Lisril led Alex through the grand halls of the palace, richly decorated with tapestries and frescos detailing the empire’s great history.

“It’ll be an early start tomorrow,” he said. “Dr. Liang should be expecting us in the morning, then we’ll have to hunt down the team planning the power grid’s build-out.”

She nodded. “Don’t forget our commitment with Eli, and we shouldn’t forget to visit the postmaster before leaving; I’m sure she’ll have an imperial writ ready for us to secure your laborers.”

He gave her a slit-eyed glance, “Eli, huh?”

Lisril smirked at him. “Your wife and the Empress are quite close.”

“I noticed,” he chuckled. “Not a bad position to be in.”

She gave him a wide, predatory grin; he had no idea; she told him so and could tell he was trying to make sense of her insinuation.

It was his favorite game, never come out and say what could be revealed slowly by suggestion and insinuation, piece by piece, until finally, realization dawned. Only- others played with less facility than he, so it was good fun to find a subject he lacked the keys to understanding.

Besides, he would be amenable when all was said, so she didn’t need to come out with her intentions and resort to persuasion and cajoling. Unless she misread him completely, in which case, well, what was life without risk?

“Now,” she clapped her hands. “The delegation shall have to wait on you a bit longer; we’re going to meet some of my friends, and then I need to introduce you to my parents.”

“You sure? I’d hate to embarrass you in front of your family,” he said, grinning.

“Stop that,” she chided, wrapping her arms around his and pulling him close. “I don’t like it when you speak ill of yourself, even in jest.”

He kissed her cheek, and she reciprocated the gesture, smiling fondly at him. “Now come along; there’s someone particular you should meet.”

She led him at a quick pace, eager and a bit intrepid; she had been building toward this for a long time, though most had been a period of inactivity.

She stopped at the large double doors to the palace archives, opening them for him with a bow he either didn’t notice or didn’t acknowledge, but which made her feel appropriately chivalrous regardless.

Alex seemed almost in awe of the library, but there would be time for him to gawk later; she strolled up to a counter behind which sat a woman, a southerner, like Lisril, pink-skinned and dark-haired, studiously scratching away with a quill pen.

She didn’t look up as they approached, dipping her pen and flipping to a new page in a volume she seemed to be referencing. “Have you an appointment?”

“No,” Lisril said. “Archivist, but I thought you might make an exception for an old friend.”

The woman’s head came up, eyes wide. “Lisril!”

She stood, came around the table, and they embraced. “They didn’t tell me you were coming.”

Typical, Eli must not have thought to mention it.

Serra looked to Alex. “Is- is that him, your- that is to say-”

“Yes,” Lisril hastened to interrupt her friend lest she give the game away before it even began.

“This is Alex, my husband. Alex, this is Serra; we served together in the Legions.”

He nodded. “A pleasure, ma’am.”

“He isn’t quite what I had envisioned,” Serra said, casting a skeptical eye over him.

Lisril didn’t have to feign her anger. “You would say that after I went so far as to cross the void twice!”

“No!” Serra raised her hands as though to ward off the accusation. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Am I- missing something here?” Alex asked, brow furrowed.

She suppressed her smirk, let the games begin.

Serra’s brow pinched in confusion. “Does he not know?”

“Know what?”

Lisril coughed, affecting contrition. “I was getting to it.”

“Getting to what?” Alex demanded.

“Lisril!” Serra cried. “How could you?”

“Yes,” Alex agreed. “How could you?”

Then, in a too-loud whisper. “What are we angry about?”

It was all she could do not to crack; he was enjoying this far too much.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Our engagement,” Serra said, crossing her arms over her chest.

It was cute seeing him at a loss for words. “Our what?”

“Alex,” she took his hands in her own. “There’s something I’ve meant to tell you.”

“Clearly,” his lips were drawn thin, but his look was more of concentration than anger.

“You see,” she said slowly. “Men are a rarity on Nyx.”

He opened his mouth, inhaled sharply, but said nothing, which she took as an invitation to continue. “Perhaps one of every twenty births is male, and they survive their infancy somewhat less.”

She watched the realization dawn on his face and suddenly understood the sport of it. “You practice polygamy.”

She nodded. “It’s the only fair system.”

He glanced at Serra. “And her?”

“When we were coming up in the military,” Lisril said, taking her friend’s hand. “We made an oath as sworn sisters that whoever should wed first would bring the other into their family.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Lisril, I don’t-”

“Alex,” she crossed her arms over her chest. “I understand your trepidation, but I gave my word and can’t allow the stain of reneging on it.”

The implicit threat was as evident as it was empty, she wasn’t going to leave him, and he knew it. Not that she couldn’t, such a dispute was sufficient for an annulment on Nyx, presuming she could commit to his support until he found another wife, and in a stroke of sheer insanity, his country required no reason whatsoever.

No, they both knew she wouldn’t leave him because she could quit him as readily as she could breathing. But Serra likely took it for gospel, which counted quite a lot, and Alex would understand that she wouldn’t even make the bluff if her convictions weren’t genuine.

He took a deep breath and released it slowly, shaking his head. “You’ve taken me by surprise. Can I have some time to think?”

Lisril nodded. “I think that should be acceptable.”

She turned to Serra. “As to you, I understand your trepidation, also. However, the risk I have taken in keeping my faith with you should be obvious; I expect you to do yourself and your mother honor.”

Serra hesitated, looked to Alex, and nodded. “If m’lord will have me, he shall find no woman more willing or faithful.”

Lisril hugged her. “Thank you, sister,” she whispered. “And don’t worry, I know my husband; he’ll come around.”

She nodded and backed away, paying Alex the respect of a courteous bow. “I pray m’lord can forgive the coarseness of our introduction.”

“Uh,” Alex said. “Of course, sorry for the consternation.”

“Oh,” Serra scoffed. “Nonsense, I’m not so frail as to be injured over a mere misunderstanding. It would be my honor if m’lord would spare a moment to chat.”

He smiled. “I’d like that, but-” he looked to Lisril. “I think there are more people Lisril wanted me to meet.”

“We have time,” Lisril said. “Of course, we’ll delay introducing you to some of my friends if we must, but Serra, you should retire early today.”

She frowned. “why?”

“Because you’re invited to join her Magnificence and me for our English lesson. We’ll meet you here at dawn and go to meet her Magnificence together. I know it’s quite early, but Alex has a full schedule.”

“Oh, I suppose I can’t refuse an invitation like that, but the Empress-”

“Will, of course, welcome you; you’ve every right to be there, all things considered,” Lisril said.

Serra thought about that a moment before a broad smile broke out over her face. “I suppose you’re right.”

Lisril nodded and gave Alex a pat on the shoulder. “I’ll let the two of you talk privately; I’ve wanted to refresh my memory of one of my mother’s almanacs anyway; call me if you have a need, and I’ll return for Alex when we need to go.”

“Of course,” Serra said, before clearing her throat and turning, abashed, to Alex. “That is- if my lord pleases.”

Alex laughed. “You don’t need to stand on so much ceremony, and I’d be happy to; I’d like a chance to get to know you.”

Serra nodded enthusiastically and began to lead Alex to a more secluded spot, but at the last moment, Lisril gripped him and pulled him into a hug. “It will mean the world to her,” she whispered. “If you allowed her to extend the traditional Dyrantisa courtesies.”

She felt him nod against her shoulder and gave him a grateful pat on the back. “I love you.”

“I love you too; we’re gonna have a talk later,” he murmured.

She nodded and let him go. “I’m sorry,” she said to Serra. “It’s a hard thing to part with your man. Please, go on.”

Serra dipped her head and took his hand. “Thank you.”

Lisril watched them go, then borrowed a candle, and wandered upstairs; she really had been meaning to have another look at that Almanac.

Lisril read for longer than she probably should have or gave them longer than was perhaps warranted, allowing her candle to burn to nearly a stump; each time, she clipped the wick, promising it would be the last.

She was apprehensive; it was nonsense, really; they would get on famously. She wouldn’t have chosen Alex had she felt otherwise; after all, Lisril had a responsibility, one she took quite seriously, to select a match she felt fit both herself and her friend. But nothing was guaranteed, and- well, he seemed to warm to women more readily than men, and she knew an introduction would help. But perhaps she should have stayed to mediate, as she had with Eli.

It was too late now, though, and-

“Lisril Dessier!” No more time; she had needed a new candle anyway.

She returned her book and descended the stairs to find Serra, surrounded by a crowd of her, somewhat perturbed, subordinates, casting about, only with her back turned. “Where have you squirreled yourself away?”

“It’s Hagan, now,” she said, approaching her friend. “We take our husband’s name on Earth.”

Serra turned, arms crossed over her chest. “Don’t change the subject.”

“And what would the subject be?”

“Artificer, scholar, philosopher, alchemist, apologist! Your missives have done your husband a terrible injustice.”

Lisril swallowed the breath she had been holding; she could breathe in private. Instead, she adopted an amused smirk. “I thought he might enjoy surprising you.”

Serra blushed two shades pinker. “Well, it was a pleasant surprise.” She turned to Alex, seizing his hands. “I know you have to go now but do remember me to your friend; I shall be very pleased to read his comparative Earth-Nyx philology.”

Lisril knew the friend she was talking about; it had been he they had gone to, to discover why she seemed to have no trouble with written English but an impossible time with the spoken language. In exchange, she had added him to her tutoring sessions with Alex, teaching him how to read and write, particularly.

Serra presented their husband to her. “Thank you, it was a lovely evening, and I was privileged to be allowed to borrow him.”

“Don’t thank me,” Lisril chuckled. “He goes where he wills, even when he oughtn’t.”

Serra licked his cheek. “Thank you, I’ll see you in the morning?”

“I’m looking forward to it,” he agreed.

Serra beamed and released them. As the archive doors closed behind them, Lisril finally allowed her sigh to escape. “I’m so glad you’re happy with her.”

He sighed himself. “I don’t know, Lisril….”

“Oh really,” she asked. “then tell me you’re not thrilled to have a woman you can share your obsessions with.”

He was silent for a long moment, “I’m not going to do that because it would require me to be wrong.”

She laughed, and he shook his head. “We’ll talk about it later; anywhere else?”

“Just my family, I think,” she said. “You can meet my other friends later on.”

He nodded. “Finally taking me home to your parents, huh?”

“Finally,” she chuckled. “In fairness to me, you live hours away.”

He snorted. “So, where to?”

“Not far,” she said. “They quarter in the palace during winter.”