“Phynis, it’s so good to see you!” Queen Calath exclaimed, stepping forward to embrace her daughter.

Smiling, Phynis hugged her right back, her voice teasing as she spoke. “Really? I thought you’d be giving me grief about annexing Westgate and the other towns in the area.”

Most of the summer had passed, and fall was bearing down on Beacon and the other nations around it, Calath reflected, looking out at the trees, the leaves starting to change colors. Much had changed, but after a decade of war, the changes didn’t leave her despairing about the future of Sifaren and her people.

Kelvanis had descended into a short, brutal civil war as those enslaved had risen up against their owners, at least most of them. The church of Tyria had been a stabilizing influence, but it hadn’t completely helped, as a surprising number of slaves had actually been criminals that even the Crown Loyalists wouldn’t have trusted. Those criminals had broken out of their slave camps and the quarries where they’d been forced to work and had done an enormous amount of damage in their rage.

Slaid Darkeye, again going by his birth name of Slaid Damrung, had led a group of rebels and Crown Loyalists to quell the rebellion, and in so doing he’d garnered enough support to take control of Kelvanis. His rule was very unsteady for the time being, but one of his first acts had been to sign Fate-bound peace treaties with Sifaren and Yisara, ceding all the territory Kelvanis had taken from the elven nations. He’d also proposed to and married one of Sifaren’s elite scout captains, which had surprised Calath. She didn’t object, though, as Captain Vendis’ life was her own to live. Hopefully they could scale back the army anyway.

Yisara’s army, led by Queen Beryl herself, had actually managed to capture Timberfall and several other fortresses controlled by Kelvanis. Even better, a large number of the border guards had been enslaved elves, and when the brands had vanished they’d promptly switched sides. After a great deal of discussion back and forth, Yisara had chosen to annex Timberfall and the lands south of it instead of expanding to their former borders. The Queen had come to Beacon as well, and Calath was looking forward to meeting the young monarch in person, as well as seeing Diane again.

Sifaren hadn’t reclaimed much of its lands by comparison, as many of the inhabitants had instead chosen to request annexation by Phynis and her new kingdom of Everium. It had been something of a shock, but in truth Calath was relieved. Trying to rebuild there would have been depressing, and she hadn’t looked forward to it. The nobility had complained, but between the support of the new king of Kelvanis, Yisara, and the support of Tyria, they hadn’t objected too much. Now she was here to attend Phynis’ wedding, and to fulfill the promise she’d made.

“I’m not going to object to something the majority of the people in the area wanted. No matter what happened, I still love you,” Calath told Phynis, letting go and smiling. “Even if you are marrying… eight women? Isn’t that a bit much?”

“I’ve come to love them,” Phynis replied with a gentle smile that warmed Calath’s heart, as she led the way into the palace.

The building was beautiful, and Calath admired it as they went, her happiness infecting her tone. “I’m glad to hear that. I assume we’re going to meet them now?”

“That’s right.” Phynis nodded, looking a little nervous as she took the handle of a door, then opened it.

Eight women were waiting for them, and Calath couldn’t help the sense of surprise at the appearance of them. Though she’d been warned about the Jewels, she hadn’t truly believed the claims of what had been done to them until now, with their glittering, jewel-toned hair and eyes. They looked serene for the most part, and the one with fiery orange hair gave a nervous wave.

Sistina stood in front, and the dryad smiled, nodding. “Queen Calath Constella. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Hello, Sistina. I’ve heard a great deal about you. You are… much more than I ever had been willing to believe,” Calath replied slowly, stepping into the room. The door shut behind her as Phynis stepped inside, and after a moment Calath curtsied, deep and long, as she bowed her head. “I owe you an apology, Sistina. I believed you a foe, when without you I would have lost everything that was important to me. I’m sorry, and hope you will forgive me.”

For a long, long moment the room was silent, as Sistina looked on Calath carefully.

“Your trespass is forgotten.” Sistina’s words seemed to echo in the room, and she smiled gently, shaking her head. “To live is to make mistakes. One simply must be willing to learn from them. I learned much from my namesake. All is forgiven, Queen Calath.”

Calath rose from her curtsey, blinking in surprise at how calmly and easily Sistina had forgiven her. Her surprise was interrupted as Phynis giggled, taking her hand and dragging her forward, smiling brightly.

“Here, Mother, let me introduce you to everyone!” Phynis said, grinning as she pulled Calath forward.

Seeing the gentle smile flicker across Sistina’s face, Calath’s tension vanished utterly, and she laughed as she was pulled forward to meet the other women, the last of her fears finally gone.