Further descriptions of an underwater tour were cut short by the unexpected lights, and there was no chance of returning to casual conversation so soon after their appearance. The Tidebreaker's eyes remained on the sky, his thoughts casting out into the starless depths after a goddess who battled alone for all their sakes, far from her home and any hope of support. His inability to know what had happened to her - what was happening to her now - burned like Apopo's own fiery heart in his chest, but his expression remained solemn and unreadable.
"Yes." For now was, indeed, the truth. On any other night they would have been falling stars; no more, no less. Rare but not unheard of. Rough chunks of stone and metal that plowed into sea or soil, smoking until they cooled into lumps of curious alien ore that might be used to craft some small items or weapons of unusual properties.
But there were no stars to fall on LongNight. And for the first time in his life Hadama found himself wondering: why? What happened to them during the last and darkest week of the year? It was a mystery that would have to wait for the sun to return, if not Safrin herself. And in the meantime...
"It will have to be enough." Enough time to see the sun rise and send out raven-letters. Enough time to sober up Torchline's hard-partying population and move their preparations forward. Enough time to learn...
"Guildmaster," the Tidebreaker said with slow and regal formality, turning his eyes back on Edmund's at last, piercing green and just as sharp as the emeralds whose hue they bore. "Will you take an official commission?"
"Yes." For now was, indeed, the truth. On any other night they would have been falling stars; no more, no less. Rare but not unheard of. Rough chunks of stone and metal that plowed into sea or soil, smoking until they cooled into lumps of curious alien ore that might be used to craft some small items or weapons of unusual properties.
But there were no stars to fall on LongNight. And for the first time in his life Hadama found himself wondering: why? What happened to them during the last and darkest week of the year? It was a mystery that would have to wait for the sun to return, if not Safrin herself. And in the meantime...
"It will have to be enough." Enough time to see the sun rise and send out raven-letters. Enough time to sober up Torchline's hard-partying population and move their preparations forward. Enough time to learn...
"Guildmaster," the Tidebreaker said with slow and regal formality, turning his eyes back on Edmund's at last, piercing green and just as sharp as the emeralds whose hue they bore. "Will you take an official commission?"
