a building fire outside," she commented as she followed her guide down the hall to the rear offices.

"A month ago. It wasn't serious." He stopped at a closed door and faced Daja, swallowing hard. _"Viymese,_ you gave me too much money." He held out a silver coin. "You being foreign, maybe you don't know — the likes of me gets a copper argib, not a silver. If we gets anything."

Daja smiled. "I bet that honest streak pinches you, doesn't it?" she asked. She couldn't imagine Briar correcting anyone about such a mistake. "Don't be silly," she added. "You had to skate around two islands, both ways. Someday when you have a bit extra, give it to one who needs it."

The boy shook his head. "And I always heardthrough her boot. Cursing in Tradertalk, she loosened the strap. "How someone like Ben came from that bitter old shoe of a female..."

She stood and thrust herself away from the bench. Unfortunately she did so a little too hard. Across the basin she shot, right into its snowy sides. She pushed herself out of the snow, her face hot with embarrassment. No one was present to witness her humiliation, but she still said aloud, "I meant to do that."

It was like meditation, she realized as she steadied herself on the ice once more. She couldn't think about anything but skating when she skated. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, thrusting Morrachane from her mind. When her thoughts were filled only with skating, she began again.

Nia joined