Kem had the sweetest smile, touched by fondness for his great good friend, Joef, best buddies and true comrades. “One time we were out fishing, just quiet-like. We could sit for hours that way. And he said, ‘You’re the brother I always wanted to have.’ And I realized I could be the brother, that I wanted to be the brother, that it all made sense to me when he said that. We were brothers. I don’t know.” He shrugged. “It was like nothing and everything at the same time.”

“That’s sweet,” said Ipis. “I’ve never fished. Can you teach me?”

“Sure,” said Kem. “How can it be you never learned to fish?”

She shrugged. “Someone else made the food. We started our training early for officialdom.”

Elen snorted softly. Ah, the Manor-born. Someone else to make the food. Xilsi cast a glance her way as if unsure of what amused her.

The theurgist said, to Kem, “It’s a rare gift to share something so close to your heart. I thank you for the trust you show in us. I feel I know the world a tiny bit better for knowing something of your journey.”

For knowing something. Luviara, a virtual stranger, had asked. Elen never had asked, at first because it had upset Aoving and after … because she had accepted him as he was. To her, acceptance was a sign of respect. Not to query or probe. But what if he’d wanted her to ask? What if he had wanted to share but wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear him, not after all the time she’d changed the subject on his mother’s behalf?

Kem’s head twitched as if he almost looked her way, to gauge her expression, but stopped himself just in time. He said, “I hope I’m barely started on my journey. I always dreamed of being a warden, but I didn’t think … well, now here I am. And my thanks to you, Ipis.”

“Me? You should thank His Exalted Highness. He’s the one who hates Prince Astaylin so much he snapped you up just to slap the face of one of Astaylin’s lesser lords. It’s exactly the kind of thing the prince would do.”

“Is that so?” Luviara had a way of sharpening her tone when her interest was piqued. “That’s what puzzles me. I wasn’t aware there was hostility between the two princes. Does he speak of it often?”

Ipis tensed. She rose and gave the polite hand-to-heart owed to elders. “I’ve said too much. It isn’t my place to comment on the palace or the all-seeing eye, who serves at the pleasure of the emperor. May we serve as we are bidden. Come on, Kem. We need to sleep. We’ll take second watch.”

“He’s an odd one, don’t you think?” said Xilsi in a low voice.

“Who?” Elen asked, pretending to misunderstand.