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Quinnahunti ends, Quinnatorz elapses, the twins have their ninth birthday on the thirteenth of Quinnasweela, and Kiri has eventually seen bits of everything she will need to take or delegate charge of - the palace, key portions of Chialto, the Ardelay estate, and the various family business concerns (the national network of libraries being the primary thing, but the Ardelay family has been a major investor in museums as well, and Kiri has inherited partial concerns in things ranging from bakeries to stationery stores; eventually she will have to take a more active role in managing the finances, but they should be self-managing for the time being unless too many key people die.)
In Quinncoru, Kiri - with Aleko in tow this time in addition to Renny - makes a visit to the palace, and, since the king seems willing to ignore her and she doesn't really want his attention, and since there is not a full complement of primes around, has nothing much to do with herself but make a beeline for the prince. (Aleko goes exploring by himself.)
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calescent
spinnaker
The twins' little brother is in the kierten of the west wing (there is a medium-sized kierten in each wing), dancing around in his socks. "This is the best floor for sliding," he asserts, demonstrating. "Hi, your highness and also your highness!"
"That does look like a good floor for sliding," remarks the elder prince.
"Hello," says the younger prince, clinging to his older brother's hand and peering at the sliding person.
"Hello," says the younger prince, clinging to his older brother's hand and peering at the sliding person.
spinnaker
"I'm Jayce," adds Jace. "Swan. Ardelay? One of those. Ardelay's fine."
liakoura
"We're being Ardelay because of Kiri," says Aleko. "We can because Grandma was."
calescent
"Anyway, we were going to draw blessings, you should put on your shoes and come with."
Isten shuffles quietly sideways until he is sort of a little bit hiding behind his brother.
spinnaker
"Okay!" Jayce puts on his shoes. "I'm the best at drawing blessings for people. Mother thinks it's an elay thing. I should do everybody's except mine. Somebody else can do mine."
calescent
"What if more than one person besides you wants to draw some?" asks Kiri lightly, leading the way out of the west wing and down the path between it and the center wing.
"I wanna draw some," says the elder prince. "I don't do it that much."
Isten stays firmly attached to his brother's hand as they proceed toward the chapel.
Isten stays firmly attached to his brother's hand as they proceed toward the chapel.
spinnaker
"Maybe everybody should draw for everybody else!" suggests Jayce. "Then everybody gets lots of blessings and gets to do lots of drawing too."
"Sounds like fun!" says the elder and more talkative prince. He looks down at Isten. Isten looks up at him. He smiles.
spinnaker
They arrive at the chapel. Jayce traipses in first and starts drawing. He gives Kiri kindness, and Aleko loyalty, and Isten contentment, and the elder prince flexibility.
The princes take their blessing coins. Isten turns his over a few times and looks at it thoughtfully.
"Contentment," the elder prince murmurs, ruffling his brother's hair. "And mine's flexibility, see?" He shows Isten the coin and lets him inspect the symbol.
"Contentment," the elder prince murmurs, ruffling his brother's hair. "And mine's flexibility, see?" He shows Isten the coin and lets him inspect the symbol.
liakoura
Twins toss theirs back into the bin, and Aleko goes next. He draws certainty for Kiri and hope for Jayce, then Isten gets contentment again and creativity for the other prince.
The elder prince lets Isten collect his contentments, and shows him the creativity symbol on his new coin - "This one's creativity" - but then tosses it and the previous draw's flexibility coin back in.
calescent
Isten closes both hands around his three contentments and hugs them to his chest and smiles a small happy smile. The elder prince looks at his coin, grins, then tosses it back in.
"My turn to draw, I guess," he says.
For Kiri, honesty; for Aleko, talent; for Jayce, grace.
And last, he pulls out a coin and hands it to Isten - "Love," he explains with a smile.
Isten hugs all his coins and smiles back.
"My turn to draw, I guess," he says.
For Kiri, honesty; for Aleko, talent; for Jayce, grace.
And last, he pulls out a coin and hands it to Isten - "Love," he explains with a smile.
Isten hugs all his coins and smiles back.
Then Isten opens his hands and looks down sadly at the contents.
"I bet you can keep one if you really want," murmurs his brother. "But if not, I'll remember them for you."
"Okay," Isten says quietly.
His brother lifts him up so he can more easily access the bin. He puts all his blessings back in. The elder prince gives them a stir for him. Isten reaches in with a look of concentration.
First he draws joy, and holds it out to Jayce. Then patience, for Aleko. Then synthesis, for Kiri.
Then love, for his brother.
"I bet you can keep one if you really want," murmurs his brother. "But if not, I'll remember them for you."
"Okay," Isten says quietly.
His brother lifts him up so he can more easily access the bin. He puts all his blessings back in. The elder prince gives them a stir for him. Isten reaches in with a look of concentration.
First he draws joy, and holds it out to Jayce. Then patience, for Aleko. Then synthesis, for Kiri.
Then love, for his brother.
spinnaker
"Those are good ones!" Jayce tells Isten encouragingly, tossing and catching his joy.
Isten smiles tentatively at him.
calescent
"Synthesis is one of my favorites," Kiri says approvingly.
Isten ducks slightly when ruffled. His brother puts him down. He resumes clinging to his brother's hand, but smiles at Kiri.
calescent
"Come on, let's get you rooms. Do you want to share or have your own?" Kiri holds the door out of the chapel for everyone.