A pleasant side effect of being chaperoned was that she and Zui had been growing much closer. Yenni quite liked her and admired her demure strength. Still, her friends must have sensed her frustration. No doubt that was why Zui invited her and Diedre out to a nice tavern in the dragon district while they waited for Weysh to finish his classes and fly her home.

The entrance to the tavern was an alcove high up in the middle of a tall building, and it could be reached only by flying. The three of them were mostly done a bottle of what the Creshens called white wine, and Yenni was finding it more and more difficult to resist gawking at the crowd of colorful people around them—many green, but some with skin of an orange hue, or deep blue, or even shimmery gold.

Diedre was affected, too, if the way she kept sneaking looks at Zui was any indication. Curiously, whenever Zui was around, Diedre’s personality did a complete switch. She became shy and even coquettish in a way that left Yenni scratching her head in confusion.

But drinking and chatting with them set Yenni at ease. It felt like three friends enjoying each other’s company, rather than two friends guarding one from attempted assassination. At least, Yenni hoped they were enjoying themselves. Who knew what responsibilities they were neglecting to be with her?

“I am sorry to impose on you two like this,” she said, feeling suddenly ashamed.

“Impose what?” said Diedre. “Listen, mams, I’m here because I want to be. Is two of us know you can more than protect yourself. If anything is you should be body-guardin’ for me.”

“Yenni,” Zui began, “we’ve known each other only—let’s see, we’re just heading into third-quarter exams so—almost six moonturns now? And believe me, I say this out of kindness, but I’ve noticed you tend to take things on alone when you don’t need to. I can’t begin to imagine how it must feel to know someone out there wishes you harm. I know it would rattle me, and I’m dragokind.” She covered Yenni’s hand with hers. “I want you to know that you have my support.”

“Same for me,” said Diedre.

“I—thank you.” Yenni swallowed against a lump in her throat. She wasn’t sure what she had done for the Sha to bless her with such kind friends, but she was incredibly glad to have them. “It is not a good feeling knowing that someone wishes me dead,” she told them. “What’s worse is that I worry for my family and my tribe.” In the weeks since the attack, Yenni had confided her status as princess of the Yirba to both Harth and Zui. “I couldn’t bear it if they were in danger because of me. And—”

“And what?” asked Zui.