In the main room of the Mansion, two young men are sitting on the floor by the fireplace. The mancala board is lying between them, somewhat neglected, although Florence still has a pebble in hand; he turns it in his fingers idly as he listens to Melou, who is talking earnestly ( Read more... )

Florence is happy. His brothers still haven't shown up, but his cousins are here -- both the ones he knew about, and another set that he didn't. The concept of alternate universes bothers him hardly at all; Lleu has won his affection and his allegiance as easily as Arthur captured his father's. Toward Melehan and Melou he feels a different sort ( Read more... )

After talking with his mother, Florence has been spending more time out and about the Mansion. He'll talk to anyone who notices him -- small, serious, soft-spoken young man that he is -- and he spends some time lending a hand with the hunting-and-gathering; but mostly he watches, and doesn't head back home to the Orkney cottage until sunset.