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Aurin holds his mother's hand as she leads him from the street to his aunt and uncle's house. He's been here only a couple of times, and can't remember most of them distinctly; they're sort of awkwardly related, his dead father's half-brother and the wife thereof. But now they have a baby parunia, and that means there is a dragon related to Aurin who is not too far from his age, only thirty-one years younger. This is apparently the sort of relation that it will be particularly enriching for Aurin to meet. They can do this now instead of waiting a month, because parunias don't die when they're babies; this one is safe, unlike the miscellaneous cousins on his mother's side he's never met because they are all in too much danger to get attached to (and have all succumbed to that danger). So here they are. Even though it was a very long flight and he couldn't ride his mother for takeoff and landing when she had to be a heron, only for the middle part.
Alys knocks on the door.
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"Well, okay," says Aurin.
Satisfied with his strategy now, Mial trots back into the other room and gets out a many-player board game - a fairly simple one, for a greater chance of Finnah-approval - and commences coaxing.
Finnah lets him ramble on about the virtues of board games, regarding him in silence, before finally saying, "Fine."
"Okay," Mial says brightly. He sets up the game.
Aurin sits at the board next to Mial and takes the blue pawn and obligingly plays.
Finnah plays somewhat mechanically, but she doesn't stare into space when it's her turn or anything.
Finnah plays somewhat mechanically, but she doesn't stare into space when it's her turn or anything.
Mial is moderately satisfied with this outcome.
Eventually the dice turn up with Finnah as the winner. She seems pretty indifferent to this outcome.
"Want to play aagin?"
Finnah shrugs. Aurin says, "Okay."
This is sufficient enthusiasm for Mial's purposes. They play again.
The dice are in Mial's favor this time.
Finnah tips herself over on her side and looks at the pawns.
Finnah tips herself over on her side and looks at the pawns.
Mial is not sure what to do with tipped-over Finnah. He contemplates her for a moment, and then concludes that maybe she is done playing board games.
She is not going to do anything that contradicts this conclusion.
When Mial makes no move to set up another round, Aurin wanders off.
When Mial makes no move to set up another round, Aurin wanders off.
Mial hugs Finnah and then wanders off after Aurin. There are plenty more games to play.
After Finnah has been living with Mial for two months, she writes her mother a letter, which no one else in the household is invited to see. She gets a reasonably prompt response, which no one is allowed to see. This goes on every few months. Finnah does not seem to enjoy sending or receiving the letters but continues regardless.
Between letters, Finnah relaxes. She eats normally and expresses lucid, if often scathing, opinions about things. She flies around and plays board games with Mial and fingerpaints and sings and reads and accompanies her host family on trips to places that are not Aurin's house. (Aurin himself relaxes around her - though he is obedient to his mother's instructions about remaining human- or eagle-shaped - but Alys mostly doesn't, albeit with the utmost politeness.)
Between letters, Finnah relaxes. She eats normally and expresses lucid, if often scathing, opinions about things. She flies around and plays board games with Mial and fingerpaints and sings and reads and accompanies her host family on trips to places that are not Aurin's house. (Aurin himself relaxes around her - though he is obedient to his mother's instructions about remaining human- or eagle-shaped - but Alys mostly doesn't, albeit with the utmost politeness.)
Mial is pleased with Finnah's recovery! He is curious about her letters, but upon discerning that she does not want them read, immediately promises not to read them.
He is also pleased that Aurin is not being so weird about Finnah anymore.
He is also pleased that Aurin is not being so weird about Finnah anymore.
While most institutions that teach wizardry (at least, the tradition practiced by nonfey air-breathers) are principally geared towards adults or at least adolescents, there are a handful, including a newish one in Paraasilan called Binaaralav Academy, that will take kids as young as six-equivalent if they can pass the admissions tests.
Upon learning of this, Mial studies fiercely for the admissions tests.
He is sixty-two, and he passes on the first try.
He is sixty-two, and he passes on the first try.
Well then, he may register for classes this coming Rohel.
He does that. And also spends an entirely decorous* and proportionate** amount of time racing around the house cackling gleefully and hugging anyone who will hold still long enough.
*No.
**Also no.
*No.
**Also no.
Finnah will usually hold still long enough.
She has long stopped writing letters to her mother; she has nothing much to distract her from hugging a Mial who wants to be hugged.
She has long stopped writing letters to her mother; she has nothing much to distract her from hugging a Mial who wants to be hugged.
"I'm gonna learn wizardry! I'm gonna learn wizardry! I'm gonna learn wizardryyyy!"
"Wow, really, you hadn't said."
Mial giggles.
Hug.
"Isn't it a boarding school though?"
"Isn't it a boarding school though?"