"I'm sorry, Monderyn," Fendros said. "This is all the time we have."

Monderyn nodded slowly. His sad frown did not face away from the ground, but he had no more protests.

"Where are you all staying tonight?" Calia spoke up out of nowhere.

Fendros turned his head. "Oh, we're camped in the forest. You don't have to give us accommodation, mother."

Calia shook her head. "That is not what I intend. Are you eating well tonight?"

"It's just...some meats we've hunted recently." Fendros was apprehensive, thinking back to the food that Ariel had made for them before. He didn't want to imagine his blind mother carrying enough food for all of them through the forest.

"It's settled. We shall dine at the tavern." Once again, Calia spoke without even hinting at negotiation. "I will pay for all of you. It will not do to have a wedding without a feast, and I would give Rossarm one last chance to take back what he said before you leave."

Fendros looked around to the others and let out an overwhelmed huff. "I...I don't know what to say..." Habitually, he looked to Meesei. "Would that be appropriate?"

[hr]
"I'll remember, thanks," Harriet said. She began to preen at Narsi's shoulder-length black hair. Narsi kept staring at Lorag.

"Actually, I was plannin' on taking her to Bruma 'soon as she started lookin' at boys too closely," Harriet added. Her eyes peered up from Narsi's hair. "I mean, not to force her on you or anything, just to get her a pack. And a life. But...if you don't want to deal with that, I could find another clan for her."