And it is, most Noi’khin seeming to concentrate on Or’myr’s blaringly obvious Urisk half and selectively ignoring his Gardnerian green eyes and the echo of the Black Witch’s visage on his face. But Sparrow also knows that many of her fellow Urisk hold Or’myr suspect, reviling his mother, Li’ra, for consorting with a Mage.

“Thierren’s my friend,” Effrey states, the declaration full of defiance.

Sparrow nods, emotion welling. She glances at Thierren and their gazes catch, a flush warming her cheeks from the intensity that crackles on the air whenever she and Thierren get within a few feet of each other.

As Mii Vun and Thierren exchange pleasantries, Sparrow takes note of the expressions of the Noi entering the shoppe, their eyes snagging on the Gardnerian in their midst before many quickly exit, their angry epithets trailing back to Sparrow with a biting sting. It’s so unfair—Thierren’s getting ready to deploy west to fight the Gardnerians. And she’s seen the bruising on his wand arm from sparring with fellow soldiers so they can learn how to subdue Mage power.

She moves toward Thierren and watches as his eyes fix on her tight Xishlon dress, heat kindling in his gaze. Sparrow basks in his reaction, unable to suppress a slight smile.

Thierren leans close to her ear, his hand gently touching her arm as he ignites a deeper warmth within her with that low voice of his. “You’re almost too beautiful to take in.”

“Does that mean you won’t take me?” Sparrow whispers back.

Thierren exhales a shocked sound. She knew this would catch him by surprise, this new Xishlon-Sparrow. Emboldened by the moon’s draw that shifts one’s focus to matters of the heart. And the difficult, unavoidable fact that Thierren deploys tomorrow.

Thierren looks Sparrow over more boldly, his gaze going a bit liquid. “It’s hard to...think around how beautiful you are...” He gives her a significant look.

“Go, you two,” Mii Vun says, breaking into their sudden thrall, a knowing smile on the seamstress’s lips. “Effrey is going to spend the evening with me.”

“I am?” Effrey’s head whips toward Mii Vun, his eyes widening with possibility.

Sparrow smiles. Mii Vun is a delight with children, patient and full of good humor. And she’s extraordinarily well connected, which holds the promise of a Xishlon evening full of beautiful sights and every kind of child’s purple delight.

“Unless you’re not interested in seeing the Xishlon lizard exhibition,” Mii Vun teases Effrey. “Or in picking a violet-checkered salamander for your very own. And eating steamed crab buns in the gardens. Oh, and there might be a string of rune orbs involved in all of this as well as a trip to the port side gem markets.” She winks at Sparrow and Thierren.