((Once again my apologies for the long gap between my chapters. The trials of working life I am sorry to say, keep me from my writing but I hope that you enjoy the next instalments. Also please note that Kora is older then in the books hence the ability for coherent talking on her part ))

Kora sat in the dust as laughing happily as she watched starlings and sparrows chasing each other round the yard. She loved talking to the starlings and sparrows she told them everything. They didn't laugh or tease her like the other children did. She was sure that they spoke back to her, she had once asked her mother if animals could talk but she had just been laughed at and told not be silly. So she kept it to herself. She looked up to the room where Keth was sleeping she liked Keth, he played with her when he wasn't to busy she knew that her mother liked him though she didn't tell anyone. She tried to think of what kind of father he would make. A nice one she decided firmly. A sudden chattering of the birds bought her attention back to the courtyard the birds zoomed back to her "people coming, your flock" they seemed to say to her. She jumped to her feet and ran bare foot through the dust to the archway to greet the dancers and most importantly her mother coming home. "Mama Mama" she called throwing herself round her hugging her tightly.

Yali walked back home after a long night working under the walkways. Trade was slow as people were reluctant to risk the Ghost just to watch a street performer, sighing she felt in her pocket at the few pennies that jingled there not as many as she would of liked, but enough she realised to pay the rent. That's all she was ever able to make, enough for the rent. She would have to go hungry for another night to make sure that Kora had enough. As though on cue she heard a voice shouting and then she felt Kora wrapping herself round her. Yali stopped smiling and hugged Kora back. After a minute she disentangled herself and stood back "Come on you" she said to Kora "You should be getting some breakfast" she took her daughters hand and walked to the rooms "What were you doing outside anyway? Where is Keth" she asked wondering just what her daughter had been up to. "I was talking to the birds Mama, Keth is still sleeping he kept watching the sky last night so he is sleepy" she answered skipping along. Kora sighed inward Kora's obsession with talking to animals especially birds was worrying. She knew of no other six year old that said things hopefully Kora was just lonely and when she made friends she would stop with the birds. Holding onto the handrail she climbed the stairs towards her room and Keth.

Keth woke up when he heard the door open. Sitting up right he squinted against the overly bright morning light streaming through the windows. Turning to the door he saw Kora bounce into the room pulling Yali after her. Yali looked shattered so Keth stood stretching and offered the chair to Yali who sank into it with a grateful sigh. "Good night" he asked studying her tired features he frowned when she shook her head "No, it has been better" she reached into her pocket and pulled out two coins. "For the rent, would you give her mine when you do yours?" she asked. Keth Nodded Kora who had gone to rummage in a cool box came back with some small bread rolls filled with fruit and a jug of water from the well. Keth headed towards the door "You can stay if you want to". Offered Yali moving over to pick up a roll. Keth hesitated and then came back and sat down with them. "Has there been any news about--?" he asked Stopping short of saying The Ghost. Yali got what he meant and shook her head. "Nothing has been said nor seen on any streets last night, not that the guards and looking to hard" she added with feeling. They ate the rest of breakfast in silence and then Keth stood "I have to go to work now I don't want to be late". Yali nodded "I'll see you later when you get back" she said. Waving as he left.

Keth walked down the long road toward the Street of Glass and the shop that he worked in. some shoppers were about but the main trade would start later he knew. He opened up the shop, and let out the glass dragon from the store room where he had been keeping her. The dragon he could tell had been eating the scrap glass from the bucket in the corner. He hoped that it would be alright for it to eat, he really didn't know what to give it. but since it seemed to find food anyway Keth left it to it. The dragon hopped round the shop looking at all the things on display. It spotted a curly sea creature on a low shelf and hopped over to it, the dragon sat next it and whistled away as though it was talking to the ornament not caring that the ornament just sat there doing nothing. Leaving the dragon talking to the ornaments Keth tied his apron and set about heating up the kiln and setting the glass out that he need for that days work. He glanced at the blowing pipe that was on the shelves and then turned away sadly. Ever since that lighting had hit him he couldn't blow the glass the way he had been able to.

Across Town

Tris paced her room, she was restless and didn't know what she wanted to do. Niko had offered to take her to the conference with him but she hadn't felt like being stuck in a stuffy room with a load of adult mages talking about things that had nothing to do with her. So she had declined the offer and stayed at home, she had tried to read one of the books that Niko had given her but her mind wouldn't stay on the pages. She had tried to meditate to calm her mind but that too hadn't worked. With a loud sigh she walked out of her room into the main room to get a drink. As she crossed the room to the table she caught a flash of silver light from the yard outside. She walked causally to the window and peered out. She fell back yelping in pain when she saw what was making the light. Suddenly the light dimmed and went out, she stumbled into the table unable to see clearly. "Tris are you all right?" came Kyes concerned voice from the doorway to the garden. Tris walked into a chair trying to turn round, to face where she thought the door was, with a curse she sat down on the floor. "Yes, no I cant see clearly I saw a silver light through the window and I went to see what it was but I couldn't see what was making it. it was too bright" she said rubbing her eyes. She felt Kyes hand touch her eyes and she jumped slightly she hadn't heard him moving. Suddenly her vision cleared and she could see fine again, she blinked a few times as Kye moved back away from her. "Is that better?" he asked. Tris nodded and stood up rubbing her bruised shins and leg she hobbled to the pitcher and poured a drink. "What was that light"? she asked him "you where outside did you see it?" she sat on the offending chair downing her drink and pouring another. Kye shook his head "I didn't see the light I'm sorry" he said holding up his hand to stop Tris's questions.

"I didn't see it because I was making the light. I am sorry if I had known you were going to look I wouldn't have done it" he said he sounded sincere. "What were you doing to make that light?" she asked interested. Kye looked away for a second "It's a kind of meditation that lets me talk to certain people, I was meant to talk to someone last night but I never got chance, I really didn't mean to disturb you" he said. But Tris didn't hear the apology she was wondering how hard it was to learn to meditate like that, to be able to talk to people. "Is that hard to do?" she asked "talk to people like that" her mind was racing all the things she could do all the people she could keep in touch with, all those at winding circle. Her hope faded slightly when Kye shook his head, "It is very hard for a mortal to do, the amount of magic it takes, it would wear them out before they got to the end of a sentence". Kye paused realising that he had said mortal mages couldn't do it he knew she would pick up on that and start asking questions. "Zav could you come here please I need you" he silently called to Zav who was in the Garden. Zav ambled into the room, giving Kye a reproachful look, Kye glanced away. Tris was about to ask Kye something she had been sure. something he had said made no sense but what she suddenly couldn't remember. She forgot completely when a huge black dog came into the room and collapsed at Kyes feet. Kye knelt down to stroke the dog. "Its alright" he assured her "His name is Zav, he travels with me" he said not looking at her.

((there you go my eager fans. A nice long chapter to keep you going until next time))