bear. I—”

There was another knock at the door.

“Come in.” Meleng wasn’t sure there was room for too many more people in his little room, but hopefully it was Jorvan.

It was, and Fevionawishtensen and Chiansamorkin followed him in.

Sinitïa sat up. “Jorvan!” She pulled Jeanne onto her lap. “I mean Jorvanultumn, sorry.”

Jorvan smiled. “It is all right, Sinitïa. The people here will not be offended if you shorten my name.” He approached Meleng and hugged him. “I am sorry I have been so unavailable. My own business has occupied my mind.”

“It’s all right,” Meleng said. “Is there any news.”

Jorvan sighed. “Only a little. The Lamdritta has not yet made any decisions, but Paydamat assures me that Sinitïa has nothing to worry about.”

“Paydamat,” Sinitïa grumbled. “I don’t trust her.”

“Then trust me,” Chiansamorkin said. “I think Paydamat’s right.”

Sinitïa scowled. “Okay.”

“I understand your dislike of her, Sinitïa,” Jorvan said. “I, too, had an unfortunate encounter with her.” He looked at Meleng. “I am sorry you had to endure yours. However, I do believe her in this.”

Fevionawishtensen began to motion with her hands, pointing at Jorvan and at her mouth amid other sweeps of her arms and wagging of her fingers. It took Meleng a moment to realise that she was using some sort of sign language.

Jorvan looked contrite and said something to her in Isyarian.

Chiansamorkin smirked. “She’s scolding him for not translating for her.”

Sinitïa peered closer at Fevionawishtensen. “Is she talking with her hands?”

Chiansamorkin nodded.

“Why?”

Jorvan turned back to her. “Fevionawishtensen was born mute.”

Sinitïa frowned.

Meleng leaned closer to her and whispered. “It means she can’t talk.”

Sinitïa grinned. “That’s why she never said anything when I was talking to her the other day.”

“That and she doesn’t know your language,” Chiansamorkin said.

Fevionawishtensen motioned again, and Jorvan translated the last few statements. Sinitïa watched closely. Meleng smiled. There was no way she would understand, but he loved how she tried, how much she wanted to understand things.

“It’s like drawing little pictures! My father says a picture is worth a thousand words. I agree. I try to tell Annai that my paintings tell stories, but she won’t listen to me. She thinks they’re dumb. Now I can let her know you can talk with pictures.”

Jorvan translated Sinitïa’s words, and Fevionawishtensen signed something else.

Sinitïa nodded eagerly. “She agrees with me!”

“You could understand that?” Chiansamorkin said.

“Not exactly, but I could tell a bit from her expression and the nod of her head. I want to learn how to do that. I bet it’s easier than learning all those dumb spoken languages.”

Meleng found himself grinning. Maybe he had underestimated Sinitïa’s abilities. She was definitely a visual person. Perhaps something like this would be naturally easier for her.

After Jorvan translated again, Fevionawishtensen signed some more. Sinitïa watched, scrunching her nose and squinting her eyes. After a moment, Sinitïa said, “This one’s harder.”

“She says she is willing to teach you if you want,” Jorvan said.

Sinitïa’s eyes widened and she nodded eagerly.

Fevionawishtensen signed some more, and Sinitïa rushed forward and hugged her. Fevionawishtensen stumbled back a moment, but then returned the hug.

“I hate to interrupt,” Jorvan said, “but I am afraid I cannot stay right now. I have to see my diare, but I would like to invite you both…” He paused, and looked at Gen and Ting. “And the two of you as well, to dinner at my family’s home.”

“That is very generous of you, Jorvanultumn,” Gen said. “In the many times I have been to Isyaria, no one has ever invited me for dinner.”

“It is not an Isyar custom,” Jorvan said, “and my diare and Mikranasta do not yet know that I am extending this invitation, but I am certain they will honour it. Once I have made arrangements with them, I will let you know.”

“Sounds good,” Gen said.

Jorvan touched Meleng’s arm. “I will see you soon. I promise.”

Meleng nodded. “Do what you need to do.”

Jorvan turned to Fevionawishtensen, and they touched their foreheads and the tips of their wings together. After a moment, they separated. Jorvan nodded to everyone else, then walked out the door.

Gen clapped his hands together. “I must say, I’m excited. I’ve not had the opportunity to experience much Isyar cuisine. I wonder what we should expect.”

Chiansamorkin smirked. “I’m sure whatever Jorvanultumn’s family serves, you will enjoy, Captain Etiënne Gen. However, if you don’t mind, I would like to talk to Sinitïa and Meleng alone. I hope I don’t offend.”

“Not all. Miana and I have some work to attend to anyway. Have to check to make sure none of the sheep have frozen.” He jumped to his feet with a laugh, and strode to the door. “Come on, Miana, let’s leave them be. Jeanne!” He pushed the door open and the dog leapt from Sinitïa’s lap and darted into the hall. Gen grinned. “At least she still listens to me.” The he followed the dog out.

Miana Ting nodded to Meleng and Sinitïa, then to Chiansamorkin and Fevionawishtensen. “A good day to you all.” They followed after Gen.

Chiansamorkin smiled at Sinitïa. “Sinitïa, I want to talk to you about your magical talent.”

“Oh.” Sinitïa hunched over and averted her eyes from the Isyar. “Okay.”

Chiansamorkin knelt beside her. “It’s all right. I know you haven’t been trained. Paydamat doesn’t know that I know, and you probably shouldn’t tell her, but I do know.”

Sinitïa raised her head slightly. “It’s not my fault.”

“Of course it’s not, and Paydamat was wrong to imply it was anyone’s.” Chiansamorkin glanced back at Meleng as she said the last words.

Sinitïa lowered her head again. “She scared Meleng.”

Chiansamorkin spread her wings a little and shifted around to sit beside Sinitïa. “She should not have done that.”

Sinitïa just nodded.

“Have you thought about what you might do to get training?”

Sinitïa shrugged. “I asked Meleng, but he said I wouldn’t be good at his kind of magic.” She glanced briefly at him, then returned her gaze to the floor.

Meleng held back a groan. He wished he knew a way to explain why to her without making her feel stupid.

“You wouldn’t want to learn enchantment anyway,” Chiansamorkin said. “It’s Griholbovroh’s discipline and you don’t want to become a grumpy old ass like him, do you?”

Sinitïa snickered and shook her head, then looked at Chiansamorkin with a grin. “You don’t think Meleng will end up like that, do you?”

Chiansamorkin shrugged. “Maybe, but it’s also Fevionawishtensen’s discipline. Maybe he’ll end up like her.”

Sinitïa looked over at Fevionawishtensen. “Does she know what we’re talking about?”

“She doesn’t know the exact words, obviously, as she doesn’t know your language, but I told her in advance I was going to talk to you about this. She also knows you’re not trained.” Chiansamorkin turned towards Fevionawishtensen and said a few words in Isyarian.

Fevionawishtensen smiled. She tapped her chest and then her forehead.

“Thoughts on what she said?” Chiansamorkin said to Sinitïa.

Sinitïa scrunched her nose. “Something like, I...and her head, um...maybe think or know. Know! She said, I know!”

“You’re good!” Chiansamorkin said.

Meleng smiled. That one was perhaps obvious, but he was glad to see how quickly Sinitïa was picking up the signs.

“At any rate,” Chiansamorkin went on, “I think you’ll be much more suited to conjuration.”

Sinitïa shrugged. “If you say so.”

“Jorvan and I were thinking the same thing,” Meleng said.

“Sinitïa, you know Isyar are forbidden from teaching non-Isyar, yes?”

Sinitïa nodded sullenly. “I know.”

“I’ll help her find a teacher as soon as we get back to Arnor,” Meleng said. “I promise.”

Chiansamorkin glanced back at him. “That may not be necessary.” She turned to Sinitïa again. “I ask that to make certain you understand why you must not tell anyone outside of this room what I’m about to offer. Not even Jorvanultumn. Not yet.” She turned again to look at Meleng. “I need your word as well as hers.”

“Uh…” What was she getting at? She wasn’t about to offer to teach Sinitïa, was she? “Yeah, sure, You...you have my word.”

“Sinitïa?”

Sinitïa looked over Chiansamorkin’s shoulder at Meleng and smiled at him. “If Meleng gives you his word, then I do too.”

“Then I offer to teach you, Sinitïa.”

Sinitïa’s eyes widened and she blinked several times. “Really?”

Chiansamorkin nodded.

“But you’re not allowed,” Sinitïa said.

“No, I’m not, which is why you can’t tell anyone.”

“But surely someone would notice eventually,” Meleng said.

“Yes, they would.” Chiansamorkin stood up and turned so she could face both Meleng and Felitïa at the same time. “That’s why the teaching won’t happen here. When you leave, I’ll go with you and start the training once we’re outside Isyaria. If Sinitïa will have me, that is.”

Sinitïa looked expectantly at Meleng. “Should I?”

“It’s your choice,” Meleng answered. “But why are you offering this?”

Chiansamorkin sighed wistfully. “I don’t know how much either of you knows of our customs regarding this, but I’m thirty-five years old. That is still young in so many ways. I’ve accomplished a lot, more than most. I am the youngest ever to hold my position. But to me, power is worth nothing if I cannot pass it on. I have no fomase, and at my age, it will almost certainly never happen. I will never bear a siare, a child to raise and teach in my discipline. Our laws will not allow me to pass on what I’ve learned to anyone else, and I can’t stand that. So fuck our laws! I’ll pass on my knowledge anyway. You will be like my siare, Sinitïa. What do you say?”

Sinitïa leapt to her feet with a squeal. “Yes!” She threw her arms around Chiansamorkin and hugged her tightly.

Chiansamorkin grunted. “Careful of my wings.”

Sinitïa let go. “Sorry.” She rushed over to Meleng and threw her arms around him, hugging and spinning him.

Until this moment, Meleng had never really imagined Sinitïa casting spells, but now images of her calling waves of water and balls of fire into existence filled his head. He had not seen a lot of conjuration magic actually cast in his presence, so he suspected his mental images weren’t entirely accurate and he was excited to see the reality. He was also starting to feel dizzy, but that was fine. He was happy for her, so he held on just as tight and spun with her.