"I know." Sometimes it felt like it might be, though.

The late-morning sun was high in the sky as Quinn followed Linnea and climbed into a carriage outside the castle. Thomas lifted Emma, Alice, and Sarah in with them before he latched the door and re-secured the garland of flowers that hung from the outside. They watched as he walked up to the next carriage and climbed inside to sit down next to William. Rebecca and Howard sat across from them.

A long line of identical carriages, all drawn by white horses, stretched out before and behind them. At the very end of the line were two very large enclosed carriages. These were white, with elegant silver trimming, and heavy purple curtains that covered the windows. The first carriage would carry Simon, the groom, and his parents, the King and Queen of Eirentheos.

Inside the very last carriage, already hidden from view, were the bride, Evelyn, and her parents, who would escort her to the wedding dais.

Quinn felt self-conscious, riding amongst the royal children, but Stephen and Charlotte had been insistent that she was welcome among them, that she need not ride further forward in one of the carriages that carried extended family, mostly people she didn't know.

All at once, the carriages began their procession forward, winding through the front grounds of the castle before passing through the grand stone archway onto the main street of the capital city.

The stone road that stretched between the castle and the church was lined on either side with long garlands of white and purple flowers. Throngs of people stood behind the garlands, waving and cheering. Most of the quaint, stone-and-wood houses had been decorated for the festivities as well. The whole city seemed to have been covered in flowers and purple and silver banners.

Alice sat quietly, her hands folded across the deep purple folds of her dress, but Emma and Sarah both had difficulty staying still. After twice returning the toddler to her seat, and watching her nearly fall as she stood to look over the side of the moving carriage, Linnea gave up and pulled Sarah onto her lap.

Emma, though old enough to know to stay in her seat, was a constant blur of motion. She bounced and kicked her feet, and her head darted from side to side so quickly that it made Quinn laugh. Emma had to see everything. After a few minutes, she realized that the bouquet of exquisite purple and white flowers Emma was holding might not survive until the wedding, so she reached out and took it.

The little girl looked up at Quinn, appropriately abashed, and settled down in her seat.

Linnea raised her eyebrows and chuckled at her little sister. "What do you think? Two minutes?" she asked Quinn.

Quinn snickered. There was entirely too much to see to expect the inquisitive Emma to sit still for a whole two minutes. "Less," she said.

It was much less.

Fortunately for the little girls, the ride through the city to the massive church was short. One by one the carriages wound their way through the crowds of people lining the city streets and stopped at the bottom of stone steps that had been draped with a purple carpet. Quinn accepted help down from a tall guard who was decked out in a full, intricate purple uniform. She recognized the circular royal crest over his heart.

William and Thomas came up to meet Quinn and Linnea. Thomas lifted Sarah into his arms, while Linnea took Emma's hand and William took Alice's. The Rose siblings, plus Howard and Quinn climbed the steps and entered the doors together.

Once inside, the church was nothing like Quinn had been expecting. The sanctuary was an enormous circle with three identical entrances. Each entrance opened onto a wide aisle that led down to the center platform. Most of the curved pews were already filled, save for the first few rows in two of the three sections. She followed Linnea and Thomas down the aisle, her cheeks turning pink when she realized they intended her to sit with them in the second row.

In the section to the right of where she sat with the Rose children, sandwiched between Alice and Emma, she recognized some of Evelyn's siblings, whom she had met two nights before at a formal dinner and dance. She smiled at the sudden sense of familiarity the bride's family in one section, the groom's in another. Not everything about this wedding would be different from one on Earth.

She glanced over at the third section, which was packed to overflowing several more rows of people were packed into the space behind the pews, prepared to stand for the entire ceremony. The tall, wooden doors to that entrance had already been closed.

Suddenly, an enormous purple-and-silver banner dropped over the entrance Quinn had just come through, while at the same time, a curtain of purple and white flowers there must have been thousands of them strung together to create the effect closed over the remaining entrance. A hush fell over the crowd.

Though she hadn't seen him sitting there hadn't it just been empty? A familiar figure rose from the row in front of Quinn and stepped up onto the platform. It was Alvin. He was cloaked in velvet robes of dark purple, accented with silver trim. On his head was an odd square-shaped purple velvet hat, with three silver tassels dangling from the sides and back.

"Dear Ones," he said, his voice ringing out clearly over the now-silent crowd. "We have gathered here together today to celebrate a momentous occasion. The joining of two who have declared their love for and commitment to one another, and who have chosen to seal that bond in the name of the Maker is a monumental undertaking, one whose importance cannot be overestimated. The future of any people, of any kingdom, lies in the hearts of those who come together and create a family. You are here today to witness the combining of two families through the power of love, and from that, the birth of a new family.

"It is from the union of these two souls, so dear to the Maker, that the future of your kingdom will spring forth."

He paused, and smiled at the crowd. "And what a glorious future it looks to be!

His pause was longer this time, and the already-quiet crowd somehow grew quieter, almost as if they'd stopped breathing.

"Every morning, the sun rises in the east, in celebration of the new day and the new chance the Maker has granted us. It is a precious reminder of all he has given to us already, and all of his promises to come. From the east, we usher in a new life!"

At these words, the curtain of flowers parted in the middle, revealing Evelyn, resplendent in a flowing purple gown, a silver tiara atop her dark, rippling curls. A low note rose within the crowd, and soon grew into a beautiful melody as the entire cathedral filled with song, a thousand voices singing in unison while Evelyn's parents led her slowly down the aisle.

The voices, raised in celebration of sunrise, and the one who provides it, tapered off slowly, ending just as the bride reached the platform. Her parents gripped her hands tightly, tears running freely down both of their faces. Evelyn turned and kissed her father, and then it was her mother's turn. Together, they wrapped their daughter in a fierce hug, an unbreakable circle. When they finally parted, the tears had ended. Each parent took one of their daughter's hands, and they walked together up onto the dais.

"In the middle of the day comes a point when the sun is at its zenith. It is the time when the sun's heat is strongest, often the most trying and difficult time, but also the time that the most light and life emanate from it. If we can endure this fire, it will refine us, strengthen our crops and our souls, it will make us who we were meant to be.

We must take this new life, and bring to it the strength to endure, to change, to grow, to become something greater than what it started as."

The great purple curtain opened, and there was Simon. He stood one step ahead of his parents. A long, purple robe trimmed with silver fur hung from his shoulders, the heir's crown was atop his head. His face was solemn at first, but as he looked down at the platform where his bride stood between her parents, he broke into the biggest smile Quinn had ever seen.

It was with that same feeling of joy that the crowd broke into song again, this time a song of strength, of trial, of triumph. It ended as Simon reached the platform with his parents. King Stephen laid a hand on his oldest son's shoulder, and Simon turned to face him, and then knelt low in front of him. As he knelt, his father pulled a delicate silver circle from within his robes. From where she sat, Quinn could see tiny purple gems embedded in the silver.

King Stephen placed the circle on his son's head; it rested perfectly just inside the heir's crown. When the band was in place, Simon rose, and his father wrapped him in a hug before turning him over to Charlotte.

There were no tears on Charlotte's face. Her gray eyes were alight with joy and pride as she embraced her son. The happiness emanating from Simon and his parents was so obvious and overwhelming that Quinn could feel it rising up in her own chest. She glanced over at the rest of the Rose children. Even tiny baby Hannah seemed to be grinning.

King Stephen and Queen Charlotte took the hands of their first-born son, their heir, and led him up the steps where his bride stood, waiting for him. They paused as Simon knelt before Evelyn and kissed her fingers tenderly. Then they and Evelyn's parents walked to the back of the platform, where four cushioned chairs were waiting for them four seats of honor where they could witness their two families becoming one.

* 13 *.

The Reception

THOMAS SMILED AND WAVED as the procession of carriages wound its way back from the church to the castle. The streets were swollen with well-wishers and friends. Simon and Evelyn's wedding ceremony had been beautiful, and Thomas could not remember when he had been more proud of his oldest brother. Evelyn was a kind, intelligent woman, and she and Simon appeared to be an excellent match. He couldn't wait for the chance to get to know his new sister better.

He had been looking forward to the wedding and the party afterward for ages. He'd been especially excited since he had known that Quinn was going to be there. Now that it was here, though, he was worried that he was going to be too distracted to enjoy it.

Lily's pendant sat in his pocket, feeling heavier with each moment that passed. She and Graeme had not been among the massive number of out-of-town guests that had been arriving at the castle in the last few days. He had managed to keep it at the back of his mind until they weren't at the dinner party the night before last. All of the excuses he had been making to himself about how the necklace could have ended up in the market stall no longer made any sense. If he didn't see her at the wedding party...

He hadn't wanted to share his concerns with his parents or older brothers before the wedding, still holding on to the hope that he would find her at the party today and there would be a reasonable explanation.

He would have talked to William about it, but his brother was being so ... pig-headed about the whole Quinn thing that he had barely been around. He had been spending most of his days in the main medical clinic in the city, though one morning he had gotten up early and headed all the way to Mistle Village without telling anyone where he was going.

Thomas had tried to reason with him, but William was adamant that they were putting the girl in danger by "encouraging" her to be here. He'd rolled his eyes at that one Quinn was fine. William said that the girl didn't know what she was getting herself into, straddling the fence between the two worlds and that she was going to regret it.

Thomas had stopped listening to William's litany of reasons for limiting his contact with Quinn after about five minutes. His brother might be fooling himself, but Thomas had seen the look on his face when he had realized what Quinn was about to do in that tree. He had also heard the tone in William's voice whenever he mentioned Zander Cunningham which had been unnecessarily often since the first time he had come back from Bristlecone after Quinn's last visit.

No, none of William's behavior had anything to do with protecting Quinn. Even now, sitting beside him, Will's eyes were on the girl in the carriage behind theirs, although he probably didn't even realize it.

Quinn had always thought the back gardens were the most beautiful part of the castle grounds, but today they astounded her. Giant purple and white cloth banners hung over the entire patio area, creating a sort of tent that shaded the party from the sunny day in the places that weren't already protected by the shadows of the many large trees. Long garlands of the exquisite white and purple flowers wound their way around every trunk.

Small round tables dotted the patios, draped in purple and topped with bouquets of pretty white roses. The smell in the air was intoxicating. A small orchestra had begun playing lively music, and the enormous white gazebo was now a dance floor.

The little girls ran off to join the throng of children as soon as their feet touched the ground.

"They're not excited," Quinn said, grinning at Linnea.

"They're just glad to be running around after all of that sitting and trying to be still."

"I know the feeling," said Thomas, coming up behind them. "Ready to dance, Quinn?"

"Nobody's dancing yet," she said, looking up into the empty gazebo.

He shrugged. "Somebody has to be first." He took her hand and started walking toward the steps. She didn't object.

Between Thomas and Linnea, the dancing was going strong in no time. At the dinner party the other night, Quinn had been surprised to realize that she still remembered many of the dance steps she had learned on her first visit. Today, she found that not only was she starting to get good at some of them, but that she was truly enjoying herself.

She partnered with Thomas the most, but she danced with nearly everyone else as well Maxwell, Howard, several cousins she didn't know well, and after dinner, she even took turns with Joshua and Daniel, the next two siblings in line after Linnea. The only person she hadn't danced with was William.

Ever since the day with the tree house, William had been utterly kind and polite to her, but his distance was palpable. He stopped by her room once a day to check on her arm, but always when both Thomas and Linnea were there, and he never stayed for more than a couple of minutes. She hadn't seen him much otherwise. Even the other night at the big dinner party, they had only danced together for a moment during one of the large group dances.

It was getting on her nerves.

She knew he had been upset over the tree house incident. In the short time she had known him, she'd gotten to know him well enough to understand that he reacted this way to things that scared him and were outside of his control, so she had given him some time to calm down. It had been six days, though, and it was time for him to be over it. Quinn would be going back home the day after tomorrow, and she didn't want things to feel this way between them there.

Thomas was exacerbating her edginess. Something was up with him as well, and she couldn't figure out what it was. She didn't think it had anything to do with her when he was spending time with her and Linnea, his abstraction would often disappear for a while. She would see it come back, though, whenever he had time to think. Today, however, the little crease between his eyebrows had grown substantially, and it hadn't faded at all, even as he laughed and danced.

When Thomas finally stepped down from the gazebo and walked over to get a drink, she followed him.

"What's going on?" she asked him.

"What do you mean?" his tone was too innocent.

She shook her head and raised an eyebrow at the same time. Then she waited.

Thomas blinked, surprised for a second before he recovered. "It's nothing, really. I'm just a little distracted."

"By?"

"I've been looking for a cousin of mine, and her family, but they're not here like I expected they would be."

"Oh." She paused, thinking. "You've been distracted all week about your cousin when you didn't know she wouldn't be at the wedding until today?" She frowned, concerned. "I realize it's probably none of my business, and you can tell me if it's not, but are you okay?"

Thomas smiled and put his hand on her shoulder careful to touch only her left shoulder, since the right one still bothered her. "I'm fine. I'll tell you more about it later, but yes, I have been hoping to see Lily all week."

"Lily?" A young man whom Quinn vaguely recognized interrupted their conversation. He was older than Thomas, probably by a few years or cycles or however time was measured here. She wasn't sure exactly who he was, but there was a look in his eyes that made her instantly wary. Thomas quickly positioned himself between Quinn and the newcomer.

"Isn't she still off in Philotheum in one of your brother's little clinic projects? Why would she be here?"

"I'm not following you, Gavin. How would Lily's work in Philotheum have anything to do with whether she would attend Simon's wedding?"

"Are you so sheltered, Thomas, that your father and your older brothers share nothing with you? Even I, lowly 'royal cousin' that I am, have heard the rumors about the accusations the king has leveled against the healers of Philotheum. Lily is one of those healers you really think she would dare to show her face here?"

Thomas stood, unmoving as he processed the words. Quinn remembered Gavin now. The first time she had ever seen him he had been chatting it up with Tolliver at the dinner party she had attended before Hannah's naming ceremony. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of Tolliver. She had no idea what was going on here, but she was certain of one thing already she didn't trust Gavin.

"Really, Thomas, you should spend more time acting like a man. Maybe you wouldn't be so clueless about such important matters." Gavin tilted the last of his drink into his mouth before setting the dirty glass on the table next to the full ones and walking away.

Quinn raised her eyebrows at Thomas.

"I don't know," he said, answering her unspoken question.

"He's lying, you know."

"Well, it's Gavin. Obviously he's lying; I just don't know how much or about which parts."

She sighed. "What can you do about it tonight?"

He reached over and pulled Gavin's glass from the table, walking the two feet to a tray full of used ones. Then he held out his hand to Quinn. "Shall we dance?"

* 14 *.

An Argument

QUINN AWOKE THE NEXT morning before the sun was even up. The strange dreams that frequently plagued her hadn't been a problem when she had first come back to Eirentheos, but a couple of nights ago, they'd returned with a vengeance. She couldn't remember anything about the dream, but she couldn't shake the odd, heavy feeling of it when she woke. It felt like she was forgetting to do something important, or that she was late for something, but she didn't know what.

She lay in bed for a while, trying to fall back asleep, but the harder she tried, the more awake she became. Besides, her arm was starting to ache and itch again, and she was hungry, so she got up and headed into her bathroom to get ready for the day.

This second visit to Eirentheos had turned out very differently than her first. She had spent most of her time here in the castle with the family. She was much more comfortable here than she had ever imagined she could be. Stephen and Charlotte were so welcoming and accommodating; they treated her as if she belonged. Everyone did, except perhaps William.

Once she was dressed, she opened her door and quietly walked down the hall, which was still dark except for the nightlights every few feet along the floor. Across the hall from one of the children's playrooms here in the family's quarters, there was a large common room where members of the family often gathered to spend time together, to chat and play games. This was Quinn's destination, for the room also contained a small kitchen area.

Aside from her own bedroom, the common room was her favorite room in the castle. It was filled with comfortable chairs and couches. Enormous bookshelves held games and hundreds of books. It felt homey in there, and casual, a place where everyone just hung out and laughed a lot.