"Milady Shardae?"

I turned to the nervous voice. It was coming from a raven shopkeeper nearby. He seemed surprised that I had heard him, and fumbled for a second. I could see his face grow even more nervous when he noticed that Zane had heard him as well, but he quickly gathered his resolved and nodded his greeting. He even made an effort to meet my mate's eyes. It wasn't for long, but it was admirable, and not something most Avians would do.

"Hello," I greeted, taking a look at his wares; He was selling different types of scarves and the like for cold weather. And—to my surprise—melos scarves for Serpiente dancers. I took a moment to try and remember his name. I always made an effort to know the people of my court. It came to me quickly as I recognized him as the young man Eleanor had been eyeing.

"Branden, right?"

He nodded and smiled, "Yes. I'm honoured that you remember it."

I smiled politely, "Was there something on your mind?"

He flushed, "Ah, that was…" He looked around a bit at the court; It was still fairly new, but already Avians and Serpiente were both setting up shops and even walking in the streets together. After a few seconds of looking around, he turned his attention back towards Zane and me, "I just wanted to say thank you. What you and your alaistair have done—Ending the war and combining our people—it's beautiful. Wyvern's court seems like something out of a dream."

My smiled changed, then, from that of a polite monarch, to one with true warmth and happiness. Wyvern's Court was the fruit of Zane's and my hard work and determination for peace.

"We're happy to hear that," Zane spoke up, placing his hand on my shoulder.

Branden's face, which had finally regained it's natural colour, flushed once again at the sight of even such small physical contact, but he recovered quickly, "It's also… You gave us someplace to go. During the war, one could barely expect to live a proper life. I know I'm not the only one to have lost loved ones… But now, we can focus on the things that matter. I may be a humble merchant, but at least now I'm not a humble merchant who'll need to pick up a sword some day."

"I'm glad," I told him, "I hope that none of my people will need to pick up a sword ever again."

He nodded again to both Zane and me, "Well, I think I've kept you long enough. Fly with grace, milady."

"You as well," I responded, leaving his shop with a feeling of warmth in my stomach.

If more people could think like Branden did, our peace would stand a real chance.