“Ah, well, you know magical theory is my thing. I’d say the problem is you still strugglin’ to connect the spell and the outcome. How are you comin’ along with Uhad’s sixty-seven laws?”

“I’ve memorized them all,” Yenni said with pride. “Uhad’s First Law: the Law of Source and Seven. All incantations must contain the word source and have exactly seven syllables. Uhad’s Second Law—”

“All right! I believe you, mams. Is no need to recite every las’ one. Hmm, then try this: imagine the sound of the rope slidin’ out of the knot.”

“Oh! All right.” Yenni breathed deep, doing her best to clear her mind of all worries about her father and all thoughts of Weysh. She concentrated on hearing in her mind the hiss and scrub of the rope sliding against itself. And then she pulled ach’e, focusing on the short, knotted rope on the table between them.

“Through source tangled come undone.”

The rope moved slow and snakelike until it freed itself of the large knot in its center.

“Nice one!” said Diedre.

“You know,” said Yenni, “my friend Zoo-ee told me something similar about Yoben’s Rainfall. She advised me to imagine the smell of the rain.”

Diedre nodded. “Is a well-documented phenomenon. Focusin’ on a smell or sound or even the feelin’ of something can really help with spellcraft. Zui is one of your dragon friends, yes? The beautiful one from Minato? She helped us in the alley.”

“Yes.”

“Ah. She’s as smart as she is stunnin’, it would seem.”

The mention of the alley brought back the memory of Dragon, steaming and vengeful like her own guardian beast.

“Oh, what is this?” asked Diedre. “You should see your face, Yenni. Who is it who makes you smile that secret smile, hmm?” Diedre squinted at Yenni, flashing a knowing smile of her own. “Is the other dragon, your Given.”

The smile left Yenni’s face. “He is not my Given simply because he says he is.”

“But, Yenni, why you don’t like he? Is a dragon, mams. A pretty one too.”

“He is Creshen, my parents would never approve.”

Diedre gave her a skeptical look. “Even though you two are Given?”

“We are not—” Yenni paused, taking a deep breath to swallow her frustration. “Yes, even so, Deedee. There is no concept of Given on the Moonrise Isles.”

“Oh. Well, that seems sad.”

Very sad, if the sinking feeling in Yenni’s gut was any indication. “What about you, Deedee,” said Yenni, attempting to turn the conversation around. “Is there anyone special to you?”

“Ah.” Diedre glanced away, uncharacteristically nervous. “There is someone, yes.”

“Oh?” Yenni leaned forward.

“Yes, but is the same situation. My family would never accept it.”

“Really? Why?”

“Um, well . . . tradition. Is not the type of person they would want me to marry.”

Yenni hummed knowingly. “But if your family did approve, do you think you could marry him?”