They may provoke the tortoise briefly.

Skon gets a faceful of startling colored lights and the tortoise disguises itself as a rock.

The people think this is great fun! All of them are having a good time looking around at all the weird hummun-oid things.

The prince doesn't seem to be in any kind of rush! Raafi eventually suggests that he should give the kitchen time to prepare their meal before they get too hungry.

"Do they know how to cook spren?" asks Kiv.

"If you're going to do the spell we can eat it raw," says Uamok, "it's good raw and the spell wouldn't make it with parasites or anything, right?"

"Of course not. I should still put it in the cool room but I suppose that frees us up for time - is there anything else you wanted to do today?"

"Is there a nest? If there's not a nest we should figure out how to make one," says Iss.

"They should have plenty of pillows for you to work with in the ballroom, do you think that'll be enough?" The prince starts leading the way back to it.

"I don't think pillows will keep us all snugged up next to each other... maybe if we're in the corner with Uamok on the outside?" says Zoi.

"Hmm. What sort of materials do you usually use?"

"Usually the nest is made of wood and lined with leather or wool or something," says Uamok.

He considers this. "Oh, you know what, I bet we still have the shell from that dire tortoise hunt last month, I'll have that brought in." He continues on his way an flags down the next servant he sees to go take care of it. "Is there anything else you'll need?"

"There are tortoises bigger than me? Wow!" says Uamok. "Um, I think that's everything!"

"There are, mostly north of here where it's a little wetter but once or twice a year we'll have one come up the river and have to take care of it before it does too much damage to the crops. I'm sure Raafi'll take you if you'd like to see a live one."

"I don't know if I want to meet one in person! People on our planet are the biggest land animals."

"It wouldn't be that dangerous, they're not aggressive and we can fly. There's plenty to do here, too, though."

    "You really don't have anything bigger than yourselves?"

"There are aquatic animals that are bigger," says Uamok. "I've never seen one in person but they exist. On the land though we're biggest!"

"Huh! It sounds like you're missing out on a lot of fun, to be honest."

They get to the ballroom; the servants, not clear on whether the pillows are still wanted, have begun moving them to a pile on one side of the room.

When the turtle shell is found the people line it with pillows and use more to prevent it from rolling around when they're inside. They climb in and pronounce it satisfactory.

The prince suggests lunch next - the kitchen appears to have heard about the guests and decided to send up extra food for them, and some of it is even reasonable as side dishes for the spren - and then sends a servant to bring two of the palace mages to meet them. "If you're staying very long the nobles are going to want to meet you, too," he adds while they're waiting for the mages to arrive.

"The nobles?" asks Uamok.

"The people in charge of smaller pieces of land within the country, and their families."

"I don't mind meeting them," says Uamok.

The prince nods. "We should arrange a ball, then, in a week or so." He considers. "Do you wear clothing at all?"

"Farmers have to wear uncomfortable plastic suits? Otherwise no," she says.

He nods. "It'll go over best if you wear some sort of decoration. It doesn't need to be much, though."