Only the barest amount of light showed through the sleeve of dark cloth once it was drawn over the jar. Hawk laid his head down on the pillow, and arranged his wings over the blanket. After a while, he said quietly, "Love you too, Liya."

There were buds forming on the otherwise bare vines that trailed around the railings outside the Cynn's quarters. The sunlight was bright, but the way it fell cast a shadow over his door and windows.

< First message, > Sraddi recited. < From: His Majesty, King Ulrich of Barland. > She paused, and then said in an entirely different voice, "Cynn! I had another thought about--"

< Oh, not this, > the Cynn interrupted, shooting Sraddi an aggrieved look from where he stood folding clothes. < Next, please. >

< Next message... > Sraddi trailed off. While she called it up, the Cynn peevishly set to folding something else.

< Honestly, > he muttered to himself, < Not even back from the summit long enough to unpack, and he's already got more input on--!! >

He stopped short as a loud thump echoed from somewhere, causing him to jump quite badly.