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On second thought, Lio did not regret tapping more than he could swallow. Not at all.
Cassia hugged Zoe. “Have fun with the dictionary while we’re gone.”
Zoe clung to her for a moment. “I wish I could go to the fair.”
“A bunch of people standing around are boring, just like you said,” Cassia replied.
Zoe nodded, but did not smile. “We’ll have more fun helping Lio put the window in for Mama and Papa at Solstice.”
“So we shall,” Cassia said. “I’m looking forward to Solstice so much.”
In contrast to the cloud that goodbyes always cast over Zoe, Cassia’s brightening aura was contagious. Zoe smiled tentatively, and Lio found himself smiling, too.
Cassia didn’t talk about Solstice like it meant goodbyes.
Once Lio had dropped Cassia and Knight off at Rose House, he returned home long enough to get the sawdust out of his hair and wrap the stained glass panel securely. He stepped to the grounds of House Timarete and landed amid the bustle of preparations. Perhaps it was the good mood he had just caught from Cassia, but he quickly got into the spirit of the fair.
Spell lights made Lyros’s family’s grounds seem like a walk among the stars. Silk pavilions and awnings would offer warmth to the mortals. Delicious smells wafted from the booths of the culinary crafters, and everywhere one looked, Hesperine works of art offered a feast for the eyes.
Exchanging greetings with everyone along the busy paths, Lio made his way to the glassmakers’ pavilion. Only when he spotted Master Theophilos there did his good mood falter.
Lio was about to show a smiling nanny goat to the greatest master of stained glass in the history of Orthros.
“Lio!” His crafting mentor clasped his free hand.
“Master Philo, how are you? I have scarcely seen you since the Firstblood Circle.”
“Not to worry, lad, you’ve been crafting with a medium even more fragile than glass.” Theophilos rubbed a stout hand over the bald top of his head. He had added yet another long braid to the collection that ringed his pate.
Lio lifted his eyebrows with a smile. “It appears you have some news I have not heard. Perhaps I should ask how your Grace is?”
Theophilos beamed, resting his hands on his round middle. “She is at home with the sixth, ravenous addition to our family.”
Lio gave his mentor another wrist clasp. “My most heartfelt congratulations, Master Philo.”
“You must come by and meet the little one. Now then, let’s see what you’ve brought me. I’ve prepared a display for you right here at the front.”
Lio swallowed and set his wrapped piece on the easel. Master Philo looked at him with anticipation.
Lio cleared his throat. “Does your new suckling have a favorite animal?”
Master Philo chuckled. “He’s too young to speak his mind as yet, although his lungs do get the point across when he’s hungry.”
“Ah.” Lio gave a nervous laugh. “Have I told you how much my sister loves goats?”
Master Philo appeared puzzled. “Why, no, but now that I think of it, I did hear something about your parents selecting caprine familiars for her.”
Lio nodded. “Did I mention Cassia named this piece?”
“Ahh, love. I know how it is. You have found your true inspiration.”
Thorns. There was no more delaying. He couldn’t meet Master Philo’s eyes as he pulled the wrappings from his window.
Master Philo let out a laugh that drew gazes from every neighboring pavilion. “Those two young ladies are a good influence on you.”
Lio let out a hesitant sigh of relief.
The ancient glassmaker patted Lio on the shoulder. “The greatest artists know not to take themselves too seriously. You will excel in our craft, my lad. You will excel.”
