"Her directly doing temperature is useful in hot weather," says Aleko. "Or cold, for that matter."

"The energy isn't, like, magic energy, it's just- energy. Talismans are cold when they're sucking in energy, sound gets dampened around them, they look darker than they should, etcetera and so on. They aren't my specialty, so I can't guarantee anything on the instant-charge front, but- it sounds workable. And very convenient."

"I am definitely in the market for practical magical objects that I can power by setting on fire. I might also want to give some of these to my fellow primes, although none of them are normally as - energetic."

"Maybe I could set up a little water wheel in the middle."

"If that would actually work we'd be all set for any of them. They could all spin wheels made of appropriate materials and in Sarelle's case shape."

"It would not work, no. I mean, I've known people who could make it work, but the principle is way above my paygrade. For anything smaller than a house it involves literally microscopic runes. I might be able to make an appropriately sized version if you think of an enormous high-power talisman you want, but not for a pocket shield."

"Does a magic person have to draw the runes?"

"Ekador and Patience could both make potentially extremely small - I don't know about actually microscopic - etchings in their respective materials. I'll write all the other primes and invite them over for magic experimentation, shall I?"

"Oh, let's."

This calls for leaving the library. Kiri leads the way; Aleko hovers at her elbow for reasons that become apparent when she trips going up the stairs and he catches her. She has a nice little office up the hall from the door into the library, and in this nice little office she has letter-writing materials. "What other details should I include in the letters?"

"Include as many as you like. I am useful and we have fascinating ideas of how to use me. Feel free to mention the potential assassination if letters are secure enough. Clumsiness is fixable, by the way, if you find almost cracking your head open on the stairs to be inconvenient. Drawback is decreased endurance, so you wouldn't be able to run with your newfound grace for more than a few dozen feet, but it doesn't look like you do too much of that anyway."

"I do not run as it is. It would not end well. How generalized is the decreased endurance, would I get tired riding a horse for a long time or staying up late or doing cognitive labor?"

"It's all physical. Horseback riding, yes, probably; staying up no, thinking no. You could dance for a while if you kept it slow."

"I may well be interested in that one. As long as it does not also summon a rage monster."

"Rage monster thing is exclusively for sleep. There's things that turn you into a rage monster for intermittent periods in exchange for various treats, but I can't imagine you'd be terribly interested in them. Just this impression I get."

"Yeah, let's avoid mindreading firey Kiri-monster magic."

"Oh, hadn't even considered that. That's hilarious. Doubt the mindreading would be a problem, rage monsters aren't what you'd call brilliant, but the fire? Very, very problematic. Very forward-thinking of you."

"I try."

Leo giggles quietly.

While Kiri writes letters, Aleko says, "When our great-aunt died Kiri woke up because her bed was on fire. This wasn't uncomfortable or anything, just bright."

"That is delightful. Zanna will be immensely jealous of the firepower you have readily available to you."

"I'm glad Zanna doesn't have it," says Kiri dryly.

"As are we all, I'm sure."

"Is there anything else you're hoping to do with your time here besides make me interesting magical objects?"