Joen had made bracelets for his own wedding stone, so we trusted him to create something out of ours. We gave it to him before even leaving the temple, after it occurred to me that if a Zian caught sight of either of us carrying a stone, they might be able to jump to conclusions we'd rather keep quiet.

The next handful of days passed very much like every day in Zianna had. Tannix was in meetings, the knights passed the time by sparring, I either watched them or wandered down to the lower city. Given that Baisan had been my witness, my second wedding wasn't a secret in my family. I trusted them to not spread the story.

I spent our final day in Zianna with my family, which by now included Kovin more often than not. He would be sailing out with us, so it was his last chance to see them, too. I played with Gale and Stria, annoyed Baisan and Castin, challenged Orrun and Leker to a race across the rooftops, and tried to pretend I didn't see when Kovin gave Ninavi another one of his rope bracelets. It was a good day, and I gave every one of them a hug before I left, even Baisan, who pretended he didn't want one, and Castin, who pretended he hated it while simultaneously squeezing me back.

We were set to leave early the next morning, but first the Tandrans and the Queen had one final breakfast together. Normally I ate in Tannix's room or found my way down to the kitchen, this time I went along. It would be my last time seeing Tandrin for a while, even if it was just at a respectful distance. And I liked watching the family interact. They seemed the most like regular people when they sat around eating.

In the smaller, private dining room, I took up a spot against the wall beside Acen. Tandrin's guard captain, Sir Eppson, was posted by the door, while a few knights I didn't know stood by each window. Some of them were dressed in blue, indicating that they belonged to Tannix's mother or sister. The others wore the black and gold uniforms of Zianna castle guards.

The family sat clustered together at one end of a long, rectangular table. Queen Esmeranda sat at the head of the table, with Tandrin and Tannix on her right, and Lady Clairia and Tairia on her left. Servants bustled in to serve food, then quickly cleared out of the way. Only a few remained, drifting to the edges of the room to blend in the way the guards did.

At first, the conversation around the table was casual and familial.

"-he seems much fussier," Queen Esmeranda said, as she spread butter on a piece of bread.

Lady Clairia laughed. "Would you believe that both of my boys were fussier than Tairia?"

Tandrin and Tannix exchanged a glance of fake outrage. Tandrin cleared his throat. "Excuse me, I happen to remember Tairia crying constantly. I still can't believe you made me stay in the nursery so long with her. I was nearly ten before I got my own room!"

"He was eight." Lady Clairia gave the Queen a knowing look. "Don't believe his exaggerations."

Tairia nodded, flashing her eldest brother a mischievous smile. "I, for one, never believe anything Tandrin says."

"Probably for the best," Tannix added.

Tandrin glared at him. "You're supposed to be on my side. I remember you saying once, quite clearly, the Island Lords will follow Tandrin. If that's not swearing fealty, I don't know what is."

"I'm pretty sure I said that the Island Lords will follow Lord West Draulin," Tannix said.

"Hmm." Tandrin frowned. "You might've."

They moved on then, to conversations about riding horses, back to more childhood memories, to more friendly taunts. I enjoyed the stories, but my mind started to wander.

Until a single sentence from the Queen dragged my attention back to the table. I almost thought I'd heard her wrong. An awkward silence hovered over the table.

Tandrin broke it. "Out," he said firmly, with a look around the room. "Sirs Jeppson and Atricen can stay. Everyone else, out."

Confused and just a little dazed, I tried to step around Acen and follow the other guards and servants, but Acen caught my wrist.

Esmeranda spoke gently once the door had closed. "I didn't mean-"

On the surface, Tannix looked calm. He still held his half-empty glass loosely in his hand, he was still leaning back comfortably in his chair. But there was tension in his voice. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not currently looking for a wife."

"That's not what I said," she replied.

"That's what you-"

"Tannix," Tandrin said.

Across the table, Lady Clairia put down her fork. "Tandrix, you're twenty years old and you're a leading lord. You don't deserve to be rushed, but Esmeranda is right. The court is going to start wondering. Every eligible young lady in the kingdom is going to be thrust in front of you. If you don't want to go through that ordeal, it would be easier if-"

"That ordeal?" A muscle in Tannix's forearm jumped as he tightened his hold on his glass. "I was betrothed nearly my whole life. I think that plan falling through gives me a bit of leeway now. And in any case, you didn't parade ladies in front of Tandrin when he was twenty. He was twenty-three when he and Esmeranda started courting. Father met you when he was twenty-four, because he happened to be wandering around the port with Roland. Why should I have to face-"

"Tannix," Tandrin repeated, more harshly. "Stop. There's more to this."

Tannix almost slammed his glass down on the table. "You're supposed to be with me. You know."

"I know a lot of things," Tandrin said, as Tannix pushed back his chair and moved to stand. "And if you would calm down for a moment, we could explain to you that mother also knows."

Tannix froze. "What?"

Lady Clairia neatly folded her hands together. "When you brought that boy to West Draulin, your father and I had a conversation."

"A conversation?" Tannix repeated.

I was torn between the urge to freeze, to go to him, or to hide behind Acen. In the end it was Acen's hand, still clamped around my wrist, that kept me from moving.

"Don't forget that my father was Zian," Lady Clairia said. "I grew up learning his stories alongside my mother's stories of the Goddess. The idea of two men being in love has never been unknown to me. We hoped, given some more time, you would talk to us about what was happening. That option was taken away. Young man." She caught me in her gaze. "Come join us."

It took a nudge from Acen to get me moving. Crossing to the table felt like it took an agonizingly long time, but then I was there, standing at the table, unsure of what to do with myself.

"Finn, sit down," Tandrin said.

So I did, silently, taking the chair to Tannix's right. It wasn't until I was sitting that he collapsed back into his chair. He glanced at me quickly, but his attention immediately went back to his mother. "Father knew?"

"He suspected. We were-" Her eyes darted at Tandrin. "-aware of the possibility. When Tandrin visited that final time, he agreed with our suspicions."

Tannix swallowed audibly. I tentatively lay my hand on his leg, and after a moment he covered my hand with his own. "So he... didn't mind?"

"Oh, Tandrix, no." Lady Clairia reached across the table. Just as he had taken my own hand, he now stretched to take his mother's. "Of course not. We wanted to find the best way to help you. But things got very complicated with Tandrin's betrothal, and our agreement with the Macreds, and then... It suddenly became the least important thing to worry about. But with the war over, those earlier problems come back."

"Not Lady Mayah," Tairia chimed in.

"No," Lady Clairia agreed. "That worked out quite well for her. But there are other problems. For one, while I was happy to be Lady West Draulin during the war, I'm tired, Tandrix. I married into this title. Without your father, I no longer want it."

Tannix took a deep breath. "I understand that..." His hand tightened, and he laced his fingers through mine. "I can't marry a woman, not even for show. I'm already... Finn and I..."

Tandrin spoke up. "I married them. In the eyes of the Goddess, they're married."

Lady Clairia let go of Tannix's other hand to sit back in her chair again. She was quiet for a moment, then, "You are both so much like your father, and your uncles. If there is one trait that really ties Tandran men together, it's your habit of marrying against society's expectations. You are both so selfless in regards to your duty to your people, just as your father was. The one thing you all seem to do for your own happiness is pick your partner. There was outcry when your father began to publically court me. A half-Zian merchant's daughter."

"You were a very rich merchant's daughter," Tairia said.

Lady Clairia smiled. "Yes, but that didn't matter as much as my father's race did. But your father prevailed, and together we faced the scrutiny, and I proved that I was capable of being Lady West Draulin at his side. Tandrin has proven that he is a good match for Esmeranda. But Tandrix, you face a much more difficult challenge. Finagale is a remarkable young man, but..."

"I know," Tannix said. "Nobody is going to care about what he's accomplished. But it's just... It shouldn't matter! The Native Zians won't think it matters. The Goddess clearly approves, because she allowed us to get married. His gods approve. Why do people have to care?"

"It's unfair," Lady Clairia agreed. "And being who you are doesn't make it any easier. You can't hide away. You can't sail away on a ship and get yourself out of the public eye. There are countless noble families across the kingdom who are already planning ways to get their daughters in front of you. This isn't going away, which is why we need a plan."

"I'll abdicate. My city for you, Finn. Without hesitation."

"No." Everybody in the room said it at the same time, except maybe Sir Eppson. But Tannix turned to me.

"Why not? My title is the problem."

"No." I was aware of everyone watching me, but I tried to ignore them. "I'm the problem. Everything about me is wrong for you."

"Neither of you is a problem," Lady Clairia said. "Stop thinking like that. Tandrix, you are not abdicating. Whether or not you think so, you're an excellent Lord West Draulin. The city needs you, and maybe more importantly, Tandrin and Esmeranda need you as an ally."

She was right. As much as I really did like the idea of sailing away on a ship with him, so much of who he was was wrapped up in his title. Without it, what would he do with his drive to help people? He was a man of action. He would get bored without it, I knew that, even if he doubted it. "Lady Clairia is right," I said softly. Speaking up was a little intimidating, especially with the Queen and Sir Eppson in the room. "You're Lord West Draulin. You have all these ideas and plans to help change our kingdom. You need to follow through. And I..." My next thought caught in my throat, but I forced it out, "I always thought you might have to get married and have children."

"Finn."

"If I may interject," Tandrin spoke over him. "I've been putting quite a lot of thought into this, and if you two would stop being so self-sacrificing and listen, we might be able to work out a solution." He waited until everyone was looking at him, then smiled. "I propose Tairia become Lady West Draulin. Wait, let me explain." He held up his hand, silencing everyone. "It is unusual, but not unheard of, for siblings to take on the lord and lady titles. In our own family's history, we have Lord Tandrin the Third and Lady Tassita the First in the late 100s."

Tannix scoffed. "Lord Tandrin the Third died before his sister took her title."

"Fair enough. More recently, in about 350, Jak was led by Lord Jenno and Lady Jasiyal, twins. Lady Jasiyal was married to Lord Kranir, and her son inherited the city. Lord Jenno never married, not publically, although there were rumours at the time that he had a secret Zian wife."

Queen Esmeranda tutted affectionately. "You should have started with their example."

"I recognize that," Tandrin chuckled. "But, there you have it. If Tairia is willing, and I understand that this is a big decision, mother could train her to take over as Lady West Draulin. Now, you're all wondering, won't the other families still toss young ladies at Tannix? Won't people wonder why Tairia is being trained instead of a potential wife? Well, I have a thought for that, too. We send Tannix away."

Lady Clairia gave a start. "No, Tandrin. I'm not going through that ag-"

"Ah," he shook his head and leaned forward. "Not permanently. Meranda and I send Tannix to visit other countries as our ambassador. Don't." He shot Tannix a sharp look. "Listen. Everyone knows Tannix was sent to ask Queen Avaloni to join us in the war, and everyone knows how well that worked out. So we send Tannix up north, as our ambassador. The younger brother of Zianna's king being an ambassador makes a good impression. We plan for the trip to take maybe a year or so. The other nobles will see that the timing is perfect. Fresh from victories in the war, not yet tied to a wife or children, and leaving a very capable Lady West Draulin to watch over the city." Tandrin paused, looking at each of his family members in turn. "And then, while he's away, Tairia steps up to help out. Slowly, Tairia takes up more and more responsibility. By the time Tannix gets back, everyone's used to Tairia more or less being Lady West Draulin."

For the first time, Tairia spoke up. "Even if people are used to me, they'll pounce on Tannix the moment he's back."

"So we keep coming up with new distractions," Tandrin said. "A Southern trip. Maybe a big wedding for you, Tairia, if you're so inclined. Tannix, with any luck, I'll only have to keep you busy for a few years. Once Tairia's married and-"

"You're expecting a lot from me, Tandrin," Tairia said.

"I know, and I apologize. This whole scheme only works if you're on board, little sister. I forced one sibling to inherit West Draulin. I won't do it to you, as well."

Tairia looked at me. We were about the same age, but she suddenly seemed much older and much wiser. "You love my brother?"

I squeezed our still-clasped hands. "Yes, my lady. More than anything."

After a heartbeat, she nodded. "All right. But if I'm to become Lady West Draulin, I have a condition. I want to be like the Tandran men in our family and be selfish about one thing. I get to decide who to and when I will get married. You two married for love, I deserve the same thing."

"Absolutely," Tandrin agreed. "So. Tannix? Mother?"

Lady Clairia nodded slowly. "I can see why you think this could work. If we're all in agreement, I'm willing to try it. But I also have a condition. Before you go sending off my son, I need him to stay in West Draulin for a few months. Not just for training, or for the city to see him rule, but for myself. He's been gone long enough."

"My knights need the time, too," Tannix said.

Tandrin turned to him. "Is that an agreement, little brother?"

Tannix was looking down at our bound hands. "How sure are you that it'll work? And... what if I don't want Finn to be a secret forever?"

My heart skipped a beat. What if I wanted to be a secret forever?

"Nothing I've suggested is forever," Tandrin said. "In a few years, if you want to reveal your marriage to the kingdom, I will help you plan how to do it. For now, we just need to get you away from scrutiny. Now, it'll take some time to put together proper plans for your trip. You can all go back to West Draulin and relax until Meranda and I figure out the details."

"And we really should be going," Lady Clairia agreed. "I think we all have a lot to think about. But before we go, I would like to speak with Finagale privately."

I wasn't really afraid of her, but my hand tightened in Tannix's and he looked up. "Why?" The protective edge to his voice was comforting.

"Don't be foolish, Tandrix. If he was a woman you were courting I would have already spent quite a bit of private time with him."

Tandrin clapped him on the shoulder and stood. "Come on, Tannix. He can handle himself."

Could I? Tannix didn't immediately stand up to follow Tandrin, although Tairia and the Queen did. After a moment he raised our clasped hands and kissed my knuckles. Then he got to his feet and walked away. Tandrin waved at the knights to follow. I could hear Tairia peppering Tannix with questions before the door even closed, and then suddenly, I was alone with Lady West Draulin.

I wanted to seem confident, like I was someone who deserved her son's affectionate, but as the silence drew out I dropped my gaze to my lap and waited.

"Since the moment I saw you," she finally started. "I knew you were important to Tandrix. I'm truly sorry that all of this needs to be so difficult. My father was a Zian. His name was Keridel. My mother had to flee her family to be with him. When I was a little girl, I thought theirs the most thrilling, beautiful romance in the world. Then I met Tandrael, and I found myself in my own beautiful, but admittedly less thrilling, romance. Finagale? I would like to give you something."

Startled, I looked up. She reached behind her neck to unclasp a necklace, which she pulled out from under her dress. Two rings hung from it, and she placed them on her palm so I could see. "There is a Teltish tradition that when a husband or wife dies, they are buried with their spouse's wedding ring. Rael is buried with mine, and this is his." She gently touched the thicker of the two rings. It was entirely gold, decorated with worn engravings that were smoothened from years of rubbing. "This one." She touched the slightly slimmer ring. It was a simple band of gold, decorated with a grey stone oval. "This one is my father's. When he passed away, my mother respected the Zian custom of cremating him. She kept both wedding rings. Before she moved on herself, she asked me to give her ring to Tairia-they were very close. Tairia wears it on a necklace. She asked me to keep my father's."

"Didn't she..." I paused, embarrassed for having interrupted, until Lady Clairia nodded for me to continue. "Um... didn't she want to be buried with it?"

"She asked to be buried holding my father's urn. She said that being with him was all she needed." Lady Clairia smiled sadly. "Their love was beautiful, and it was hard. You have to understand... I want nothing but happiness for all of my children, but I'm terrified for Tandrix, and for you. If only it was as easy as telling the kingdom that Lovi knows best."

I tasted blood, only realizing in that moment that I was chewing on my lip. "Do you want me to..."

"No, not at all. He adores you. I just saw what my parents went through, and I can't help but compare. And they only had the problem of race to contend with. It will be harder for you. It's comforting to know that he has Tandrin and Esmeranda on his side. I assume his knights are all aware, as well."

I nodded.

"So you'll be safe, at least." She slid her father's ring off of the necklace and held it out to me. "This is what I want to give you. It belonged to the bravest, most loving Zian man I've ever known and was the symbol of a strong marriage. I want it to bring you courage, when things seem hard."

I had a collection of important rings, but none had the history of this one. Tentatively, I plucked it from her fingers and let it nestle in my palm. "Was this their marriage stone?"

Lady Clairia nodded. "It was from the fountain they were sitting at when my father asked my mother if he could court her. Where is yours from?"

She had startled me again. I looked up. "We never said we had one."

"Tandrix said your gods approved. I made an educated guess."

"The Order," I said. "Joen has it. He's going to make rings for us."

"Tandrael and I had a marriage stone," Lady Clairia said. I must have looked shocked, again, because she laughed. "Not a proper one, we were only married in the Teltish way. We were out riding the day he asked me to marry him. My mare had developed a limp and I dismounted to check her foot. I pulled out a small piece of rock. Then Rael jumped off of his own horse and asked me to marry him. I was still holding the rock. It's been sitting on my vanity table ever since."

"That's... um... it sounds like you did have a thrilling, beautiful romance, my lady. Just like your parents."

"Family doesn't need to use titles, Finagale. You're as much a Tandran as I am, now."

By blood, maybe, but she had been part of the family longer than I had been alive. "Thank you. I don't know what to... Are you sure you want me to keep this?" I held out the ring.

"Yes. My father would have loved the idea of his grandson's Zian husband wearing it."

Hearing her call me Tannix's husband helped me accept that the gift was real. As she watched, I pulled my own necklace from around my neck. She smiled at the sight, probably amused that we both wore rings on necklaces. I slid her father's ring to hang beside the other three, then tucked them underneath my tunic just as she tucked away her own necklace.

"Now," she said, still smiling at me. "We really do need to gather the others and head down to the port. Captain Roland is waiting."