Pt’this stopped by the next morning before heading to the palace. “Ann said Pisha was having problems with her hip. I thought maybe this might help.” He held out a four-footed cane. Thailyn frowned. “Where did you get that?” “Kith made it for Miramar. Someone ordered one like it at the forge and he made an extra.” Thailyn stared at the cane. “Is something wrong?” Pt’this asked. “No. I was the one to order the cane. I had it made for Darina’s mother.” He took the cane. “Thanks. This will help. I was planning on having one made for her.” “Are you okay?” Pt’this asked. He knew Thailyn still wished he could have been there for his sister. Thailyn nodded. “I was just thinking how much our lives intertwined without us realizing it.” “That they have. I’ve got to go. There’s a big meeting this morning.” “I’ll see you later. Thanks again.” The three spent the day together. Pisha was delighted with the cane. Lamdi came by after classes to meet Pisha. “Ruzi talks a lot about you. I’m glad to finally meet you.” “Thailyn and Ruzi both mentioned you too. You’re Thailyn’s apprentice?” Lamdi nodded. “I live next door. My parents live up a few blocks from here but it’s hard to be with them. They don’t understand why I don’t like to be touched by most people, why I wear these gloves all the time.” “Can I ask why you wear them? I noticed Thailyn does too.” “They block the healing so I don’t read people.” “Well, that makes sense. Your parents don’t understand that?” “They don’t understand why I’d read a perfectly healthy person and why it would be a problem if I did.” “No one’s perfectly healthy. You’d read old problems. And it’s not like you can choose to not read the people you touch any more than they could choose not to smell someone who hadn’t bathed,” Pisha pointed out. “See, you understand.” “I’m an unreadable with a healer for a cousin. I hear a lot about reading people.” “Ruzi was one of the first unreadables I met. I didn’t know about unreadables. I just knew it didn’t hurt to touch him.” “Can Lamdi stay for dinner?” Ruzi asked. Thailyn nodded. “I’ll check with Dae.” “She said it’s fine. Just don’t be late for your test,” he reported a moment later. “I know. We won’t.” Lamdi nodded. “How many kids live over there?” Pisha asked. “Currently there are seven foster kids and Pt’this and Sapphire have four of their own.” “Foster?” “That’s what they call us, a foster family. They didn’t adopt us, but they take care of us like we’re family.” “They’re a better family than some of the kids ever knew in their own homes,” Ruzi added. “It’s made a difference,” Thailyn agreed. “They’ve had six kids come of age. Three still come back to visit. The other three went to help at a similar home they’re starting in Veslin.” “And we had four that went back to their families. Jo works with them to help fix the problems that cause the kids to leave,” Lamdi said. “This is so interesting. How did it get started?” “Pt’this’s nephew Kith was the one to start working with the runaways.” “Kith? Wasn’t Ann pledged to him?” Thailyn nodded. “Before he passed away. I’m not sure how he got started working with kids but Sapphire and Ann were both kids he’d worked with. Prince Remtani noticed while traveling that in the town where Kith had lived, there were fewer problems with kids on the street even years after Kith had died. Those who he had helped had continued the practice. Emeton decided to set up a safe haven and asked Sapphire to be in charge since she’d worked with Kith. She and Pt’this created a home for the children and brought in Dae and Ti to help. Now, Nim’s started a school. He and Sinta teach there. All the kids from the home and any town kids can go. Several of the servants at the palace send their children.” “Very impressive. Have they told Deyama about this?” “That was the other reason Ann was up there for,” Ruzi said. “My letter to the elders helped with that too. Apparently, a kid who hasn’t seen his family in ten years and is still able to write a letter that well impressed them.” Pisha smiled proudly at her son.