Morziwayn was not fully in the Queen's Library, only just stepping through the door before immediately beginning to lament to ?nnywella.

  "Gekaryna! it's horrible!" Morziwayn starts, throwing her good arm above her. "Gyrshke is kicking me out! she says she is sick of having to share a bed with me! She didn't even consider giving me an apartment in the abbey—a truly heartless woman! I'm homeless, Gekaryna! she casts me out! I'm homeless!"

  "How fortuitous!" ?nnywella slams the book in her hands shut and places it on the table next to the couch. "I just happen to have quite a large bed that I would be more than happy to share with you! You can stay here—with me!"

  "Excellent!" Morziwayn quickly runs over to the couch and plops herself down next to Gekaryna.

  ?nnywella redirects her attention to Gyrshke, who is only now entering the room. "I can't believe you would do this; it is very unlike you to cast a girl no older than sixteen out onto the streets."

  Eue-Lysae sits down in one of the leather chairs. She sighs deeply and runs a hand down her face. "If I didn't know you would welcome her with open arms, I would have given her one of the apartments—I also didn't get a chance to discuss or offer that, so don't try to hold that against me." She wags a finger at Morziwayn. "Also, do not act as though this is a regular woman we speak of; it's Morziwayn—she is well over a thousand and has a house."

  ?nnywella laughs. "This is true, but the problem has been settled; she will stay with me." She pauses. "Though I must ask: what brings you two here on no notice?" ?nnywella asks. Gyrshke usually only comes to the castle when she is invited and rarely requests to come.

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  "I brought Morziwayn here to have Franheska set her arm. The body's father came and tried to kill us, and it made the break worse." Eue-Lysae says.

  ?nnywella shakes her head in shock. "Shouldn't you be a little more on edge about this?"

  "I'm on edge about the lack of competence from the new Watchmen... As a matter of fact, I will be sending him back to the city." Eue-Lysae lies; she is shaken, quite shaken, but she is in no position to show it, ever.

  Morziwayn shrugs. "I'm used to this." She says in a tone far too cheery for the context.

  ?nnywella purses her lips and nods. She really wishes she did not know why. "Do you want me to have the Guards of the Crown look into this?"

  "No, it's fine. I don't think any will come from that; the issue lies with the Watchmen."

  "Actually, I would like this to be looked into." Morziwayn says. "I would like to know what happened to the mother."

  "K?spar is in Styd?n, and I cannot send men to Brachb?sc. So this is up to you, Gyrshke." As much as she wants to look into this for Morziwayn, her hands are tied.

  "I will write the Arch Priestesses. Don't expect to hear anything about it for about six or seven maidens."

  "That's alright; I can wait—I feel I know the answer already anyways." Morziwayn fidgets with her hands.

  Eue-Lysae stands. "I should be leaving."

  ?nnywella raises a hand. She is unsure if she has already informed Gyrshke of Tyes Tenitz owe'Styd?ns's date of arrival. "Before you go: Tyes Tenitz, the baker who is making the cake for the wedding, is arriving—along with his two daughters and apprentice—on the 15th. I assume he will be going straight to the College after arrival to get to work. I will be sending my kitchen staff to assist with the catering, but if it is doable, I would like you and your coven to assist both Tyes Tenitz and my staff."

  "That will be fine. My coven and I will help." Eue-Lysae opens the door and leaves.