“Sorcha, I…” Dirva’s voice trailed off. He held out his hand to Sorcha. Sorcha hesitated, drenched in wariness. He slowly, carefully, took Dirva’s hand. They shook hands like they had never met before. “There is space in the attic,” Dirva said.

“You have a shower?” Sorcha asked.

“Yes.”

“I’d like to use it.”

“Of course.” Dirva held open the door. Sorcha asked him where the attic was, and Dirva pointed down a narrow hallway. Sorcha disappeared around the corner with our packs. Dirva smiled again when he was out of sight. He brushed the hair off my forehead. “You’ve let it grow out.”

“Sloth, not fashion,” I said.

“And these robes.”

“Pragmatism.”

He laughed. “You seem well. Vathorem wrote. He said your training was going well. I’m sorry to have interrupted it.”

“It was enough, I think. I’m glad to be here. It’s an honor, a real honor.”

“The honor is mine, Ariah. Come, sit. Let me get you water. Have you eaten? Let me get you food.” He sat me down in the armchair he’d transplanted from his bachelor’s apartment. The bookcases were the same, as was the kitchen table. The rest of the furniture was worn, broken in, but unfamiliar to me. I guessed they were transplants from Nisa’s previous apartment.

The water he gave me was pure and tasted slightly metallic. I laughed. “What?” Dirva asked.

“Piped water.”

“Oh, yes,” he said. He sat down beside me. “Vilahna has gotten no better, I take it?”

“If they have gotten better I would hate to see where they started. Where’s Nisa?”

“Working,” Dirva said. “She wants to work right up until the birth.”

“How is she doing?”

“Well. Very well. I’ve never seen an easier pregnancy,” he said. “It is good to see you again.”

I finished the water and turned the empty glass in my hands. “About Sorcha…”

“I am glad to see him, too.”

“Nisa doesn’t know who he is, does she?”

Dirva was quiet for a moment. “No.”

“And you’d rather keep it that way?”

“Yes.”

“Does she know why I’m here?”

“Yes,” he said. “I explained falos to her. I told her it was something I learned about while caravanning in Vilahna. She finds it odd, I think, but she is willing.”

“I should find an apartment. I should get a work assignment,” I said. “Sorcha and his violin will not be welcome in your attic for long.”

Dirva blinked at me. “You think you’ll stay?”

“Falos stay.”

* * *