Even huddled between a mast and several crates, Meleng could not escape the cold wind. According to Jorvan, today was actually warmer than the other days they’d been in Isyaria, but Meleng definitely couldn’t tell. The cold bit hard, especially since writing with mittens on was virtually impossible, so he had taken them off.

He really should be in his cabin for this, but the ceremony was due to start soon and he didn’t want people to have to go looking for him. He wanted to able to rush over as soon as they called.

In the meantime, he stared at the equations in front of him, the same problems he had been working on for what seemed like forever now. He had made small, minor steps of progress, but something still wouldn’t fall into place. He just couldn’t figure out how to make a controlled reaction of the right strength that didn’t completely drain him. It was immensely frustrating.

Still, frustration at the moment had its good side. It felt real. Plus, he could look at the equations, look away, look back, and they would stay the same.

Not a dream.

Gods, there he went again. He had to stop this. He was free. This was real. He didn’t need to keep testing it.

So he went back to staring at the equations and tried to not look away.

Somebody squatted down in front of him. It was Fevionawishtensen. She smiled at him and leaned forward, peering at his notebook.

“Oh, uh…” He turned the book so she could see it more clearly.

Her eyes tracked the equations on the page. Occasionally, she nodded. Occasionally, her eyes widened in surprise.

Meleng wondered what she thought of them. Would she think he was a complete idiot? Probably. His equations must be so simplistic compared to what she could do. He probably shouldn’t have shown her them. If the situation were reversed, she would never have shown him hers. No sharing secrets with non-Isyar.

She squinted and took the book from his hands, peering more closely at it. She pointed to his pen.

What did she want his pen for? Was she going to blot it all out?

She repeated the gesture, and Meleng gulped, but handed her his pen and ink jar. She shifted her position closer to him and a little to the side. She held out the book and pointed to one of the equations, to one specific symbol. Then she motioned for him to take the book. Once he had done so, she dipped the pen in the ink, leaned over, and crossed out the symbol. Then she wrote a new one just above it.

Meleng stared at it and nearly dropped the book. Good gods! There was his mistake. Everything was now falling into place. He needed to make some adjustments to personalise them for his own power levels, but it all made sense now. He looked up at her. “Are you even allowed to do that?” Not that she could understand him.

She placed a finger to her lips and winked at him.

He nodded, putting a finger to his own lips.

She smiled, then stood up and walked across the deck.

Meleng stared after her as she reached Jorvan and Sinitïa, touched foreheads and wing tips with Jorvan. Was this because they were going to be fomazee? Did that allow her to share things with him? Though the finger to her lips implied that they should still keep it secret.

Oh well. It didn’t matter what her reasons were. Even if she never shared any secrets with him again, this one little thing had possibly saved him months—maybe years—of work. With this and the fomaze ceremony to come, this was quite possibly the best day of his life.

“Melly!” Sinitïa called. “It’s almost time! We need you!”

He snapped the book closed and placed it in his scrip along with the ink vial and pen. Now, where was that canvas? Oh right, there it was.

He grabbed the canvas from where he had leaned it against the mast, and unrolled it partway, checking it one last time. It wasn’t to check reality—not this time. At least, he was pretty sure he didn’t do it for that reason. He just wanted to look at it one last time before giving it away.

Satisfied, he rolled it back up, tucked it under his arm, and hurried over to the others.

Although it was not quite dawn, the deck of the Lustrous Rose was well lit by torches and Isyar fire globes. Mikranasta, Hedromornasta, Davorultumn, Captain Gen, and First Mate Ting stood a little off to the side. They were going to be the official witnesses. The rest of the crew were also watching, and Meleng felt exposed—especially when Sinitïa planted a kiss on his lips when he reached her.

“We have one last thing to figure out before we start,” Sinitïa said.

“There are different ways Isyar greet one another,” Jorvan said, “depending on the type of relationship they have. The most intimate is when we touch foreheads and wing tips. This is only done between fomasee, a diare and siare, or between fomaze. However, you and Sinitïa do not have wings, so we cannot do that with you.”

Meleng glanced at Sinitïa. “We can just touch foreheads. I’m okay with that.”

Jorvan shook his head. “Just touching foreheads is done between close friends or between blood relations who are not part of the Isyar’s direct family, such as between me and Mikranasta. If we only touched foreheads, other Isyar would not know our relationship, and Fevionawishtensen and I have agreed that it is important to us that other people know. We will not encounter many Isyar in Arnor, but even so, we may encounter a few, and one day, we will likely return to Isyaria. We need to come up with something else. Obviously, it will be different from the ways other fomazee greet each other, but it also needs to be similar enough that other Isyar will be able to infer our relationship.”

“I have an idea!” Sinitïa said.

Jorvan nodded. “Please, tell us.”

“I’ll show you.” She stepped in front of Jorvan and up close to him. “So, we’ll touch foreheads since we can do that and it’s part of the normal...whatever you call this.” She bent over to touch foreheads with Jorvan. Being more than half a foot taller than him meant she had to bend her back a bit. She giggled. “It’s easier to do this when we’re sitting down. Anyway, can you put your wings around me? Do it in a way that you touch the tip of your wings to my shoulder blades or something.”

“I think I can do that,” Jorvan said. He spread his wings and slowly wrapped each one around so he touched her shoulder blades.

“That’s it! Now, I’ll put my arms around your neck like this and touch your wings sort of where they come out of your back, like this.”

Jorvan shuddered. “Careful. That is a...sensitive spot for Isyar.”

Sinitïa pulled back her hands. “Oh, sorry.”

“No, it is fine. I was just not prepared. You may put your hands back.”

Sinitïa looped her arms around Jorvan’s neck again. “What do you think?”

“I like it,” Jorvan said.

“Melly?”

Meleng nodded. “I like it, too.”

She let go of Jorvan and he folded his wings back behind his back. Sinitïa looked to Fevionawishtensen, who just smiled and nodded.

Sinitïa beamed. “Do you want to try it?”

Mikranasta had to be translating for them, as Fevionawishtensen nodded again. Sinitïa rushed over to her. “Melly, you should try it with Jorvan!”

Meleng stepped up to Jorvan, and they touched foreheads. Jorvan put his wings around Meleng, touching him at the shoulder blades. It was a bit of a weird sensation, but Meleng was sure he would get used to it. He looped his arms over Jorvan’s shoulders. “Like this?”

“You are touching a little higher than Sinitïa did,” Jorvan said. “However, that is good. The place she touched is a bit of an erogenous zone in Isyar, but I did not expect she would know what that was, and she would be very embarrassed by the explanation.”

Meleng chuckled softly. “That’s probably true.”

They stood like that in silence for a few moments.

“Thank you, by the way,” Meleng said. “For, uh, you know, rescuing me.”

Jorvan smiled. “I am simply glad you are safe.”

They separated, and Sinitïa put her arms around Meleng. “You should practise with Feviona. She said it’s okay for me to call her that. Then we can start!”

Meleng gave Sinitïa a quick kiss and went over to Feviona. “Thank you for earlier. I’ve been working on that for ages.”

Feviona smiled and signed something.

“I’m guessing that means, ‘you’re welcome’.”

She nodded, then raised her head as Meleng lowered his to touch foreheads. She was shorter than Jorvan, so Meleng had to bend his back. He wondered what it had been like for Sinitïa, who was the tallest of the four of them. Feviona’s wings had a lighter touch to them than Jorvan’s. Meleng barely noticed them, though they did send a slight shiver down his spine. He was careful to touch her back high up, practically her neck. It would probably be very inappropriate for him to touch much lower.

Feviona stared into his eyes, a slightly bemused smile on her face. He wondered what she was thinking.

“Also, thank you for rescuing me,” Meleng said. “I heard you were there too.”

She pulled her head back just long enough to nod briefly, then touched her forehead to his again.

“How long are we supposed to do this for?”

Feviona snickered, retracted her wings, and stepped back. She signed something.

Meleng looked at Jorvan. “Did you catch that?” He really needed to learn Feviona’s signs since Mikranasta’s magic apparently did not translate them.

Jorvan shook his head. “Sorry. I was not paying attention.”

Feviona repeated the signs.

“Ah, she said, ‘As long as you want.’ I assume you know the context.”

Meleng nodded. “Yes, thank you.” Yeah, he really needed to learn her signs. Feviona had agreed to teach Sinitïa. He should join in on those lessons.

Sinitïa grabbed his arm and pulled him beside her. She was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. “Are we ready to start?”

Jorvan held out his hand to Feviona, and she joined him at his side. The two of them faced Meleng and Sinitïa, Jorvan directly across from Sinitïa and Feviona across from Meleng. “I believe we are ready,” Jorvan said.

Sinitïa squealed and squeezed Meleng’s hand.

Jorvan took a deep breath. “We stand here today, two pairs of fomasee ready to join our lives together as one family in the sacred bonds of friendship and love. I, Jorvanultumn…”

Feviona signed what Meleng knew was, I, Fevionawishtensen…

Meleng took his own deep breath, try to calm his beating heart. “I, Meleng Drago…”

Sinitïa squealed slightly again before speaking. “And I, Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith…”

Jorvan continued, “Call upon Nature to bless our union. We are witnessed by…”

“Davorultumn.”

“Mikranasta.”

“Hedromornasta.”

“Etiënne Gen.”

“And Miana Ting.”

Jorvan nodded to Feviona, who let go of his hand and drew the sword at her side. She held it horizontally, her right hand gripping the hilt and her left supporting the flat of the blade. She extended it to Meleng.

Meleng reached out gingerly, gripping the hilt around her hand and placing his other hand under the flat of the blade. He nodded to her, and she slipped her right hand out from under his and withdrew her other hand from the blade.

Feviona began to sign, and Jorvan translated, “I present to you this Hgirh blade. Every Hgirh is presented with two such weapons upon completing their elispt. They are my most prized and treasured possessions. I now give one of them to you as a symbol of my commitment to this union. I have only known the two of you for a short time, but I know that Jorvanultumn loves you both, especially you, Meleng Drago. You have been his dearest and closest friend while travelling the world, and you have provided him with the companionship he needed while absent from me and those closest to him in Isyaria. In the short time I have known you and Sinitïa Alessia Deanna Folith, I have seen what he loves in you both, and I whole-heartedly share in it.”

“Thank you,” Meleng said. “I will cherish this. We both will.” The sword was technically a gift to both of them, but he and Sinitïa had discussed beforehand and agreed he would be its guardian as Sinitïa already had a sword. He really didn’t know what to do with a sword, but Sinitïa had suggested he learn how to use it. She had even suggested Feviona teach him, which Feviona had agreed to.

He and Sinitïa had also discussed the gift he was going to give to Feviona and Jorvan. He’d needed her agreement before going ahead with the idea. However, there were a couple other gifts first. He looked at Sinitïa now as he slid the sword into the sheath Feviona had given him ahead of time.

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.”

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.