Winter 2007 10

"Maybe I can't. Maybe I'm a fraudulent spiritualist."

"If this were a street comedy," Helmine said, "I would not pay either of you a single bit of brass."

"Read your fortune, good ma'am?" Weft offered.

Helmine flinched and didn't say a word.

"Um, sorry, I was... joking." The monk looked mortified.

"And I got carried away a bit, sorry we were ignoring you."

"We shall have to forget this line of discussion," Helmine said coolly but diplomatically, ignoring what Nico just said. "What have you been doing after we met, Nico?"

"Oh, well, I delivered the wand I found to he man who wanted it - as far as I know he uses it to cool drinks - and put the reward by... I'm looking into saving up for a permanent home. Nothing definitive yet, but in the meantime I did a couple of less flashy jobs - filing paperwork and such." This was true. After a fashion. More or less.

Helmine looked like she didn't believe her -- just for a moment. "So what is the home of your dreams like?"

"Something that's roomy for one person, and in a quiet and private location." She stretched a bit. "Not too far from a town or so, because I like company, but sometimes I need some time alone, without hearing the tenant in the next room breathe. Also, room to keep more than a handful of keepsakes."

"I see. You are not the type to settle down with someone, then, I assume from what you just said."

"No candidate at hand." Nico shrugged, unbothered.

"Yes, I can see that," Helmine said dryly, sneaking a glance at Weft.

Pretending she hadn't noticed that, Nico turned the topic around. "And what are you up to?"

"Sitting here," Helmine said very helpfully.

"Until springtime?" Just curious...

"If I do not find anything more interesting to do," Helmine said, figuring that this statement was most likely fairly accurate.

"What could possibly be more interesting than sitting in a rarely used pavillion and watching the grass grow? Oh, food!" The second point had nothing to with the first. Daaren had decided the chestnuts were roasted enough, and, after scooping three or four up with one of the small bowls, placed the pan on the brick-built rim of the fireplace, for anyone who was interested to get some.

Suitov toyed with one or two. After eating those and placing the shells in a spare bowl, he gave in to the growing fidgeting urge.

"I'm taking a walk in the white," he said to Daaren, making as if to get up. "Care to join me?" He honestly didn't mind either way.

Daaren nodded and picked up his jacket, figuring that since he couldn't understand a word of the talk here, he might as well.