No, instead she asks about working in the gardens

“My eyes playing tricks on me, Sister Margaret.” Winlay turned back the kind sister hoping she hadn't just lied to her. “Could I really be assigned to theses gardens?”

“You may ask for the assignment, but the needs of the church are many so you may serve in some other capacity.” For just a second Winlay saw a shadow of doubt and fear in Margaret’s eyes but then they twinkled openly again and she added “I’ll ask the mother superior to inform the church that you are most suited to this role, and that I would welcome an eager learner like you.” Straightening her back with and exaggerated moan, Margaret wiped the dirt from her hands. “Thanks to your help, I’ve finished all of today’s work with an hour or more to spare before the sunset services.” Margaret took Winlay’s dirty hand in hers and helped her to her feet.

As they walked back to the convent buildings Winlay wondered guiltily why she hadn't told sister Margaret what she saw. It was not at all like her to lie or even evade a question, but Mika's chearful parting of 'I never get caught' kept haunting her. Could it have been Mika? If it was her friend, Winlay felt she owed her at least some loyalty.

“Come back to my workshop, I’ll make you some tea and you can tell me how you like Telnon, I know when I first arrived here from Cryn I didn’t think I’d ever settle in.” Winlay’s mind whirled with new thoughts as she was led into Margaret’s workshop. She barely noticed the benches crowded with broken tools and empty flats, or the small glass bottles and jars that lined the shelves of all the walls. Even as she washed her hands and face using the sweet smelling soap in the tub by the sink she wondered about Margaret being from Cryn. She watched in silence as Margaret brought the coals in a small brazier back to life and heated a small kettle of tea water. Margaret seemed like the nicest person she met in all of Telnon (except Mika), not at all threatening or greedy like she imagined Crynians to be.

“What is it dear?” Asked Margaret “You haven’t said a word since we stopped working.” Winlay took a sip of her tea before speaking. She did not want to be rude, but her father always said that honest feelings were like burdens, always easier to share than to carry alone.

“Are you really from Cryn?” She asked after another sip of tea. She was startled by Margaret’s burst of laughter.

“So that’s what I said! I was worried it was something serious.” Leaning forwards and taking one of Winlay’s freshly washed hands in hers Margaret tilted her head and placed Winlay’s hand on her grey hair. “See, no horns.” She laughed again while Winlay squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. Margaret noticed the motion and her laughter subsided. “Sorry, just an old woman’s joke.” Her eyes were earnest again as she gazed into Winlay’s. “People on Cryn dear, are just like people everywhere. Some power hungry, and greedy, but most are good people who just want to be left alone.” This time it was Margaret who paused to sip her tea while she looked for the right words.

“When I first came to Telnon I was only a year or two older than you. Based on the stories we heard in Cryn I thought I’d be assigned to an army legion, to heal Victor the Second’s soldiers using any method possible so they could be sent right back into battle.” She shrugged her shoulders and gave Winlay a smile, “Instead I was assigned to work here in the convent, at first probably because they thought I was sent to spy on Veertor’s forces, but by now I imagine that no one even remembers I grew up in Cryn. – I just have to remember to stop telling initiates.”

“But what about the new levies raised by Emperor Victor? So we can fight back against the Cryn embargo?” Winlay stopped when she saw Margaret smiling broadly. “What? What did I say?” She asked in confusion.

“It is not the place of a gardener to tell you about the emperor’s taxes or international politics, but this evening, or even now if you wish, visit our library and find some maps that show the relative sizes of Cryn and the empire. You may also want to look at how the borders of the Empire of Veertor have changed in the past one hundred years. I don’t think that Veertor fears Cryn nearly as much as Cryn fears the Empire.” Putting down her teacup Margaret stood slowly,

“I think I’m going to the baths, would you like me to show you them? Or would you prefer to freshen up in your cell? Or…” added Margaret with a grin “…go to the library map room.”