I'm not really in a mood to have a party but I wish whoever those people are well.

Vanyel looks like someone who also doesn't want to have a party and wishes he had a better excuse not to.

"This must be pretty different from your world?" he says, as Tran leads them left at a fork in the path toward another long, low, ancient-looking stone building. "I mean, er, probably it's really different from both of the worlds you've been in." 

Yeah. I'll tell you all about it later if you want I just - I'm really stressed out and I need to decompress as soon as possible.

Vanyel nods, looks embarrassed, and goes quiet. 

They reach the stone building and Tran leads them through a set of heavy oak doors and down to the third room on the left. It's unlocked. The room itself is small and quite dark, until Tran goes and pulls open the curtains. There's a bed with quilted covers, a bedside table with a drawer and a space underneath for storage, a wardrobe, a little desk and chair, and a corner with a washbasin and chamberpot. Everything looks handmade. 

The desk has an inkwell and pen, and a folded paper on it; when Tran unfolds it and offers it to her, it proves to be a simple map. "Common bathhouse is that way," he says, pointing it out on the map. "This wing doesn't have any running water, sorry, it's one of the older buildings. If you want hot water here to wash up, or if you want your clothes washed, you can call for one of the servants, use this bell-cord. You can ask for food to be brought here as well, but the common dining-hall is over here."

He pauses, peering at her. "I'll come back with more paper, and some clothes that should be roughly your size – we can get your measurements later, guessing you'd rather not be bothered any more today." He opens one of the desk drawers and takes out a key. "You can lock it from either side of the door with this. Er, if you want to read or write after dark, candles and flint-and-steel kit with tinder are in the bedside table drawer. Extra blankets in the wardrobe. Anything else you need for today?" 

I don't know how to light a candle with flint and steel.

"Oh. Right." Tran looks blank for a moment. "I mean, I can show you, but I guess it's fiddly if you've never done it before. Um, you can call for someone if you need it? Should be at least ten candlemarks of daylight left anyway." 

"She can't really communicate with servants aside from asking for a Herald," Vanyel says, shuffling his feet. "Bella, someone should light a lantern by the outside door when it gets dark, you could go stick your candle in there if you want it lit and don't want to talk to anyone." 

Okay, thank you.

“All good, then?” Tran starts to turn to go. “Should be a little paper in the desk drawer but I’ll bring more soon.”

Vanyel gives her another odd look, a mix of curiosity and concern, and then ducks out into the hall.

Thank you.

She sits down and takes out the paper but waits to be alone to write.

Tran nods and shuts the door and she can hear his footsteps departing.

She cries and she writes and she cries more and she tries to write very cramped, doesn't know how pricey paper and ink are here, but she has a lot to process.

Maybe half an hour later, there’s a polite knock. “It’s Tran. Can I come in or should I leave the things at the door?”

You can come in.

Tran nudges the door open with his elbow; his arms are very laden. If he notices that she's been crying, he doesn't say anything about it. "Here, I brought you some food, it's nearly lunchtime." Covered tray and earthenware jug plus cup go on the bedside table. "Wasn't sure if there are foods you can't eat so it's a variety. Clothes are in here, it's some of my friend Katha's outfits for sparring so the fit should be forgiving." Canvas bag slides off his shoulder onto the bed.

"And paper. I wasn't sure if you'd prefer a bound book or looseleaf so there's both. Don't worry too much about how much you use – you should see how much paper Van goes through." Maybe he's noticed her attempts at tiny handwriting. Box of paper goes next to her on the desk. "Good?" 

Yes, thank you.

He leaves her alone again. 

She picks at the food a bit, finishes the bits she likes, writes a little bigger for the rest of the afternoon.

Eventually the sun starts to get low in the sky, and then there are footsteps in the hall again. "Bella?" It's Vanyel this time, a bit muffled through the door. "I, er, came to see if you wanted supper or anything, and I can light your candles if you want?" 

Fortunately the muffling doesn't matter at all since she doesn't even speak the language. Supper would be good. Should I be, like, coming out to eat where people can see me and ask me stuff now that I've calmed down more?

Vanyel opens the door. "Do you want to? I mean, honestly, everyone's going to be at the party soon, and I think Lancir has things to catch up on. My aunt has a lot of questions about magic where you're from, though – if you wanted, you could come have dinner with us in her suite?" 

That sounds fine.

Vanyel nods and then fidgets and waits.