The kin, the half-blood and I sat there in silence for a moment. The sun came out while we were drinking, slowly drying away any evidence of the snow.
My mind drifted back to Morrense and the Tudors back in Readimina. Last time it snowed, I was invited me to their holiday celebrations in the village. I had to help Morrense across the slippery cobblestones as we walked around, watching the children dance in their festive costumes.
I sighed. It had not even been two weeks since I left, but I was already reminiscing. I wondered if they thought of me.
“I can’t believe it snowed already,” I muttered mostly to myself.
“It’ll warm up again before winter sets in permanently,” Rio said. He was working quite hard to warm up the tips of his ears again.
It was not long before the blonde returned, a sad little smile on her face before she faced us. “Well, father’s agreed to let me be the one to fly you to the Spire.”
“What?” Rio said, confused and a little disapproving.
“Well, that’s good, right?” I asked.
“Yes, I suppose. I’m just a little nervous now. He’s not going to be very enthusiastic in teaching me how to fly the thing. Luckily I’ve been studying behind his back.” Her smile was widening, beginning to feel her triumph.
“I’m sure you’ll be great,” I said comfortingly.
Rio’s face did not agree so much, but he stood and offered his hand for Kewyn to shake.
“Our lives are in your hands, captain,” he said, and then smiled.
It seemed to be contagious, as she took his hand and growled, “I’ll do my best,” then grinned excitedly. She turned to the kin and I before she said, “Well, I’d best go and get myself ready for the launch. Father says it will only be a matter of days now. We’ll be leaving in the afternoon so the machinery isn’t too cold. That good for you?”
“Yes,” the kin said.
I nodded excitedly, and we said our goodbyes and good lucks to Kewyn. It was a bit early to return to the inn, but once outside in the nipping air all I wanted to do was curl up and read. So, I returned to the room with the kin while Rio went off to enjoy himself with his free time.
“Are you excited at all?” I asked the kin as I pulled the blankets around my