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"True enough." Feena accepted the wine and took a sip. It was watered. She raised an eyebrow and Manas gave her a small smile.

"Attendance at these parties is the price you pay for attaining a certain rank in Yhaunn," he said. "Judging from the way your aide has been guiding you through the crowd-" he nodded to Julith-"I suspected you might have been given the same instructions I once was."

Feena returned the smile. "Thank you for your courtesy," she said.

Manas's lip twitched. "Your appearance isn't the only thing that's changed since we met," he observed. "Before, I would have said that your speech and manners were straight out of the country. Does Yhaunn really change people so quickly?"

"Not on its own," Feena confessed. "I've been taking lessons."

"She's a fast learner," added Julith.

"I can see that." Manas glanced down at his wine. He hesitated for a moment, then said somewhat awkwardly, "I wanted to tell you that I admired the conviction with which you stood up to me and High Luck Shoondeep, Moonmistress. I can tell that you're a fighter. I know how hard it can be when you're thrown into a situation that puts words over actions."

Feena blinked. "I…" she stuttered-then met Manas' eyes as he looked back up.

Both of them flushed and glanced away.

Julith stepped into the conversation smoothly: "Have your investigations turned up any other clues about the death in the Stiltways, Captain?"

"No, ma'am," Manas replied as promptly as he would have to a superior in the city guard.

Feena could hear the relief in his voice at the change in topic. She had to admit that she felt a certain relief as well.

"Are there any indications of another werewolf in the city?" she asked.

Manas shook his head and replied, "No. We haven't been able to figure out why the man was in the Stiltways, either. He only had a few friends we've been able to locate, but they say that the Stiltways isn't somewhere they'd expect him to be. Apparently he pretty much kept to himself."

"If you find out more," Feena said, "will you let me know?" Her voice came out with a breathless rush. She snapped her teeth together, but of course she couldn't recall the words. "If there is another werewolf involved…" she added quickly, but the flush had already sprung back to Manas's face.

"You'll be the first to know, Moonmistress!" he said. He bobbed his head in a hasty bow. "If you'll excuse me, I… I see someone I need to talk to."

Manas turned and darted away down the nearest path.

Julith looked at Feena and smiled knowingly. Feena flushed again as well and gulped from her goblet. "It's your fault," she said.

Julith snickered, "You both just clean up too well for your own good, I suppose." She looked after Manas. "And he appreciates you as a fighter. I think I'd spar with him for a few rounds." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Feena groaned.

"Who's the bad influence now? Let's just move on." Feena looked around and gestured to a trio, an older man and woman and a second, younger man, strolling along a path well away from the one Manas had taken. "Who's that?"

Julith looked, nodded, and said, "Strasus Thingoleir, possibly the greatest wizard in the city. That's his wife, Dagnalla, also a wizard. The young man is likely one of their sons-either Roderio or Keph." She led Feena toward them. "Master Thingoleir!" she called. "Mistress Thingoleir!" The old couple stopped and turned. Julith bent respectfully and gestured to Feena. "May I present Moonmistress-Designate Feena Archwood of Moonshadow Hall."

Strasus smiled kindly and extended a wrinkled, leathery hand. "Well met, Moonmistress."

Feena took it and smiled back as Strasus gave a little bow over their joined hands.

"Well met, sir." She shook Dagnalla's hand as well. "Well met, madam."

She turned to the young man. He nodded to her soberly and reached out his hand as well.

"Roderio Thingoleir," he said. "Well met."

The skin of his hand was smooth and very soft when she