Disclaimer: I own copies of the Halfblood Chronicles, but I do not specifically own the copyrights or whatever to them. They belong to the wonderful author Mercedes Lackey, and the estate of the fantastic author Andre Norton. I really wish I had discovered her books before she passed away.

Feliciana ran into her room, where her friend and maid, Cadera. "Cady, Father has just informed me that I'm to be married. I'm of the age to do so, and with all the fuss over the Young Lord's Rebellion and Wizards over, he feels it is time."

Cady regarded her friend and 'mistress' calmly. "Well, you have no choice but to obey your father, Lissa."

"But I don't want to get married!" protested Lissa. "Unless I actually like my intended husband and we'd get along. But chances are I'll be married to an old dotard, or some young idiot. And he'll likely treat his slaves the way most elves treat their slaves. I just can't."

"But your father isn't a Great Lord," pointed out Cady. "He's a Lesser Lord, and only has this tiny estate. When you marry, it will likely be to an underling, or the son of an underling, at some large estate, or it will be to the Lord of er-Lord of a similar small estate."

"But that still doesn't reconcile me to marriage!" exclaimed Lissa. "I know Father can't really use magic to force me to a marriage, since I have the iron jewelry, but he can force me in other ways. And my husband-to-be will surely be some person who doesn't see humans the way I do. Father may not abuse his slaves and is somewhat nice to them, but he still doesn't see them as equals, the way I do. I've heard rumors that Lord Kyrtian's family is nice to his slaves, but these rumors might not be real, and even if they were, it doesn't mean I'd be married to him."

"Lissa, please calm down," said Cady. "What if someone other than me heard what you were saying? You'd be in trouble. Though in can rest assured that no one is eavesdropping on us."

Lissa sighed. "Well, Mother told me this morning that Lady Lydiell is to visit this afternoon. She's the mother of Lord Kyrtian and I think she might be looking for a bride for her son."

"Well, if she decides to pick you, your troubles will be over," said Cady. "There has to be some truth to the rumors that her family treats their slaves well, and you might turn out to have something in common with Lord Kyrtian."

Lissa sighed. "If he loves to read, likes animals other than hunting them, and is intelligent."

"He'd have to be," pointed out Cady. "At least in military matters, or he wouldn't have been made commander of the army and defeated the Young Lords."

"True," said Lissa. She was about to say more when there was a knock on the door, and then it opened, revealing an Elven woman dressed in a lovely gown of rose silk.

Cady instantly jumped up from Lissa's bed and took herself to a corner, where she stood silently, head bowed. Lissa gracefully got up from her seat on her bed and with a small curtsey and smile, said, "Good afternoon, my lady."

The lady smiled. "Good afternoon, Feliciana. I am Lady Lydiell. I believe your mother mentioned I was visiting today?"

"She did, Lady Lydiell," responded Lissa. She led the lady to her small sitting room, Cady following at a discreet distance behind.

Once they were settled, Lady Lydiell glanced at Cady and said, "Would not your maid feel more comfortable sitting with us?"

Lissa blushed and murmered, "But humans aren't to sit in our presence unless we order it."

Lady Lydiell gave her a penetrating look. "She was sitting on the bed with you when I entered your room, Feliciana."

Lissa glanced at Cady, who gave her a slight nod and the hand signal that meant she can be trusted. The two of them had invented a series of hand signals several years ago, when Cady had first started working as Lissa's main personal attendant. Lissa turned back to Lady Lydiell and said, "I have heard rumors that you, and your family in general, have, in my father's words, 'cossetted your slaves.' And in my mother's words, have 'treated your slaves better than most elves would.' Is it possible that the rumors are true."

"Yes," answered Lady Lydiell. "My son and I, as well as our underlings, do not abuse our slaves."

"Do you treat them as your equals?" asked Lissa. Lady Lydiell hesitated, and Lissa decided to fully trust her. "Don't worry about my telling anyone. I see humans as my equals, not inferiors, and Cady, my personal maid, is my best friend and closest confidante, my lady."

Lady Lydiell blinked. "I had not expected to come across an elven maiden like you. At best, I hoped to find someone who did not abuse her slaves and would not betray how my family acts."

"My nurses have all been human," replied Lissa. "In fact, Cady was the daughter of one of my nurses, and we spent much of our childhood playing together. When I was thirteen, I was able to make her my personal attendant, where she would have some protection and an easier life. She serves me out of friendship, and her collar has long since been deactivated and is little more than a decorative piece. Her human magics are useful and she uses them for her and my benefit."

Lady Lydiell seemed to make her mind up about something. "I have gone to several bowers, and you are the most promising. The best I could find before was the daughter of an someone's underling who was meek, quiet, obeyed whatever anyone told her, and didn't abuse her two attendants, but didn't treat them as equals either. You are much different from her, Feliciana."

Lissa called Cady over and whispered, "Did you read any of her thoughts?"

"Just the surface thoughts," Cady whispered back. "She wasn't lying about how she treated her slaves, which to her are servants, not slaves. And she does think you are the perfect bride for her son. She thinks you are intelligent, might have a thing or two in common with your son, and won't be a danger to the household. In fact, you'd become an asset."

Lissa nodded and turned to Lady Lydiell. "I do not have any objections to marrying your son at the moment, though I would prefer meeting him beforehand."

Lady Lydiell smiled. "Of course you would, dear. But I'm certain the two of you will like each other." She rose and added, "Now, I have to spend some more time with your mother, then return home and arrange a situation where you can properly meet my son."

Once she had left, Lissa turned to Cady. "Thank goodness for Lady Lydiell. Cady, everything is solved. Father will be pleased to have me married, and I will be with someone who won't be boring, I can probably get along with, and will see humans the way I do."

Cady smiled. "This is wonderful news, Lissa." The two of them went back to Lissa's room to discuss everything that had happened.