Brogan held her gaze, listening to her voice over the rumble of the celebration. For a time, he let her words hang in the noisy atmosphere, chewing them over in the same way he chewed his food. The Arten prince was blunt. "You don't speak of the Sand Eaters. This is about our marriage." He swallowed. "But you brought the pipe to this conversation, so I will smoke it with you..." He took a drink from his horn and then sighed. "You said the Sand Eaters shared stories. I know you must have heard of my father, too much of my father for your taste. Instead, I will tell you a story about my mother."

The prince of the Hinterlands turned to face his betrothed completely, swinging his leg over the seat of the chair and sitting spread-eagle. "The Kingbreaker had four wives, the first was my mother, Lilah, a shieldmaiden and jewel of the Hinterlands. In the North, our women are as fierce as she-wolves. When the South came for the North at the Siege of Freyport, she and my father's men held off an army ten times their size, and stopped King Piervue's troops from crossing the river. It was the turning point of the war." He paused to take another large bite of meat--the only thing on his plate. "My mother is a powerful healer, and she saved my father's life. They wed after the battle, before the blood had even dried. I was conceived that night."

He took a drink from his horn, a long one, before pouring more for Seralle and himself. "It's your turn."