"Oh, I'll be talking to some girl - there's the magic manticore marionette, it's fun! - and we'll be trying to make plans and she feels responsible for entertaining her friend cousin sister next-door neighbor classmate whatever during the time we'd like to have our date, and then the plans are on if and only if I can find a date for this extra person. It's perfectly understandable. I'd probably have done it myself once or twice if my cousin ever showed interest in, like, company as desirable for things other than chess games and would find it helpful."

"Not yet. He's about your age, some people take a while. Or just remain perpetually confused, I suppose."

"He can just play chess instead, I guess."

"He is very good at chess."

"I should play him!"

"Oh, you like chess? Sure, why not, you can do it over the mail, right?"

"Yes! It isn't as much fun as in person, but it's still fun. Where does your cousin live?"

"The ex-royal ducal castle of Raxwell. I live there too, but he's the actual prince, I'm just his cousin."

"Oh! That's exciting," says Glynn. "Well, maybe not to you, I guess."

"I don't want my life to be quite that exciting. Too much statecraft, not enough swords."

"Castles are kind of exciting, though. To me."

"Oh, that. Yeah, that's not very exciting to me, I grew up there."

"Maybe I can visit sometime. And be excited about your cousin's castle."

"Sure, why not? You might want to get your own horse if you're going to make international trips like that, though, unless you packed a flying carpet."

"I probably should," he agrees.

"Horse breeders sometimes come around and try to advertise to us, since we're in the market."

"Do you know things about horses? Could you help me find a good one?"

"I know a few things. I'm not an expert but I'll help. First rule: don't get one that bites."

"That does sound important."

"Yep! If you disobey this rule you will find tadpoles in your drinking water for a year and a day. Also your horse will bite you."

"I do not believe you about the tadpoles," Glynn asserts.

"You caught me. That part only lasts a month. But horse bites, ah, horse bites are forever."

Giggle.

"Anyway, play chess by mail with Milo and he'll love you, win and he'll love you more but it will be a snarly love."