“Twenty years.” Sharron sat a cake down on a wide, polished oak kitchen table, a brilliant smile on her face.

“Coll turned seventy this year. A lot of big anniversaries.” Marvin remarked, before pouring a strong, dark tea from a plain brown teapot into two little tea cups.

“I still can’t quite believe, after everything, that you’re here.” Sharron reached out and hugged him, which the fortysomething man, hairs starting to gray, returned.

He frowned. “Have you heard from Prinner recently? I missed having him around the house.”

Sharron drew away and sat down in the chair nearest to her husband, and thought for a moment. “You know, I think he went…”

Marvin’s eyes brightened. “North, yes! Thank you for reminding me. I’ll have to send him a message sometime through one of the Doormen. Now, let’s eat.”

Having already supped on a delicious dinner, they enjoyed their homemade chocolate cake in a kind of contented, mutually peaceful silence that had characterized their last two decades together.

“The Lakefold Calendar places the New Year on the second day of Spring. The same day as your anniversary. I wonder who negotiated that.” A quiet voice issued from a shadowed corner of the room.

“Bim?” Marvin asked, affixing a faux-paternal sternness. “Come out this instant, young man. Don’t you know how to knock before entering someone’s home?”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Bim, a twenty-one year old now, emerged, tall, hair long, and eyes shining, a white cloak trailing just past his feet as he moved. “Hello to you two, Mr. and Ms. Drumlin. Happy twentieth anniversary.”

“You get taller every time I see you, Bim.” Sharron said with a smile.

“I stopped growing two years ago, you know that.” Bim responded chuckling, before sliding into a seat at the table. “Might I?” He said, pointing to the cake.

“Ooooh, the Living Saint has deigned to eat our foodstuffs? Shall we be blessed for a hundred thousand years?” Sharron said, to which he just glared.

“Don’t joke. I can’t even get a glass of water anymore without an order of knights being founded in its name.” Bim grumbled good-naturedly.

Sharron waved a hand, and a third dish and fork materialized in front of Bim. She cut him a slice of cake, and he took it gratefully.

“Do you even need to eat anymore?” Marvin asked, mildly curious.

“Not really, but I still like to enjoy good food on occasion. This, for instance, is excellent.” He said, smiling at the both of him.

Wiping his mouth after he finished the slice, he went on: “Unfortunately, I’m not merely here to sneak into your home, eat your cake, and make myself a third wheel on such an important day. What I actually wanted to know is…” He smiled a devilish smile, pausing for effect. “The others have all agreed to begin our quest into the Abyss, the one we talked about years ago. We’ll probably be ready to set off by late Autumn. Are you certain you don’t wish to come?”

The two met eyes for a moment, and took each other's hands. “We’re happy right where we are.”