They remained in Solaris for three more days. Ardlac made arrangements with Ilya to look after the house until their return and continue in their employment thereafter. He then spent an entire day looking through his father's papers so that he had an idea of where to begin with the work when he took on his role at the palace. He also assured Li that he was going to sell some of the artwork his father had collected that depicted the legends he was not terribly interested in.

Li had to admit that he was rather looking forward to making a life in the city. Though it was a warmer and drier climate than where he had spent much of his life in Mahlon, he quite enjoyed the quiet bustle of the vibrant city. He was even becoming accustomed to the clothing and hairstyles, which Ardlac encouraged him to embrace for himself. He'd also promised Li a full wardrobe of his own, made to his size, as soon as they returned to stay. Until then, they made do with some of Ardlac's clothing pieces that Ilya adjusted to fit him. Ardlac also gifted Li with several of the hair ornaments out of his personal collection. Of everything, that was what took the most adjusting to, but Li admitted that he rather liked the style and how he felt with such ornamentation. He felt as though he belonged, even if he otherwise stood out as an outsider.

Ardlac began sorting through his father's belongings so they could make the larger bedchamber theirs upon their return. For their current stay they had been using Ardlac's childhood bedroom, which still fit them both comfortably. Ardlac explained that he expected to sell much of his father's personal things, as well. There was little he felt he wanted to keep, considering how difficult their relationship had been. Li supported the decision. The only thing he encouraged Ardlac not to rid them of was the library, which Ardlac assured him he planned to keep regardless.

"I found much peace there," he explained. "There are some things I'd like to change, but the books will stay."

On their final day in Solaris, Ardlac took Li to receive his first true Nair tattoo. Ardlac had wanted one to denote their love, adding a second line encircling his wrist, above the line that represented his love for Seith. Li's tattoo matched Ardlac's, including the exact placement on his wrist. The man who did the work took pains to ensure the precise placement.

Ardlac had also been inquiring at the docks about incoming ships, looking for news of the Gryphon or any other Mahlonian privateer. He learned there was one that had been sighted nearby, and when they asked to be taken to it, they were both surprised to see that it was the Gryphon itself. After a brief exchange of signals, the smaller boat Ardlac had paid to ferry them out came alongside the Gryphon. The crew recognized them and cheerfully let down a ladder.

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Once on board, the others welcomed them back, and Li was surprised by how much the rest of the crew seemed to care about their return. He hadn't realized how much he had truly grown to be a part of the crew, and to be embraced by many more than Aricka and Garstin, who did both welcome them warmly. Across the deck, Li spotted Captain Mond standing outside his cabin door. When he caught Li's eye he motioned to him to come inside. Li and Ardlac completed their hellos with the crew and approached the captain, who smiled at them.

"Please come in and sit down," he requested.

Li and Ardlac both did as instructed and sat at chairs opposite Mond's across his desk.

"I had intended to send word to the city that we were in the area should you be prepared to leave," Mond began, "but it appears you found us first. Are you prepared to rejoin us?"

Ardlac nodded. "I have settled what needed my immediate attention. Once Li's term is settled we will both be returning to Solaris permanently."

Captain Mond nodded. "I had suspected you might," he admitted. "I have also decided that now is an appropriate time to return to Mahlon to address the issue of Li's illegal trial. If, of course, you are prepared to do so?"

Li was surprised. He had not expected to be able to address the wrongs against him for several more months. "It isn't too soon for the Gryphon to return to Mahlon?" he asked. He didn't want Mond to be reprimanded because of him.

Mond shrugged. "It is somewhat early, but not so early that that I will be scolded for it, especially when I explain the reason for our return. Additionally, we won't be returning with an empty hold, either."

Li nodded. "Then I am prepared to return and address the situation."

"Very well," Mond said with a firm nod. "It is another four days of sailing to reach Baylay. Until then, I expect you'll rejoin your watch."

"Of course, Captain," both Li and Ardlac replied.

It was a difficult four days for Li. Despite the distraction of working on the Gryphon, attempting to prepare himself to address the court was challenging for him. Ardlac was encouraging and comforting. He held Li when he couldn't sleep and helped him prepare. They spoke to Ash and made certain he would be prepared to speak to the court when Ardlac called for him. Li was determined that, if the court refused to allow Ardlac to bring Ash into the proceedings, that he would demand a truth-knower this time. He wanted Catanere to be held accountable for what she had done to Ash. He cared little for her being found guilty of arranging his false conviction, only for the murder of the man he loved.

He watched the shore of Mahlon approach on the fourth day with fear and anticipation. Even if the court insisted he complete his last months of his sentence, he would fight them as much as he could to find her the guilty one. He owed too much to Ash to simply allow things to continue as he had the first time he had been brought to the court.

Ardlac held his hand as they drew close to the docks, and Li squeezed tightly, breathing deeply to settle his nerves. Captain Mond had already declared that they would go to the courts as soon as they docked, leaving the supervision of the cargo offloading to the ship's officers. Not even the commotion of docking could distract him as he gazed out at the city he had barely look at during his previous visit.

"We'll sort it out," Ardlac assured him.

Li nodded. "I'm ready to."