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Kaddar is scheduled to return from Amar two weeks after her eighteenth birthday, and feels a little guilty that he hasn't sent her anything, rebellion or not.

The last day before he has to leave, Kaddar goes to the marketplace, and wonders how he's supposed to search for gifts for her. Zaimid is equally clueless, and points out a selection of rather tempting nightgowns in a corner stall. Kaddar thinks that he rather likes the red and black one, but then he realizes that Kalasin might not feel the same way.

They wander around the east marketplace for the whole evening, looking for things for her. The jewelry is rather cheap, the clothes are somewhat odd, and the perfume smells funny. Despaired, Kaddar considers giving up and just giving her a hug and a kiss for her birthday.

At long last, they find a part of the market that isn't so hopeless, after all. They decide to split up, and meet at the hat stall in an hour. Zaimid returns with an assortment of brightly colored sheer scarves and veils, made out of surprisingly good quality fabric, and a set of charmed jewelry, rumored to bring good luck to the wearer. The charms are modeled after mystical and mythological figures, and the necklace has celestial patterns on it.

Kaddar brings bangles in silver, gold, and glass, earrings in thin, delicately wrought silver and sapphires. He manages to find a nice blue salvar, and strings of brilliant jewels that would look beautiful in her hair.

After some conference, they decide on the jewel strings, the earrings, the charm necklace, and a few of the scarves and veils, all topped off by a bouquet of marigolds and jasmine. Kaddar feels satisfied with himself, and as he carefully packs away her gifts among his things, he thinks that she had better like them, late or not.

Kaddar is surprised to realize that he's nervous when he gives them to her, and that the nervousness only increases as she smiles over her gifts quietly.

"Well?" he asks, at last, unable to contain his impatience.

Kalasin finishes clasping the necklace, and beams at her reflection in the mirror. Kaddar has to admit that it looks lovely on her; the earrings even more so. "They're late," she informs him, crossing her arms, but he can see the hint of mischief in her reflection.

"I am well aware of that," the emperor responds, moving to stand behind her. "Aside from my being inconsiderate and unpunctual, what else do you think?"

Kalasin pouts. "You took away the rest of my speech." She reaches across and drapes the red veil, shot through with silver threads, over her shoulders. "But aside from that? I love them." She reaches up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and stands on the tips of her toes to give him a quick kiss.

Kaddar feels an irrational desire to smile back at her, but stifles it by straightening her veil. "Better late than never, I figured."

She takes his hand in hers, and pauses, struggling with what she wants to say. "Thank you, I suppose."

"You're welcome," he replies automatically, and they're left standing in the middle of her room a little awkwardly. "So."

"So?"

Kaddar steps toward the door, her hand still in his. "Walk with me?"

She hesitates a moment, before smiling again. "Did I just hear a request?"

"It's part of your belated birthday present. Don't get used to it."

"Well, because you asked so politely. But only because of that." Kalasin slips her arm through his, and as they walk through the deserted hallways of the Imperial Palace, she wonders if they've changed.

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