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"We’ll see Don’t gawp like a girl at her first dance, Azaze Let’s get on with this" Tahar thumped her cane on the floor

Jayat sat on a bench near Tahar’s elbow Azaze looked at thethe door behind them Noas just us and the town council Oswin propped the slates where everyone could see them when the time came

Rosethorn stood in front of them to speak "Myrrhtide and I ca of your plants, streams, and ponds" She looked calm and beautiful, her hands clasped in front of her These people wouldn’t know she had been riding all day "Evvy and her friend Luvo cas to chance Luvo is the heart of awith us for a tie, presently in training at Winding Circle"

I hungme her friend

Rosethorn told the off Jayat took over, explaining how he caught up and stayed with me Then I told round charound I explained the poisons on the stones under the dead spots, and my idea that the poisons were borne on air that escaped volcano spirits as they pushed toward the surface About how the shocks were their atte to succeed, so the maps I had made, I showed them where Carnelian and Flare had come closest to the open air Luvo told them where the chamber hile Rosethorn made me drink a second cup of her medicine tea By then I was very tired Even after I had the tea, the room seemed a little spin-y I took a step away froht myself on the table I had never had to talk to people like this before, drained of rown-up faces for Rosethorn, but either I was too tired to pick her out, or she wasn’t there

"The volcano spirits will coo better if they break through one of Mount Grace’s sides facing the open sea But the thickest stone they have to push through is that way If they coh the cracks, they’ll dues around Mount Grace,islands"

"That makes sense" Oswin looked up fro that ive it a small path to escape, like a hole in a pipe or a daer And remember the volcano on Levit Island three years back? We could see the blast froh the top of theon the whole island"

Softness settled around my shoulders Rosethorn tucked a knitted blanket around nized its opal colors Lark had th and healing and warmth for her

"But she meant this for you" I tried to take it off Rosethorn settled it back around ht now you need it," she whispered very quietly in ht?"

The sot up "Azaze, you and these learned dedicates are paying heed to this nonsense? She makes up this faradiddle and expects us to s it? The wench is trying to duck a beating at her et the rock to look as if it talks Plainly she’s talented if she can fool Winding Circle es That still doesn’t mean honest country folk like us have to scramble for her nonsense" He looked at Myrrhtide and Rosethorn "Forgive ical learning if you s this chit’s tale"

Myrrhtide glared up at him "I am not addled I am no more likely to s anyone’s ‘tale,’ as you call it, than I am likely to fly I a Circle I have studied at Lightsbridge university and at Sing university in Hatar In that tireatest earth, water, and fire es ever born What they record of the days before a volcano’s eruption sounds very much like what Evvy and Luvo have told us since their return to this inn tonight"

So that hy Fusspot hadn’t started yapping at ot He really did believe ht to try to be nicer to him

Fusspot wasn’t done with the smith He thrust his teacup over in front of the lare that would start a fire "Tea, you pompous--"

"Master Smith!" Azaze’s voice cracked like a whip

Fusspot acted like he hadn’t even heard He’d never acted that hen I’d insulted hi, Master S the cup"

The s"

"As was my ater," Myrrhtide said "As is the ater As is the water in the pots used for cooking and laundry Before volcanoes loose their heavy fire, Master Sround can trees keep written records from the past So we can learn froone before"