Steam billowed off the top of the mug. Sahriel watched it with grave attention, letting his fingertips play in it occasionally but mostly just enjoying the patterns it made while he made the water boil over and over so he could play with the steam. Miriam was behind him in the kitchen making dinner and Akhenti sat opposite, watching him play with the steam with a small frown on her face as if she didn’t approve of something but Sahriel didn’t care. She was his oldest friend, and he didn’t care and he knew that was probably a bad sign but it was just the way it was. Connor was all that mattered, and Connor was still washing up after another day of repairs in town.

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