There were only three people in the large room, which was lit by a few scattered candles along with the dim, cloud-filtered sunlight that poured in through several unobscured windows. Mr. Albeck was in the midst of reading something to the girls when Alistar walked in, which prompted him to pause.
"Ah, Alistar. Right on time."
Anice and Lessa were on either side of the man, who was dressed in a thick blue robe of dyed cotton that was tied at the waste with a belt of golden fabric. This, of course, was a secondary robe, a style of apparel that was apparently customary for mages and magi.
"Hello Teacher," he said, taking a seat across from the other three. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
"You are, but it's for the best. I take it that you've already heard the news about your cousins?"
Anice sent him an anxious glance, like a frightened mouse looking for friendship.
"Yes, Alder told me earlier this afternoon."
