The brunette nodded. “He has lodgings in our house. He’s our friend.”
The cook snorted. “Partner in theft, I don’t doubt. I’ve never heard of him.”
“Actually, he’s here,” Tris said. “I’m sorry, Cook. We brought him back with us late last night, after you’d gone home. He’s in the guest room above mine.” To the brunette she said, “Come in. I’ll see if he’s awake.” As she walked by the cook she explained, “Keth’s my new student.”
“Keep an eye on her,” the cook said fiercely as the yaskedasu passed her. “And how does a student have a student of her own?”
“It’s a long story,” Tris replied. “Have you got honeycakes? I’m famished. And tea would be lovely, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“She doesn’t go past the dining room!” the cook said.
Tris whirled. She’d been quite patient until now, considerate of the cook’s lacerated feelings over being wrong and having a yaskedasu in the house, but enough was enough. She was tired still and might need some lightning to pick up her step; she was hungry and in no mood for an argument. Just as she opened her mouth to let the cook know her true feelings, the yaskedasu stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“It’s all right,” the young woman told her. “That’s the way of things in Tharios.”
Tris scowled as Chime stretched out, trying to grab one of the yaskedasu’s, curls. “The way of things in Tharios is starting to give me a rash,” she snapped, leading the way into the dining room. “Please, sit,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“Yali,” the woman replied. She put her head in her hands. “Keth is really all right?” she asked, her voice muffled. “Don’t lie to me. Everyone knows the Fifth District arurim have no budget for truthsayers, and the truth spells the dhaskoi have aren’t much good.”
“He’s safe and well and undented,” Tris said as the cook came in with a tray of cakes, a teapot, cups and honey. “Thank you,” Tris said, lifting it out of the older woman’s hands. “I appreciate it, with you being so busy and all.”
The cook looked at Yali, sniffed, and returned to her kitchen.
“Let me give you a hint, since you’re a shenos,” Yali said as she sat up straight. “Yaskedasi are not in the least respectable. She won’t appreciate it that you made her let me in.”
“Why aren’t they respectable?” asked Tris, pouring two cups of tea. “You just perform, right? It’s not like you’re prostitutes.”
“We flaunt our bodies and our skills before anyone who will look,” replied Yali, running her fingers along one of Chime’s wings. “We have no chaperones, we keep late hours, we don’t work at dull, boring tasks all day, we hold noisy parties, we sing loud songs. We must be half streetwalker and half thief. My goodness, this is a beautiful thing.”
“She’s not a thing. She’s a glass dragon that Keth made two days ago,” Tris said, blowing on her tea before she sipped it. “Her name is Chime.”
Yali looked at her, kohl-lined eyes huge with astonishment. “But Keth’s no mage!”
“He wasn’t,” Tris said. “He is now. Let me see if he’s awake.” Leaving Chime and the tea tray, she went upstairs to see if Keth was out of bed.
He was awake, dressed, and shaving when Tris rapped on his door. When he bid her enter, she poked her head inside. “There’s a yaskedasu named Yali in the dining room,” she said as he carefully scraped a razor over his whiskers. “I don’t think she’ll leave till she’s counted all your legs and arms.”
“Yali?” Keth hurried to finish his shave and wiped his face. “She should be at home, in bed! Why did she come here?”
“Ask her yourself,” Tris said. “I’ll be down shortly.”
She stood at the top of the stairs, watching as Keth stumbled down the steps. His face had lit up. There was concern in his voice when he’d asked about Yali. If he still had an arranged marriage back in Namorn, he had a problem, but that at least was not her affair. She walked to her own room, closed the door and sat on the bed. Carefully she took down two of her heavier lightning braids and began to draw a little of their power into her veins, to liven the tidal strength. As she worked, she wondered what would happen to her when this dose of borrowed power was used up, then shook her head. She’d worry about that when it