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and good wishes to the young couple.
    They walked back to their home amid continued shouts, and Sharindis held Stavin's arm possessively the whole way. Sahrena met them on the porch and bowed deeply.
    She said, "Welcome home, Mistress Shari," her barely controlled joy bubbling in her voice.
    Sharindis smiled and walked up the stairs on her own. "Sahrena, I—"
    "You will grow accustomed to it, as will we."
    "Perhaps," Sharindis agreed, "but it will take time. If you would be so kind, please send Dorvina and Karvik to my parents' house for my things. Mother will have them ready soon if I know her."
    Sahrena nodded then said, "As you command, Mistress. With your permission, I would like to go as well. There are some things I would like to discuss with your mother."
    Sharindis said, "Of course," immediately. The idea of Sahrena asking her for permission to do anything was more than enough to put her off-balance after all the other things that had happened in the last three spans. "I know this house, so long as you haven't moved the furniture again."
    That made everyone laugh, including Stavin. "Let me show you to our suite, Shari."
    Sharindis turned toward the sound of his voice and smiled. "Yes, and you can tell me the full tale of how you came to be master of this house."
    Stavin took Sharindis' elbow and led her through the house to their suite. "This is our—"
    "—Library. I know this house very well, Stavin. Next is the bedroom, and to the left the armory."
    "You probably know it better than I do," he agreed. "Can you help me take off my armor?"
    "Yes, and while I do you can tell me this tale. Don't leave out any detail. I want to hear it all."
    A short time later, when Stavin's armor was safely stored and he was dressed in normal clothes, they went and sat on the edge of the bed together while Stavin finished the tale. "So that's how I became the master of this house and the Kel'Carins. Sora is going to be insufferably smug about this."
    "Sora is already insufferably smug about this. Didn't you recognize her voice when she congratulated me?"
    "You could tell that was her?" Stavin asked, mystified.
    "I know your sister's voice very well. I know everyone's voices, even if I don't know their faces."
    Stavin was looking at her with renewed respect. "I didn't know you could hear that well."
    Sharindis smiled impishly at that. "A lot of people don't. It makes them say things they don't think I can hear."
    Stavin muttered, "I'll have to remember that."
    "You certainly will. Stavin, I want you to know that I—I've liked you for a long time. I understand about Dorvi, about how you felt about her. I even understand a little about why. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm happy that you chose me, but I still have to wonder why you did."
    Stavin thought for a moment before he answered. "Shari, I've known you for as long as I can remember, and I've always looked up to you." He paused and chuckled. "Considering that you're older and have always been at least two hands taller than me, that's literally true. You've always been nice to me. You never called me names like the other kids did. After your accident, I remember being very upset and telling Sora that I hoped you'd choose to live and not walk into the forest. Even then I considered you to be as much my friend as Sora's."
    "I came close, Stavin," Sharindis almost whispered. "When the Healer said he couldn't fix my eyes, my first thought was to run away, out into the forest, and let the Gods take me as they chose. Uncle Arlen came and talked me out of it. He remembered that I was good with numbers and had mastered reading glyphs, even at just twelve, and he asked me to be his helper. I didn't know that he hadn't acquired the Elders' permission. Mom and Dad allowed it, and I think Dad and Barvil did some favor-trading to get it approved."
    "Sahrena was probably behind that," Stavin suggested and she nodded.
    "Sahrena is behind a lot of things. She's the one who got me my