Bal? returns shortly with ?l?, who, seeing Dyder, realizes that the rumors are true.

  “Dyder has come to tell us that he—” Starts Alavel, before he stops himself.

  ?l? is moving as quickly as her brown, floral skirt will let her and is already halfway to Dyder before he notices her charge. He turns, opening his arms, and embraces her.

  “I’ve heard, I’ve heard, ohhh, I’ve heard. I was told of rumors yesterday about you buying a linshkh; I’ve been so anxious, wondering if it was true.” She kisses him, and he releases her. She reaches up, placing her hands on his cheeks, staring deeply at him with her green eyes. “When can I see it?”

  “On the wedding.” States Alavel. “I don’t understand you women; Ro was the same way. You get to see the linshkh when Dyder has earned the right to give it to you.”

  ?l? looks to her father and groans slightly, but this does not take away from her excitement in the slightest; she looks back to Dyder. “When is the wedding?”

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  “There will be two, the first—”

  “TWO!”

  “Yes, two. The first in the Crown at the college, on the 17th of the next maiden, and the other—hopefully—on the 20th at the temple in town.”

  She pauses, her smile fades from her face, changing to one of slight confusion. “Why so soon? nine maidens passed before Gis?lle and V?l were married—why is it so soon for us?”

  Dyder scratches the back of his neck. “Gekaryna vela’Herst is paying the remainder of what I needed to save; her conditions were that she gets to pick the locations and the dates, as well as the cakes.”

  “Did she say what flavor?” ?l?’s sweet tooth has a few ideas, preferably something seasonal and festive, like pumpkin for the autumn or honeyed almond for the coming winter, but she would be quite content with chocolate.

  “Uhm, no; she did not.”

  “Well, I hope she picks well.” She crosses her arms across her green blouse. “How long will you be staying for?”

  “I must be back by the 28th. Originally this visit was going to be a birthday surprise, but Gekaryna vela’Herst had other plans.”

  “I’m quite fond of her other plans; as much as the original birthday surprise would have been great, now I get to go back to the Crown with you for more than just Niw?r.”

  Dyder nods in agreement with her; he too likes ?nnywella’s plan—at least what he knows of it. “Did I miss anything, ber’Heren?”

  “Not that I noticed. Now, I have to write some letters, and I prefer silence, so please run along.” He flicks his hand towards the door, gesturing them out.