“How are you defining ‘abuse’?”

Of course he’d ask that. But he didn’t have his own Kept, and as far as Shahin knew, he never had. She lifted an eyebrow at Emrys; he shook his head the tiniest amount.

...

“It looks like she’s succeeding.” Shahin looked around the room. They’d gathered in the Dining Hall, because nobody’s suite was large enough for this, and, because, as Kailani said, “we have nothing to hide, and we should not pretend that we do. We’re not sneaking around, and nobody would trust the cy’Regine if we were.”

Conrad was good for Kailani, Shahin thought. He was certainly encouraging her to be more socially aware.

...

“There you go.” Professor Valerian wrapped up the last of what she called Juniper’s hothouse Workings. “You sure I can’t convince you to come out to the real sun? It’s better for you, you know.”

Juniper stretched up to the warmth. She should not have been surprised by an arboreal Change, not with her name, but for the life she’d chosen, something like a mole Change might have suited her better. “I’m not going out there,” she murmured.

...

All things considered, I think things are going pretty well. Please send the CDs I listed on the back of this note with the next batch of cookies. Also, Gennie’s suitemate Dawfyyd says he’d like some more of those chocolate crinkle cookies, and says they’re delicious.

If you were going to send me to an underground bunker, this one at least doesn’t suck.

...

Thursday, November 9, 2000

“I don’t know, I think that if we were going to be superheros, we’d need a better plan then ‘let’s attack everything that’s bad.’ I mean, for one, you have to define bad. Evil? Didn’t pay their parking tickets? Bad fashion sense?”

...

Thursday, November 9, 2000

If Abednego could figure out what he’d done to get Rafe pleased with him, he would have taken notes, because he definitely preferred this to what had become his new norm.

...

Friday, November 3, 2000

“What I don’t get is how that’s supposed to help anything!”

...

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

Leofric studiously took notes as Professor Pelletier wrote another equation on the board. Physics was a good class for not thinking about what was going on. And even if some of it had been pretty cool — he was growing antlers, Dr. Caitrin said, and now he had some kind of awesome electricity powers — most of it was… Well, he was trying not to think about it.

...

Wednesday, October 25, 2000

“Ugh.” The lights flickered out with a crackle. “Leofric!”

...

Wednesday, October 25, 2000

“Abednego.” Professor Valerian’s hand landed on his shoulder. “I know Professor Cayenne is your mentor, but I’ve noticed you’re having quite a bit of trouble focusing in my class, and I’m not sure she can help with that. Would you like to come to my office and discuss it?”

...