Free Lost Magic (The Swift Codex Book 3) by Nicolette Jinks

identification.
     
Respond within two days.
     

     
    I dropped the letter and rubbed my forehead. Mordon, who was finishing with a diaper change, snatched the letter off the bed.
     
    “I'm thinking about sending it straight off to Uncle Don. The papers don't have a right to demand that of me, do they?”
     
    It took a couple of minutes for Mordon to reply. “No. They're mining for information, hoping that you'll perjure yourself by giving a legitimate account. Anything you say to them about this is fair game for them to use in their articles.”
     
    “So don't say anything?”
     
    “You can respond with a reminder of who your legal representative is.”
     
    I grunted and stared off at my storage chest, wondering what was clothing clean within it. “Might as well pester them letter for letter. Feel like burning letters for me?”
     
    A few minutes later, it was done, a lot of fuss work and forwarding. While Mordon cooked up some brew and made a fresh batch of Anna's milk, I sat at the communal breakfast table and wrote a record of what happened when and what documents had been sent to whom. Not that anyone had ever told me to do this, it just seemed like a smart idea, a thing I should have done back when my troubles with Cole first started.
     
    Once more I fed Anna in my lap. Before I could finish with my written account in my book—I realized that I was recording this in my poor spellbook, Skills of the Thaumaturge —Mordon put a plate down in front of me. Usually he didn't care a great deal for breakfast, but this morning he must have been hungry. I recognized the hash-brown patties which I'd stocked in the freezer months ago, and eggs, and lamb medallions. He'd given me twice as much as I'd eat, so I pushed my book to the side and ate what I wanted. The rest went straight back to Mordon, who had cleaned his plate spotless.
     
    “You must have been worn out from all the activity yesterday,” I said with a smile.
     
    “Hmm?” He was genuinely puzzled until he looked down at the plates. “Well, it did work up an appetite.”
     
    Today I picked out a dress for Anna, standing in front of the closet staring at the piles of clothes with their crisp corners and uniform dimensions. I grabbed something purple and fuzzy. I studied Mordon from the closet. A while back, I had been focused on understanding Mordon's character, figuring out his motives and seeing if we could be compatible. Now I still analyzed him, but it was different somehow. What could I call him? Constant. Precise.
     
    Following Mordon's example yesterday, I dressed Anna on the floor, realizing too late that I'd forgotten to tie my hair back. Mordon gathered my hair and held it, letting his thumb rest against my neck. Kindness comes in many forms, and the littlest things matter as much as the grandest. Odd that I hadn't truly understood this before. The snaps at last finished on her dress, I gave Anna's face a fresh clean-up. She was perpetually sticky and I was beginning to understand all the various reasons behind a burp rag.
     
    “Where is that baby holder sling?” Mordon asked.
     
    I squinted, trying to remember where I had put it down last. By the bed? Was it on the floor? I told him, and he went to go get it. I stayed sitting on the floor, feeling like I'd been squashed by an elephant. I leaned against the bench.
     
    When I opened my eyes, I saw Lilly and Mordon working out how to wrap Anna up to his chest. Lilly was doing it wrong, Mordon had it almost right. Across my shoulders I wore the throw blanket which usually decorated the couch. My muscles hadn't liked the position but I felt better for my nap.
     
    “What's up?” I asked.
     
    The armchair creaked and shifted as Barnes got out of it. He said, “The constabulary has gone through King's Ransom. We're going to help Mordon clean up.”
     
    “I'll come.” I stretched my limbs. “Sure you want to hold Anna?”
     
    “Yes,” Mordon said. “You stayed up all night and