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

[calescent]

Kiri smiles.

(She likes being sweela.)

[calendarofcrime]

"We have arrived at the public library where I will check my maps," Sarelle adds. "It shouldn't be long."

Into the building she goes, and she finds a librarian and begins speaking Malinquan with them.

[calescent]

Kiri and Aleko wait outside, leaning on the building within Kiri's range of one another.

[calendarofcrime]

She's back out in only a few minutes.

"And now, transportation," she says.

[calescent]

"Lead the way. If it's the younger of the possibilities who's prime now - do you suppose they'll have any understanding of what primes even are? Will we even be able to ask them whether they'd call themselves hunti and have the question make sense?"

[calendarofcrime]

"I will know if they are hunti," she says. "And I will know if they are prime. As to their level of knowledge, well, you will be there to provide explanations."

[calescent]

"I imagine you'll be able to tell if they're hunti - though it's news that you can also identify primes - I'm just wondering how far back my explanations will have to start if they don't know they're hunti."

[calendarofcrime]

"That, I am less sure about. Explanations are... not entirely my specialty."

[liakoura]

"Self-awareness. Miniature Pocket Kiri approves," says Aleko quietly.

[calendarofcrime]

Sarelle glances back at him inquiringly.

[calescent]

"Aleko has me modeled pretty thoroughly and consults the imaginary 'miniature pocket Kiri' on assorted matters. Occasionally, as you can see, even when I am standing right here."

[calendarofcrime]

"I see," she says, smiling. "As to the substance of the comment - understanding things is my specialty. My own mind is both the nearest available target and the lens through which I perceive all the rest."

[calescent]

"Miniature Pocket Kiri approves of self-knowledge because it's something I practice as - how did Jayce put it - 'something between a hobby and breathing'."

[calendarofcrime]

"I don't think it is quite the same with me. But the similarity is interesting."

[liakoura]

"It's why we have all those blank books in our luggage. I mean, I also draw in them, but mostly they're for Kiri to scribble in about herself."

[calendarofcrime]

"I am not much in the habit of writing things down," says Sarelle. "For most purposes, memory serves."

[calescent]

"I have a fine memory, but I don't like to trust it when it is one of the things I'm trying to examine."

[calendarofcrime]

"I am well acquainted with the capacity of mine. It does what I require of it."

[calescent]

"Fair enough."

[calendarofcrime]

It is at this point that they reach the stable Sarelle has been heading for since they left the library. She conducts a transaction in Malinquan and comes away with a two-horse carriage, which she wordlessly volunteers to drive.

Onward to Narena.

[calescent]

Narena ho.

Kiri and Aleko sit in the back and do their not-talking-aloud-except-for-occasional-giggle-cascades thing.

[calendarofcrime]

With one stop at a roadside inn along the way, they arrive in Narena. Sarelle locates another inn and stops at it.

"Would you rather accompany me on my search, or stay here until I return to deliver news of the prime?"

[calescent]

"I think we'll come along," says Kiri, after a brief and silent conference.

[liakoura]

"Especially if you narrate while you're looking, that'll be interesting."

[calendarofcrime]

"Narrate what, exactly?"