Sem Partoldi laughed her rich laugh deep in her throat and shuffled the bright cards together and began to play a game with herself.
        I took quick stock of the inn. From long habit my eyes darted about. But this was not a crossroads bar nor was it a denser pit. There was no danger here, I thought, and nothing had changed.
        Regis sat back and watched me. She wanted a story. I had told some here because Eoeun loved them including stories of the demarcations as long as they did not find themselves among them.
        Sometimes when they asked for a tale I said, “No.”
        Nothing more, just that, and sat silent with my arms crossed before me frowning as I gave in to the sudden clamoring of my thoughts and became lost in them. What they were, no Eoeun could guess.