"The palace library doesn't have much fiction but I'd be happy to take you to the one downtown tomorrow," he tells Zoi, "and you can pick out something to rent. Traveler Raafi and uncle Maziar are better choices to show you tourist attractions. Or Her Majesty my mother might be interested, I could ask for you."

"What kinds of things are there to see?" asks Skon.

"Well, we're known for our kite shows, but they're preparing one for the day of the ball, you won't have to go out of your way to see it." He considers. "Her Majesty likes boat tours of the river gardens, and there's a display at Hamood al-Farah's personal museum she's been wanting to visit - some pieces from a dragon's hoard they discovered recently, as I understand it. And Uncle Maziar and Raafi will happily take you to any kind of sporting or dance or gladiatorial event in the city, but you'll have to put up with them being sweet with each other the whole time. Uncle Maziar likes comedy shows, too, and I believe Raafi likes theater and concerts more generally. He'll have a better idea of other things you might like, too."

"Why would we care if they're sweet with each other?" asks Zoi.

"I suppose you might not. They tend to distract each other, is all."

"I think that's fine, especially if we're watching something and not trying to talk to them," Uamok says.

"I expect you'll be fine, then."

After dinner Skon still wants to try wine.

Some is served with dessert, to no immediately obvious effect; Prince Maziar warns the servants who bring it in off from offering it to the guests, and asks them to bring a jug of it, instead, which he brings with him when he accompanies them back to the ballroom, where he and Raafi and Kat arrange themselves on the pillows left behind earlier. "You'll want to start with just a sip," the prince explains; "you won't be able to drink as much since you aren't used to it."

Skon sips wine. "Wow, that tastes weird!"

"There are different kinds, but they all burn like that at least a little. Feeling all right so far?"

"Yeah."

    "Good. Let us know if that changes."

"So what did you all think of everything today?"

"It was really interesting!" "The stuff they put on the spren was tasty." "I didn't like it much..." "Well, there was plenty raw for you." "All the architecture is so squeezed-looking."

"You'll get used to the architecture when you've been here a while. And they'll start building with your species in mind if you all settle somewhere. What didn't you like on the spren?"

"Some red thing," says Iss.

    "I'll let the kitchen staff know," the prince says.

"They'll take care of it," Raafi nods. "Do you have anything in mind for tomorrow? Or tonight, but I think the three of us are going to want an early evening."

"...We are going to sleep now," says Uamok unconvincingly.

Raafi chuckles. "Us too."

    "I should get that alcohol out of your system before we go," Kat adds. "It looks like it doesn't affect you at all but I wouldn't want to leave you alone and be wrong about that." She casts and offers Skon the spell. "We can try again some other time if you want to be sure."

Skon pokes her hand.

    "Feel free to let the servants know if you need anything," the prince says, and puts his arm around Raafi's waist to lead him out, with Kat trailing slightly behind.

Raafi and the prince are back the next morning, half an hour or so after sunrise.

The guests are already up and about and wandering the grounds sniffing the plants.

"Good morning!" Raafi calls when they find them. "The prince and I have some things to do in the city today, I wanted to make sure you'll be all right here before we go."

"What are you going to do? Is it fun?" asks Uamok.

"We're going shopping first - I need something to wear to the ball, I don't know if you'll want to see me try on ten different fancy outfits - and then there's horse racing around lunchtime and we were thinking about looking for decorations afterward. And the prince tells me there's a play I should see while I'm here, I was going to invite you to that after dinner."