048

"Did your people know magic?"

"I don't know." Itzi looked at his old wrinkled hands. "My mother never mentioned it to me. My father, well you know, I never really knew my father. When I was young we lived in a group house for slaves, your Uncle's Fathers, your grandfathers, actually. So I remember some of the singing and dancing that we had at the end of the day, but I was young when your Uncle came back to live in the city." Itzi laughed and looked at Malin, his old eyes reflecting the light of the lanterns. "It's been such a long time."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring up painful memories. I..sometimes I forget."

"No, it's not that, I was just surprised that I don't think about it anymore. I haven't for years and years. I haven't thought of the colour of my mothers hair, her voice in years. Ohhh, I was six? Seven? No six probably, when your Uncle came to live at the keep. Your grandfather thought he needed someone close to his age so they pulled me into the manor. That wasn't the last time I saw my mother, I would see her working from time to time, mostly from afar. I don't know when she died. I can't remember the last time I saw her, she just faded away, and one day I never saw her again."

"We could find out for you?"

"Oh?"

"We can send word back to the capital. I can have people look into it. The records may not be exact but the empire records things like that with some regularity. the magic would be weak, but we can still reach home."

"No, no. I do appreciate that. But this has been our of my head and heart for a long time, I'm not sure I'm ready to dig it up. Perhaps I will think on it as I sleep."

"If you sleep."

"Yes." Itzi carried his empty wine cup to the wine tray. "If I sleep tonight. Thank you for drying my headdress Malina. It was not necessary."

"It was no trouble at all. I have much left to spare."

With that Itzi bowed low and slowly made his way out of the Empresses cabin. His hands using the wall to for balance as he shut the door behind him.