“I hate transporting,” Andy said, rubbing his eyes. “The sunglasses not helping?” Ann asked. The flash from transporting was quite bright. “Some.” He tucked the glasses into his pocket. Shunati checked his eyes. The light from transporting shouldn’t damage them, nor should the glow from magic. But there was something wrong with the boy’s eyes, even if no one could find it. He didn’t want to make assumptions. They were there as part of a delegation to Erilu to meet with Deyama. King Emeton, Princess Ann, and Sir Pt’this were the official delegation. Ann and Pt’this were both ambassadors, Ann for Menthanla and Pt’this for Baj-tisk although he was normally stationed in Menthanla. He also acted as an adviser to Emeton. Andy was there to learn. Emeton wanted him to help Ann as ambassador. Queen Tylan was there to support her husband. Sapphire was there to visit Vor. Her adoptive father had a bit of a drinking problem and she grown up in the tavern where Vor used to tend bar. Shunati was there to try to get permission to live in Sen-gan after he finished his apprenticeship and hopefully get married. The delegation went to meet with Deyama. Sinta would be involved with the meeting but Shunati wasn’t. He went to talk with his parents, to tell them his plans. They’d been understanding about him staying in Sen-gan as an apprentice, but they weren’t happy with it. They were traditionalists after all. They weren’t against open borders or elves living outside the valley. They just wanted him to come home and live like an elf. They were still understanding. They agreed it would probably be for the best as long as he promised to bring the family up for frequent visits and teach their children about Elven traditions. He already planned to do both. He also asked his parents to make visits to Sen-gan. In the forty-five years he lived there, they’d never once visited. They promised to fix that. The next day he was summoned to the elders meeting house. “Shunati tre Vrilion, it has been brought to our attention that you have inquired into being released from your apprenticeship.” “Yes, Sir, I have.” Shunati nodded. “King Emeton has expressed a desire to have you continue on as a healer in the palace in Sen-gan. Were you aware of this?” “Yes, Sir. Mistress Mila is a great healer but she’s getting older, and there are quite a few people living in the palace. She needs help.” “What about your own queen?” “Quilto is a very good healer. I wouldn’t want to encroach on him. And he is able to scry me if he needs my assistance and has done so in the past.” “We’ve allowed you to stay in Sen-gan for forty-five years, much longer than any elf’s been allowed to live outside of Erilu for the last five centuries. Why should we continue to make an exception for you?” “It’s because I have lived there so long that I feel I need to stay. I was born and raised a traditionalist, holding tight to our values and customs. I only left Erilu to get help controlling my abilities. I still don’t have control, but after forty years as an apprentice, it’s doubtful I ever will. Because I’ve needed to be gone so long, I’ve picked up human behaviors. I’ve had to. If I return now, while I will attempt to fit in, some of my behaviors have become ingrained, and I will stand out as a round-ears. I may inadvertently influence others. “In addition, Sinta was beaten the other day simply for being my pledged. If I were to live here, I would worry about my family safety continuously. Yes, the men responsible are in prison, but there are others.” “The other day, you told Sinta you had friends there and helped them. What help was this?” Shunati hesitated. “Sir,” Ann spoke up. “Healers are trained not to brag and encouraged to keep what they do private. If it would be okay, I can tell you at least some of what he’s done for my family and friends.” The elder nodded. “One of the first I’m aware of is he saved Queen Tylan’s life as a child. He has healed my Uncle Tolin several times when he was wounded in battles and also when he had a stroke. He worked a great deal with my Aunt Mirimar when all others had given up on her injuries and even helped develop a potion that allowed her to be almost pain-free with minimal side effects. “He saved four of us children when there were complications with our births. The twins were born at the right time, but there were complications, and they both almost died along with their mother. He kept that from happening in Queen Tylan alive long enough to see them. “Queen Trilla’s pregnancy with Bacna was filled with problems. Shunati got them both through it alive. With the deformities and health problems, few thought he’d survive, and fewer thought anyone should try. Shunati was one of those few. He worked continuously not only to help keep him alive but to live an almost normal life. “I was four months from being born when my mother was killed. Shunati helped keep me warm and finish my development. He found ways to feed me since my mother wasn’t there to nurse me that I had special needs because it was a half dragon. “He went and helped in Thager when the orphanage there got so bad. He saved the lives of numerous children, pushing himself until he was spent. “He did the same during the battle against Lyra. “He saved my life when a childhood prank went too far, and I almost drowned and again when I was accidentally locked in a prison cell and got severe hydration.” “There are many more, but you get the idea. He also lent a sympathetic ear more than once and has been a great friend. He’s been at the palace longer than I have and is almost like family.” That statement surprised Shunati. He was friends with them, but he had kept his distance too, expecting at sometime, he’d be forced to return home. Of course, Ann was part dragon and often thought like one. Dragons seem to consider everyone family. If your child married someone and then died and the spouse remarried, not only was the spouse still your child but so was the new spouse, and their children were your grandchildren. The joke was if two dragons were in a room for more than five minutes they were family. Ann sat back down. He was touched by her remarks and grateful. She was right. He had been trained not to brag. But even before his training, he hadn’t wanted to boast. “Thank you, your highness.” An elder said. “And thank you, Shunati. That’s all the questions we have for now. Will we be able to find you at your parents’ place?” “Yes, Sir, I must I’m needed elsewhere.” “Of course.” The elder nodded. He understood Shunati meant an emergency needing his healing. **** Shunati went back to his parents’ house to wait. Vor joined him once the elders had questioned him. They talked for a while, reminiscing about their childhood and laughing at how different things had turned out than what they had planned. Deyama joined them when the meeting broke for lunch. She didn’t look happy. “It’s not looking good?” Vor guessed. “Two are for it, and two are against. One is undecided. And Mila was hesitant to agree you should be released.” She told them. “We’re taking a break for lunch and then planning to work on the treaty some.” “Deyama, may I talk with you a private?” Shunati asked. He really hadn’t wanted to do this. “Of course. Vor, can you excuse us?” “Sure. I’ll let my pledged and my cousin keep things from me happily.” He shrugged. “Vor…” Shunati started. “I’m kidding. I know there are things can’t know.” He smiled and left. “Deyama, you weren’t aware of this, but part of the reason King Arlin let me stay in Sen-gan was because I was in the palace.” “Why would that matter?” Deyama asked. She was clearly distracted. “They say the palace walls have ears. I was one pair of those ears.” “You are a spy?” “Yes. I didn’t go out of my way to get information, no sneaking into studies or anything. But if I heard anything I thought was important I’d tell King Arlin.” “And you’re offering to do the same for me?” “Yes.” “Shunati, you know how dangerous that is?” “No more than so than dealing with people like the tre Vobros. Emeton won’t punish my family for my deeds.” “I’ll let the Elders know.” “I’ll only do this for you.” She nodded. “Understood. I will also tell Vor. I like the dragons’ idea of not keeping things from your mate.” “Mate? So you two are…” “We’ve been mates for years. Did you forget a miscarriage started all our trouble? You don’t get pregnant without a mate.” Shunati nodded. “Of course.” “However, Sinta suggested my moodiness maybe from pregnancy. Would you mind checking me?” She offered him her hand. He took it. “No, sorry. You’re not pregnant. You might be a little less moody if you ate better. And talk with whoever you’re getting your birth control potion from. Ask about the human version. It’s less likely to cause moodiness in some people, and it works just as well.” She nodded. “Thank you.” “And let me know if you do get pregnant. I don’t want to lose another cousin.” Deyama smiled. “I will, though I don’t think there was anything you could have done the last time.” “That’s possible.” Shunati agreed. “Now, you don’t mind, I’d like to steal Vor for company for lunch.” “Go right ahead.” He nodded. Ann joined him a short time later. “Did you make the offer? Do you think it will help?” “I don’t know. It worked for Arlin. I was just hoping I wouldn’t have to keep up the charade.” “I know. But at least it benefits us all. We know of at least one spy and make sure he has the right information that needs to be shared. They get accurate information quickly, and you get to live where you want. It’s not as if Dad will hang you if you are exposed as a spy. You’ll just be exiled back to Erilu.” When it had become apparent that Shunati would benefit from staying in Sen-gan, Emeton’s father had made an arrangement with him to appease King Arlin. He would give Shunati information to give to Arlin as a spy and Shunati agreed to only give the elf king that information. Emeton had agreed to continue the practice. Since neither the elders nor Deyama knew about the arrangement, they hadn’t given any information since Arlin’s death. But Emeton said he was willing to start again if it helped him stay in Sen-gan. “I know. But what if Deyama or the elders find out I’m telling them what you told me to tell them?” “Deyama will think it’s brilliant. The elders will have a fit. They may push Deyama to exile you, in which case you can stay in Sen-gan.” “Yeah but I’d be marked for death.” “How do Elven assassins killed her targets?” “Either an arrow through the heart or in some places delicate as a foreign capital, poison.” “How hard is it to poison a healer?” Shunati smiled. “No harder than anyone else. But to kill us that way is pretty difficult. I’d still rather not be poisoned. It’s not pleasant.” “It’s only a possibility if they find out. You could stay in Erilu, but we’d miss you.” She’d leaned in close. “I think even Drepal would miss you, and she’d have a few words for the elders if they tried to kill you.” “She’s not awake, is she?” “No, but she is part of me. I know how she thinks.” She excused herself to get some lunch before the meeting for the treaty. **** Shunati spent the afternoon waiting and worrying. Then, not long before the sunset, he was summoned back before the elders. He wondered why since they weren’t supposed to discuss his request again until tomorrow. He entered the room. No one looked happy. Then, he noticed Mila in the scrying mirror. He wondered what was going on. “Shunati tre Vrilion, you have sought release from your apprenticeship. Upon conferring with your mentor, Mila, we have agreed you are ready for release and shall henceforth be recognized as a full healer and shall be granted the privileges and respect of your station.” “Thank you, Sir.” Shunati bowed. “Furthermore, you have requested to be allowed to stay indefinitely in Sen-gan. This quest has been denied. Instead, because of concerns of safety for your family, we shall allow you remain in Sen-gan for forty years. After which time you shall return home to seek permission to stay longer. Our decision at that time shall be based on the climate of the people and their feelings towards outsiders and if they see you as such.” “Thank you, Sir.” “Congratulations,” Deyama said crossly and stalked out. “Was she one of the ones against me leaving?” He asked Sinta as she joined him. She didn’t seem as happy as he would’ve expected either. “No, she was for it. One of my father’s brothers is friends with the elders who was undecided and was pushing him to agree, but they were still hesitant. Then, Princess Ann requested the treaty back to make changes. She told Prince Andy she didn’t know if they needed to keep Elf Hall at the college. She said it in Menthan, but she knows Deyama speaks it. She basically implied that if they didn’t grant you permission to stay, she’d do away with the elf dorm at the college. “Do you know what kind of trouble that would cause?” She asked him. Shunati nodded. “I do and so does Ann. That’s why she picked that.” Sinta calmed down some. “Congratulations,” she said and hugged him. “Marry me,” he said. “I said I would.” “No. Now. It’s almost sunset. Become my wife tonight.” “Tonight?” She looked surprised, but she took his hand. He led her to the wedding house and requested entry. “Do you understand that if you spend the night here, you shall be recognized as married?” The official at the door asked. “We do.” Shunati nodded. “We do.” Sinta agreed. “Do you both enter this house and your marriage freely and willingly?” The official asked. “We do,” Shunati answered again. “We do.” Sinta echoed. “Please state your names for the record.” “I, Shunati tre Vrilion, do swear that I agreed to be married to Sinta tre Erkita.” “I, Sinta tre Erkita, do swear that I agreed to be married to Shunati tre Vrilion.” The official nodded. “Congratulations, you may enter.” He stepped aside. Hand-in-hand, Shunati led his bride into the wedding house admits the cheers of his friends who had followed to witness. There would be more people cheering when they emerged in the morning but for now, he was alone with his wife.