#viribus

Tyria watched as Viribus’s giant hand laid itself on Fawn’s stomach. He asked her a question that the others couldn’t hear, and she nodded, kissing him through her sniffles. Viribus lifted Fawn into his arms bridal-style and carried her back to the dais in front of the thrones, where Zinzo stood and his queen sat.

Viribus glared at his father with an uncharacteristic hostility. He wasn’t just angry, he was livid. His own brothers had never seen him this enraged, and even they felt disquieted in the face of his fury. He was breathing hard and shaking, struggling to keep still, staring at his father with open aggression and defiance. It was only Fawn’s grip around his neck and her small hand wiping the tears from his face that kept him steady.

Gale and Genus watched this exchange in confusion.

“Where have you been, Viri?” Genus whispered.

“Ask him,” Viribus spat venomously, jerking his chin at Zinzo.

Pallidus and Tyria were grim and silent. Tyria felt guilty that the two of them had been punished because of her selfishness. She only hoped she could make it up to them somehow.

“Attention!” Zinzo called loudly, and the hall silenced around him. The only sound that could be heard was Viribus’s unsuccessful attempts to control his angry breathing. “It has been one year since Princess Tyria came to Cavernae under the contract signed by her father. Since both of her sisters agreed to marry my sons, Tyria’s deadline became their deadline. Her reluctance to wed my eldest son would, on this day, void the contract, and the princesses must go home, henceforth barred from ever returning to the Underground Empire.”

“What?!” Gale and Genus shouted in unison. Viribus’s face darkened further still as he held Fawn close to him, who sobbed into his neck.

“Father, you can’t be serious!” Genus said. “There must be something you can do!”

Zinzo held up a hand to silence him, and he subsided with difficulty.

“However,” Zinzo continued. “Last night, at the Eleventh Hour, both Pallidus and Tyria came to me with the news that Tyria had finally put aside her selfish and foolhardy ways and agreed to marry Pallidus.”

Fawn gulped and looked up at Tyria, wide-eyed and fearful. Tyria smiled a strained smile of grim apology.

“Since I was beyond taking the chance of her changing her fickle mind at the last moment, I had them sign a marriage license. As such, Pallidus and Tyria are now married.”

Four jaws dropped. Fawn and Viribus looked at each other, slow smiles appearing on their faces. Their tears turned from despairing to joyful.

“With the contract fulfilled, the rest of you are now free to marry. The ceremony will be held in one week. Preparations are already underway.” He wave his hand in dismissal. “Now that that’s out of the way, you can all get to the dining hall. Breakfast won’t eat itself.”

With that, he held out his hand for his queen and walked out of the room. The sighs of relief echoed on the walls.

“The four of you knew about this?” Genus asked incredulously.

“Pallidus and I didn’t find out until last night,” Tyria said. “It’s what lit a fire under me to finally talk with Pallidus about the betrothal. We cleared the air and set each other straight.”

“Viribus and I have known for a few weeks,” Fawn said as Viribus set her back on her feet, though he did not let go of her hand.

“How did you find out?” Gale asked. “Is that why Viribus was sent away?”

Fawn tsked nervously. “Well, kind of.”

Viribus wasn’t listening. He bent down and studied Fawn’s wan face.

“You’re pale, darling,” He said with concern, holding her cheek in his large hand. “And you are terribly thin. Are you eating? Have you been sleeping? You must take care of yourself and the child.”

“Child?” Gale sputtered. “What child?”

Tyria laughed softly and took Gale by the hand. “Come on, Zinzo is waiting for us in the dining hall. I’ll explain over breakfast.”

Tyria and Pallidus told Gale and Genus what had been going on for the past few weeks, while Viribus watched Fawn closely, making sure she ate and touching her face and back, as if to reassure himself she was there. Tyria watched sadly. She knew of the six of them, the bond between Viribus and Fawn was the most unshakable. Being separated for weeks under the assumption that they might never see each other again must have been torture for the both of them.

When Zinzo had said preparations were underway for the weddings, it had been something of an understatement. Immediately after breakfast, the women were whisked off for gown fittings. Where Tyria and Gale’s dresses were voluminous with close fitting bodices, Fawns was loose and flowy with an empire waist and a lace train. Despite being only three months pregnant, she was so petite that she already had a bump.

The week flew by with a flurry of activity, and both the princes and princesses were busy with wedding details. Finally, the day of the ceremony dawned, and all six of them woke excitedly to make ready for the day.

Before Fawn, Tyria, and Gale could go out to the dining hall for breakfast, however, they were summoned to a smaller dining area, usually reserved for private meetings between Zinzo and delegates from outer provinces. There, they were surprised to see their father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law standing there, looking confused and fearful. Coll had his hand on his weapon when they entered.

“Papa!” Fawn exclaimed. “Mama!”

They all rushed forward, getting tangled in a many armed embrace. It was hard to tell who was hugging who, but they held on for dear life.

“My girls,” King Rodai sobbed, reaching for each of them and kissing their brow. “I’m so sorry. Forgive your fool of a father.”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” Fawn said tearfully.

“Well…” Gale interjected.

“Gale, shush,” Tyria hissed.

Queen Aralie took a turn, kissing her children. “We should have told you sooner, we know that. We’re so sorry.”

“I was absolutely furious when I heard,” Prince Coll said, frowning.

“It’s alright, Coll, it all worked out,” Tyria said. “It’s not as if we’re marrying against our will. We’ve all decided to marry Zinzo’s sons willingly.”

“Willingly?” Princess Seelia echoed. “What magic has Zinzo worked on you to make you alright with this arrangement in only a day?”

“A day?” The girls exchanged a glance. “How long have we been gone?”

“Eighteen hours,” Coll said. “We’ve been searching for you since the three of you failed to return from the picnic.”

“We’ve been here for a year,” Tyria said. “Well, I have. The other two have been here a shorter time. The contract made time move differently for us. Zinzo’s princes have had months to win us over.”

“And you… approve of them?” Queen Aralie asked doubtfully.

“Yes, Mother,” Fawn replied. “They have all gone to extraordinary lengths to win our favor. Some were harder to convince than others,” She said, shooting a sour look a Tyria, who blushed guiltily. “But they are good men. You’d like them.”

“Why don’t we just let them meet each other?” Gale asked. “It’ll just seem like we’re bewitched, carrying on like this. Let’s let Mother and Father decide for themselves what kind of men our boys are.”

“You too, Gale?” Seelia said. “You always swore you’d never marry!”

“Trust me, I’m as surprised as you are,” Gale said with a laugh. “Come on, follow me.”

Gale led them out to the dining hall, where the princes had just sat down to breakfast. Zinzo was strangely absent. The princes shot to their feet when they saw who was trailing behind their fiances.

“King Rodai! Welcome!” Pallidus said, coming forward and bowing deeply. “Welcome, Queen Aralie. Welcome, Prince Coll and Princess Seelia. I assume you are here for the ceremony.”

“Ceremony?” Rodai asked.

“The weddings are to be held today,” Tyria said.

“Today? That’s so soon!” Seelia replied in shock.

“I told you, for us it’s been a year, more or less.” Tyria, Fawn, and Gale went to stand with their betrothed.

Starting with Pallidus, the princes were introduced to the girls’ family in order. Once introductions were complete, King Rodai and his family were invited to breakfast.

“Who broke first?” Seelia asked as they were served.

“To the surprise of no one, Fawn,” Tyria said.

“What can I say? I’m a romantic,” Fawn said unapologetically. Viribus chuckled and smiled at Fawn fondly, adding more fruit and cheese to Fawn’s plate from his own. He bent and whispered in her ear, and she looked up with a mysterious smile. “Even still, it took me three months to say yes. Gale agreed to marry Genus in under five weeks.”

“You’re kidding!” Coll said, looking at Gale in disbelief.

“I am not explaining myself,” Gale said haughtily, spreading jam on a scone. “Tyria held out the longest. She didn’t agree until the very last day.”

“Why is that?” Aralie asked.

Tyria sighed in self-exasperation. “I had forbade Pallidus from discussing the betrothal, and he respected my wishes, so I was laboring under several misapprehensions. There were…” She cleared her throat delicately and cut her eyes at Fawn. “Circumstances that forced me to reconsider my position and finally discuss the terms of our marriage with Pallidus. Once we had cleared that up, accepting the proposal was easy.”

“What circumstances?” Rodai asked, having noticed the exchange.

“All in good time, Papa,” Tyria said, patting his hand. “The point is, I was being stubborn. I can admit that. Pallidus has been nothing less than a perfect gentleman to me the entire time I’ve been here. He’s never pushed me or pressed the issue. He is an honorable man, and you should count yourself lucky to have him as a son-in-law.” She point her fork around the table at Viribus and Genus. “That goes for them as well.”

“Thank you, Tyria, that’s very kind,” Genus said gratefully, and Viribus nodded his head in agreement.

“Even still,” Rodai said seriously. “After the meal is concluded, I believe I would like to have a meeting with the three of you and your father. There are things we must discuss.”

“Very well,” Pallidus replied.

After breakfast was over, Pallidus and his brothers took Rodai and Coll to greet Zinzo. Seelia and Aralie were left with the brides so that they could visit with each other before it was time to make ready for the ceremony.

“I can’t believe the three of you actually agreed to this,” Aralie breathed.

“It wasn’t an easy decision for any of us, I can assure you,” Fawn said.

“Please, you’ve been in love with Viribus since day one,” Gale scoffed.

“That’s not true!” Fawn shot back. “He scared me half to death when I first met him. I actually fainted.”

“She did. I was there,” Tyria said.

“Do you… Do you truly love them? All of you?” Aralie asked.

“Yes,” Fawn said. “Viribus is the kindest, gentlest man I’ve ever met, despite how fearsome he looks. He’s always been so sweet to me and the people down here love him. When Pallidus is king, Viribus will take over as Captain of the Guard and be Pallidus’s right hand. I’m so proud of him.”

“Genus is my equal,” Gale stated simply. “I genuinely didn’t think that person existed, but he proved me wrong. We agree on most things, and the things we don’t, we have healthy debates about. He’s one of the few people who doesn’t push my buttons and rile me up. I’m at ease with him. Comfortable. Talking to him is like talking to myself.”

“Pallidus is a leader,” Tyria said. “We’re partners. We work in tandem with each other. When he becomes king and I his queen, we will rule as if he is the right hand and I the left. Our people come first for both of us, and we are of one mind on the best ways to cultivate a healthy, thriving kingdom. I used to think I could rule alone, and that may have been true in Suida. But in Cavernae, we need each other. The country would suffer if either of us stepped away.”

Aralie listened intently, not interrupting, and when they finished, she smiled.

“Well,” She said. “I’m satisfied. I must wait for your father to return and see what his thoughts are, but I am happy for my children.” She reached out and pulled the three of them into an embrace. “I couldn’t have wished for a better outcome. If you are happy, then your foolish mother is also happy.”

Rodai and Coll returned at lunchtime, though Zinzo and the princes had gone to prepare for the wedding. Apparently Rodai had been working out terms, though he refused to elaborate on what they were. Rodai, Coll, Seelia, and Aralie had been given clothes to wear for the ceremony and left to get dressed.

A legion of servants came to help Tyria, Fawn, and Gale get ready for the wedding. Hair done, dresses on, make-up applied, the servants then vacated to give the princesses a moment of contemplation.

“No backing out now, is there?” Fawn said.

“Would you want to?” Gale asked skeptically.

“Of course not,” Fawn replied with a sniff. “But I can’t deny that I am rather nervous.”

“Are you sure that’s not morning sickness?” Tyria asked.

Fawn laughed. “Could be. I want to marry Viribus more than anything.”

“Is it moving yet?” Tyria asked, nodding at Fawn’s belly.

Fawn shook her head and laid a hand on her stomach. “Too soon to feel, even for me. Viribus and I talked a lot about it with the court physician. Viri’s so happy.”

“I’m… really sorry, Fawn,” Tyria said. “It wasn’t fair that you and Viribus were punished because of me. I deeply regret that.”

Fawn pulled her older sister into a hug. “It’s all right, Tyria. Everything is as it should be. There’s no time to hold grudges. We all have a lot of work ahead of us.”

“Your Highnesses,” A voice from the door said softly. Lio, Fawn’s handmaid, was beckoning them. “It’s time.”

Taking each others’ hands, they stepped out into the corridor and were led to the Great Hall.

The entire hall was decorated with jewels and gemstones, making it glitter like starlight. Banners representing both the House of Suida and the House of Cavernae lined the walls.

Emperor Zinzo and King Rodai stood at the head of the hall on the throne dais, their queens by their sides. Coll and Seelia stood at the foot of the dais to one side. An altar with wine and water, as well as chalices and the boxes that contained the wedding bands, was positioned in front of the dais. And in front of that stood the princes.

Pallidus looked as majestic as ever. He wore all black with gold embellishments and a military overcoat festooned with medals. As prim and proper as he appeared most of the time, Tyria had no doubt that he had earned every single one of those medals on the field. His hair was pulled back into a tight horse tail at the nape of his neck, and it looked like his horns had been polished. He had forgone wearing his usual silver chains between them. He instead wore a crown on his head to represent his status as first in line to the throne. In the top buttonhole of his coat, he wore a red rose.

Viribus was dressed much nicer than normal; he tended to wear rather plain clothes due to his carving and painting work. Today, he wore a close-fitted purple brocade doublet and black trousers. He had a half-cape slung over one shoulder and fastened under the opposite arm. His normally messy short hair was sleek and fell in ringlets around his ears. Pinned to his doublet was a large black rose.

Genus stood wearing a tunic with silver thread woven into the black fabric which had embroidered depictions of constellations along the neck and sleeves. His messy braid was down and was brushed shiny, hanging loose around his shoulders. His white breeches ended at the knee, letting his polished hooves show prominently. His antlers had small, pink roses made of crystal apparently growing out of them.

All three of them were wearing swords, which they drew as their brides approached and lay at the princesses’ feet. The sisters stepped carefully over the blades and joined the men at the altar, who still knelt before the women, heads bowed. Each woman lay a hand on the head of their betrothed, who rose and took the hand, leading them to the altar.

“On this day,” Zinzo said. “We join together three sons of Cavernae and three daughters of Suida, and unite our kingdoms henceforth, until time is undone.”

As Zinzo spoke, each of the six standing at the altar took a ring from the boxes in front of them and dropped them into the three chalices, two each.

“The wine represents the blood of our people,” Zinzo said, and each man took the wine bottles provided and poured the wine into the chalices over the rings. “We drink the wine to remember that the blood of our people also flows within ourselves. For our blood, we shelter and provide.”

The women took the chalice and let the men drink from their hands, then the process was reversed.

“The water represents the purity of our pledge and the prosperity of our land.” The women poured water into the chalices over the rings, rinsing them. “We drink the water to remember that our bones belong to the land. For our land, we fight and protect.”

This time, the men let the women drink first, and then drank themselves. When the chalices were empty, the rings were tipped out onto a cloth to pat-dry.

“The ring is a blessing bestowed upon you by your love and companion. Present the rings.”

In Suida, the men presented the rings first, but in Cavernae, it was the women. Tyria took Pallidus’s ring and asked, “Do you accept my blessing?”

“I accept,” Pallidus said with a wide smile. “And I will treasure it for as long as my heart beats in my chest. Do you accept my blessing?”

“I accept,” She replied. “Until the ground gives way to water beneath my feet.” And they exchanged rings.

Fawn picked up Viribus’s ring and asked, “Do you accept my blessing?”

“I accept,” Viribus said, laying his other hand on her cheek. “Joyfully, impatiently, and with immense gratitude. Do you accept my blessing?”

“I accept, with the hope that our love lights our path for eons to come.”  

Then it was Gale’s turn. “Do you accept my blessing?” She asked Genus.

Genus grinned. “I accept, and I will hold it precious to me it until every star in the night sky burns itself out. Do you accept my blessing?”

“I accept, until the moon falls to the earth and the sun shines at night.”

“A blessing is a gift,” Zinzo continued as Genus slid the final ring on Gale’s finger. “A kingdom is a home. Both must be given the respect it deserves for it to flourish. By my power as Emperor of Cavernae, I pronounce you married and family. Go forth and live with your blessings, may they be many.”

There was a cheering, and the newlywed couples kissed each other enthusiastically.

A banquet followed immediately afterward. The ceremony itself had been a private affair between the royalty involved, but the afterparty had music and dancing with members of Cavernae’s social elite. The Conqueror King, the girls’ grandfather, was also somehow there, and it was the first time they had ever seen him nervous.

Tyria and Gale danced with their grooms for most of the evening, and though Fawn danced one or two songs with Viribus, he was more concerned with her taking it easy and resting, watching her like a hawk for any sign of sickness or discomfort. Since being reunited with her, he refused to leave her side unless absolutely necessary.

Each of the girls had a dance with their father, and Rodai asked again if they were happy. They all three assured him that this was what they wanted. He apologized again tearfully, and they soothed him. Coll also had a dance with each of them, asking a similar question, and they just laughed and told him to worry about himself. He was about to be a king.

He blanched at the thought. Tyria had a year to come to terms with the fact that she wouldn’t be taking up the reins in Suida, but for Coll, it was a brand new concept that he, quite frankly, wasn’t ready for.

As the evening wore on, Zinzo called for silence.

“I know that the past year has been difficult for both my sons and their brides,” He began. “It was a year of uncertainty, compromise, and anxiety. Despite all of this, these young women,” He gestured broadly at the sisters. “Have made my sons very happy. As a king, I am pleased that my country is in good hands, but as a father, I find joy in my sons’ joy.

“Whatever it may have seemed, it was never my intention to prevent my new daughters from seeing their family. I will set up a portal for them to move between Cavernae and Suida so that they may stay in contact with their above-ground home.”

There was a pleasant murmuring throughout the crowd, and the entire Suida family breathed a sigh of relief. That was something the sisters had been worried about.

“Lord Father!” Tyria burst out suddenly. “We are truly humbled by your generosity and consideration for our family. But… if I could impose on your benevolence for a moment and make a request on behalf of your sons?”

The genial smile on Zinzo’s face disappeared and he regarded her less than curious neutrality.

“Tyria, what are you doing?” Pallidus hissed. “Whatever you’re planning, I don’t think now is the time.”

“I know what you would ask,” Zinzo said with a hint of warning in his voice. “And I’m afraid the answer is no.”

“But, Lord Father--”

“The answer is no!” Zinzo shouted, and the hall fell silent. After a moment, he regained his composure and said to his guests, “Please, continue,” and exited the room.

Gathering her courage, Tyria made to go after him.

“Tyria!” Pallidus called after her.

“No,” Fawn said. “She’s right about this. Gale, let’s go.”

Gale nodded and followed Fawn.

“Are you crazy?” Genus asked at their disappearing backs.

“Oh, sod it!” Viribus said, chasing after the three. “Come on! They’re our wives now. We have to support them, even when they do stupid things.”

Sharing a grimace between them, his brothers had no choice but to follow.

“Lord Father!” Tyria called out in the side hall adjacent to the Grand Hall.

“You will not change my mind,” Zinzo said stubbornly.

“Please!” Gale chimed in. “You already know that Genus is sun-immune and Viribus goes out at night to collect supplies for his models. He may be as well!”

“What of Pallidus?” Zinzo asked. “My visions are very rarely wrong. I saw one of my sons burned. I will not put any of my children at risk, most especially my heir!”

“If your visions are always correct, then there are only two outcomes,” Pallidus interjected. “Either this outcome is set in stone and no amount of your safe guarding will stop it, or it can be changed. If that’s so, precautions can be taken, arrangements can be made, protections can be put into place.”

“I won’t hear another word on the matter,” Zinzo said, beginning to walk away.

“Do you really believe I will uphold this inane rule of yours when I am king?” Pallidus asked evenly. The other five looked at him in surprise. It was either very brave or very stupid of Pallidus to openly challenge his father’s will.

“That’s still years away, boy,” Zinzo growled.

“Perhaps,” Pallidus replied. “Even still, I will be changing a number of things. Specifically your decision not to trade with the surface.”

“And what would you know of about this?” Zinzo asked.

“Plenty,” Pallidus said neutrally. “During the time I believed Tyria wouldn’t marry me, I discussed it at length with Mother. She explained to me that, while it may seem our country is self-sustainable, in reality, we are unable to grow our own crops underground. There is not enough sunlight or water down here to sustain crops for the entire empire, and magical plants have no nutritional value. Mother has told you this countless times and begged you to open trade with humans on the surface, and I was shocked to learn that you continue to insist on only trading with non-human farmers, of which there are few, to the detriment of our empire’s population. As a result, many of our citizens have immigrated to dangerous places on the surface just to feed their own families. This puts our people at risk.”

“The day to day activities of the population is not a king’s responsibility,” Zinzo said, waving this away. “That is the queen’s duty.”

“Precisely,” Pallidus continued. “Which means your ban on trading is not only ill-advised, but not your judgment to make.”

Zinzo puffed up and took a deep breath to rage at his eldest son when Tyria spoke up. “Trade with Suida!”

Zinzo blew out his breath unformed. “What?”

“Our kingdoms are now bound through marriage, right? You now have a treaty with Suida, which makes our country part of your empire and would afford your citizens the protection of the crown. Trade with our country. We can even establish safe colonies for non-human immigrants. Coll and Pallidus can work out the details. Then, when he becomes king of Suida and Seelia takes up my grandfather’s country, the trading reach widens to my grandfather’s empire. You gain the advantage of a large export in all sorts of goods from the surface and gains the protection of the surface empire and the surface gains the protection of the underground. It’s a completely advantageous situation for both our kingdoms.”

Zinzo stared at Tyria, his jaw working and his brow furrowed. He couldn’t deny that this was an excellent bargain.

Fawn asked, her hand on her belly. “Let your sons go with us to our castle when we go. They so desperately want to experience the surface for themselves. Surely some compromise can be reached?”

Zinzo folded his arms and stared at the floor, thinking hard.

“Fine,” Zinzo said finally. “You may go, but you must first so something for me.” He pointed at Pallidus when he said this.

“Anything, Father,” Pallidus said, trying hard to keep the smile off his face in case this was some trick.

“Provide me an heir. Then you and your brothers may see the surface.”

“That’s all?” Fawn said in relief. “That’s already in motion.”

“Not you,” Zinzo clarified. “Them.” He pointed again at Pallidus and Tyria. “Pallidus is crown prince, and therefore the duty of providing an heir falls to him. When the heir is born, then he may make the decision of whether or not to go to the surface. Let him decide when it is his own child’s fate he must consider.”

Pallidus turned to Tyria and took her hands. “It’s sooner than we planned, but we always knew we’d have to produce an heir. Are you agreeable to this?”

Tyria nodded. “I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you see the sunset for the first time.”

Pallidus smiled and kissed her.

Tyria was pregnant by the time Fawn gave birth to Viribus’s first child, a girl they named Erinda. The little one had her mother’s features but her father’s coloring, right down to the solid black eyes and little nubs where her horns would grow in. Viribus was a sniveling mess when his tiny daughter was first laid in his arms. Once he cried himself out, he took the baby through the castle, showing her to every person who passed him by, loudly declaring how beautiful she was, only returning to Fawn when the baby began to squawk from hunger.

Fawn’s family had come for the birth, and they welcomed the baby happily. There was some side-glances among the human relations about just how soon this birth had taken place after the wedding, but thankfully, no one said anything to embarrass the new parents.

Peach the rescue pup became Erinda’s best friend and refused to leave her side. His favorite thing to do was to nose her toes to make her laugh. Viribus was enchanted by Eri’s laugh and would drop whatever he was doing to listen. Erinda could often be found in Viribus’s arms, regardless of time of day.

Tyria gave birth to a healthy boy the following spring, named Zin for his grandfather. Unlike Eri, Zin took almost completely after his father, though he lacked horns and had human-like blue eyes instead of solid red. Pallidus was less of a hands-on father than Viribus, but he enjoyed holding Zin while he slept. He told Tyria that he found the warmth, weight, and the thump of his son’s heartbeat calming.

With their siblings now parents, Gale and Genus were often asked when they would start a family. They just shook their head, smiled, and said they already had plenty of family.

“Besides,” Genus said. “We’re expanding the crown’s research and sciences department. That’s plenty of work on it’s own without adding a kid to the mix.”

Gale would nod in agreement. “We don’t have the time or inclination for children, and I doubt we ever will. We’ll leave that to our brothers and sisters. Coll and Seelia are expecting now, after all. Our siblings seem perfectly happy to have children so that we don’t have to.”

The sisters and their children went to Suida often, and Coll often came back with them. He and Pallidus became fast friends. One could find them engaged in a hearty debate about statesmanship or battle strategies. It did the sisters’ hearts well to know that the bond between the kingdoms was not only forged by marriage but also in friendship.

Coll had assisted in the safe integration of immigrants from Cavernae to the surface. Many of them had lived underground all their lives, so it took some getting used to. A market was set up in the shadow of the castle where both human and non-human vendors could put up their stalls. Cavernae sent guards for protection and Suida sent back food, cloth, and other supplies that were hard to come by in the underground.

The day finally came when Zinzo begrudgingly allowed his sons to accompany the sisters to their castle in Suida. A portal had been created inside the inner sanctum of the castle, a sort of  panic room with no windows, where the three would be safe from sunlight. Protective coverings had also be added to the windows out the outer levels, just in case.

“Are you ready?” Tyria asked Pallidus.

“I don’t know,” He said. “I’ve thought about this day for years, but now that it’s here, I’m a little anxious.”

The brothers and their bride stood in the shadow of the covered courtyard just beyond Tyria’s rose garden. There had been a time when Tyria believed she’d never see this place again. That felt like a hundred lifetimes ago now.

“Don’t worry, brother,” Viribus said. “If we are affected by the sun, it might not be so bad. And there are precautions we can take. And look,” He pointed out to the garden and the field, where the flowers blew around in the wind. “Even from here, it’s beautiful. Better than the mirrors ever conveyed.”

“True,” Pallidus replied. “Well, we already know Genus is safe. Shall we do this together, my brother?”

Viribus clapped a huge hand on his brother’s shoulder, making him stumble for a moment, and said, “Yes. Let’s do it.”

“Good luck,” Genus said, holding Eri on his hip.

As one, the two brothers stepped out into the light. At first, nothing happened, and the group let out an exclamation of relief, until Pallidus hissed and jumped back into the shadow. The skin on his left side, where the sun had been shining, was reddened.

“Oh, no!” Tyria exclaimed, fussing over Pallidus. “Does it hurt much? Will it scar?”

“No, my dear, it was like being scalded. It was shocking, but it did no real damage. If I were to have stood there for another ten minutes, then we might have to worry about serious injury.” He looked over at his brother. “Viribus, how do you fare?”

Viribus looked at his hands. “I seem to be fine.”

“I’m so sorry, darling,” Tyria said sadly, placing a hand on Pallidus’s cheek. “You must be so disappointed.”

Pallidus smiled and took her hand, kissing it. “Not at all. I’m on the surface for the first time in my life, looking out over a field of green grass and a blue sky with the people I love best in the world. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Pallidus is right,” Viribus said, taking Eri back from Genus. “We have everything we ever wanted, more than we ever hoped to have.”

Genus nodded. “We should be thanking our father, you know. If it wasn’t for his foresight, we might never--”

Gale put a hand over his mouth. “Honey, don’t ruin it.”

He chuckled and pulled Gale close.

Tyria, with Zin in her arms, snugged into Pallidus’s side. The family stood there, babies cooing, birds singing, wind blowing through the leaves, as the sun began to set on a brand new world. A world they would build together.

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