New Faces, New Friends

'Really? Just bad?'

'There we go.'

=She's not wrong though, milord. Are you sure it's a good idea to bring them both back home?=

'I can't keep them cooped up in the library forever...that and I don't want them influencing Jasper and Janice.'

<=Fair enough.=>

'Besides, they might prove useful to the clan...maybe.'

...

"You know, as much as I love receiving your letters, it's significantly sweeter being by your side."

"Oh you!"

As the mid-afternoon sun beamed down on Stone Claw City, a couple of young lovers were walking down one of its avenues while enjoying the desert heat...as absurd as that sounded.

This particular couple was the First Mistress of the Zhen Clan, Zhen Yue, and her soon-to-be-husband, Prince Santiago Ecaredies.