names

Niaktoomi (“to be of moonlight”), Nipi’s amenuensis, played by Kim;

17th Anticipation (cont’d)

Midafternoon. Everyone’s retired to prepare for the formal dinner. Calvus heads up to Sonata’s room; they discuss the announcements and ultimata, and whether there’s some mundane power-play behind it all. Also, the triplets: the boy seems naturally violent. Perhaps a Savacion?

Gi heads down to the Wolf camp to find Imálhlhi. It’s raining. Yem lets Imálhlhi know, and sits near the opening of the tent, snapping beans. Gi’s here to talk about training Yem. If it’s going to happen, it should happen soon. Before the summer’s out. Gi agrees to trade some metal goods for Yem’s services.

The Finger seeks out Calvus to discuss tax collection. The Finger’s interested in what paperwork might be available, regarding what’s been collected. Who’s in charge of the collections? My cousin, Perdix? No, it’s not covenant money, says Calvus. So the covenant is self-supporting? says the Finger. No, says Calvus, describing his plans for exports. The Finger requests all paperwork and monies collected to be sent to his office, as soon as it’s ready.

Imálhlhi and Gi go to speak with the Wolf Priest. He says Imálhlhi should take Yem with him when he goes into the hills, to the south. They agree Yem should go with Imálhlhi before Yem returns to take up his studies. They don’t wish Yem to lose his ties with the Wolves. Gi agrees. The Wolf Priest is interested in the idea of a Wolf Priest who is also a dragon-wizard.

Mrs. The Finger is overseeing the unpacking and plotting how to build out the four rooms they’re given. Niaktoomi’s concerned about timing and whether the Finger and their daughter will be able to stop stinking of pickle-vinegar for dinner.

The Finger and Lalli go to meet with Woochi. The Finger wanted to meet at least one of the priests to discuss a possible private meeting with representatives of the priesthood, perhaps after tonight’s dinner? Woochi’s interested. The Finger and Lalli head over to the smithy to speak with Jerry. The Finger wants to know what, exactly, a Mayor does around here. Weddings, says Jerry. —Introductions made, the Finger and Lalli discuss Jerry on the way back to the Great Hall. I understand he’s the magus Gi’s cousin. Perhaps it’s nepotism—he was run out of town and it was become Mayor or drink himself to death in Sophia?

Gi goes to talk to Murry about the new arrivals. I haven’t really spoken with them, says Murry, though the Finger has a much larger staff than before. Gi reveals he’s going to be taking Yem on as an apprentice. Murry’s concerned about the Wolf Priest; he also asks if Gi wants Yem to be trained in combat. —They fall into discussions of old Isrillion days. Fewer monsters here. More politics.

Lhimpat organizes the triplets in a jail-break. Sonata, who was to have interviewed the children that afternoon, discovers they’ve gone missing, and dissolves into birds to find them. —The kids are freaked by one of the glass puppets. Push it down the stairs! says Lhimpat. (The birds perched on the rock walls above them perk up at that.) Noticing the birds, Ishtaalhlhi’ throws a stone and hits one, killing it. The birds swoop over the edge of the cliff and then back up in a great dark wave, assembling into Sonata. She grabs two of the children. Ishtaalhlhi’ scampers away. Sonata has a large bruise on the side of her face. Stay here, she says. She talks to them about monsters. Glass dolls, for instance. There’s a very dangerous one that can speak, she says. —Some discussion of apprenticeships, and appropriate Houses, as Ishtaalhlhi’ keeps running away, down into the cellars.

Tully experiments with various rings on Marzipan. He imbeds a parma ring inside Marzipan, and puts a ring on his left hand that will allow him to speak with Tully, and a ring on his right hand that shoots fire. Marzipan hugs Tully. Tully tells him to go speak with Illuminata about becoming unbreakable.

Ishtaalhlhi’ is found and retrieved.

Dinner is late, to allow for the fasting magi. The Finger tells Hoyopa to scope the kitchen staff: who brings Perdix their meals? Who brings food to the Council meetings?

Sonata talks to Gi about her conversation with the children. She mentions that she knows Gi’s master was unorthodox, and asks about Gi’s experience in the fæ realms, since Lhimpat wishes to do her fifteen years’ apprenticeship in ten years: is Asonder the sort of Ægidian who takes female apprentices? No, says Gi, no no no. And training in the fæ realms is a bad idea. —He explains why. I see. Perhaps Somnex could train someone more quickly than usual?

Ilba goes out to ask Ishkin to bring them some food; Ishkin goes to the door, but there’s a kitchen maid there with a tray full of dinner. Cool, says Ishkin. Hoyopa’s in the shadows, stroking his beard. Ilba brings the food in, and Abakoshi tells her to take a couple of books on the table to Shotik; she says she can’t keep herself dry in the rain yet. Abakoshi casts the duck’s feathers spell. Outside, Ilba waits for Hoyopa to catch up. Why are you following me? He explains he’s looking for the Scarecrow King, since he wasn’t invited to dinner. She leads him to the Scarecrow King, and he goes in and instantly goes to the window to watch her. She walks in, too. Oh! he says. What a coincidence. —She goes up to deliver the books. What was I thinking? says Shotik. He hands one back. Ilba tells him about Hoyopa. He goes downstairs and finds Hoyopa and tells him to tell his cousin that Perdix is performing an important experiment and is not to be disturbed. At once, says Hoyopa, who stays to finish his dinner. The Scarecrow brother tells him a confused account of how Perdix is two people. Ilba stays in Shotik’s room until Shotik forgets she’s there.

Nipi pumps Nil for gossip about apprentices. Lalli flirts with Ndapé about magic tunnels. Honey and Hawashko end up speaking with each other and can’t get out of the conversation.

Sonata and Nil discuss the children; Nil feels Manu Tenére is the best choice: the boy for Lætitia; the girl for Somnex. Some discussion of Somnex’ arrogance, which should lead him to believe he could train a student in ten years. Sonata asks whether Nil has an interest in either. Nil feels he doesn’t have enough derring-do. Some discussion of cross-training between Somnex and Sonata.

Hayapo, the Finger, and Mrs. The Finger compare notes.

meta

“Well, there’s this fine, upstanding young man named Waakimbala...” “Does he even know what numbers are?”

“It’s not really a monster if you can push it down the stairs.”