Maker of Fire

Emily, Black Falls, Cold Season, 1st rot., 2nd day

Melk circled the manse forecourt once. Before we landed, I saw one of the garrison guards run into the manse. People came streaming out the door before I could start undoing my seat straps.

"Wait," Listayodas put his hand lightly on my shoulder. "It will be better if you stay seated because they will want to pay obeisance. You're not accustomed to receiving honors, are you, little one?" I could tell he was amused by me. The old prince had started to show signs of a pleasant personality and an easy sense of humor. It was nice that he had begun to smile more, though I could tell he was still anxious about his surviving family.

Imstay ushered all the haup Foskos and the haup Gunndit families toward the front of the small crowd in their colorful wedding attire. Then he and Aylem knelt, and the rest followed.

"May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you, sacred ones," Aylem said.

"And also upon all here gathered," I replied. "Please rise. Moo, can you help Listayodas down so he can greet his family?"

"No," a tall, young silverhair man in the green of a groom ran forward. "It is my wedding day, and if my great-uncle has come to honor the occasion, I insist on helping him down. Great One, I need to move you out of the way."

"I will take care of that," said Imstay, the used car salesman. He stepped up, unstrapped me, and set me on his arm. "Welcome home, Great One. You have brought interesting guests. Listayodas Prince, I feel we should hold a festival to celebrate your miraculous return. The message from Aybhas said you need healing. May I ask . . . ?"

"My legs were broken and set badly," Listayodas replied. "I am quite lame and can only walk a few steps."

"Kattessat, levitate him down," Lisaykos was suddenly next to us, looking up at her brother with tears running down her cheeks. "I'll make sure he doesn't fall."

"I see my crybaby little sister hasn't changed at all," Listayodas smiled at her with his own eyes watering.

It took maneuvering to get the old man off Melk's back. As soon as his feet were on the ground, Lisaykos had him in a hug that gave no quarter. Most of the older generation had teared up. Even Imstay was wiping his eyes. My estimation of him crept up when I saw that.

After a long moment, Listayodas looked up at his sister with a grim face. "Is this all that is left of my kin? I already know about the disaster at Pinisla, but how did Akoep pass? And what about Listarkas? The little Prophet did not recognize his name when I asked about him."

"Akoep died seven years ago in a freak accident. She slipped on some ice and hit her head. She was dead by the time her staff found her outside the Crystal Shrine. Listarkas left a note that he intended to travel after her death. We've not heard from him since."

Usruldes, wearing his guise as Lord Irhessa, stepped next to Imstay and whispered, "May I?"

"Yes."

"Honored One," Irhessa bowed his head, "Listarkas is currently in the city of Kappa, on Kora Kor. I will send him a message that you have returned home. If he knows you are here, he'll be back as soon as he can arrange passage. I can get a message to him within four rotations."

"How is that possible?" the old man asked. "And who are you?"

"I'm Irhessa, Uncle Listayodas. Last time I saw you, I was shorter. My message to your grandson will go through the bankers of Hoydee, who maintain a better postal service than any empire or kingdom on Erdos. I'll need to get a subsidy from the King to afford the cost of an express message. If we can get him to Mattamukmuk, it will be just two rotations from there to get him home."

"My grandson is alive." The old man started weeping in earnest, which resulted in Lisaykos wrapping him back in her embrace. I admit, I was getting a bit leaky around the eyes myself.

"Now then," Imstay moved attention away from the reunited siblings, "who are your other guests, Great One?"

"To start, Imstay King, the eagle is the Blessed Melk, revelator of Erhonsay." Oh, I so enjoyed the look on everyone's gobsmacked faces, especially Imstay's.

"When did that happen?" The Holy Irralray pushed her way past the Gunndits surrounding Lisaykos and Listayodas. Her daughter Foyuna was on her heels.

"The revelation was this morning, Holy One, at Three Feathers Camp in Tirmarra." I fished the revelation scroll out of the fi'irsdeerskin pouch. "You'll want to read this. It's all there. Erhonsay has now forbidden eating other people. There's some other stuff, too, about the conduct of soldiers during war, and just versus unjust reparations. The revelation adds to the Conventions of Surd and the Laws of Landa regarding conflicts. Sorry, Foyuna, but Erhonsay also commanded the Tirmarran shamans to come to the Crystal Shrine to be educated in the scriptures. I have no idea how that's going to work."

"Surd save us!" Foyuna gasped.

"And I don't know if any of them can speak Fosk," I added.

"Shamans do," Storm Eagle said, surprising me. "Most some words. Come in shells they has."

"What?" Foyuna tried to make sense of Storm Eagle's disjointed Fosk. I didn't realize he knew any.

"Foyuna, Erhonsay told the Tirmarran shamans to come wearing capes of shells, which signifies that the visits are a penance for them.

"Now, this is my Tirmarran friend, the warrior Storm Walker, who is now the retainer of my other guest, the one and only Infanta Moo'upegan nu Mattakwonk, Empress Presumptive of Mattamesscontess. She has taken Storm Walker into her service. He needs the immediate care of a healer because he has reinjured a broken leg."

Lord Irhessa stepped up next to Storm Walker. "I speak Tirmarran. If someone can arrange a guest room for our guest, I can do the healing. Can someone please send to the chapel shrine of Mugash for splinting supplies and some crutches?"

"Consider it done," an elderly silverhair in bride-side yellow answered, and gestured for a servant to attend her.

"Em, you did the introductions backward," Aylem said in my ear, startling me.

"Nope. Prince Listayodas had to go first.

"You must be Aylem Queen," Moo said, pulling down her hood. "The gods sent the Beloved and me to fetch Melk and Listayodas home to Foskos. As I see it, the gods gave precedence to the rescue of Melk and Listayodas. It was meet and right, therefore, for them to precede me because their homecoming was by divine command. It is not fitting for me to upstage something the gods desired." Moo's perfect smile gave Aylem no openings to rebut.

"Lord Irhessa," Moo said, "if you can get Storm Walker down, then I'll be able to dismount. I'm sure Melk will welcome getting us off her back."

"It does have some appeal," Melk replied.

"So, tell me, Great Bug," Aylem asked, "if you were in Tirmarra this morning, how did you get here in just a few bells? Tirmarra is two to three days from here. Hmm?"

"Landa brought us."

Imstay groaned. "That explains it."

"Explains what?"

Twee's head popped up behind Aylem's shoulder. "Sssssss, Emily, you are here. Greetings, friend Emily. Tom is waiting on the stepsss."

"What? Tom's here? Imstay King, can I get down, please?"

"It's too crowded. I will take you there."

"No, just put me down, now!"

The King ignored me. So, I was a prophet who could command the King to slay every Impotuan? I couldn't even get him to put me down so I could walk across a forecourt. Damn overprotective Cosm. Dealing with Moo's own special brand of overprotectiveness had been its own trial, but now I was back in Foskos. With a growing feeling of dread, I realized I had just reacquired a small horde of giant silverhairs dedicated to nagging me about my weight, chiding me about stunt flying on Asgotl, and insisting on buttoning my coat for me. I wondered if Usruldes had already detailed a wraith to follow me around.

"Over fifty people are in the forecourt, Great One," Imstay said. "And you are harder to see than most Coyn. Aylem would make me regret it if I put you down, and then someone stepped on you. And here we are." The King put me on the top step, where Tom, in groom-side blue, was standing. Then he walked back toward Melk, leaving me with Tom and no audience other than a garrison guard.

"Hey, sweet thing," Tom purred, "what's a cute chick like you doing in a stomp-up dive like this? Wanna come home with a real man and check out my art collection?"

"You cut your hair."

Tom's braid was gone. His hair was now short, shorter than Usruldes' bowl cut.

"You don't like it?" He looked panicked.

"No, I like it. You don't look like a hippy anymore."

"What's wrong with hippies? I used to be one. And what's with the Eskimo outfit? You look ready to ride a dog sled."

"I feel ready to ride a dog sled. And it's warm enough that I'm sweating. It's a lot colder up in Tirmarra than it is here. Let's find a closet where I can shed the fur, and then we can make out until we're exhausted."

"I'm sure there will be a wraith lurking."

I looked up and addressed the air, "Is there?"

"I can look the other way," a woman's disembodied voice replied.

"Well, damn. So much for privacy."

"Sorry," the voice said. "We usually cast a security barrier, and we don't watch, if that helps."

I think I probably blushed.

"I wouldn't say I was lurking because I just arrived. We were unprepared for four additional people who required protection. Noble handfastings are such a . . . challenge."

The painful tact in her voice made me chuckle. I could imagine the consternation of the wraiths as the royal kids ran off to the shrine while the royal adults were at a social event with the Convocation and Lord Holders. And to make things more fun, I dropped in with an Empress in tow. Yep, the wraiths had to be busy. Poor wraiths.

"Know any good closets?" I had to ask.

"Something might be available."

Aylem, Black Falls, Cold Season, 1st rot., 2nd day

I had drawn the Empress Presumptive into the reception hall, next door to the banquet hall. Lord Skalta had opened it up for those who wanted to chat rather than dance. Lord Irhessa approached and was waiting just out of earshot for me to acknowledge him.

"How is the Timarran doing?" I asked Lord Irhessa. 'Please, sit."

Irhessa shook his head and stepped close, speaking softly next to my ear. "Storm Watcher is now under a charm of deep sleep. He will keep for now. The problem is Emily. The wraith watching Emily and Tom reports they found a cloak closet. After some . . . ahem . . . recreational activities, they have fallen asleep in a state of undress on the floor. The wraith has asked for some help on how to remove the little ones without creating undue embarrassment for them."

"Sit down, Lord Irhessa," I made sure not a trace of my amusement escaped. It would not do for the Queen to laugh right now, especially since I was feeling out our imperial guest from Mattamesscontess.

"Phffft! Bwah! Hahahahaha!" The Exalted Moo'upegan laughed. The Empress Presumptive had to have excellent magic-augmented hearing to have overheard. She clapped her hand over her mouth and silently shook until her hilarity was spent. I would need to be careful around her. She didn't miss much.

"That girl has no appreciation for the dignity that her position grants her," the Exalted Moo'upegan whispered. "In a closet, off the entryway we walked through? Just block the area off, open the closet door, and drop some clothes for the Beloved inside while not looking. Tell them to get dressed quickly and shut the door. The sooner you get them out of there, the better, before people catch on that the Beloved and her man are missing. Why am I not surprised? I don't think the word propriety is in her vocabulary."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"I brought clothes for the Blessed Emily," Irhessa whispered. "I will fetch them from my room and take care of this."

"Let me save you some time," I held my hands in front of me and created an undertunic, kirtle, and blue fur-lined gown. "These should do, unless she's lost weight again. I haven't even had a chance to greet her yet. You might need these, too." I made some small brushed-cotton towels.

"My mother is already asking after her," Irhessa said. "It's just a matter of time before people notice."

I caught Heir Sertfos's eye from across the room and gestured for her to approach. "Darling Sertfos, I must be crass to ask a favor from you on your wedding day. And this goes no further. The Prophet and the Revered Tom wanted some alone time when they reunited. They are now asleep in a closet off the entryway with a wraith on watch. Will you please lend Lord Irhessa some discreet guards so we can remove them without making a scene?"

"Of course." Sertfos worked hard not to laugh. Still in her lovely green wedding gown and veil, she made a hand gesture and a lieutenant from the garrison appeared, snapping off a smart salute, the right fist over the left chest. She whispered orders at the woman, who nodded when Sertfos was done.

"Just tell Lieutenant Ipsyars what you need," Sertfos said. "She's my aide at the garrison, so she speaks with my authority. And now, I will go back to behaving like a bride, and will resist the temptation of watching, well, you know." She bobbed a quick bow with her head and retreated.

"Irhessa, do what you need to do to get Emily and Tom out of the closet," I told him. "I know you don't work for me, but could you please report back to me when you're done. I hope you can bring Emily and Tom with you, though, knowing Emily, that might not be possible. But try, will you?"

"Your will, Great One." He bowed and then hurried off with the lieutenant.

"You should let that laugh out of the barrel," Moo'upegan said with a grin. "I find that life is a lot easier if I restrict the royal demeanor to when I'm in the throne room or carrying out an official duty. You're at a party, royal cousin. You can allow yourself to laugh at parties. It might be bad for your health not to laugh. Little Emily may be right when she says you're too serious."

"She said that?"

"Yes, she did. We talked about many things while we were adrift in a storm-damaged Chem ketch."

"What else did she tell you about me?" I felt a sudden sense of dread.

"That she can't figure out what your favorite foods or colors are because you never talk about your likes or dislikes."

"What!?"

"And that you have a lovely singing voice, you can play instruments like the straightboard and the lithophone, and you made the Singing Crystal at the Singing Shrine next door play a chord for you. But few people know you for your music skills. Did you realize you are blushing? Was I being too forward? I'm not used to holding conversations with people who aren't grovelling at my feet. The Beloved is the first to treat me like a normal person. If not for her, I might never have questioned the role that protocol played in isolating me from normal human interactions. For that alone, I revere her. She has taught me so much. I do plan on changing many things when I return home, especially imperial protocol."

"Court bureaucracies are difficult to change," I pointed out. "I've been warring against them for as long as I have been Queen. I know them. They will resist."

"I am planning on throwing many things away as being tainted by the false worship of Cragi. I'm sure I can get some traction for a year or two using Cragi as an excuse. By then, I hope to be secure enough to effect change without excuses, if necessary. Also, I'd like to meet the three women who came here with the magic creature Ud. They are here for instruction on how to be high priestesses. I was hoping to meet them and recruit them as allies, since we will have overlapping goals back home."

"That can certainly be arranged. I would like for you to come stay with us at the palace in Is'syal. You could meet with Lady Veronteegan, the high priestess candidate for Galt. She's staying in Is'syal at the Fated Shrine."

"Veronteegan? The same Veronteegan that Emily stayed with after the Demon Wind storm last season?"

"The same. You know Lady Veronteegan?"

"No. I have not met her. I just remember the name from what the Beloved told me of her adventures. It's an interesting world when a village head can become a high priestess."

"Her grandmother was the high priestess of Galt when Cragi showed up. She's a dreamwalker. She met the Holy Kamagishi of Galt while dreamwalking. She showed Kamagishi where her grandmother hid the seven great crystals that once were in the shrines of Mattamesscontess."

"Wait! What? Those crystals survived?" Moo'upegan leaned forward in her chair and hugged me. "Royal cousin Aylem, that is stupendous news. You have made me a happy woman today!" She released me and blotted the tears from her eyes. I was gobsmacked by her reaction.

"I see you have assaulted my wife," Imstay said. He had his lady-killer face on as he leaned over Moo'upegan's chair. "This could be grounds for war. It's sad too, given that our two countries have just entered into a treaty of peace and mutual aid." He emitted an exaggerated sigh. What a ham. "So, what did my Queen tell you that you are weeping for joy?"

"The seven crystals from the Mattamesscontan shrines survived," she beamed and blotted her face again with the simple undyed fabric of her tunic. The heavy white-fur hooded overtunic and pants were draped over the back of a chair. She was still wearing the white-fur boots. I needed to coerce her to my quarters and dress her in something a bit less Tirmarran.

"Oh. Yes, I can see why you're happy. It will be a lot of work to restore the shrines to their proper place in your realm." Imstay nodded. "You should try to visit all the shrines in Foskos, and maybe one or two in Impotu, while you're here. Of course, you need to come stay with us in Is'syal. You can use the palace as a departure point for visiting other places in the kingdom."

"I may indeed impose upon your hospitality, royal cousin, though I did want to spend more time with the Beloved, too. She promised to take me to her hot springs and show me the place with the geysers."

"If it isn't too forward of me, I'd like to introduce some of the kingdom's dignitaries to you, royal cousin," Imstay sat down. "People would like to meet you, but they have been reluctant to interrupt you while you've been talking with the Queen."

"That would indeed be apropos," Moo'upegan replied, making a thoughtful face. "I do have one small problem, in that I have nothing to wear. These are Tirmarran warrior clothes. This undertunic and pants are all I have on, and the fur anorak and overalls are too hot for the weather here. Cousin Aylem, from whom might I borrow some clothes? You look a bit taller than me, but we seem to be about the same width. I'm afraid I must impose upon your hospitality. I really can't meet people in Timarran underwear, because that's what these are." She plucked at her sleeve.

"I believe I will make a timely retreat," Imstay got up, smiled, winked at Moo'upegan, and tactfully vanished.

"Cousin," I looked at my royal visitor, "are you saying that there's nothing underneath your tunic and pants? What is this cloth? It's so soft." I pinched Moo'upegan's sleeve.

"Indeed, these are all I have on. The cloth is qivuit. It's too warm for the temperature here."

"So this is qivuit, the wool of the muskox. We never see it here, not even as a trade good. Well, if you follow me to my rooms, I think I can get you dressed in something more attractive than muskox long underwear. Oh, Emily's dressed just like you, yes?"

"Yes."

"Oh dear." I realized I hadn't made any underthings for Emily when I gave Usruldes clothes for her. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear." She didn't have shoes or slips either. "I believe I need to take both of you to my rooms, as soon as she shows up."

Emily, Black Falls, Cold Season, 1st rot., 2nd day

Usruldes, wearing his Lord Irhessa suit, evicted us from the closet we found. The clothes he dropped on us didn't include any underwear. I wasn't worried about what's on top since ironing boards had better boobs than I did. I kept the qivuit pants because they covered the feet, too. The boots were too hot to keep on in the warmer weather of Foskos.

I expressed a desire to see Melk and Asgotl, but Usruldes picked me up and marched me straight to Aylem, with poor Tom running to keep up. I'm not sure what Tom did after that because Aylem and Moo carried me off to Imstay and Aylem's guest suite. Aylem made me underthings, stockings, and a pair of the ankle boots I like. However, she wouldn't let me wear my old belt. She did that motion with her hands and, poof, a fancy new belt appeared. Creation magic was incredible. I felt inadequate and envious just watching Aylem create things out of nothing with her magic.

She looked at me with apology written all over her face. "I'm sorry, dear heart. If I could give you the ability to do magic, I would. I think I'd give you a bit more tallth too. I'm always scared of breaking you, you're so small. I forget just how small when you're not around. But now that you're here, I'm reminded of this tiny little Coyn I met under a fir tree three years ago, who was trembling and then fainted. Sorry, that's probably not a good memory for you."

I was left speechless by what Aylem had just said.

"I think this belt will go nicely with that gown, Em." Aylem smiled. "Now, while the Exalted Moo'upegan is having her hair done, can I get a proper greeting?"

I didn't get a chance to reply. Aylem knelt and swept me up in her massive arms.

"Welcome back, Em. I was worried about you, especially two rotations ago when Kamagishi and Veronteegan saw you argue with the gods while Moo'upegan was dying in front of you. To see the two of you alive and well is such a relief."

"Aylem, let me breathe, you big doofus." I pushed back at her shoulder to get some air, but she didn't let go.

"Better?" She shifted me up so my head was above the level of her shoulder. I had forgotten just how big she was. I pushed that thought away before it made me anxious.

"I can breathe now, thank you. You can put me down now."

"Nope. I never get to see you without a crowd of other people around, so I never get to hug you like I want."

"Since when did you decide I was your victim for enforced hugs?"

"I do worry about you. I care about you, too. But you already know that, don't you?"

"I believe I did notice that. Aylem, you aren't pregnant anymore. I thought you weren't due until the New Year."

"I went into labor early."

"Please tell me the twins were delivered successfully, and they are doing well."

"The twins are lovely, and they are prospering. Lyappis is watching over them while I'm here in Black Falls."

"Did Thuorfosi deliver?"

"A little girl named Resepex. She's adorable. Thuorfosi is here. So are Kayseo and Twessera. They will want to see you."

We didn't say anything after that. The companionable silence was broken when Lisaykos let herself into the sitting room.

"Ahem."

Aylem and I both looked up. Lisaykos stood next to the door in a gorgeous blue gown with magnificent silver thread embroidery and fashionable, poofy sleeves. She wasn't wearing one of her usual cauls. Her hair was done up with braids wrapped around her head, resembling a crown, and held in place by a silver net accented with sapphires.

"Wow, you look good in blue," I said. "You should wear color more often."

"We've had this conversation before, Great Bug." She knelt next to the kneeling Aylem, took me from Aylem's arms, and wrapped me in her own hug.

"I missed you," was all she said. It was Lisaykos. She didn't need to say more.

"I missed you, too."

I'll skip the soggy bits with Lisaykos while we waited for Aylem's two Coyn hairdressers, Veflia and Zdatel, to finish with Moo'upegan's hair. When Moo'upegan emerged, it took my breath away. She was in a white gown with cloth-of-gold facings and cloth-of-gold lining inside the box pleats of the skirt. Her hair was arranged with hairpins, and she wore a cloth-of-gold diadem with pink and pale-green gemstones that matched her eyes. I wondered if Aylem had created it from scratch.

"I like this diadem thing," Moo said immediately after walking into the room from Aylem's bed chamber. "I may never go back to wearing a Mattadok headdress. It's so heavy, but this is so light. Oh, hello." She reacted to Lisaykos, who had me sitting on her lap.

Moo'upegan bowed her head and made the Mattamesscontan two-handed, palm-upward gesture of formal greeting. "I, Moo'upegan nu Mattakwonk, greet the revelator of Mugash. I am pleased to finally meet you."

Lisaykos returned the gesture. "I, Lisaykos haup Foskos, greet the Empress Presumptive. Please forgive me for not standing. It is a pleasure to meet you after hearing that you were traveling with the Blessed Emily. The last news we had of you two was two rotations ago, after you were wounded with a poison arrow. Trying to keep track of this little one is not for those lacking courage."

"Yes, I heard that a talented dreamwalker had been watching us, one who Emily knows and I need to meet."

"What? Who?" This was the first I had heard of a dreamwalker or dreamwalking.

"It's Lady Veronteegan," Moo said. "She's here in Foskos. She's a dreamwalker, and she's been watching you ever since you left her village."

"Dreamwalking?"

"It's a rare magic talent," Lisaykos explained, "usually associated with doubly- and triply-blessed clergy of Galt and Landa. Kamagishi and Losnana both have dreamwalked, but Veronteegan can do it at will, which is unheard of."

"How did Lady Veronteegan get to Foskos, and why is she here?"

"I see we have some catching up to do," Aylem said. "Ud brought her to Foskos, along with Ishapur and Uncohegan, who you also know. Those three are here to learn about being high priestesses, because they have been picked by Mugash, Vassu, and Galt to be the first three high priestesses at the restored shrines of Mattamesscontess."

"Blarg."

"That gown looks good on you, cousin," Aylem told Moo'upegan. "Putting you in the colors of the Mattamesscontan imperial house solves the problem of whether you should wear blue or yellow, since you don't know either the bride or the groom. Now that you and Emily are both dressed, we can return to the festivities. Imstay will be waiting so he can introduce you to everyone."

"Emily," Lisaykos added, "if we don't get you over to Kayseo, Twessera, and Thuorfosi, I may have a rebellion to face. They sent me here to see if I could liberate you from Aylem's guest chambers."

"That's reasonable, but what happened to poor Tom? I was separated from Tom so quickly that I didn't get a chance to figure out where we'll be sleeping, because it looks like we'll be here for the night. I also need to see the Holy Senlyosart. And I need my pouch for that. Where did you hide my stuff, Aylem?"

"I hid it so we could get you dressed in civilized clothes. Must you wear that ratty, worn-out pouch with that nice gown? You are such a little barbarian. You arrived here three years ago wearing animal skins, and now that you've returned from your recent travels, you are once again wearing animal skins. I just got you dressed in something presentable, and you want to wear that ratty, worn-out pouch with that nice gown that isn't even designed for a pouch."

"I just need something from my pouch. I don't need to take my pouch with me. Hand it to me, please."

Aylem sighed, fetched the pouch from a side table, and gave it to me. I dug into it and dug out the palm-sized piece of bluish slate from Souk.

"What's that, dear heart?" Lisaykos asked, looking over my shoulder.

"It's a rock that Sassoo wanted me to give to Senlyosart. He said she'd know what to do with it. So, I'd like to see Senlyosart first, and the gang of three after that. Is there any chance that food will be served sometime soon? We haven't eaten since early this morning, and my stomach's talking to me about wanting to be filled."

"Dinner will be served after Sertfos and Kattessat are bedded, after the seventh bell," Lisaykos said. "Can you survive another bell before that happens, or should I send to the kitchens?"

"Something to help me along until dinner would be greatly appreciated," Moo said.

Aylem got up and opened a door to an adjacent room. "Patrikos? There you are. Go to the kitchens. We need four sandwiches and one additional sandwich that's Coyn-sized. Bring them to the hall if we're not here when you get back."

"Four sandwiches?" Lisaykos asked. "That's a lot of food."

"I was thinking that if the Empress and Emily were hungry, then Prince Listayodas might like some, too."

"I should have thought of that," Lisaykos said.

"I think you had other things on your mind, dear heart," Aylem replied.

Moo caught my eye and mindcasted. *Beloved, what's a sandwich?*

(continued in installment 3.56)