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]

"I can write you a chart right now, if you like," says Kiri, producing her own notebook and a pen.

[pyrophyte]

"Please do."

[calescent]

She draws him a chart, then neatly tears out the page and hands it over.

[pyrophyte]

He reads it. Once.

"What is an 'extraordinary blessing'?"

[calescent]

"They don't have associated elements."

[pyrophyte]

"I see that."

He folds the chart carefully and tucks it into the cover of his notebook, then puts them both back into his coat pocket.

"As I was saying before that little digression... where are you staying?"

[calendarofcrime]

Sarelle provides the name of the inn.

[pyrophyte]

"Your Malinquan is very good," he remarks. "I'll see about making my arrangements. I should at least be able to tell you tomorrow how long it will take."

[calescent]

"Then I suppose we'll see you tomorrow. Thank you for not leaving us in the lurch," says Kiri wryly.

[pyrophyte]

He smiles briefly. "Tomorrow, yes."