Page 51 of Elemental Affections

They sat toward the side of the café so Eunny could keep an eye on patrons as they attempted to fix whatever they had brought in. She had a crate full of more gardening tools to clean and sharpen for the Grove, though progress was slow as she kept being called away. Only once Yerina stopped by with refreshments did Eunny make it back to Dae’s table.

“Sorry. Gransen was supposed to help run this, but he had to help with something at the school,” Eunny said, sitting heavily in her chair. “I should’ve cancelled. Open craft, not you.”

“It’s good that you didn’t. People like this place.” Dae waved her darning needle at a group working on projects together at the café’s main table.

“Everything okay with you?” Eunny peered at her. “You seem … off.”

Dae shook her head. “Just tired. Finals. Working on my seminar project.”

“What about work?” Eunny said, tone too innocent.

A pang of regret tightened Dae’s chest. She ignored it, made herself smile. “He’s fine. The experiments are going well.”

“Areyou twodoing well?”

Dae’s laugh was more genuine. “Yes, nosy.”

They would keep on as they had been, and she would drown out any wistful thoughts of the future. There was nothing wrong with the arrangement as it was. And … if she had damaged it today, if he wanted out, she’d survive. Could go back to friendly terms. If she could manage it with godsdamned Brint Avenor then, surely, she could with Ezzyn.

“Youhaveseemed less stressed since you started sleeping with him.”

Dae blushed. “I will stab you with this needle.”

Eunny’s reply was interrupted by the repair café’s door opening again. Ezzyn and Zhenya walked in, the latter of whom gave a cheery wave in their direction before going to the other side of the café to make use of the ancient stack cutter Eunny had taken in.

“Don’t cut your hand off!” Eunny called out as Ezzyn walked over to their table. “Sor’vahl. Haven’t seen you at one of these before.”

He inclined his head. “I have it on good authority you can find a use for me.”

Eunny cast a sidelong glance at Dae, then back to Ezzyn. “In fact, I can.” She went to the rear counter and returned with a carefully packed box of pottery. All bore cracks or were broken into pieces. Eunny held up a handful of slim rods that resembled a mix between an ink stick and metallic pigment. “Got these sealant sticks from a Radiant Isles merchant, but you need precise heat to work them.”

Ezzyn sat next to Dae. “I’m hardly a potter, but I’ll do my best.”

Eunny gave him the sealant stick’s applicator with a warning that the enchantment was acting up, then bustled off to check on patrons.

“Anadae,” he said, his usual greeting when they met at the school. His eyebrows went up as he glanced at the mitten in her hands.

“Ezzyn.” Dae had graduated to attempting decorative embroidery in mending, with less than artistic results.I didn’t think you’d come,she wanted to say.

But he had. He was here, and carrying on the friendly but neutral manner of their public interactions. Only a quick, small half-smile, one side of his mouth rounding his cheek, belied the depth of their familiarity.

It eased the flicker of nerves that had gathered under her skin. Emboldened her to give him a mock haughty look as she attempted to stitch a flower petal with an elaborate flourish. “Do you have a secret life as an art critic I don’t know about?”

He snorted. “Is that art?”

They worked easily, Ezzyn’s presence fitting in a way that had the wistful side of Dae’s brain acting up. He griped to Eunny about the shoddy enchantment on the applicator. She told him not to be a snob.

“I’m a Magister Two elementalist with a specialization in fire. I’m qualifiedto bea snob.”

He ended up tossing the applicator and using his magic, honing it to a fine point so only the tip of the sealant stick was heated. He fused each piece of pottery in the box with pearlescent lines of gold and silver and copper, all while chatting with the women.

“Do researchers get their assistants gifts for their birthdays or is that breaching some rule of Sylveren’s ethics?” Eunny said, dodging Dae’s kick under the table.

“Your birthday is soon?” Ezzyn said, his eyes on the vase he was repairing, tone mild. “You should’ve mentioned it.”

After glaring at Eunny, Dae said, “Over winter break. Don’t listen to her—I’m not big on celebrations.”

“Something small, then. This is a momentous one, isn’t it?”

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