The party was more subdued by now. Several people had departed; others had gone outside to walk along the orchard. Their voices echoed along the rows of trees while the light of two moons overhead shone down on them.
Grace leaned over the balcony, looking up at the sky, her face illuminated by the moonlight. "It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?" She looked to her right. "Albix?"
He had left her side and now stood by the curtain, looking between the slight gap. Grace sidled up next to him. "I never figured you for a people watcher." At the sight of his drawn features, her mouth turned down.
"My brother." The two words were filled with sadness. "He is here."
"Really?" She moved towards the curtain and pulled a handful of drapery aside. "I'd like to meet him. I'll bet he has all sorts of stories-"
He held one hand up. "Please. Stay." She dropped the curtain and stood there, frozen by the pain on his face. "Our relationship was never close, and from what I saw on his face, I'm pretty sure he still holds the grudge our Father doesn't." Albix walked over to the railing and leaned on it.
Grace put her arm around him and pointed at the sky. "See that?" He followed her gaze to where the two moons hung overhead, twin curves in the sky. "Crescents. As though the heavens are happy with us." She leaned on his arm, and they watched the sky together.