Translations are provided by Skylar. 

The Sir. walked out of his room at that time, pulling a shirt over his torso. He had heard her question and saw the goat still lying on the rug.

“Oh, I’m sorry, girl. I’ll set it away. I should’ve done that immediately.”

He opened one of the storage units, revealing it to be filled with other carcasses and lined with ice and set the goat inside, breaking a few limbs to make it fit. He covered the unit again and stood before walking towards the door.

“Will you be alright by yourselves?” he asked, striding to the hooked pole and putting on his overcoat before he laced his shoes.

“We will.” Planet said.

“Books the to entertain.” Moon mentioned, tapping the top of the stack with his fingers.

“I shouldn’t be long. But stay safe.”

He spared a glance behind him before he closed the door, leaving the two alone.

“Kir, plezd uliârud rei?” Planet asked. So, what are you reading?

“Nørll mi føreit tedokri. Ne ze ete plezd mâynni ipal tiervi, ze jâforr zigrad duevri rei.” Some book he left me. I don’t know what it’s about, but I’m trying to understand.

Planet looked down at his notes. “Yus zerki diervâ an-eh oz ali.” Your handwriting is shit.

“Tee-agit. E nierø an-eh føkarr râiko debaiiki boliki amniz ali mi trouble kop ne-dir kipbi.” Thank you. Being left-handed is a very important skill that won’t get me in trouble.

“Ne evørei wil.” she smiled, holding up both hands. “Nierø urdup dwevâ an-ehd.” I can’t compare. Left and right-handed.

“Ne boliki yus e takko amnøbi fuhir amni, jâforr.” That's not the only reason you were punished, however.

Her face fell. “Ne ze woulyiet yuzikara mâynni kizien ete.” I thought we agreed not to talk about it.

Moon shrugged. “Ekturlik paxøl.” It just slipped.

She kicked his chair’s leg and sat across from Sol, chin on the table and stared across at him.

“Eikinâr ne-herian kop-ako boplai tasil uzukeien ipal?” she asked, noticing her jaw lowering. Do you think I could vanish into this wood?

“Plezd uzukeien ipali zirtan amzkrra tasil ukisk ipal anmil?” What do you think you’ve been doing this whole time?

Planet turned to her Embodiment form and vanished into the wood, her eyes appearing next to Moon’s notebook. He proceeded to flick the table above those eyes.

“Bezeni.” Moon said, uninterested. “Mi piik tasil yus nizaabe duevri wil?” Impressive. Can you understand this line with me?

The eyes moved to the edge until Planet stepped out of the wood in her Wizardly form. “Ta, plezd udeillâ ipal?” Yes, what do you need?

She had just translated a third line when Sir. Theodric returned, leading a man into the house. Moon recognized that velvet cloak immediately.

“Theodric, you know I despise waking in the early hours.” the guest said, kicking off his shoes by the door before he took in the room and saw the two blinking up at him. “Oh. Arche.”

“Sir. Rustad.” Moon said.

Sir. Theodric saw them staring at each other and gave a half-bow between them all. “Sir. Rustad, these are the children that I’ve fostered. Moon, Planet, and the sleeping one is Sol.”

He recognized the names and slammed the door shut. “What. Were. You. Thinking?” he snapped. “Yelling that for everyone to hear? How did this happen?”

“Perhap I could-” Moon started, but was quickly cut off.

“Silence, boy. I have no business with you.”

Moon began to whisper to Planet. “Et plajah e amni wøliik ali, phor et xirki eflemag ali.” If he is to be assumed to be the tutor, I see who his business is.

“Sit, my good sir.” Sir. Theodric said, placing a hand on the tutor’s back and leading him to a seat. “I’ve pushed you too much already.”

“Thank you, Artos. You wouldn’t happen to have wine, would you?”

“I do.” he said, entering the next room and coming back with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Moon noticed that Sir. Theodric gave Sir. Rustad more wine than he did himself, lowering his glass under his as they prayed to Ellery for their drinks not to contain poison before they drank.

Sir. Rustad set down his glass and stared at the two, who had been watching the scene unfold. “So, you three are my new students, then?”

Planet nodded. “How do you know his Elven roster name?”

“Føbir lâuwt et lelaxau.” Moon whispered to her and she nodded. I gave him a fake name.

“This boy lied to me for a good hour.” Sir. Rustad said as he was given a refill of wine.

“Et mâynni kiratti râdoli. Zirâ râiko. Ne mu teipal vuerøn, ekleetâ rei.” He was to ramble about Witches. Very scary. He didn’t threaten me, I’m safe.

“You told me your Elven parents didn’t stick around when you came here. You never mentioned any siblings.”

“No you do to ask.”

“And you!” he whirled to Sir. Theodric, anger rising with the wine he’d drank. “Why did you shout that you’re harboring the Triplets? Harboring folktales and you thought you could yell it out in the streets?”

“We to be honored are?” Moon asked.

“Woultyed, ne zaykir løzadi uyamni.” Planet told him. Speaking, we didn’t offer to be folktales.

“Dukir.” True.

Sir. Theodric fumbled over his words as he told the tutor about how they had met during the previous sundown. Sir. Rustad looked between him and the two as he talked, them adding bits that he had forgotten.

When he finished the tale, Sir. Rustad laid his elbows on the table and rubbed his temples. “You’re a crazy man, you know that, Artos?”

“Yes, sir.”

Moon felt a yawn creep up his throat and wiped an eye, closing his notebook, but his leg was heavy, as if someone had strapped a brick of metal to his ankle.

“Ijero? Is something wrong?” Planet asked as he lowered his head on the table, eyes closing.

“Ay, ne-oh.” he mumbled into his arm. “Møkira paxøl.” Moon’s words were cut by a yawn as he tapped his head to stay awake. “Kop Dlegetir takien, bodkir? Ete menirad dlegeti-ejiit ali, ezukeien.” Ah, nothing. Just tired. Check on Sol, then? It’s nearly sunrise, I think.

“Sure.”

Planet slipped out of her seat as Moon covered his eyes with his arm, but Sir. Rustad didn’t approve of this and grabbed his shirt, trying to wake him up.

“Stay awake! I haven’t explained why I’m here.”

Moon smirked. “Yus responsible neillø anmi kal zikieted du hzerveni?” Do you want to be responsible for two planets awake?

He struggled to form his words and Moon smacked his arm as hard as he could. “Let me sleep, xli.”

Sol twitched in his seat as the sunlight stretched across the table, easing Moon into sleep.