flexibility

[calescent]

They leave Thiyec, cross Soche-Tas, and re-enter Welce.

Kiri sends a letter Jayce's way as soon as they stop in a Welchin town. It's brief - we found the Lalindar prime, we'll drop him off and my next stop is the palace so please forward my correspondence there.

The Lalindar house, on inspection, appears to be completely empty. There's a note from the butler on the dining room table stating - in appropriately formal language - that no one was paying them and so they have left, but he, the cook, the gardeners, and the maids may be contacted at the following addresses respectively if the new prime, when located, wishes to re-employ their services. Unlike the Ardelay house at the time of Elytte's death, this house as of Nerine's death contains no extended family. There's nothing to do but for Loel to move in. Kiri draws him a little map of the route between the estate and the nearest town, where he will probably want to buy groceries, and she and Aleko leave to let him plan his moat.

They're at the palace the following day.

Comments

[liakoura]

"Anyway, come in, I hear we're going to yet another country where the extent of my contribution is going to be 'I didn't understand that but I resent it anyway, sir!'?"

[calendarofcrime]

"Malinqua is likely to be an improvement on Soche-Tas in that regard," she says, entering on his invitation. "We have passage booked for tomorrow afternoon."

[liakoura]

"I think most places would have to be an improvement on Soche-Tas," snorts Aleko. "Okay, tomorrow afternoon, another day to fill up on palace food, good - Kiri, did you hear?"

[calescent]

"Yep, tomorrow afternoon," agrees Kiri from her desk. "What kind of boat are we on? Do we know anything about where we're going within Malinqua?"

[calendarofcrime]

"We know where her voyage landed, and I have a promising theory or two about where she would have gone from there," says Sarelle. "We are on a fast boat. I recommend you not overpack. We will be competing for space with a spice merchant's cargo and the cargo is likely to win any disputes."

[calescent]

"Do we need to arrange our own food or is that included in passage? Do I owe you for it?"

[calendarofcrime]

"We will be fed. You do not owe me."

[calescent]

"Okay. Clothes and notebooks, then."

[liakoura]

"It's really hard to believe you're elay, let alone prime. Do something airy," suggests Aleko.

[calendarofcrime]

Sarelle smiles faintly, takes a breath, and purses her lips.

What emerges is not a whistle, but rather the sound of a small string orchestra playing the elay section of a classical song about the five elements.

[liakoura]

Aleko outright applauds.

[calescent]

Kiri laughs. "Oh, that's very clever. I never saw Auney or Jerist playing with sound."

[calendarofcrime]

She lets her orchestral whistle trail off.

"I played the violin before I inherited a primacy. It seemed an obvious thing to try."

[calescent]

"It's also impressive control, you've had it less than a quintile - though it's possible I'm overestimating how long it takes to acquire facility with powers because I was eight and vaguely traumatized and highly nervous about both aspects of mine when I began."

[calendarofcrime]

"I am probably picking it up faster than average," she says. "I do that with most things."

[liakoura]

"Yeah, and, probably easier if doing it wrong means 'the window broke for air pressure reasons' and not 'your mom is on fire and/or cannot remember how to speak Welchin', Kiri."

[calescent]

"I'm reasonably sure Sarelle could kill somebody with Dochenza powers as well, but point taken."

[calendarofcrime]

"It would be somewhat more difficult to do it accidentally," she says. "But yes. People are very dependent on air."

[calescent]

"Anyway. Your credentials have been established and we know what things to pack for when - anything else?"

[calendarofcrime]

"No," says Sarelle. "I will meet you here tomorrow to guide you to the ship."

[calescent]

"We'll be here."

[calendarofcrime]

She smiles briefly and steps out.





The next day, as promised, there she is. In plenty of time to lead them to an afternoon departure.

[calescent]

The twins are packed.

[liakoura]

Although Aleko absconded from lunch with a small cake and is still nibbling on it.

[calendarofcrime]

"Hello," she says. (She is carrying a single bag, which looks to have been packed precisely to its limit.) "Shall we go?"