Jisa wrapped her arms around Treven's neck and kissed him thoroughly. "It's perfect, Trev!" She pulled back a bit. "How did you know what I wanted?"

He smiled down at her and kissed her nose. "I believe it's part of the whole 'lifebonding' thing, love."

After a long, dry council session about reducing the tax levy on local farmers and protecting fishing rights for Evendim farmers, Jisa had come back to their shared quarters to find a bit of parchment wrapped around a single yellow rose.

Written on the parchment in bold letters was:

You are invited to the Royal Wedding

Of Sir Treven to Lady Jisa

To take place in the Companion's Field barn at the next full moon

Casual dress required.

Please bring gifts (song or food preferred).

Jisa reread the invite and laughed until she doubled over, wheezing. "Lady Jisa! I can't wait for Uncle Van to see this. He'll have a cat about the casual dress."

Treven chuckled, then sobered. "Do you think he's ready to joke about the wedding? He was fairly upset about us running off."

Waving a hand, Jisa dismissed his concerns. "Trust me, Trev. Van has more of a sense of humor than you would think. Plus, he's been, ahh, lighter-spirited these days."

"Stefen." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes…" Jisa trailed off. "He needed a close friend, I guess… I mean, it's all so strange to me. I can Sense that they aren't more than friends, but Vanyel's shields are too thick for me to Feel anything else. And Stefen's frustration is apparent to even the most casual observer. If Vanyel's lighter-hearted, Stefen's been turned into a giant knot of stifled desire."

"Well, maybe the vacation at Forst Reach changed all that. You know, seeing Stefen as a full Bard playing for his family, meeting his parents… he might open up."

"Hmm. Trev, in all these years I've known Van—and better than almost anyone else—he's never taken a lover openly. For the past ten years or so, I'm fairly certain he's had no one at all… not once."

Treven looked shocked. "No one?" He grabbed Jisa's waist. "I can barely take one night alone! But then again, my lady is remarkably beautiful."

His other hand began doing something distracting with the laces of her dress and they forgot all about the dilemma of Vanyel, Stefen, and the royal wedding.

The invitations were set for a very private party; Jisa wanted only her closest friends and a few special fellow Heralds attending the "ceremony." The Circle, of course—her parents wouldn't come, but Savil, Vanyel, Kilchas, Lissandra, Joshe, and Tantras would. A few students from Bardic and Heraldic—Stefen; her fellow Mindhealing trainees Alissa and Hedren. Treven's friends. All in all, about twenty five people.

As soon as word got out that Vanyel, Stefen, and Savil were back at court, Jisa began to prepare the letters, each one wrapped around an unopened yellow rose. She knew Randi would wind up sending Vanyel out again in another few weeks, on some diplomatic mission or another, so she wanted the celebration soon. After all, times are so hard. We need a bit of fun, Treven's right.