The dragon council, as a matter of policy, consists entirely of dragons who are over two thousand years old. They are now inclined to take his notes at face value so they immediately start arguing about whether to institute term limits or something instead of just having turnover whenever somebody kicks it or resigns.

The arvi's Grandfather is at work. He reads the note and immediately snatches it out of the air and shreds it, embarrassed, worried that somebody might have seen it.

The Tavan boy goes out and buys peanut ice cream.

The girl wants a puppy, now. One of that kind. (She is pointing at the Shetland sheepdog.)

Shirra's parents laid a two-egg clutch. When they observed that one of the eggs was striped:

"We can't keep it. The other one - and your sister would go out of her mind about it, with her little one -"

"And we live in a city. We can't move, not with your job."

"Petar house is closest."

"Do they get visitors...?"

"When I was a hatchling I stowed away in my parents' luggage to see where they were going when they traveled. If the other one lives, if she's like that..."

"Right. Right."

(Shirra's clutchmate is alive, looks exactly like her, and is having a sleepover with a school friend.)