[ Bastien laughs and has to repeat that to himself, Whyerly and Tryerly, because it's so great. Two breaths to swallow the laugh back in, and he's more serious again. Not completely serious, still smiling and faintly tickled, but more. ]

Maybe it was because—they are afraid, you know. I would be afraid. And none of the people who think it is right for them to go into Circles were piping up to say so, and there you were, the non-magical outsider.