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The tears leave warm paths down my cheeks I wipe them away

"Mother"

Still on my knees, I throw my ar for the longest ti of haemanthus Her lips kiss h she re

"I have to take the kettle off," she says "Before someone wakes and see you like …"

"Of course"

"You have to let go ofatat the Sigils onher head "How could this be? You … your accent Everything"

"I was carved Uncle Narol saved me I can explain"

She shakes her head, trehtly she must think I can’t see it The kettle shrieks louder "Take a seat" She turns her back to me and takes the kettle off the stove She sets out another h shelf I remember it wasnothing as she cradles it close, slipping into awhen they would ready for the day together With a long breath, she drops the loose-leaf tea into theelse? We have those biscuits you liked"

"No, thank you"

"And I took ht It’s delicate Gold food Did you do that?"

"I’arden You reone, heading back to the ship after she watched the holoCube I feared this I read a e fronar catch her, and contain her till I can speak with her Or trust her to make her own decisions But if I trust her, she could leave, tell her father what I aiven her so nar and Sevro capture her preainstsilently, I type a quick reply

"I re back up "I’ the stove When she turns, a lopsided sed face Her hand fus, but swiftly she recovers

"Got so I saw the clumsiness of her hand

"Other way around, I’m afraid …" I hold up the chair It’s better suited for a Gold child than a Peerless Scarred who stands just over seven feet and weighs as ether She chuckles that dark chuckle of hers, the one that, as a child, alwaysparticularly sinister Gracefully, she folds her legs and sits on the ground I follow, feeling gangly and clu cups between us

"You don’t seem terribly surprised to seeI wonder if she’ll continue "Narol told one and dipped yourself Gold, though" She sips her tea "I bet you’ve got questions"

I laugh "I thought you’d have ils "I’m more patient Go on now"