[ there's that slack-jawed wonder again. he keeps catching her off-guard. she has to find a way to steel herself better against that. she can't go soft and weak-kneed every time he gives her a glimmer of the world that he could show to her. he'd be showing it to her in chains.

but still, she asks, ]

I thought they were a myth.

[ just another storybook invention. like the stag she kept seeing — the one baghra had strongly suggested to be real. ]

Are there any other mythical creatures running — or swimming — around that I should know about?