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He said nothing after that.

After a while he said, "The children have taken a liking to Aviaryn it seems."

"I know."

"Last night I was reading to them and Aviaryn sat down to listen." He paused. "I fell asleep. The babies fell asleep. When I woke up she had taken the book and was reading the rest of it aloud." He was quiet. "She was reading it as though she were the adult in the room and all the rest of us were the children."

I smiled against his chest.

"She finished the whole thing," he said. "Then she set the book down very carefully and looked at Ari and Fiorakis for a long time." A pause. "I pretended to still be asleep."

"Why?"

"Because whatever she was thinking I did not want to interrupt it."

I lay there thinking about that. About Aviaryn sitting in the lamplight finishing reading a children's book to two sleeping babies and one sleeping king who was pretending not to watch.

After a while Colsar said, "I do not want you to go to Alarna."

I did not answer.

"Asharin."

"I know."

"He could drain you completely. Whatever he has decided about you — whatever you think you know about what he wants — the moment that bond activates you are vulnerable in a way I cannot protect you from." His voice was low. "I need you at my side. I have always needed you at my side. We have built something and it is not finished and I need you here to finish it with me."

I turned and looked at him.

“You need to trust me." I looked at him directly. "We both must do whatever is necessary. That is what we have always done." I paused to kiss his lower jaw. “Are you with me?"

He looked at me for a long time.

"Always," he said. Then he pulled me back against him and held me there and I let him and neither of us said anything else for a while.

Then I got up and dressed. He helped me with the leather laces and when the cloak was around my shoulders he put both hands on my face and looked at me with wet eyes he did not try to hide.

"Come home," he said. Then with a small laugh, “Wherever that is.”

"I will," I said, then wrapped my arms around his neck. “It is wherever you are.” His face turned a light shade of pink and I could not help but give a small laugh. I had never once seen him blush before.

I kissed him once more. Then I went back through the ward and into the tunnel and kept walking and did not look back.

Hares and Jewels

COLSAR

Later that evening, Colsar was deep in thought. Asha Bear would need new jewelry. A new ring, perhaps, now that they had gotten married all over again.

He did not know which style of ring she would want best. She would not like the idea of additional jewelry and the expense, but he would find a way to get her something beautiful. Something perfect.

As for the original ring, they could save it for when Fiorakis came of age.

He frowned at the thought of Fiorakis being old enough to marry.

Colsar was still deep in thought when Aviaryn knocked once.

He opened the door and she stood in the corridor with a book in her hands, her expression somber and certain the way it always was.