As they rode into the courtyard of their house, a servant came running to take their horses, wearing the livery of Buccareth House.

"Um," Vania looked from the groom to Eddin. "Who's this?"

"T'larin," Eddin replied, gesturing to the groom. The man waved a hand as he led the horses to the stable. "He and a few others are... temporarily employed here until we hire our own staff." He looked at Vania's frown and shrugged. "We can decide how many people we'd like to hire, if any. The ones here now are on loan from Mother."

"How many people did she send here to wait on us hand and foot?"

"Just a few," Eddin replied, hand on her elbow until she uncrossed her arms to take his hand. They walked up the stairs to the door. "One groomsman to tend the stable—that's T'larin, whom you just saw. One butler to manage the household staff; you'll meet her inside. One maid for cleaning and laundry—D'tessa, whom you met at my mother's house. And one cook and one server for the dining room. Plus two guards."

"There's only two of us, Eddin. Do we really need so many people?"

"As I said," Eddin replied as he pushed open the door, "we can discuss it and decide to hire or not hire however many or few people you want."

Vania sighed as they stepped inside, rain running from their cloaks to pool at their feet, soaking the rug. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be difficult. I'm just not used to... having all... this..." She gestured around.

"With all due respect, Vania, my wife," Eddin murmured, putting an arm around her and pulling her close, "you're not used to having a house that's more than one room. Trust me. After you've been working and trying to upkeep the house for a while, you'll appreciate having someone to clean and cook for you." He kissed her lightly on the cheek. "And if you don't, once we send these helpers back to Mother, we won't hire anyone else."

"Fair enough," she murmured.

Someone cleared their throat, causing them both to turn. Six people stood in a line; Vania recognized D'tessa, but no one else.

One of the women towards the middle of the line stepped forward, bowing. "Lady and Lord Nahalora, welcome home. My name is A'lyra, and I am pleased to serve you. As head of your staff, I extend our thanks for this opportunity to work for you, and I hope our work pleases you. If anything is amiss, please let me know." The woman gestured down the line, each person stepping forward briefly while being introduced, then stepping back into line: "Allow me to introduce K'venst; he will be preparing your meals. Beside him is his assistant in the kitchen, who will also serve your meals, G'har. D'tessa here will be cleaning the house and seeing to your laundry needs. And these two are T'lornet and D'verna, your two guards. You met T'larin when he took your horses."

Vania glanced at Eddin, then at the assembled people. "Thank you," she managed. "Um... I... think that's all for now. Thank you for coming to help us get settled. Um. Go about your business."

The servants all bowed and left, the guards coming forward to take their places beside the door.

Vania looked around, door still at her back. The room was bright and warm, with a large rug on the cold stone and colorful tapestries on the walls; spelled wizard orbs resting in the lantern sconces lit the area with golden light. Some chairs sat by a brazier in one corner. A plant with long, dangling leaves sat in a dark blue pot on a coiling wrought iron stand beside the window. The Nahalora family crest hung above the doorway leading deeper into the house, small silver wizard orbs on both side illuminating the detailed carving, the fresh paint almost glowing in the silver light.

Eddin saw her gaze and smiled. "Do the decorations and furnishings meet your approval so far?"

"What? Oh." Vania blinked, looking up at him. "Yes. It's lovely."

"Oh, good." He held out his hand. "Maybe you'd like to see the house, now that it's furnished? Your first tour was a bit underwhelming, since there was nothing here yet."

She took his hand. "Yes. But only a quick one. After the ceremony and then the meal with all the toasts that I thought would never end... I'm tired."

"Well, five toasts is the tradition," Eddin replied.

"Five?" Vania looked at him. "It felt more like one hundred!"

"Five toasts, and within each toast, there are five well-wishes and/or commendations."

"And it took forever," Vania replied. She yawned again.

"Yes, the wording on many of the well-wishes and commendations tend to wax long," Eddin agreed.

"And that was the only time I've even seen your father."

"And you won't see him again, likely," Eddin replied. "He and Mother have a purely political marriage. She's a well-off and highly-ranked a'marlon noble here in Dreklin. He's from a distinguished family on A'mardis. When they married, he moved here. Her position as head of the military enabled him to climb the ranks swiftly to be the naval commander. He doesn't come around much."

"That sounds miserable," Vania replied, making a face.

"Well, you did say, once, it was simpler to not be noble."

"And then I went and married a noble."

He chuckled. "So, we must not be all bad."

"No," she agreed, leaning on him. "There are some good ones."

Before he could reply, there was a knock at the door.

The guards both moved forward. One of them said, "Please, step back. Let us answer the door for you."

"Don't be ridiculous," Vania replied. "I'm standing right here. If I were in another room, it'd be normal for one of you to answer. But, I'm here, so I can answer it just fine."

The guards exchanged looks and stepped aside. Eddin quickly swallowed his chuckle and hid his smirk behind a hand.

Vania opened the door, then scowled at the pair of hooded people on the doorstep.

"Greetings, Lady Nahalora, Taila's daughter."

"Nanda," Vania growled. As Eddin quickly stepped closer to her, she added, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I came to offer my sincerest congratulations. And to offer you a gift, to honor you on your wedding." The hooded face smiled. Nanda held out a parcel wrapped in black silk. She added quietly, "I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed, though not at all surprised, that you didn't invite me to the ceremony, cousin."

Vania snapped, "I'm not even going to invite you into my house—"

"I noticed," Nanda interrupted drily.

"—let alone invite you to the most important ceremony of my life."

"Most important?" Nanda asked. She scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous, cousin. Marrying some excess son of a high-ranking a'marlon isn't the most important thing you can or will do with your life."

"Eddin is my husband; you will refer to him with respect."

"Well, I will admit, you have marvelously positioned yourself to be very useful in our family's quest, cousin. Elbowing your way up the hill, even if your house isn't at the top, is still a lot better position to strike at those who destroyed our family."

"And we are not cousins," Vania insisted through gritted teeth.

"Please," Nanda replied. "I know you went to see Ab'bashura a few weeks ago. I see you've discovered the family crest." She gestured to the large crest from A'lei'iana. "So, you've learned about the family. Our family. So, maybe now you're ready to finally step up and begin righting the wrongs of the past. Avenge our family for their desecration and deaths." She met Vania's eyes. "Our family didn't used to be Marked, you know. Before the betrayal. Back when they were still important to this city."

Vania snarled, "I am not part of any family of yours. Leave." She slammed the door. She stood, fuming, by the closed door, breathing hard through her gritted teeth, hands clenched into shaking fists at her sides.

Eddin touched her shoulder. "Vania?"

"That damned woman is so irritating..." Vania grumbled.

"Lady Nahalora?" one of the guards asked. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," Vania replied quickly. She drew in a deep breath, then looked at the guards. She gestured at the door. "If either of those two ever return, send them away."

They nodded, both replying, "Yes, Ma'am." One of them opened the door, scanning the grounds slowly, peering through the rain. "They seem to have left, Ma'am."

"Good." Vania sighed.

The guard bent down and picked something up, then shut the door. "They left this behind." The guard held out the black silk parcel.

Vania sighed again. She accepted the package, distaste curling her lips and narrowing her eyes. "Thank you."

"If you like, we could keep it somewhere safe, and have it checked for malicious magics," the guard offered.

"No," Vania replied with a sigh. "Thank you, but no. Not this time. There's no magic here." She scowled at the package, mumbling, "Just a whole lot of irritation."

"Vania?" Eddin asked.

"I'm sorry, Eddin." Vania sighed as her shoulders slumped, hand holding the gift from Nanda dropping loosely to her side. "I... think I'm too tired to admire your hard work and your mother's generosity on this house tonight. Will you show me around tomorrow?"

"Of course," Eddin agreed quietly. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "Just very tired. It's been a long day. A long week, actually, with everything..." She sighed.

He smiled gently and took her hand. "It's okay. You've been dealing with a lot. Allow me to escort you to your room."

She nodded and they walked together down the hallway to the stairs.

The wizard orbs in the hallway of the second floor were dimmer, making the plush rugs running the hallway and the tapestries lining the walls less vibrant.

He paused before opening the door to her room, hand on the doorknob. "I'm sorry; there's only a hammock in your room for now. The carpenter we commissioned to build your bed hasn't been able to work on it yet. With the flooding crisis and the need for places to shelter more people, all craftsmen have been kept very busy." He pushed the door open, the wizard orbs around the room instantly lighting. "If the light orbs give you too much a headache, we'll switch everything to candles."

"Thank you, Eddin," Vania said quietly. "A hammock will be fine for me; I told you before, a bed is unnecessary."

"But you did also admit that, while hammocks are better than standard beds, the special bed you had before was better still. I want you to be comfortable."

She smiled at him. "Thank you. I appreciate it. But, really, you don't need to try so hard. A hammock is fine." She yawned, covering her mouth with one hand while leaning on the doorframe. "Gods, I'm tired."

"Then you should get some rest. Good night, Vania." He turned and opened the door to his room, then stood, eyes roving the room for a moment. Prant and Eluri lay cuddled in one of the chairs by the fireplace. "Vania?"

"Hmm?" She leaned over, head poking out from her room. "What is it, Eddin?"

He returned to her doorway and said quietly, "I know we agreed to having separate rooms... But will you please consent to us being together? At least for tonight?"

She gestured around. "There's nowhere for you to lie comfortably here. I doubt the stone floor will be any good, and the hammock won't support us both."

"You could come to my room."

She looked at him sadly, asking softly, "Are you worried what the servants will think if we don't spend the night together?"

"No. I don't give a damn what any of them think. Besides, they're the ones who've helped me arrange all the furniture Mother bought. They already know their lord and lady have separate rooms." He shifted his feet uncertainly. "I... just want to be near you. That's all."

"You know we can't..."

"I know. I'm not trying to trick or coerce you. I just... sleep better when you're near." He smiled slightly. "Why do you think I enjoyed sleeping on your floor?"

"'cause you're weird."

Eddin chuckled. "Fair enough." He sighed. "Well, it's your choice. I won't force you to come over if you don't want to. Good night." He turned and walked to his room, shutting the door.

He looked around the room again, then sighed and went to the window, drawing the drapes closed. He glanced at the fireplace, noting the fire burning low. After he tossed a few logs on the fire, he crossed the room again to the wardrobe, pulling his tunic off as he walked. He switched into his bedclothes and gestured, letting the lights in the orbs dim. As he sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the fire crackle in the hearth, a knock sounded on his door.

He opened the door to find Vania, her hair hanging loose, in just a simple robe, her wings half-furled and hanging freely at her back. "Oh. Vania." He stepped back to allow her into the room.

"I thought about what you said," she explained as she entered. "And I realized... I slept better when you were nearby, too. So, I..."

"Despite my snoring?" he interrupted, teasing smile on his face.

She bit her lip as she smiled. "Yes. Despite your snoring." She swallowed. "But, you're going to need to..." she stopped, looking over to where the bed stood. In the corner near it hung a hammock. "Oh. Your room already has..."

"Yes. Of course." He smiled. "I... wanted to make sure you could be comfortable. In either room."

She looked at him. "So... you're okay with us... being apart. Even when we're together."

"Of course." He held out his hand to her. "I love you. I'm just happy you want to be with me at all."

"I worried it'd... make things more awkward."

"I promise to continue to be a perfect gentleman."

She chuckled softly. "Yeah, you uppity nobles... always posturing and playing at being polite and genteel." She frowned a little. "I've seen the way "gentlemen" act when the veneer comes off."

"I hope you don't think I'd ever treat you like that," Eddin whispered.

"Never," she agreed. "You're a true gentleman."

"Would you like to sit for a bit?" Eddin asked, gesturing to the chairs by the fireplace. "I know you said you're tired. Maybe you'd like to just lie down." He gesturing to the hammock in the corner, hand still held out to her.

She blinked, looking at his hand. "You're not wearing your gloves."

"No," he replied, smiling slightly. "I have nothing to hide from you." As she took his hand, he murmured, "And you don't have the masking token in your pocket, either." They crossed the room together.

"I've been walking around without it for weeks now, Eddin. I think everyone's seen my Mark. No point trying to hide it ever again."

"I meant the other one."

She flushed as she sat on the hammock. "Well... no. I don't think I need it when the only one who's going to see me is you."

"I'm glad we're finally comfortable enough to be honest with each other." He sat down on the edge of the bed, facing her.

She looked at him in the flickering firelight from the hearth and blushed. "Do you always go to bed without a shirt?"

"Yes," he replied easily. "Less irritating." The eye on his breastbone opened. "Of course, if it bothers you, I'll find something."

She blinked, looking from his eyes to the eye in his chest, then back. "No." She grinned impishly. "Are you going to tell me how many extra of those you have, now?"

"Well, you've already seen three of them," he replied, shrugging, the eyes in his palms also opening. "And I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn you were correct—I do also have a pair at the back of my head." He turned and she gasped, noticing the shaved area behind his head for the first time. A pair of eyes opened to look at her.

"Um... isn't it kind of... hard to shave there?"

"Sis usually does it for me. Worst that's happened so far is the hair fell into my eyes. Stung like hell. She's the one who gave me a masking spell to hide them there, too." He chuckled. "They just make it quite uncomfortable to wear hats. Certain helmets, too."

"So... five?"

"No," he replied softly. Three eyes opened on his back: one at the back of each shoulder and one at the base of his neck. He turned back around and sighed. "I'll spare you the rest. But, since you asked... thirteen total."

She nodded. "I understand." As she yawned again, she mumbled, "I think it's time we both went to bed."

"Yes," he agreed softly. The wizard orbs in the room slowly dimmed until they went out, making the only source of light the fireplace. "Goodnight, Vania." He drew his legs up onto the bed, then lay down.

As Vania settled into her hammock, she asked, "Does your mother only hire a'marlon?"

Eddin was silent a moment before he replied, "Mostly, yes. A number of them are mixed blood. She also has an agreement with families back on A'mardis. If any of their children wish to relocate here, she'll hire them."

"Huh," Vania mumbled. "Well, when they were all in the room with us, I felt like I was surrounded by giants."

Eddin chuckled. "Well, as I said, after we've settled here better, you can decide who, and how many, staff you'd like to hire. If any. And you can hire any race you want." He smirked into the dark and teased, "Maybe you'd like to hire only wesseln people; then you could feel like a giant beside them."

Vania giggled. "Maybe. But I don't think I'd enjoy that, either."

Eddin smiled in the darkened room as the silence grew. "I love you, Vania. Sleep well."

She swallowed. "I love you, too, Eddin."