Mal turned at the sound of the door closing behind her and gave a polite, business-like nod as she recognized one of the Wardens. A year without unreasonable demands on the populace or unnecessary excess from the Evergreen had done much to allay concerns, and even Tal’s petty grumbling had largely subsided after the events of the War.
”I have some time, and I was curious about the new school,” Mal admitted, giving Evie a small smile back in return. Then the school’s… well, not headmistress, obviously, but one of its teachers spoke up and she had to work hard to keep her expression neutral and not smile any further. So this was the Sah she’d heard so much about…
”I’m Mallory.” She introduced herself to both, making up her mind to stick around and see how much of Tal’s fond exasperation with the man had merit.
Listening to the initial lesson plan, she reached up to adjust her glasses again in a thoughtful manner at the showy display of lightning. When he explained what he wanted from them she knelt down to gather some snow into her mittened hands.
”My water is…” She paused, giving Sah a slightly skeptical look. ”Clear. Wet. Fluid.” Mal was a practical woman. A woman of numbers and mathematics, spreadsheets and account books. ”It doesn’t have its own emotions, any more than my left foot does.” It was simply as much a part of her as her fingers and toes, and had been since she was a small child just learning how to walk.
”I have some time, and I was curious about the new school,” Mal admitted, giving Evie a small smile back in return. Then the school’s… well, not headmistress, obviously, but one of its teachers spoke up and she had to work hard to keep her expression neutral and not smile any further. So this was the Sah she’d heard so much about…
”I’m Mallory.” She introduced herself to both, making up her mind to stick around and see how much of Tal’s fond exasperation with the man had merit.
Listening to the initial lesson plan, she reached up to adjust her glasses again in a thoughtful manner at the showy display of lightning. When he explained what he wanted from them she knelt down to gather some snow into her mittened hands.
”My water is…” She paused, giving Sah a slightly skeptical look. ”Clear. Wet. Fluid.” Mal was a practical woman. A woman of numbers and mathematics, spreadsheets and account books. ”It doesn’t have its own emotions, any more than my left foot does.” It was simply as much a part of her as her fingers and toes, and had been since she was a small child just learning how to walk.
