Sam nodded. “Most of the exterior is like houses or the city wall. It was here when we arrived. But other things, like the columns and relief along the top”—he pointed upward—“we built.”
When I’d touched the wall the day before, the stone had been frictionless. I doubted anyone could hammer a nail through it. “How did you get the extra rock to stay up there?” In the morning light, I could just see the seam where the Councilhouse shell met marble.
“Oh, by we, I mean people with better engineering skills than myself. If you really want to know, we can find out.”
“Yes, please.” I wanted to know how to do everything. As we rounded a crowd standing around a pair playing some kind of game, I edged closer to Sam. No telling if they hated me, too. Armande had been nice, though. “By the way, are you going to tell everyone that horribly inaccurate story about the sylph?”
“It isn’t inaccurate, and people need to know something about you. So far they’ll only have heard whatever Li says, and anything Corin and the Councilors you met yesterday reported.”
“Not good things, I’m sure.” I sighed.
“Perhaps, but that’s exactly why they need to hear this very accurate story. And why you need to get back to smiling. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling, meeting everyone who already knows who you are, but you need to make a good impression.”
Overwhelmed ought to cover it. “I understand.”
“After this, we’ll go home, unpack, and relax.”
“I’ve never had a home before.” That must have been all the sweets talking; I’d never have told him otherwise. “I mean, staying with Li, I never felt like I belonged. That’s all.”
Sam touched my wrist, making me shiver. “You always have a home with me.”
Before I could respond, a group of people stopped us on the stairs, and Sam introduced me.
Things like, “Ana is my student,” were uttered, along with, “We’d like to visit the rice fields when it’s time for planting.” We also made dates to visit the apiary, pottery and woodworkers’ buildings, and textile factories.
A black-haired girl, maybe a couple years older than me, wrapped her arms around my shoulders and squeezed. “I’m so glad you’ve decided to come to Heart at last,” she said. “Let me know if you need anything at all. I’m only a ten-minute walk from Sam’s, and I promise the bees won’t bother you.”
I barely had time to thank her before Sam insisted we were running out of time. When we were out of earshot, I said, “That was Sarit, right? The hugging girl with bees?”
“Yep. Every time you add honey to your coffee, you have Sarit to thank.”
“I like her better than most of the other people we’ve run into.”
Sam flashed a grin at me. “I thought you would.”
“Honestly, though, I’m a little nervous about meeting anyone else.” I followed him around one of the immense columns guarding the landing at the top of the staircase. “We could end up scooping manure from horse stalls.”
“And pig runs.”
“At least you’ll have to suffer with me.”
“You’ll actually be suffering by yourself. Since I’ve already paid my dues on that, I’ll supervise. From afar, and with some kind of nose and mouth protection when I must endure your presence afterward. But the rest of it, sure. We’ll do it together. You might even find something you enjoy.” He looked . . . wistful.
“Dossam!” A girl who looked like she was barely out of her first quindec launched herself at Sam, and they embraced. “You’re back, just in time for the rededication. Will you be playing after all?”
Sam glanced at me. “I haven’t decided yet. Stef is bullying me into dancing. Ana and I have lessons with her every morning now.”
The girl finally noticed my presence. “You’re Ana?” She didn’t give me time to nod. “I hope you’re planning on dancing at my rededication. Maybe you can convince Sam not to hide behind his piano the entire time, too. We can use recordings.”
I smiled, per Sam’s advice, and the girl seemed pleased.
“Well, I have to run. I was just confirming the ceremony details, but I need to get back to Tera now. She’s not feeling well.”
“I hope she recovers,” I called, but the girl—Ash, presumably—was already halfway down the great staircase. She waved and vanished into the crowd.
At last, Sam hauled open a door for me, and I ducked under his arm. The entrance hall was cool and quiet, save the echoes of footfalls and voices beyond heavy doors. I resisted the urge to drop from exhaustion right there. The number of people— Well, maybe I’d get used to it.
“You were great.” Sam motioned me down the hall. “Now they’ll remember that they like you—”
“Or they like you and you don’t seem to mind me.”
“—and they’ll tell everyone great things about you. Especially Armande. I think he’d do anything for you.”