because Prince told him -- its coils, which always rested in loose loops around his throat, abruptly tightened. Leg and Pins also skittered about nervously, and Skaff flapped up to his den, which had previously been Skaffwory's old warehouse for basket-materials and charcloth. In her old age -- and typical of passerine behaviors -- she had neglected the organization of these materials, and Skaff (at that time, Chimbeeriun) took it upon himself to clear the area up. It cleaned up nicely and he discovered that the warehouse den contained a small stove and a small furnace that had previously been hidden beneath piles of half-finished baskets.

He had also discovered that the entire back wall was a mirror, though it was hard to tell since the majority of it was scratched and sooty. With some work he had polished it up, and with some writings he had found and Prince's help, he learned that its primary purpose was for divination and communication, much like a pocket mirror.

He approached the mirror now, rubbing his hands around Prince's tail to warm them sufficiently before pressing his fingers against the glass. The mirror flickered, then began to heat, quickly becoming a glowing yellow slab on the dark wall. Skaff peered into the light, listening intently to Prince's sibilant translation, which Skaff was not yet experienced enough to understand himself.

"He is coming to ask you to be a part of the guild," Prince explained. Its eyes were dim, coal-colored slits.

Should I? Skaff wanted to ask, but held back. Skaffwory had told him that indecision was the worst trait to show to an elemental; it showed untrustworthiness and weakness, and was especially insulting to fire elementals, who loved ambition and security. Skaff licked his mouth, tightened Prince about his neck, and turned, propelling himself from the den and floating down to where Prince -- and his own senses -- told him the visitor was.

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