"I imagined the explanation might be along those lines."

"Anyway, come in, I hear we're going to yet another country where the extent of my contribution is going to be 'I didn't understand that but I resent it anyway, sir!'?"

"Malinqua is likely to be an improvement on Soche-Tas in that regard," she says, entering on his invitation. "We have passage booked for tomorrow afternoon."

"I think most places would have to be an improvement on Soche-Tas," snorts Aleko. "Okay, tomorrow afternoon, another day to fill up on palace food, good - Kiri, did you hear?"

"Yep, tomorrow afternoon," agrees Kiri from her desk. "What kind of boat are we on? Do we know anything about where we're going within Malinqua?"

"We know where her voyage landed, and I have a promising theory or two about where she would have gone from there," says Sarelle. "We are on a fast boat. I recommend you not overpack. We will be competing for space with a spice merchant's cargo and the cargo is likely to win any disputes."

"Do we need to arrange our own food or is that included in passage? Do I owe you for it?"

"We will be fed. You do not owe me."

"Okay. Clothes and notebooks, then."

"It's really hard to believe you're elay, let alone prime. Do something airy," suggests Aleko.

Aleko outright applauds.

Kiri laughs. "Oh, that's very clever. I never saw Auney or Jerist playing with sound."

"It's also impressive control, you've had it less than a quintile - though it's possible I'm overestimating how long it takes to acquire facility with powers because I was eight and vaguely traumatized and highly nervous about both aspects of mine when I began."

"I am probably picking it up faster than average," she says. "I do that with most things."

"Yeah, and, probably easier if doing it wrong means 'the window broke for air pressure reasons' and not 'your mom is on fire and/or cannot remember how to speak Welchin', Kiri."

"I'm reasonably sure Sarelle could kill somebody with Dochenza powers as well, but point taken."

"It would be somewhat more difficult to do it accidentally," she says. "But yes. People are very dependent on air."

"Anyway. Your credentials have been established and we know what things to pack for when - anything else?"

"No," says Sarelle. "I will meet you here tomorrow to guide you to the ship."

"We'll be here."

The twins are packed.

Although Aleko absconded from lunch with a small cake and is still nibbling on it.