It turned out Brytha and Richan's conversation was rather short, because his brother came ambling in not long after Nikolas had resigned himself to a lonely night.

"Why the long face?" said Richan, forgoing his own bed to sit down on Nikola's. "And here I thought you would be happy I was home!"

Nikolas scowled, and crossed his arms, "You won't tell Brytha would you?"

"I swear," Richan nodded solemnly, hand on his heart.

"I like Jozin," said Nikolas then hastily adding, "it's Jozin not Jozina. That's what he told me, and I don't want to give Brytha any ideas . I just don't understand," Nikolas fidgeted with his sleeve, "you don't think I'm a bad friend do you? I don't know what Surio— the stableboy — said something and he just ran out and he said he'd come up and see me—" Nikolas took in a breath, "—and I don't even know what Surio said!" He had a good half guess, but he wasn't telling Richan.

In response, Richan tapped his chin, "I could go fetch Jozin for you."

"What?"

"He's a Skapinian boy isn't he? Surely he'd be interested in what I've got." There was a mischievous smile on Richan's face that Nikolas knew all too well.

"What do you have?" Nikolas sat up, pulling insistently at Richan's sleeve, "what do you have?"

"I'll go get Jozin and then I'll show you, how about it?"

"I'll look through your things! I'll go through all of it!" Nikolas pointed at the trunk that sat at the foot of Richan's bed.

"You may try."

It was an empty threat, but so was Nikolas's. The last thing he wanted to see was letters from his brother's sweetheart, Prina or whatever names they called each other, they weren't just signed, he knew from the disgust he felt upon seeing them that one time he had looked, they were kissed . He sighed deeply and wished that he could just know what it was Surio said to him. How was it fair that Surio could insult him in a tongue that Nikolas didn't know?

His irritation was interrupted by the door opening and Richan coming in with Jozin in tow. Nikolas sat up, amazed.

"Your brother said he had something to show us," said Jozin, coming to sit next to Nikolas. Richan's back was deliberately turned, Nikolas observed, and Jozin leaned in to whisper, "I am sorry I didn't say yes. I forgot." He looked genuinely apologetic, and held out a hand to Nikolas before withdrawing it, "Sorry."

"That's alright," said Nikolas, "I don't mind at all. You came back with Richan so you did keep your promise."

Jozin nodded, and let out a breath before the lute in Richan's hands caught his attention, "Are you a good singer?" said Jozin, curiously looking the instrument up-and-down speculatively.

"He is very good!" Nikolas said enthusiastically, even as Richan shook his head.

"What song will you sing for us?"

"You might remember this one," said Richan. "Skapina's known to host singers, am I right?"

Nikolas watched, a twinge in his gut as Jozin's face brightened, "You know about that?"

"Of course! Every bard worth his salt wants to make the trip. Of course, not many make it but ah, that's the risk isn't it?"

"The journey is part of the fun," Jozin agreed, settling down as Richan strummed the lute and began to sing.

The flowers bloom on the apple trees,

And the mist was floating low on the shore

She rowed out and went ashore, Kalina!

To look for the man she adores!

Jozin definitely knew the words, because he was half-humming along to the song. Nikolas would join in as well, but he knew he couldn't sing.

Let us sing, for her, Kalina!

Let us carry her words to her sweet Rytsar

Let her him hear of her

Love that carries to the far off stars!

"Rytsar?" Jozin muttered under his breath.

Let him remember the golden hair maiden

Let it lend him the courage and withstand

All the foes that threaten our Motherland

For his heart Kalina keeps in her hand

"I don't remember the song ending like that," said Jozin with a frown. "They fly off together, it's a song about reuniting people, not about Motherlands or courage or keeping hearts in someone's hands," here he made a disgusted face.

"That's what I was taught," said Richan with a shrug, then, changing the topic smoothly, "I've a present for Nikolas. Would you like to see?"

"Me?" Jozin pointed to himself, "Why?"

"I think you'd be interested in it as well."

Richan's trunk had a secret compartment, Nikolas observed as his brother clicked it open. To be fair, it probably had more than one, and this was the only one Richan wanted Nikolas to know about. His eldest brother pulled out a wrapped package, and held it out to Nikolas who pulled at the woolen coverings curiously. It looked as if Richan wrapped it in the scarf one of his sisters — probably Lianne— made for him. Next to him Jozin gasped.

"Oh, those are lovely!"

They were, Nikolas thought, even as he didn't know why Richan wanted Nikolas to have two handheld mirrors. They were about the size of his palm, and instead of the wooden or metal back that most mirrors he'd seen had, this one was made of an odd shiny material, and delicately veined, like someone froze a leaf in amber. It echoed slightly when Nikolas tapped the surface with a finger.

"It's a dragon scale mirror, and they're twins of each other you see?" Richan took one of them and held the other out to Nikolas. Instead of his own reflection he saw Richan's, and Nikolas blinked, bemused. Richan's reflection chuckled, "I thought," Richan placed the mirror down, glancing at Nikolas, "it might be easier for you, you know, to speak with people rather than write."

"Oh."

"I told Brytha to help you, but she can be a bit forgetful at times. She doesn't write much about you but I assumed you wanted to speak with me sometimes, didn't you?" he grinned, ruffling Nikolas's hair, "Maybe you'll just write me a letter yourself one of these days."

"What do you mean?" Nikolas stared stupidly at the two dragon scale mirrors.

"Oh, no, Richan, you don't have to give it to me!" Jozin said, shaking his head. "It's for you and Nikolas! I can find one, and I can—"

"It has to be from the same dragon, and freely given," said Richan, patiently, "and what are the chances of that happening?"

That made Jozin's eyes widen, his mouth falling open in shock, "It's from the same dragon? How did you even get your hands on it?"

"Oh, you know," Richan leaned back on the headboard, an amused look coming onto his face, "you give someone the right time of day and he'll usually make it worth your while."

"You met a witch!" Jozin said, clasping his hands together in delight.

Richan winked, "I did."