Trema sat in his room, staring at the stack of papers before him. The assignment he’d received wasn’t what he had expected—it was supposed to be a simple matter of intrigue among the nobles, but something deeper lingered beneath the surface. There was more at play than just political maneuvering. Lanni’s connection to the immortals gnawed at the back of his mind. Whatever it was, he would figure it out eventually. A few well-placed words to Jahan, and he would be on the scent, uncovering the threads of whatever con-spiracy was brewing. For now, though, Trema had more pressing concerns. The schedule. The sleeping ar-rangements. Both weighed heavily on him, demanding attention before the first quarter ended. No changes would be made until then, but he needed the new schedule approved beforehand. The challenge wasn’t knowing what needed to be done—he understood that much. It was finding the right way to present his reasoning. That had always been diffi-cult for him. He could sense how the pieces should fit, but translating that gut instinct into convincing words felt like trying to catch water in his hands. Maybe he could ask Zannal for help. For someone who didn’t learn to speak until he was seven, Zannal had an uncanny way with words. But no. Trema needed to learn how to do this himself. He sighed and pulled out a sheet of parchment, beginning to jot down his thoughts. Zan had shown him this method before. Write down the basic idea first, then work through its reasoning. Start with the key changes. He wanted Tellic outside during the day. Shan should take the night shift. Marn should also stay on nights; that much was certain. If Tellic worked days, Jahree would also need to—those two functioned better as a pair. Zan would be more useful during the day, and Jahan had always performed better with a daytime shift. The tricky part would be Jahree. He slept better when Tellic was in the same room, but Trema knew they couldn’t always be stationed together. Jahree needed to learn to manage on his own. And then there was Lanni—she wouldn’t want to share quarters with Tellic. Maybe he’d leave Jahree with his current arrangement for now. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Trema looked up, already expecting who it would be. “Come in,” he called. Zannal stepped through the doorway, closing the door softly behind him. “I thought it might be you,” Trema said, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Zannal crossed the room and sat on the edge of Trema’s bed, making himself com-fortable. There was only one chair, and Trema was using it. “What are you working on?” Zannal asked, his gaze falling on the scattered notes. “My reasoning for changing the schedule,” Trema replied, tapping his quill against the parchment. “Need help?” Zannal’s tone was casual, but there was an undercurrent of readiness as if he already knew the answer. “Maybe. I figured I’d try it first, and then maybe you can check it.” Trema paused, chewing the inside of his cheek. “Are you including Morina and Kritalla in the new schedule?” Trema shook his head. “No. They’re only temporary. I figure we’ll use them as need-ed. I don’t think they’ll be here long—just until Chapado and Lanni finish their tests.” Zannal nodded thoughtfully. “And Shan’s training?” “I think Lanni can handle that during her off hours,” Trema said. “Then Shan can cast a silence spell so he can sleep.” “Except he needs to be able to hear if there’s trouble,” Trema pointed out. “That’s why he doesn’t use one now.” “I can’t hear anything,” Zan pointed out. “Exactly. More reason for Shan to stay alert. He can wake you, and if I end up sepa-rating you two, I don’t want to be rousing half the barracks if something happens.” Zannal tilted his head, thinking. “You could put Shan with someone on a day shift. I assume you’re planning to put him on nights?” Trema nodded. “That was the idea, but I’ve been considering giving him his own room.” “Don’t put me with you,” Zannal said abruptly, his voice firm but not harsh. Trema looked up at him. “Why not?” “I told you why.” “If you don’t want it, I won’t do it. I told you that.” Zannal shifted on the bed, leaning back a little. “I don’t want the others thinking I’m getting special treatment.” “They won’t,” Trema said, shaking his head. “Why risk it?” Zannal cut in, his eyes steady. “It’s better this way.” Trema exhaled slowly, relenting. “If that’s your choice.” Zannal stretched out, making himself more comfortable on the bed. “Let me know if you need my help.” His tone was relaxed again, the tension from the earlier exchange al-ready fading. Trema nodded and turned back to his notes, feeling the quiet assurance that Zannal would be there if he needed him. #fantasy #magic #dragons #hiddenlands