She was different. She talked to me, listened to me, gave me the space I didn't even realize I needed. She was there before I knew what I was actually looking for, and was still there when I finally understood.

  She was loud where I was quiet, confident where I doubted. But most of all, she made me happy.

  ~ * ~

  Seb paused as the Keeper's mansion came into view. If they hadn't been directed to it he might have overlooked it, at least on first glance. In the Shallows it would have been a familiar sight in certain parts of the world, a two story white building with columns and wrap around porches was a dated look, however when set against the backdrop of the cavern walls it stood out.

  This is their house? he sent.

  It's right where Fay told us, Anya answered. And it does look out of place.

  Fay had all but rushed out of the Holding that morning, pausing barely long enough to give them two sets of directions, the first to this mansion, the second to Briana's coffee shop where she planned to spend the day waiting for them. Seb had managed to keep a straight face, if barely, when Anya started coming up with reasons why Fay was willing to spend a whole day sitting around waiting, especially when she always seemed worried about how others would interpret her time spend doing anything other than research.

  Are we still early? he sent.

  They said lunch, I'm hungry.

  You could have eaten more before we left.

  I've never met my Godparents, she answered. My mother barely mentioned them except to say there were inheritance gifts she agreed to with them. Now I find out they're responsible for Deep Earth, which also means responsible for the rest of Awakened Earth?

  He slipped his arm around her, giving her the briefest of hugs before they both took the last few steps up to the gate. He understood her nerves, he'd been nervous about talking to her mother at the Convention, the rings on their fingers were a significant message, especially with the announcement. Now he was about to meet the remaining members of her extended family. Fay's explanation about the role of Keepers hadn't helped his nerves one bit. They had been formally requested for lunch by the rulers of rulers.

  The gate swung open silently, only the faintest of pulses of Energy hinting at the fact that someone, or something, had noticed them. A moment later the front door opened.

  "Lady Lysanya, Lord Sebastian. Be welcome. Join us in the garden."

  Seb's eyes widened as he felt the wave of Energy carrying the words. They were not shouted, they were barely louder than a conversational tone. And yet they had carried from somewhere within the house all the way down the walk without trouble. He shared the pattern along with an unspoken question.

  No, she sent. No one in Holding Lys could do anything like this. And I have no idea how you'd even tie the pattern to your words in the first place.

  They made their way into the house, the door swinging shut gently behind them. On the one hand Seb found the fact the door moved without visible assistance slightly disconcerting, on the other the persistent flow of Energy through the walls made it clear they were inside a Holding, albeit one that operated in ways he had never seen.

  The door at the far end of the house beckoned, opening into some sort of greenery while the rooms to either side of them were hidden behind closed doors. The hall seemed to be dedicated to the owners, or at least to a couple of significance. A handful of pictures were hung, some looking quite new while most were black and white. Past them were a collection of paintings, tracing the same couple through history, the couple relatively unchanging, other than in outfit, while various Depths born creatures lay at their feet.

  Was that a giant lizard? he sent as they passed a painting where only a portion of the creature was visible in the background.

  Maybe? I've never heard of anything that size.

  Wait, those almost look like they might have been wings.

  Seb, don't be silly, those are just legs… Anya began, trailing off as she came to a halt. With ribbed flesh stretching from them to the body…

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  Do you think?

  Later? Maybe we can ask Fay?

  "It wasn't a dragon, but it was a fearsome beast."

  Once more the voice drifted to them, Energy carrying it to their ears while a faint echo followed from the door.

  Are they watching us? he sent.

  Wouldn't you be?

  They hurried the rest of the way down the hall and stepped outside, blinking at the change in lighting as they found themselves in a cozy yard, flowers blooming to either side of a table set for four. The Keepers, at least Seb assumed that was who they were, sat waiting for them, amused smiles evident on their faces.

  "Everyone stops and looks at that one. I think there was only that one time it wasn't noticed," Anya's Godfather said.

  "He was too busy running for his life dear," her Godmother answered. "You did say you were going to carve him into pieces if he was still in Deep Earth when you reached the count of 10."

  At first glance Seb thought they must be old, their hair was so fair as to be almost white, the edges of their eyes crinkling as they spoke, and even their postures seemed on the frail side. A second look and he doubted his every thought, the wrinkles might remain but they could have been younger than Sovereign Lys, even their smallest movements precise in ways he could barely identify.

  "I was joking. Alice, tell them I was joking. I would never break the law and attack someone so much weaker. Not unless he struck first."

  "Ben," Alice sighed. "He didn't know that and he had just tried to… Well that isn't a story for today. I doubt our guests care what that young ruffian did back before their parents were born."

  "You're right. She's always right you know. Even when she's wrong she's right," Ben said with a smile. "Sit, sit. Food will be out in a moment."

  Seb glanced at Anya, her anxiety was all but spilling over the bond at how this was already going.

  "Sir, Madam. I am Seb-"

  "Lord Sebastian. Prefers to go by Seb." Alice said, her eyes flashing as she cut him off with a soft smile. " Awakened Adult who had a promising career before that. Partner to our Goddaughter, Lysanya, who now goes by Anya with her friends and family."

  "My mother, Sovereign Lys, sends her regards," Anya said.

  "I'm sure she didn't say that, but it's kind of you," Ben answered. "Please. Sit down and stop looking as though we intend to bite your heads off."

  Taking a deep breath Seb stepped to the table and pulled out Anya's chair without considering his actions. He felt her humor at his manners as she slipped past him, for once not actively brushing against him as she took his chair and left him standing. He shook his head as he sat, pulling his chair in and reaching out to squeeze Anya's hand ever so slightly under the table.

  "Remember when you used to pull my chair out?" Alice said, her eyes never leaving them as she spoke.

  Seb was sure he caught the ghost of a smile on both their faces before the answer came, a flicker of emotion and of a conversation that went far beyond anything he could grasp.

  "I remember bowing over your hand every time we met and parted, at least when your family was around."

  "Papa always did expect the best of my suitors, Mama had us figured out before we passed the wall."

  "Keepers?" Seb began, uncertain just how to address this couple who seemed more lost in memory than concerned with their presence.

  "Alice and Ben. If you must it's Maison DuLac, although I doubt anyone you'll meet in the next few years will recognize the Holding. Other than Valene. And I'm sure your Seer Liaison can find all the details about us if she goes looking."

  Seb saw Anya open her mouth to answer, only to pause as a pair of servants came in to place food before them. A light salad, hopefully not the only food or he knew she'd be complaining once they left, if not sooner.

  "Why did you summon us?" she asked before she had even taken a bite.

  "We invited you to lunch, it was not a summons," Alice said.

  "A request to join the Keepers of Deep Earth for lunch was conveyed to us at the convention," she clarified before she finally took a bite.

  It's good, she sent.

  Yes, I know, but you were going to ask your question anyway.

  "That isn't how we meant it," Ben said between bites. "We wanted to finally meet our Goddaughter."

  "Especially after she made such a splash at the convention. Not only passing the wall, but with a Partner no less," Alice added, somehow breaking the salad down into tinier pieces with just her fork and leaving the majority untouched.

  "Those rings were the statement of the decade, maybe even the century."

  "They were?" Seb asked.

  "Yes Seb." Alice said. " Do you know how rare it is for a Sovereign, at least on Earth, to publicly announce a Partner? Especially one who has no background?"

  "No?"

  "Most of the time even Partners are due to political arrangements. They might love each other, but that is never the whole story."

  "What?" Anya said. "But I was taught that-"

  "Yes," Ben interrupted. "Your tutors certainly taught you that Partnerships were a thing of love, of connection, of romance. It wouldn't do to have the Heir thinking everything was a contract."

  The servants returned, this time leaving behind a creamy yellow soup and taking away the salad, regardless of how much had been eaten.

  "Squash?" Seb asked after his first taste.

  "Indeed." Alice said. "Those rings, that glow that even now hasn't faded despite the brighter surroundings, that is a message to anyone paying attention. And that night everyone was, unless they were idiots."

  "Dear, you can't call Sovereigns idiots."

  "I can't call them idiots to their face. But they aren't here to hear me." Alice said with a triumphant smile. "The ones who weren't idiots will have recognized the significance of the glow, and how synchronized your movements were. They'll know you have a bond, and have the means to figure out it's a strong one."

  "But," Ben said. "That doesn't matter. Right now we're enjoying lunch, and in a few years you'll be off to school, ready to learn all those lessons you've been missing out on."

  "We'll-" Seb began even as Anya dropped her spoon into her soup, leaving splatters across the table.

  The servants were at the table side before Seb even felt their presence, the table clearing at a pace he could barely follow even as Anya managed to speak.

  "What!?"

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