CHAPTER 34 The Welcome Home Birthday Party

It had been a long time since Obi and Shirayuki had an excuse to cook for everyone. Zen's birthday party seemed to be a good one. Mitsuhide and Kiki had agreed to bring the drinks: juice for Shirayuki who couldn't hold her alcohol and alcohol for the rest of them. When asked if Ilena drank, Obi had surprisingly said he didn't know. It seemed to them unlikely she drank alcohol, so they were going to bring extra juice just in case.

"This will be the first time for Ilena to eat your food, won't it, Obi?" Shirayuki asked as she slipped her current creation onto a platter.

He deftly flipped the food searing in his pan over the fire. "Yes. I wonder if she likes spicy foods?" The others wouldn't eat it when he made it to his tastes, as he was the only one in the group who really liked it truly hot and spicy. He tried to tone the spice down some for them in what he did cook - except for his favorite dish. "I'll have to make sure Ilena tries a bite of my curry."

"Obi - you'll warn her ahead of time it's spicy, right?" Shirayuki asked worriedly.

"Mmm," he answered noncommittally, pouring the ingredients of a bowl of spices into his pan on top of the vegetables and meat.

"That's mean, Obi," Shirayuki scolded, starting to get her next set of ingredients ready. "Don't fight with her your first night back."

He looked at her innocently as he stirred the liquid sauce into the mixture. "It's not fighting, Mistress. It's...getting to know her better."

"Obi!" Shirayuki brandished her spoon at him.

"I won't fight, I won't." Obi defended himself. He took his food off the flame and placed it into a deep bowl. "There are still many things that I don't know about Ilena. This will be a good opportunity to learn some of them."

"Is she feeling better about us coming?" Shirayuki asked, getting her next pan heating over the flame.

"Some," he answered as he set his dish on the cart they would be taking down with the other prepared dishes on it. He stood up straight, stretching his back. "It is, I think, she's nervous because she hasn't yet been able to relax with us before." He walked back to the cutting table to begin cleaning up, the curry having been his last of several dishes to make.

"Hmm...well, perhaps that's reasonable. But...I think everyone understands that?" Shirayuki flipped her searing meat over, preparing to add a sauce.

"Well, it will also be a good opportunity for her to get to know everyone," Obi said as he carried his cooking utensils and pan to the sink to begin washing them.

As he washed he thought about Ilena and what was next. Getting to know her as a person - her likes and dislikes, her preferences - was as necessary as understanding what her motivations were, if he was to agree to take the final step she was hoping for. After all, if she hated spicy foods and wouldn't let him drink in the house - it would be a sad life to be together that way. He needed to know if there were things that he couldn't live with. At least she didn't snore loudly at night. He knew that much only, it felt like. And, even though she said she loved to watch Master and Mistress, that had been from a distance. If she really couldn't get along with them on a personal level, or even Mister and Miss Kiki, that would be a major problem for Obi. He wondered suddenly if she might be nervous about being with him also, and be considering it a first date.

He laughed at himself. It somehow seemed a little late...or at least backwards. Would their last activity together be finally a date just the two of them? He entertained himself by considering what kind of dates he might take her on, if they ever were able to go on any. Maybe tonight he would ask her what kinds of things she liked to do. "How much time before Ilena can be up from her bed?" Obi asked Shirayuki, having rather lost count due to the battle.

She walked over carrying her dishes to be washed. "Mmm...nine days. She says she wants a bath first thing again, understandably." She smiled at him.

"Understandably," he agreed with her, grinning back. "I look forward to that. Ah! That is why Master set the Lord's Court to be in ten days?"

Shirayuki nodded. "Though I think he should wait just a little longer. It will tire her out, I think, to have her sit up in public so long right away." She looked at Obi. "I hope you'll watch over her carefully there, and if she can't sit any longer you'll find a way to bring her back to rest."

"I'll be sure she's taken care of, Mistress," he promised her.

-o-o-o-

Shirayuki and Obi arrived at Ilena's room right about the same time Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki did. They entered after knocking and pushed the food cart in with them. "Hello, Ilena!" rang out in choruses as they crowded in.

"Welcome, everyone," she smiled at them. "I'm glad you can come tonight."

There was general chaos as Leah and Rio excused themselves and furniture was rearranged to better fit the remaining people and their comfort needs.

When Kiki had put her bottles down on the desk that had been moved into the corner, she walked over to Ilena and embraced her. "Are you home, Miss Kiki?" Ilena asked her.

"I'm home, Ilena" Kiki answered her.

"Welcome home. I'm glad you've come safely." They parted and as Ilena looked into Kiki's eyes, she added, "Thank you."

Mitsuhide took her place. Ilena looked at him warmly but just a bit shyly. "Welcome home Mister Mitsuhide."

"Thank you," he smiled his gentle smile at her that was as warm as any hug. "It's good to be home."

"Thank you for your hard work," she answered and held up her hand, palm up.

Mitsuhide took it lightly, looking at her curiously. She pulled him to her gently, letting him resist if he wanted. He allowed her to pull him close enough that she could speak with him quietly. "Thank you for your concern for Grail," she said to him. "I miss him as much as he misses me, but there's a thing only he's been able to do, and it's not completed yet. When it's done, he'll come to be with me, and we both will be very relieved." She released his hand and smiled gently at him, allowing her pain to show briefly in her eyes.

"Thank you," he said. "It's helpful to know it from yourself."

Zen was standing beside her next. Ilena was a bit surprised to see him there, but recovered quickly enough to say, "Welcome home again...ah...Zen." His eyes smiled. "And, Happy Birthday."

"Thank you, Ilena," he answered.

"I'm afraid that this year I haven't much to give you for your birthday, not being able to get out and pick something for you," she said apologetically, "but if there is a thing I may give you?"

"Yes," he said, and bent down and wrapped his arms around her, "a hug would be very acceptable."

She wrapped her arms around him and held him. Then she whispered in his ear, "Thank you, Master Zen, for keeping your promise."

"Are you content?" he asked her.

"Yes - for now."

He chuckled. "As honest as always." He released her and she let him go, and they smiled at each other.

Shirayuki walked up next to Zen and took his hand. Ilena turned her smile to include her. "It's good to see you together again."

"Thank you for protecting me, earlier today," Shirayuki said to her.

"It's my duty," Ilena said seriously. "There are many things you need to learn, but there are some things you shouldn't have to learn unless you must. ...Or choose to learn," she amended.

"Come and get your plates before it's all cold," called Obi. Everyone moved towards the cart. He appeared next to Ilena with a full plate. "You're sitting up, and you told me you're eating well now, right?"

"Yes, but that seems like an awful lot of food, Obi," she answered him.

He sat on the bed, carefully so he didn't spill the plate. "We'll both eat from it," he said to her. "Mistress and I made it all, so you have to try some of everything."

Ilena's eyes went wide. "You made it? And Mistress?"

Obi grinned. "Yes. It's become somewhat of a tradition for us to make the food for these gatherings."

"What will you drink, Ilena?" Mitsuhide asked as he went to pour glasses for everyone.

"Ah, what is there?" she asked him.

"With dinner, there's juice or wine. There will be a few stronger drinks after dinner."

Ilena considered for a bit. "Let me start with juice for now, thank you."

Obi kept a neutral face. "What do you wish to start with?" he held the fork over the plate.

"Princess Shirayuki's, please."

Obi gave her a bite of one, then ate some himself. He repeated it for each of Shirayuki's dishes, asking her opinion of each as they went, and telling her his own. Ilena praised Shirayuki's cooking and Shirayuki explained that her grandparents had run a tavern and she had learned to cook there. As Obi prepared to give Ilena the first of his creations, she asked him where he had learned to cook.

"Oh, here and there," he answered. "After all, not all of my jobs were from the desk of the underworld. Ah, can you cook?"

Ilena shook her head. "No. My cooking is inedible. Leah has quite despaired of me being able to be a suitable housewife, and has always said that my station would be obvious to anyone who asked me to attempt to be one, even if I should keep my mouth shut."

There were chuckles from everyone in the room. As Obi put the first taste of one of his more mild creations into her mouth, Zen said, "The man you sent as Obi's second, the one we called Grail, he said that you were given laundry to do to as a punishment, though from his description it sounded like it punished them more."

Ilena sighed. "Did he say that? I suppose it was true. Leah only made me do it twice. The second time not only was her shirt darker than when I started, her last pair of socks had holes in them - and she was watching me that time."

As everyone laughed again, Obi asked, "Was it worse the first time?"

Ilena looked at him miserably. "Of course! I had no idea what I was doing, even though she had carefully explained it."

Obi shook his head and gave her the next bite. "Mmm. This is very good, Obi. It's similar to what I would have eaten as a child."

He was pleased. It was one of the ones he was proud of. It was spicier than the first, but he usually ate it even spicier when he made it for himself. Then he put some of his personal curry on the fork. Everyone in the room looked up and watched him.

"You're going to give her some of that?" Zen asked, a warning tone in his voice.

"Of course, Master," Obi answered blandly. "She should try some of everything."

Ilena looked from one to the other, not understanding. "Is there a problem with it?" she asked.

"It's too spicy for the rest of us," Kiki told her warningly. "Obi likes to melt holes in his mouth."

"Oh?" Ilena looked back at him. "Did you by chance bring an orange with you?"

Obi looked at her curiously. "No."

"Then next time, bring one with you, and I won't be afraid to eat with you."

"Are you afraid now?"

"Yes, but I'll eat a bite anyway."

"That's very brave," Shirayuki looked at Ilena with big eyes.

Ilena looked at Obi, not sure she should be trusting him. "Well, but everything else so far has been good. And, it isn't proper to refuse what's been prepared for you."

Zen and Obi both nodded - Zen because that was the way royalty was taught, and Obi because he wanted her to try it.

As Ilena accepted the bite and began to chew, everyone had their eyes on her to see her reaction. "Mmmm... I think...I need to try another bite." She opened her mouth for more. Obi looked at her in shock, much like everyone else in the room. Then he quickly gave her another bite. She chewed it slowly, savoring the texture and flavor. When she was done she nodded. "Yes, this is it. This was my favorite dish in my father's house. Your rendition is very good, Obi. May I have more?"

"You can seriously eat it?" Zen was amazed.

Ilena nodded, looking at him. "Most foods in Selicia are like this. Some of the flavors are just a little different, but I imagine that the seasonings we imported from the northern desert are difficult to obtain here." Everyone shook their heads in wonder. She looked back at Obi and saw his wide grin.

Obi very solicitously leaned in and gave her another bite of his curry. "This is my favorite also," he said. "Everyone else makes me eat this one alone, so I make it to my taste."

Ilena looked surprised. "You have to eat it alone? But it is so good!"

"I think you both must have Selician tongues," Kiki said as dry as usual. "We always wondered why Obi could eat things the rest of us couldn't."

"It is possible," said Ilena. "We are distantly related, after all." She held her mouth open for another bite. Obi had managed to get in a few bites of his own, and he did have to admit it was very good tonight. He almost didn't want to share it, but at the same time he was very pleased she liked it. He gave her the bite she was asking for, then ate a few more himself, ignoring the looks from Mitsuhide and Kiki.

"Just how distantly?" Kiki asked with her eyes narrowed.

"Great grandfather," Obi said briefly as he gave Ilena another bite.

Shirayuki thought about that for a moment. "But, Obi, doesn't that mean you're descended from the royal line of Selicia, then?"

"If it still was the royal line, Princess Shirayuki," Ilena amended. "He has just slightly less a claim to the throne as I do, I think. We are from the same generation, but I come from the line of oldest heirs, save my father. Other than that, either of us could claim the throne, if we wished to press the issue - which I don't. Do you, Obi?"

"Hmm...well, given that I understand what that means now, having followed Master for more than five years now - no, I have no interest."

Shirayuki frowned. "But Ilena, as a Princess of Selicia, don't you have a responsibility to the people?"

"Of course, Princess Shirayuki," Ilena raised an eyebrow at her, "and I take it very seriously. I have many Children in Selicia, quite a number in the castle itself. I've been influencing the current King and many of his court for several years now. He is willing to be molded in ways that benefit the people of Selicia, and he is trying very hard. I've decided, for the time being, if I can help him to be free of his own taskmaster, that the people of Selicia would be much better served by having him be their king than for me, or any other potential rival, to bring the country to civil war again. They are only just now beginning to thrive again, though there is still some prejudice against those who preferred the prior regime, sadly."

"Oh," Shirayuki said faintly.

"Hmmm...Does that mean I have spies in the Selician court, then?" asked Zen.

"Of course," Ilena said matter of factly. "Ah, Obi, are we done eating?" She was looking at the nearly empty plate in his hand. Zen sat bemused, wondering where else he, through her, had spies.

"Can you actually eat more?" Obi asked her, surprised.

"Well, no," she admitted. "Though it was all very good. I'd eat the rest for breakfast, if it will keep. Really, I was wondering if it was time to move on to after-dinner drinks. I would like to hear the stories of everyone's journey."

Shirayuki nodded. "I want to hear, also." She stood up and collected plates, putting them on the cart. Mitsuhide stood and poured drinks again. When he reached for Ilena's glass, she shook her head and he left it, seeing it still had some juice in it. But when Obi's glass had been filled, she reached for it.

Obi's eyes glinted. "Sooo...what happens to Ilena, when she gets drunk, eh?"

She looked at him innocently. "I don't know, Obi. It hasn't happened before."

"Oh? Well, would you like to try this?"

"Is it one you like?"

"Yes. Mitsuhide picks very good drinks."

"Then I would like to try it."

"Wouldn't you like your own?" Mitsuhide asked her.

Ilena shook her head. "No. As a rule, I don't hold a glass of alcohol. If Obi holds it and doesn't let me have too much, it should be ok, I think." This comment seemed odd, but Obi looked like he planned on having fun.

As Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki, with occasional comments from Obi, regaled Shirayuki and Ilena with stories about their travels, most notably the final battle, Obi had an enjoyable time finally getting to drink, and at the same time watch Ilena enjoy each drink he gave her. He got a bit carried away and gradually increased the strength of the type of drink as he went. He discovered he was doing it more to see if she liked what he liked. If he was right, their tastes in alcohols were about as similar as the food. He rather suddenly discovered that Zen and Shirayuki had fallen asleep and Mitsuhide and Kiki were staring at them.

He stopped and looked around in surprise. "Is it so late?"

"Yes, Obi, it is, actually," Mitsuhide was sitting with Kiki resting her head on his shoulder. They were holding hands and looked about ready to sleep as well. "We thought we'd let Shirayuki and Zen sleep it off a little before walking them to bed, but we have a bet going on. Please, don't let us interrupt you."

"A bet?" Obi furrowed his brow, then turned to look at Ilena, who looked back at him mildly. His eyes narrowed and he looked around to the desk that held the various bottles. They were, for the most part empty. He counted. Mistress could take one glass before she was drunk. Zen could finally take just under one bottle, but he would hurt the next day. Mitsuhide and Kiki always restrained themselves to three glasses for Kiki and four to five for Mitsuhide. Between them, that accounted for just over two bottles, or at most two and a half. Five bottles of wine were empty and the stronger liquors were all down three to four shots each, though there were only three of those. He held up his glass, then looked in Ilena's. Her's still held juice.

Obi sighed. "You aren't even drunk, are you?"

"No," Ilena admitted, "or at least not any more so than you."

"So you don't get drunk."

"I don't know. I've never drunk enough to know, but you have been careful to not let me drink as much as you. That has been helpful. I was already pretty full from dinner."

"So..., why don't you hold a glass of alcohol, Ilena?" Mitsuhide asked.

"Because, like Obi apparently, I don't know when to put it down or say no. In order to not out-drink my hosts, I learned to not allow myself to be served it to begin with. After all, it was bad enough when Marcovik was drinking their winter savings in one sitting."

"How do you know you don't get drunk, then?"

"Mmm...well, early on, before I was made steward and was still rather young, Marcovik enjoyed teasing his men. He would hold drinking competitions with them when they got bored, or needed setting straight. It didn't take them long before they wouldn't compete with him, so he would tell them that he would set someone else in his place. Then he would sit me down in front of them. Of course they agreed, thinking they had an easy win. Then he would laugh uproariously as the last one slid to the ground in disbelief." Obi shook his head at her answer.

"Did you ever have a direct competition with the Earl?" asked Kiki.

Ilena shook her head. "It was often requested, but he always refused. It wouldn't have been so enjoyable for him, would it - to see all his alcohol drunk, but neither of us having failed? It was suggested once when the 'Earl' was my uncle. He looked about to try, so I whispered to him what the result would be, and what his reaction was supposed to be. So he refused and said he wanted to see how they did against me again. He got just as much sport out of it that Marcovik usually did."

"Is this a Selician thing also? Being able to not be affected by alcohol?" Mitsuhide asked.

"I don't know for sure, but I do know I can hold more than Grail, though he can drink more than any person from Clarines."

"You should drink with my brother, then," Zen said blurrily from his position curled around Shirayuki in the second bed. "He can out-drink me, but probably not you two. So, who won the bet?"

"Kiki did," Mitsuhide said.

"What was the bet?" Obi wanted to know.

"That you wouldn't figure it out on your own that she couldn't get drunk any more than you." Kiki said, rising to help Zen wake up Shirayuki. "We decided it about the sixth glass, and she wasn't showing any effects yet. That should have been about two glasses for her, and two of the six were already the heavy liquors. When did you give up trying to get her drunk?"

"Ah," Obi said, a bit nonplussed, "when I started wondering if she liked the same things I did?"

"Mmm...," Shirayuki was trying to wake up. "Is it time to go?"

"Yes, Shirayuki," Zen said as Kiki helped her up. He was already sitting on the edge of the bed. "Though I wish it wasn't so." Shirayuki sat up next to him, then dropped her head back down on his shoulder. "...And it will be harder to go if you do that," he added.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry." Shirayuki stood up and Kiki wrapped an arm under her.

"Did Mistress drink?" Obi asked, suddenly concerned.

"Only a couple of sips of Zen's drink," Ilena touched his arm. "It was very cute to watch him blush."

"Oh? I'm sorry I missed that," Obi said, "but even a couple of sips has her this way, heh?" He shook his head.

"Let's go," Kiki said to Shirayuki, and she led her out, while Mitsuhide helped Zen up and walked close by him, ready to steady him when necessary.

"Thank you again for coming," Ilena said to them. "It was very enjoyable. And happy birthday, again, Zen."

He raised an unsteady hand in farewell. "Thanks! It was good to be with all of you for this time."

After good-night's were said and it was just the two of them in the room again, Obi looked around at the room, then at Ilena. "Let me clean this up just a bit, then the two of us." Ilena nodded and watched him silently as he walked around the room picking up stray bits and bottles and setting them all on the cart. He would have it sent back to the kitchen in the morning. Then he prepared them both for the night's sleeping. He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol having a minor effect for once, or not, but for some reason it was a bit more difficult to be nurse this night.

He was pleased to see the wound was healing very nicely. When he put his hand on the new tendon, it responded smoothly, and already seemed to have some tone. He was a little suspicious of that. "Have you been exercising the muscle and tendon already?"

"...Yes," she said apologetically. "I'm sorry I'm impatient, and bored, but I'm being very careful to not strain the bone."

He had a sudden suspicion and he checked the muscle tone of her other leg, then her arms, which she normally did not move much either. Compared to the end of the first six weeks after her initial injury, she had quite a bit of muscle tone all over. He stood up, folded his arms and looked at her. She looked very guilty, but not really very apologetic. He finally sighed. "Did you learn to do this during those seven months?"

It was her turn to look suspicious. "How did you find out?"

"Thayne said it to Master. He didn't know I didn't know yet."

"Mmm...I think I should have been even more severe with him then. He didn't say in his report. That is a breach of requirement."

"Well, likely he didn't want to get into trouble, then." They both knew he wouldn't have forgotten to mention it. "I did say I hadn't been told."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "And you likely didn't have a good reaction, either, or he likely would have said."

He moved to finish getting her ready. "...No. I didn't. Master didn't either. He was angry I had not told him before."

"Will you tell me the conversation, since Thayne left it out of his report?"

Obi paused a moment, then repeated it back to her.

"Hah, so it came up because Thayne was telling on you also." She looked at Obi. "Are you sure you want to keep him beside you?"

Obi had finished getting her ready. Now he stood and considered. "I don't think it was malicious. Rather it was he felt it something that was important for Master, and for me, I think, to know."

"However, it's not his to tell. He will certainly need further education when he returns, if you will still have him?" Obi nodded. "Then I hope you will provide it to him," she said it with finality - an oblique order for Obi.

He looked at her. There was one reporting that had not yet been done this day. It was obvious she'd had Thayne report to her after Obi had left him in the room to return to Master. He had come up a while later to apologize deeply and ask Zen for his judgement, then had returned to Ilena, all while being properly subdued. They had all appreciated she had been quick to understand and pass her judgement, but Obi still had questions.

"What do you mean when you say that Marcus and Henry are competing to be your favorites? And, when I asked Thayne and Eldest Son if they were also competing to be your favorites, why did they look away from each other and me and not answer, but look guilty instead?"

Ilena sighed. "It's two different things, but similar. Marcus and Henry wish to be part of the Immediate Family. They're working hard to show me that they can be partners and provide that sort of support, and do the level of work required." Obi nodded. That made sense. "For you to ask the others if they were competing for it, even though you didn't understand what you were asking, they still understood it to mean they were acting as if they were one level lower than they have already proven they can perform. ...However, there is a thing they didn't understand, that I have explained to Thayne today and he has already explained to First Son. In effect it was that they were, indeed, being tested for the same position again. In this, they have failed, for it's one of the requirements that you be able to work with your partner. The failure was because Thayne misunderstood. If he can't repair the damage he has done, then I won't accept him, and you will have someone else to be by your side."

Obi was quiet for a moment. Carefully he said, "I understand why you wish to have Eldest by your side, but I still wish for Thayne. Will my desire have no effect?"

Ilena considered and answered just as carefully. "If you can win First Son, and can help them repair their breach, I will not reject him. It's as important that they be able to be partners as it is that you and I are. Your life will hang in the balance on more than one occasion on their capability to work together, and likely so will mine."

"I understand," Obi said quietly. Then, "Were they not already partners?"

Ilena shook her head. "Thayne is Fourth Son."

"May I ask who Second and Third Sons are, then? Was Eldest partnered with Second and Thayne with Third?"

"Yes, that was the partnership." Ilena's eyes filled with pain. "Both Second and Third Sons died during difficult operations. First and Fourth Sons still blame themselves for being the weak member of the partnership, when it was only a matter of the difficulty of the work. In this they also struggle together. Neither trusts themselves to become a partner of any other person, and perhaps they do not trust the other to be able to be a partner to them, because they can't trust themselves."

"That sounds rather like a difficult pairing, then." Obi said. "Why have you chosen it?" He remembered Thayne's pained look when he had asked who his partner would be. Now he understood it.

"I haven't," Ilena said, looking him in the eyes. "You did."

"Ah," Obi said almost as a sigh. He'd chosen Thayne, so he'd chosen the responsibility to see that he and Eldest could work together. That was going to be a rather large responsibility, but he really did want to keep Thayne by his side. "I understand," Obi bowed to her slightly. "I will do my part."

Ilena nodded. "If there's a thing I may do to help, I will do it."

Obi was mildly surprised, then nodded gratefully, "Thank you." He paused. There was another niggling question in his mind, but it wouldn't come to light. He gave up and went to the candles and blew them out one by one. Then he walked back to Ilena's bed and climbed in next to her, as he'd promised he would.

"May I tell them both that they're demoted a level until they've learned to work together?" he asked her.

"If you wish," she answered, "but First must still perform his duties. There is none that can replace him at this time."

Obi considered. "Is there a time where he could be excused from those duties, even if only briefly enough?"

"...You must ask Grandfather."

"Will he be my ally in this?"

"Yes. He also wishes to see them both healed."

Obi put his arm around her and touched her head with his. "I am home."

"Welcome home, Obi." She put her hand on his cheek. "I've missed you. Thank you for coming back safely."

"Thank you for being here to come back to, and for being my strength to overcome my past and face forward again."

-o-o-o-

Fini Book 1: Obi's (Back)Story

Thank you for reading along with me to the end of Obi's (Back)Story. Please come continue along with Obi, Ilena, Zen, Shirayuki, et. al. in The Missing Princess Book 2: Princess of Three Kingdoms. (Mostly had to make a new story/thread because we go up to rating M after the middle of Book 2 because all our couples get together around then.) Many, many thanks to those who followed along this far since the beginning, and who posted reviews. -Ryuu no Okaasan

Update 5/3/18: I'm so excited. I have this book ready for publication (with proper removal of copyright material, of course. All I need to do is come up with the $ to buy the ISBN. Rather amazing how expensive a simple 13 digit number costs. I hope to have the funds for that in the next month or so, and then Chronicles of Tarc can be available on anyone's shelf. It's been a fun, hard, interesting ride. Thank you so much for reading. I do hope you've enjoyed it and will continue to enjoy the follow-ons as well.