Sinitïa grinned and bounced a little. She took out a small, thin object. “My family doesn’t really understand why I paint. I don’t know why they don’t. Princesses are supposed to learn an art. Annai sings and everyone approves of that. Gabriella learned to fight. And I learned painting because I love it. Annai says it just makes a mess of all my finest clothes, and I guess I have ruined a few gowns, but anyway… This paintbrush was one of the very first I ever had. It was my favourite. I used it all the time when I was learning and even for a while after. It’s not actually any good anymore. Most of the bristles have fallen out and some were eaten by goats on Scovese. But I keep it with me because it’s important to me. I give it to you both now as a sign of my commitment to this union. I love you both.”

Jorvan took the paintbrush from Sinitïa and held it close to Feviona. Feviona began to sign and Jorvan translated, “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this. We will treasure it always.”

Feviona took the paintbrush, and Jorvan pulled out his four element decahedra, placing them in Sinitïa’s cupped hands. The fire decahedron was cracked and no longer had a flame in it. “When Isyar elementalists first start learning their craft as a child, they are usually given decahedra like these to practise with. These were mine, given to me by my diare when I was only five years old. It is not unusual for the young children to break them and need to have them replaced, sometimes several times, but I always managed to keep mine safe. These are the original four, never replaced, and never broken until recently, when you were kidnapped, Meleng.”

Meleng grimaced. “Sorry about that. I dropped them when—”

Feviona held a finger to her lips.

“It does not matter, Meleng,” Jorvan said. “I do not blame you in any way, and as important as these are to me, your life is far more important. So even though one is broken, I give them to you now as a sign of my commitment to this union. I love you both more than I can say.”

“It doesn’t matter that one’s broken,” Sinitïa said. “I love them, and I know we will both treasure them. Thank you.”

Meleng watched as Sinitïa carefully put the decahedra into a pouch. It was his turn next, and his heart was beating rapidly.

Sinitïa smiled at him, rubbing her hands. “Go on. It’s okay.”

He took out the rolled-up painting—the one Sinitïa had given him on Scovese—and held it out to Jorvan and Feviona. “It was hard deciding what to present as a gift. I don’t have a lot of things that are really close and personal to me. I have my magical books and notes, but otherwise, I tend to travel light. I haven’t really had a family or friends to collect things from or attach importance to. But then I remembered this. It’s a painting of me Sinitïa made when we were on Scovese. It’s the sort of thing some people might wonder why I carry it with me. It’s not heavy, but it does take up space, especially as I do my best not to smoosh it, as Sinitïa would say. But no one had ever done anything like this for me before—or since really. It took me until just recently to realise how much it meant to me. I first met Sinitïa just before going to Scovese, and we spent a lot of time together on the journey there and while we were there. This painting represents our getting to know each other, and given how much I’ve realised she means to me, I now realise this painting means almost as much. Originally, I swore never to show it to anyone other than Felitïa and my dear friend Akna.”

“That’s because I had to do most of it from memory,” Sinitïa said, “and it’s really not that good.”

Meleng shook his head. “You’re too hard on yourself. It’s perfect. Anyway, Sinitïa’s given her blessing to let the two of you see it and to give it to you as a symbol of my commitment to this union. I love you both.”

Jorvan took the painting and unrolled it, holding it up so Feviona could see. All the witnesses and a significant portion of the crew could probably see it too, and Meleng wasn’t sure Sinitïa had actually okayed that. Still, they were far enough back that they probably couldn’t make out a lot of detail.

After a moment, Jorvan rolled the painting back up. Feviona signed something. “Feviona says it is beautiful,” Jorvan said, “and I agree with her. Both your gifts are particularly special to us as, among Isyar, painting is something that was only ever done by practitioners of light magic, and as there are no more light wizards, there are no more Isyar painters. Fevionawishtensen and I will treasure and protect both these items for as long as at least one of us is still alive.”

Feviona picked up a cylindrical carrying case that they had left lying nearby and removed the lid. Jorvan carefully slid the painting into it, and then Feviona replaced the lid.

As Feviona put the case aside again, Jorvan extended his left hand, palm down. Sinitïa placed hers on top of his, and Feviona placed hers on top of Sinitïa’s. Finally, Meleng placed his on the top.

“Nature has blessed this union,” Jorvan said. “In their sight, and in the sight of all the gods, both new and old, we four are now fomazee. May nothing tear us asunder.”

They stood there in silence for a moment. Meleng looked from Jorvan to Feviona to Sinitïa—who looked ready to burst—then back to Jorvan again.

“Are we done?” Sinitïa whispered.

Jorvan nodded. “We are done.”

Sinitïa squealed loudly and threw arms around Meleng. She kissed him. Jorvan and Feviona embraced and kissed as well.

The witnesses began to clap and the crew soon joined in as well.

Sinitïa grabbed Feviona’s hands and pulled her across the deck, spinning around. Feviona looked bemused, but went along with it. Soon, the two were spinning fast in a circle, and Meleng felt dizzy just watching them. Sinitïa, however, was laughing her head off.

Jorvan put an arm around Meleng’s shoulders. “Are they not magnificent?”

Meleng sighed contentedly. “Yes, they are.”

As the clapping came to an end, Miana Ting yelled out for the crew to take their stations. Gen strode over to Meleng and Jorvan. “I hate to call an early end to the festivities, but it will be dawn soon, and I told the Hgirham we’d be ready to go by then. Jorvanultumn, if you wouldn’t mind providing us with a good wind?”

“Of course, Captain,” Jorvan said. “I just need to say goodbye to my diare first. I will be quick.”

Gen nodded. “Of course. I wouldn’t want to deprive you of your chance to say your goodbyes. Just...don’t take too long.”

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With a nod, Jorvan hurried over to where Davorultumn and Mikranasta were engaged in conversation.

Gen stood beside Meleng and crossed his hands behind his back. “So lad, quite the triumphant day.”

Meleng didn’t take his eyes off Sinitïa and Feviona. “The best.”

“How are you doing since your ordeal?”

“Oh, uh, fine, I guess.”

“Glad to hear it. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been.”

Meleng really wished Gen hadn’t brought that up. He tried to focus on Sinitïa and Feviona, who were slowing down now and stumbling about, still laughing. Seeing Sinitïa—seeing them both, really—so happy made him happy too. He decided to change the subject. “Thank you, by the way, for agreeing to take us to Quorge. I know it’s not where you were originally going, and it’s a long, awkward trip, but we appreciate it. I’m not sure how we would have travelled back otherwise.”

“Oh, think nothing of it. It is an awkward trip, true, but Miana and I agree, it’s important to get you lot to Quorge. There are terrible things afoot, and we believe we need to do what we can to help in the fight. Besides, you paid me more than enough on the trip here to cover the losses from not going to Stroven. An advantage of having a princess as your lover.”

Meleng wasn’t sure lover really described his and Sinitïa’s relationship, but he decided not to say anything. Maybe he just had to get used to it.

“I must also confess, I’m very interested in meeting Sinitïa’s sister.”

“She’s nothing like Sinitïa,” Meleng said.

Gen chuckled. “I think ‘nothing like Sinitïa’ could be applied to just about anyone.”

Meleng laughed. “True.”

Sinitïa and Feviona stumbled over to them, Sinitïa collapsing against Meleng. “I’m a little dizzy.”

“I’m not surprised,” Meleng said.

Sinitïa grinned and kissed his cheek. “I’m going to show Feviona to our cabin.”

“Okay, I’ll join you soon.”

She kissed him again, then took Feviona’s hand once more, and led her away.

Feviona was going to join them in the cabin they had used on the journey here. Unfortunately, the Lustrous Rose only had one guest cabin, so Mikranasta and Hedromornasta were going to have stay in the hold. Luckily, the hold had much less in it than it had on the journey here, but Meleng still felt a bit bad for the two of them. Mikranasta claimed to not have a problem with it, and she said that neither did Hedromornasta, but Hedromornasta’s scowls seemed to imply otherwise. Though Meleng was quite convinced Hedromornasta was not happy about coming on this trip at all.

Meleng chuckled a little when he remembered the conversation in which Sinitïa had asked Mikranasta if she could call her just “Mikra”. Mikranasta had politely said no, but had then told Sinitïa that she should not even consider asking Hedromornasta. From what Meleng knew of Isyar ages, Hedromornasta was the equivalent of a human teenager. He certainly had the grumpiness to match.

The sound of raised voices drew Meleng out of his reveries. Mikranasta and Davorultumn appeared to be arguing, though Meleng couldn’t understand what they were saying. Mikranasta was clearly not translating anymore. Davorultumn was waving his arms about and pacing around, while Mikranasta stood still and straight-backed, looking at ease, but speaking harshly. There was no sign of Jorvan. He must have already gone to help with the preparations to depart. Hedromornasta stood off to the side, scowling as usual.

“What are they—?” Meleng started.

Gen held up a hand and shushed him. “I”m trying to hear.”

After a moment, Davorultumn threw up his hands in exasperation. He stepped up to Mikranasta, touched his forehead to hers. His wings half-heartedly moved in the direction of hers, but they never made contact. Then he spun around, spread his wings, and leapt into the air. He yelled something as he flew away.

Mikranasta motioned to Hedromornasta and the two of them headed below deck.

“Did you catch anything?” Meleng asked Gen.

“It was hard to follow. They were speaking quickly and using a lot of the informal, which I’m much less familiar with, though the last thing he said was something like, ‘Be it on your own head.’ He seemed to disapprove of something Mikranasta is doing. Perhaps he doesn’t like it that she is coming with us?”

“He seemed fine with it earlier,” Meleng said.

Gen shrugged. “Then perhaps it’s something else. You could always ask her, or her siare.”

Meleng shook his head. “Somehow, I doubt they’ll tell us. I’ll mention it to Jorvan. Maybe he can ask her about it.”

“It’s probably nothing,” Gen said. “Couples that have been together awhile often argue. So I’ve noticed, at any rate. Never actually been in a relationship myself that lasted more than a year or so. Anyway, I’d better attend to the ship’s departure. You can head below deck or stay up here, as you wish. Just make certain you’re not in anyone’s way. You don’t want to annoy Miana.”

Meleng nodded. “I know.”

With a chuckle, Gen winked at Meleng, then strode across deck. “Number One! Status report!”

Meleng took a moment to look back out towards Chithishtheny. There was just a hint of dawn providing a dim light over the foothills that led to the town. He thought about staying and watching the mountains of Isyaria gradually disappear below the horizon. There was no doubt it would be beautiful.

But as beautiful as Isyaria looked, this trip here had been nothing like what he had expected. Admittedly, nothing ever was, but this trip would not hold a fond place in his memory. Yes, there were some good things that had come out of it. He had realised how much he loved Sinitïa, and the fomaze ceremony with her, Jorvan, and Feviona made today the best day of his life.

But as wonderful as today was, it was tainted by that nagging voice in the back of his head that said none of it was real. It was all just his imagination.

Damn it! He needed to stop that. This was real. He knew it was real.

Time. He just needed time. That voice would stop eventually.

He decided to join Sinitïa and Feviona below deck. Seeing Sinitïa would cheer him up again. It always did.

He looked up to the sky, and the mostly fading stars. He had never been much of a religious person, but he knew Jorvan was. According to Jorvan, Nature was the patron of fomasee, fomazee, and other loving relationships. It was why her—no, in Isyar belief, he reminded himself, the gods were genderless, so their. It was why their name was invoked during the ceremony. It was Nature who should be thanked for his new family.

So he looked at the sky a little longer and said a very brief prayer. “Thank you, Nature. Thank you for the people I love.”

Then he hurried below deck to join those very people.