I have the girl bring a tray to your room?the cook asked, checking a sauce.

not when youll all be so busy. Ill come here when Im hungry, if that s all right,replied Tris. Assured that it was, she took the staircase from the courtyard to the first floor.

She had just set an armful ofjumshidas books on her bed when she heard Niko call from the workroom they shared, why is there a glass creature eating our antimony?

Tris walked over to the open workroom door. There stood her teacher, hands on hips, surveying the glass dragon. Despite his long day at the conference, Niko looked fresh and crisp. His clothes, made by Tris s foster-sister Sandry, a thread mage, showed not a single wrinkle. Niko wore a sleeveless grey linen ov errobe and breeches, and a paler grey silk shirt, its full sleeves neatly buttoned at the cuffs. On his feet were black slippers with turned-up toes. He refused to wear Tharian sandals, telling Tris that he would reserve the sight of his bare toes for him self alone.

At one and three-quarter metres Niko was fifteen centimetres taller than Tris was, and wiry, with silver-and-black hair worn in a horse-tail most of the time. He possessed a full, natty, black-and-silver moustache of which he was vain, heavy bla ck-and-silver brows, and deep-set black eyes. His face was craggy, the strong nose jutting from it like the prow of a ship.

Niko stared down that formidable nose at the dragon, who sat on its hindquarters, staring up at the mage. Its muzzle was coated with antimony; its belly was filled with the stuff.

That even good for you?Tris asked it.

As if in reply the dragon twitched, its belly roiling. A moment later it opened its jaws.

Antimony surged from its gullet to form clear glass flames that dropped as soon as they broke away from its mouth. Niko quickly thrust a hand under the dragons chin to catch the pieces. When the creature finished, Niko had a palmful of glass flames.

cant think of the last time I held dragon vomit in my hand,Niko remarked, his voice dry. never, in fact. There are no such things as dragons. Need I also point out there are no such things as living

glass dragons?

Tris picked the creature up and cradled it in her arms. shouldnt stuff yourself that way,she told it. couldnt absorb it. Surely you cant be hungry after all you ate at the shop.

eating is how she learns the nature and substance of things, remarked Niko, sidetracked by the thought. all, who can tell if she truly sees or not?

s an it, not a she,protested Tris. She held up the dragon so Niko could see its belly was unmarked by male or female organs.

he replied. elegant and dainty a creature, with such wonderful eyes,

has to be female.

just say that because you like women better than men, Tris retorted. The dragon climbed up her arm and draped itself across her shoulders, rubbing its head on her braided hair.

good reason. Few women spend the first weeks of an acquaintance trying to prove how much m ore they know than you,Niko said as he

gently poured the dragon flames on to the counter by the antimony jar. havent explained how this creature came to be here, Tris.

s a long story. Youre supposed to be down there, arent you?she asked, n odding in the direction of the noisy first floor.

This lady, I will set aside the conference for the moment. Ive never seen anything like her, Niko pointed out. youve been using your lightning. What for? You know I can see it on you and the dragon.

Tris shrugged. wasnt much.She set the dragon on a worktable and fitted the cork back into the antimony jar. glass mage was having a tantrum. I dont think much of the teachers here, if they can t make a grown man learn self-control.

students dont want to learn,Niko offered, rubbing the dragon s chin with a gentle finger. s hear the whole of it.

Tris went around the room, making sure that every jar was tightly corked, as she told Niko how she had made the dragons acquaintance. dont know which was sillier,she remarked as she finished, thinking I d believe his story about not being a mage, or treating me as if I were a monster. I asked him if he would take responsibility for the dragon and he refused, so I kept her.

Niko sighed. scares people,he reminded her. I thought you were going to keep a grip on it - and on your temper.

Did she retorted. I just gave him enough of a shock to make him drop the tongs, and I warned him. He would have killed her,she said defensively, rubbing the dragon between its tiny ears. can t abide people who blame others for their mistakes, Niko, you know I cant. Id like to give his teacher a piece of my mind.

if hes a new mage?inquired Niko.

Tris snorted. could that be? Hes a grown man!

Didnt know her gift with needlework was magic until she was nearly thirty. Lark was one of Triss foster-mothers, a powerful thread mage. s not unusual for the person not to know, if his power, or hers, comes from things used every day,Niko added.

replied Tris, unconvinced. he knows now. And its not like there aren t fistfuls of glass mages in this city, so I wont be stuck with him.Any mage who was certified by Lightsbridge University in Karang or Winding Circle temple in Emelan agreed to a pact to get a mage s credential: he, or she, had to teach any new mage if there was no teacher with that same magic on hand. Despite their age, Tris, her foster-sisters and her foster-brother all wor e the medallion that marked them as accredited mage-graduates of Winding Circle. Sandry and Briar had written to her about the mage-students they had taken on since Tris and Niko left Emelan. Tris preferred to avoid their fate. She was responsible for Lit tle Bear and now, it seemed, for the dragon. That was more than enough for her.

should check on him in the morning. Make certain that he has a teacher,Niko said. No fooling about, Tris. A student is a serious matter. Can that thing even