The man leaned his forehead against his sister’s likeness. “I miss you. I’m getting married today, Tea. Married! You should be here with me and Mum and Dad and the others. You—you gave me everything. You were always the stronger of us. So why am I the one standing here, with this the closest we’ll ever get to be? I’ve never been able to keep you from doing what you wanted, and I know you’re with Kalen, and I know with him you’re happiest. I didn’t show my love as well as I should’ve, but—” He swallowed. “I’ll find you again. I know it. What’s one more impossibility when it’s you?” His eyes traveled to the statue beside her.

“Take care of her, Kalen. Because when my own time comes, you’ll be answering to me.” He leaned back and blinked away his tears.

“Fox?” A soft voice came from behind us. Princess Inessa stood, hopeful and sad and unsure all at once.

He smiled. “You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding,” he chided and kissed her.

“I’ve never been one for custom.” She sighed against him. “If you’d like a few more minutes…”

“No, my love. I’m ready now.”

I assured them I would be along shortly and prayed silently for a long, more lasting peace to make up for everything they had lost.

“It’s a nice enough piece.” I whirled around, my heartbeat quickening. But I was disappointed to find an unfamiliar face. The woman had a freckled face and bright, brown eyes, tufts of short, red hair escaping from her bonnet. The man beside her was tall, sandy haired, and darker, with green eyes. They were clad in the heavy wool that was typical among the Gorvekai.

She nodded at the retreating royalty, curious. “Are they part of the wedding? Was the lady their friend?”

“Yes.” It angered me sometimes, to know the extent Lord Fox and Lady Tea had gone for the kingdoms, only for very few people to recognize them or their efforts. “The wedding will be a happy affair…but they are still grieving.”

The redhead squinted. “She’s the one to kill the magic, wasn’t she? Made things harder, even for us common folk.”

“With runes, we took things for granted. I doubt most people would even begin to understand their sacrifice. There is more color to life than in a heartsglass. You may not understand today, but your sons and daughters might one day.”