for now their school was quiet.

she had just finished a lesson; she cleaned elk fur from one of her teaching lecterns and disposed of the few dried leaves scattered on the floor.

the evening then was hers alone. earlier she had heard senmut's singing; she had considered it beautiful, if melancholy.

tavina thought of medusa's children. no. she must not think this their name; they belonged now to nazli. her heart ached a little, and now, unbidden, nala's lovely smile grew brilliant in her mind.