The fine young features of Riko’s face twist up as if she’s just swallowed something sour. “ ’Course not. I’m really happy for you. And I know you’ve got the brain. I’ve never seen anyone pick things up as fast as you do.”

A cool and genuine relief rushes through Dyeawan’s torso. “I’m glad for that, Riko. I don’t think Tahei feels the same way.”

“Tahei worships Edger, and he’s Edger’s favorite builder. Tahei is amazing with his hands. But Tahei isn’t a planner and he knows it. Deep down. That has nothing to do with you.”

“What about you?”

“Me? I just like tinkering with things. I’m lucky to be here at all.”

There are several tiny mirrors resting atop crooked pole arms that extend from the sundial’s outer rim. The face of each mirror is partially obscured by intricately painted lines as black as night. It is Riko’s hope that her sundial will be able to measure time in smaller, more exact increments. She’s not certain it will work, but she believes deeply in the idea, and she’s often found that when she refuses to relent on an idea, she finds the path to its realization.

“Why do you think we need more time?” Dyeawan asks.

Riko laughs. “It’s the same amount of time, yeah? It will just be measured more precisely.”

“Then why do you think we need that?”

“You can never create too much precision. That’s why it’s called precision. That’s what Edger says, anyway. Besides, you can’t tell me you can’t think of a million ways this will be useful.”

“Of course I can. I asked why you think we need it.”

“Oh.”

Riko’s hands pause in what they’re doing. The only sound for the next few moments is her body swaying just so in the leather harness cradling it.

“I suppose that is a different question, isn’t it?” she says.

Dyeawan squints up at her friend. “You don’t just ‘tinker’ with things, you know. You have as keen a mind as anyone I’ve met in the Cadre. I just think you don’t know you do. You’re more clever than Tahei. You’re probably more clever than Edger.”

“No one is more clever than Edger,” Riko insists.

“I’m not sure that’s true,” Dyeawan says quietly. “I think you not knowing how smart you are holds you back. In the same way Edger is convinced he is smarter than everyone. That can be even more dangerous, I think.”

Riko’s eyes on the models below her turn dark. “Slider, I know you’re just saying what you see, but you should know it can sound… bad, the way it comes out.”

Dyeawan frowns. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything. I just think… the things you make are so beautiful, and so…”