“Wonderful stuff, is glass,” Master Cuelin said with pride and pleasure. “And I’ll see to it your lads get their heads stuffed full of more than they ever cared to learn about it. No point in exercising their arms and leaving their heads to come up with more mischief. I’ll send them back up the hill on time for their classes, though, no worry. And—” he took a slip of paper out of a pocket in his tunic and consulted it, “—I see I’m to expect them back down here at fourth bell, and keep them until our suppertime. We eat late, mind.”

“Correct,” Alberich said. “Be here, they will be. Fed, they will be when they arrive, then they must study for the morrow, then bed.”

Cuelin laughed. “If they’ve strength enough to hold up their heads without falling into their books, I’ll be main surprised.”

Alberich took his leave of the Master with better humor than he had arrived in; clearly Cuelin understood boys, and was quite prepared to handle them as they needed to be handled. Mical’s horse and Adam’s Companion were comfortably housed, as the Weaponsmaster saw when he went to fetch Kantor, so Alberich left them in peace. The horse was happy enough; the Companion still looked subdued.

:An interesting place. Have you ever thought of glasswork as a hobby?: Kantor asked, as Alberich mounted.

:I think I would not be good enough to satisfy myself: Alberich replied truthfully. They rode out into the street; already, the industrious craftsmen here had gotten it cleared, and the snow had been piled up along the walls. :Why was the boy’s Companion so quiet?:

:Because he is as much to blame as the children,: Kantor told him. :Apparently, he was in league with them. He is very young.:

Alberich snorted. :He must be. I thought your kind had better sense.:

Kantor sighed gustily. :Those of us who are older, are. Some of us, like Eloran—are young.:

:Have you got any plans for delivering some sort of chastisement to Eloran?: Alberich asked after a moment, while he tried to sort out the meaning behind his words and couldn’t come up with anything.

:Oh, yes,: came the reply. :Rolan and I have devised something quite—appropriate.:

And since nothing else was forthcoming, Alberich’s curiosity had to remain unassuaged.

3

3