sabeau was sitting in the shade of a young pear tree with Micah plucking daisies from the short-cropped grass beside her. He held up each tiny white flower with a delighted smile as she worked them into a little chain to join the other now dangling around the child's neck.

Pendaran was watching her. Guiltily. He should have been preparing for his work with Zhou, but he had heard the distinctive chortle of a playing child through the open window. His first assumption was that someone had taken Sabina outside to play with the other children. Now here he was watching like a voyeur.

He glanced at the water clock, noting he had an hour remaining of his study time. Pendaran silently repeated the incantation, assured he had indeed memorized it. In his unmasked state, the words were little more than an empty rhythm of meaningless syllables. He had a little time. What would be the harm in chatting with her? Zhou was always encouraging him to make friends to salve his loss.

"You flatter yourself to think she would have any interest in you," he grumbled at himself. Here he was contemplating another woman while his wife was not even a year in the grave. Yet Isabeau had been kind to him at a time when the smallest act of compassion was as food to a starving man. Zhou understood that he was vulnerable and he sensed his master would be cross were Pendaran to act on his impulses. On the other hand, he was tired and he needed a breather before he was locked in darkness and made to focus for gods only knew how long. What would be the harm in just sitting in the shade with good company?

Pendaran put aside his work and rose stiffly from his chair, absently massaging a crick from his neck with one hand while straightening his long black robes with the other. For a moment he imagined himself back in school plotting his conquest of the pretty girls. No wonder Zhou had a dim view on teaching; he would have throttled Pendaran during his adolescence.

"But you're not going to flirt," he reminded himself as he strode down the stairs and headed toward the garden, "You are going to talk and act like an adult."

The warm air was heavy with the scent of rosemary and he could see the thick spikes of blue flowers nodding softly in the breeze. He followed the low hedge to the small cluster of fruit trees. Her golden hair was unbound and fell in an amber cascade around her delicate shoulders and pale throat. A pair of beautiful green eyes gazed up into his face, unafraid and curious.

"Good morning," Pendaran said evenly while proffering a casual nod. At times like these he wished he could detect the subtle currents of emotion that his talents had once allowed. All he could do was clumsily attempt to read from her expression if he should proceed beyond a greeting or walk on and save them both a clumsy and humiliating chat.

"Hello, Pendaran," she said and he found it oddly gratifying she had remembered his name, "I hope you are feeling better."

"Yes, much better, thank you. I hope all is well with you on this beautiful spring day."

He wanted to ask if he could sit with her, just for a little while, but he suddenly felt foolish and awkward.

"Yes, as well as one could want given the circumstances," she sighed and he watched as she turned her gaze upon the chain of daisies in her graceful hands. Such beautiful hands. Oh gods, could he be any more stupid thinking these things in front of a mesmer?

"It must be difficult to be away from your loved ones," he said, folding his hands behind his back to stop himself from fidgeting, "I suppose I should finish my walk and get back to work. Perhaps I will see you again at dinner."

"What a pity you have to leave," Isabeau sighed, "I could do with a little company. I so miss my family."

Pendaran's heart leapt into his throat. She laughed sweetly and he realized his expression must have given away his surprise.

"Oh... well I have a little time.”

Isabeau smiled up at him and patted the shady grass beside her. Pendaran chuckled and carefully arranged his robes before joining her. For a moment he basked in contentment, casting his gaze upon all the beauty around him until his heart stopped pounding and he was calm once more. He smiled as little Micah hid behind Isabeau's shoulder for a moment, a faint smile on his face as he stared at Pendaran.

"Dah!" he announced and Pendaran's laughter joined Isabeau's.

"That's not your father, Micah, that's Pendaran," she corrected the boy, then laughing she said to Pendaran, "He is in the habit of calling all men that."

"Hello, Micah. I bet you miss your father."

The boy looked painfully shy for a moment and ducked out of sight behind Isabeau.

"I know he does," Isabeau sighed, "I do, too."

"I will ask Master Bei if he has heard anything about your family when next I see him."

"I would greatly appreciate that. In a way, the silence is worse than I had imagined. I'm so scared the White Mantle will harm my parents. And Tris joining the Shining Blade... I wish we had all just left the country."

Pendaran gazed down at his hands folded upon his lap. They were trembling and a knot of grief was building up inside of him. He empathized with her, knowing only too well what it meant to lose everyone. Had he been less obsessed with his own sorrow he might have been able to offer her comfort, but such words seemed false and empty to him now. How could he tell her not to worry when he knew only too well that the very worst might indeed come to pass?

"I am sorry you must endure this," he offered. It was the most sincere thing he could say.

Her eyes glistened with barely contained tears and he blushed, feeling awkward and embarrassed. He should never have troubled her. He had work to do and the last thing he needed was Zhou being angry and disappointed on top of that.

"You know what it means to lose your loved ones," she replied gently, "I see that now. I should not have troubled you with my foolish concerns."

"Why not?" he asked, "Your grief is no less valid than mine. I sincerely hope you do not have to endure the loss of those you love. You are right to fear it."

"That is very kind of you," she said, her voice bearing the huskiness of emotion. It was odd now to realize that he was probably the only person among all the strangers around her that she had chosen to confide in. Unwittingly they had sewn the seeds of friendship in the ground of sorrow. He cared about her, he wished there were some way he could ease her burden. In so doing he might also find freedom from his own.

"I wish I had time to get to know you but I guess I’ll be leaving in a few days," Isabeau said after a while, "For that matter, I just wish I knew where I was going. I don't suppose Zhou would have reason to send his accountant along? I'd enjoy the company."

Her laughter was a relief, dissolving the tension like sunlight breaking through clouds.

"If I didn't know better, I would think you liked me."

"I do like you," she chuckled, tapping one temple mysteriously, "Mesmers know when someone is worth liking and I'm afraid you fit the criteria."

"That's a relief, because I do believe I could grow very fond of you."

The bell tolled the half hour, jolting him out of his reverie. He sighed, knowing Zhou would be annoyed with him if he were late and ill-prepared, doubly so if he discovered why.

"I'm sorry if I've made you late," Isabeau said quickly, reading his expression as he gazed upon the clock tower.

"No, no not at all, it was time well spent. But yes, I must return to my studies now," he said as he rose and dusted the grass from his robes.

"Accountants study?"

"The numbers can get a little convoluted when war is afoot," he said glibly while inwardly cursing himself. Pendaran winked at Micah and the boy giggled and tottered toward him with a partially mangled daisy held out in his hand.

"Why thank you, little man," he said, "I shall carry this back to my desk and enjoy it while I work."

He relaxed, glad of the child's distraction. The last thing he needed was Isabeau realizing how they had first met and the awkward questions that would be certain to follow. They would be parted soon. It was better this way.

"Goodbye," Isabeau said, "I do hope we meet again at supper."

"As do I," Pendaran chuckled, "Goodbye."