“I think we are so different, Xilsi. I never had the opportunity to marry. I didn’t dare ever get pregnant. It wasn’t a matter of what I wanted or didn’t want. I had a sister to protect. She had enough trouble with her pregnancy, and after that, the baby to raise and shield. It simply wasn’t possible to even think of marriage, so I didn’t think about it. I’d rather enjoy what life has to offer to the likes of me than resent what lies out of my reach.”

“What an astounding philosophy!”

“I suppose there isn’t much that lies out of your reach.”

Xilsi set down her bowl and crossed her arms, examining Elen with an expression that wasn’t hostile, exactly, but lacked any sense that this direct a stare might be intrusive and rude.

“I just never thought of it like that,” she remarked, then picked up bowl and spoon and went back to eating. She had a way of savoring each spoonful that suggested no one had ever snatched scraps out of her hands to leave her hungry and, thus, to cause her to eat quickly so as to leave no opening.

Kem, Ipis, and Luviara sat about ten paces away, chatting. Elen had been studiously ignoring them, not wanting to seem to be eavesdropping. But Xilsi, as she ate, turned her attention toward the trio with a look of lively interest.

“And how did you know?” the theurgist was asking Kem. “When did you realize? If you don’t mind my asking, I mean. I’ve been told before I can be a bit intrusive and rude, but I never get tired of asking questions about the world. How else are we to understand it?”

“Is it knowing, though?” Kem asked. “Or accepting?”

“You tell me!” The theurgist always sounded so excited, as if the world were a huge pastry and she the delighted child offered bite after delicious bite.

“It was something Joef said to me.”

“That’s the archivist’s nephew? You were always friends?”

“He was always around with the other children. But we really started spending time together when I got sent to the upper school in the Residency, so I must have been ten.”

“The upper school?”

“It’s for Manor-born children. But the intendant admits any pupil from the Halt school who shows promise.”

“I see,” said Luviara with an odd tone flattening her voice. “So, it seems some local officials still follow the directive of the Willow Emperor, in this regard. But let me not digress, as I surely could. Go on.”

“I just always felt easy with Joef, like I didn’t so much with my mother. May she be blessed in our memories.”