"Well, Nawat certainly is a nice young man-crow," said a woman in her mid-twenties as she gently burped her baby.

"You know, when Ali was a baby, I never imagined her getting married to a bird," her short, red-headed companion said wryly.

"I'm not discounting anything when it comes to my babes, Alanna. I don't even know that they'll decide to be two-leggers when they're grown."

The woman called Alanna grinned and stroked the cheek of the restless baby next to her.

"I thought Sarra already married Raoul before we came."

"She's right, Daine," said a tall man with long dark hair.

He came up behind the curly-haired woman named Daine and put his arms around her, giving the baby a peck on the nose.

"He's so sweet with her."

Daine smiled as she remembered her two-year-old's play wedding.

A man in the simple breeches and shirt of a commoner walked up to the group. "Your luggage is stowed and we are set to sail in five minutes," he said and was off.

Alanna sighed and turned to look over the bay they were anchored in.

"These ginger pills George found better work…"

"Or what, lass? You'll puke the whole way back?" came the voice of George from behind Alanna.

"Goddess, George, don't be sneaking around like thief," said Alanna as she shoved her husband.

George smirked and rested his hand on the small woman's back.

"The pills will work. The Yamani have used them for ages. Come on, let's go below deck and unpack," he said suggestively.

"Yes, let's 'unpack' before I have a chance to become sea sick," said Alanna with a smile and a poke in George's side as she headed to the stairs to go below deck.

"Guess that just leaves us," said Numair, leaning in for a kiss from Daine.

The baby let out a yell and Daine laughed as her lips met her husband.

"We better go below, too, and rescue Thom from Sarra."

"Why?" asked Numair, using Sarra's current favorite word.

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Oh, just hold Rikash, master mage," Daine said as she handed her baby to Numair and headed down the stairs.

Numair looked at her retreating form and then to Rikash who studied him curiously.

"Things are more interesting with mommy," Numair said as he began to walk to the stairs.

"Bah," was all Rikash had to say.