Tilististane Todetse wanted nothing more than to take the train into the Taend Forest to visit her mother's family, and in particular, her cousin, Applestar. She was eager to share with Apple about her first semester at Faraday Academy of Magic. Plus, she was a little sick of the snow. Tilli was perhaps the only person she knew who didn't like the snow, but she attributed this to having been born in the Southern Islands. She was jealous of her friends, Ayan, Mat, and Key, who had already returned to the southern hemisphere to celebrate what, for them, would a be a summer holiday. Instead, Tilli had the collar of her green coat pulled as high as possible in an attempt to protect her ears and nose from the chill winter wind.

Tilli also didn't understand why important officials in Shakif decided to have an outdoor concert in this weather. She didn't care if the music was in the spirit of the season. The season was cold. Tilli's sister, Cadolina, claimed the open square was better for catching passing citizens who would have to know about an indoor concert in advance to attend, but even the choir conductor looked cold. His own coast resembled the quilt Ayan had recently sewn for her brother, and he had a thick, purple scarf wrapped around his head. He was from Bvia University in Brightland--the youngest student to be elevated to the position of Master in a century--and Tilli thought if they really valued him, they wouldn't make him perform in the frigid northern air.

Tilli did have a chance to warm up when the concert ended. Several important people had been invited to a party at the governor's house, to eat and meet the young conductor. As the children of diplomats, she and her siblings had practically grown up at such events. Her sister used them to network and her brother to discuss current events, but Tilli found it all terribly dull.

Sam and Caddie identified all the guests as they entered the hall. There was a Mermish woman serving on the Nefralean Council of Races, and the leader of one of Alaj's desert provinces. Tilli remembered what she had learned from her friend, Miriam, about the conflicts between the province leaders and wondered how this man's invitation would affect his status in his home country. Dekani and Brightland, major powers from the Minor Continent, had sent not only official diplomats, but singers, as part of the choir. But their neighbor, Florarova, was noticably absent, as was representation from Antarand, which still debated its independence from the former. Sam reminded Tilli that Nefrale walked a fine line when dealing with the two.

Then the young Master himself walked in. He looked barely older than Caddie, with a pointed nose and thin lips, which spread into a nervous smile as people reached out to shake his hand. As one of the governor's staff took his coat from him, Tilli could see that it was, indeed, quilted. Her fingers itched to draw it for Ayan. The man hesitated before removing his scarf, but also handed it over, letting a black braid fall over his shoulder. Then Cadolina moved in to lead him into the main room.

Tilli followed her sister long enough to make friends with the snack table. As a high class event in Nefrale, there were no full meals, as there might have been in other countries, but dainty dishes like strips of candied sweet potato and cups that each held a single spoonful of tapioca pudding. She stayed in the main room long enough for her parents to introduce her to any important people who had forgotten her, and slipped back into the front hall, where she sat at the base of the stairs and extracted the sketchpad she kept in her back pocket.

Tilli's art teacher had repeated all semester that she needed to challenge herself by drawing people, so she started with Cadolina. She didn't need to look at her sister to sketch her. Everything about her was soft and curved, except her eyes, which had the hard and cunning look of Liberty House. Then she moved on to her brother, who was the opposite. Everything about him was sharp, from the prominant chin to the smart suit he wore. But his eyes looked far aaway and regretful. Then she set about trying to draw the Bvia Master in his quilted coat for Ayan.

"You're a very good artist."

Tilli jumped at the sound of her voice. She turned, ready to snap that it was inappropriate to peer over someone's shoulder, only to realize it was the subject of her drawing. Her cheeks grew hot, and she dropped her gaze to her sketchbook. "My friend... would have liked to see your coat."

"In that case, I wish I hadn't let them take it. I could have given you a better look."

Tilli turned to face him, taking in his features. He was nearly as tall as her father, but his large ears, which stuck out from his head, gave him a more boyish appearance. She could see the slightest hint of bronze makeup above his eyes, and his hair had a slight hint of red in it. Tilli guessed it was naturally dark, but that he had colored it, which was not a surprise, considering he lived in Brightland.

"You're Melody Nightwind's daughter, right? I met your sister earlier."

"Yeah." Tilli returned to her sketchbook.

"She didn't mention you were an artist."

"That's because she doesn't know. None of them do." And I'd prefer you didn't tell them, she almost added.

"Well, it's nice to see another artist, all the same."

Tilli looked up again. "Do I count as an artist if all my submissions are turned down?" She didn't mention that her art partner had also ended their friendship the previous semester.

He thought for a moment. "Two years ago, I did a concert at Ethion Univerity in Mevi. I almost had to cancel because President Sololsol didn't like it. Did that make me less of an artist?"

"You're different. You're from Bvia."

"Then maybe you should go. They have a summer program for teenagers. You could apply."

Tilli let herself imagine it for exactly one moment. Bvia University was world reknowned--not a school for artists, but the school. But... "My parents would never let me go."

"Maybe you should apply anyway. Don't let politics stop you." He stood as a member of the governor's staff brought him his beautiful quilted coat and his scarf.

"Are you leaving already?" Tilli asked, slightly jealous.

The man nodded. "I know it's not very hospitable, but I'm usually the one preparing for the party. And with Messengers Day in two days, I've got a long day in the kitchen tomorrow."

"Not hospitable? But you're the guest of honor."

"All the more reason to be hospitable, don't you think?" It was the kind of thing her friend, Mat, would have said. The man held his coat out to her. "Would you like to take a look before I go?"

Tilli shook her head, absent-mindedly, as an idea sketched itself in her mind. He shrugged on his coat and wrapped the scarf around his face almost reverently. It was the same color as the purple ribbon Mat used to tie his hair. "Good luck with the art." He nodded to her and stepped out the door into a flurry of snow.