"The Duke's got patrols all up and down the coasts," Sandry pointed out. "They'll run off any pirates."
The dedicates, Sandry and Tris made the gods-circle on their chests, to ward off trouble. Daja placed one fist on top of the other as if she climbed a rope, the way to ask help of the Trader-god. Briar, about to spit on the floor to scare off luck-eaters, caught Rosethorn's eye on him, and cleared his throat instead.
They were about to get up from the table when Little Bear started to bark. Someone knocked on the door-frame as the pup ran forward to challenge him.
Rosethorn shaded her eyes, trying to see the visitor's face through the open door. With the light just beginning to fade, he was only a shadow. "Not Frostpine - too short," she muttered, and got up to greet the stranger. Briar grabbed Little Bear, who was sometimes over-enthusiastic in his greetings.
"I'm sorry - I was told I might find the mage Niklaren Goldeye here?" The polite voice was male and young. Tris frowned; it seemed familiar.
"You found him," Rosethorn said, ushering the newcomer across the main room. "Would you like something to drink? We're just finishing supper."
"Thank you, no," he said with a half-smile. "I ate at the main dining hall."
As the visitor came near, they could see he was a good-looking young man, with tumbled brown hair and lively, smiling eyes of the same colour. His nose was long and arched, his mouth and chin determined. He wore the styles that Niko preferred, though Sandry could tell that this man was more interested in fashion. His red shirt was embroidered in white around the neck and down the front; his pale grey over-robe had very full sleeves. Niko's embroideries, when he had them, were often the same colour as the material they were stitched on, while the sleeves of his robe only reached to his elbow, a style popular ten years before. The young man's loose breeches were a slightly darker grey than his robe, with a satin stripe along the outer leg-seams. He wore calf-high boots with a design of tiny mirrors set into the tops, and a gold hoop earring in one ear.
"Master Goldeye?" he asked Niko. "I come from Lights-bridge. Adelghani Smokewind asked me to bring you a letter." He offered a folded and sealed parchment to Niko. Briar released Little Bear, now that he was calmer. The pup would have jumped up to paw at the visitor's chest, but instead the man half-knelt, and turned the dog into his motionless friend by scratching his rump.
"Smokewind?" asked Niko, breaking the seal on the parchment. "How was he? Does arthritis still trouble him?"
The visitor had a boy's open smile. "It makes him cross on damp days, sir. He tells students that if he's in pain, they must suffer with him."
Niko smiled. "Smokewind has always been good at sharing his moods."
Lark whispered to Daja, "Let's clear..." She glanced at Tris, and frowned.
Tris stared at the newcomer as if he had two heads. Her face had gone white and pinched; her eyes were huge behind her spectacles. "C-cousin Aymeryl" she whispered.
The young man looked at her. "Yes, Aymery's my name." To the adults he added, "I'm Aymery Glassfire, I should have said before - Glassfire is my mage name. But you, little girl..." He stopped speaking, and blinked several times. At last he cleared his throat and said, "It's Darra and Valden's girl, isn't it? The - the one who likes to read? Treze - Troi -Trisana, that's it."
She looked down, blushing. "Yes."
Now he frowned, puzzled. "The last time I was in Ninver - how long ago?"
"Two years," she whispered.
"That's right. And they'd sent you to live with Uncle Murris and Aunt Emmine. No one would tell me why."
Tris nodded.
Aymery looked from her to Niko. "I - I don't know what to say." There was an odd light in his eyes. "I never thought to find relatives here. I just promised Smokewind I'd give you that letter, since I was coming to Winding Circle."
Lark got up, and beckoned to her chair. "Sit down, please. I think you really must stay awhile, don't you? I'm Dedicate Lark, by the way."
Introductions were made. Tris, aware that everyone was now watching her, got up and began to clear the dishes.
"You should be glad to see family," Daja murmured. She poured hot water into the tub they used to wash dishes. "You don't look happy."
"They got rid of me," retorted Tris softly, letting some plates ease into the tub.
"Was he part of it?" Sandry whispered, taking the hot water kettle from Daja. She yawned, and nearly spilled its contents on the Trader's feet.
"No, he..." Tris looked back at the table.
Aymery was telling the dedicates and Niko, "I had to use the library here for my studies. I'd almost finished with my mastery credential..."
"He left before they got rid of me for good," Tris said quietly, remembering. "That same fat toad that tested me for magic -"
"The one who said you didn't have any?" Briar asked, taking up a towel so he could dry the clean dishes.
"That one. He tested Aymery and said he ought to go to Lightsbridge. Usually Aymery visited for the winter holiday. Summer ones, too, for a while. The last time he was home at all was two years ago."
"He dresses like a Bag," Briar remarked. "I like his glitter." A tug of his fingers on his earlobe told the girls he meant Aymery's earring.
Tris turned her head sideways - it was still the best way to look for magic, on the edges of her sight. She didn't notice that her friends did the same thing. There was magic in Aymery, sure enough, a shift and glimmer of pale light twined around his core, as well as a bright spot on his earring. Aymery's magic was a pale moonglow, almost blotted out by the suns that blazed in Lark, Rosethorn and Niko.