"I had a rather long and informative talk with Fenrin," Matius said, cutting into the meat pie he'd acquired for Jayln and his dinner.

Jayln had been agitated all day, wracking her brain for solutions and trying to decide whether to keep watch on Fenrin or give him space. She'd even tried to rewrite the letter to her father. Tried to put into words what it was she wanted. She'd tossed the tenth draft when Matius had appeared with dinner. Now she poked at it absently.

"How is he?"

"Pretty good all things considered. Honestly, I was very surprised at how coherent he was. It was nothing like talking to him before."

Jayln perked up. "Really? What did you talk about? Did you explain the situation?"

Matius chewed slowly and then answered, "Not exactly. We talked about a lot of things. It was very enlightening." He smiled at a private joke and Jayln suspected she was being teased.

Before she could ask for more details, Matius continued, "He thinks his experience with Niv proves his sister's philosophy. He's surprisingly self-deprecating considering how much of an egoist you said he was. Perhaps that's only natural considering what he went though."

Jayln blinked. Self-deprecating? Fenrin?

"I should go talk to him." She moved to stand but Matius waved his fork urgently.

"Not right now, let him think things over. Besides I think you should finish eating."

Jayln sat back down and looked at Matius with a raised eyebrow. He looked at her innocently but she crossed her arms, "What exactly did you two talk about?"

Matius gave her a mischievous smile. "Did he really propose to you?"

She flushed and Matius laughed, "I'm sorry, it's just ever since he mentioned it I've been trying to picture it and I just can't."

"It wasn't exactly what you would consider a traditional proposal," she said exasperated, "he was just looking for a way to get me to let him out and thought it was a sort of more strict business arrangement. How did that even come up?"

Matius shrugged and she noticed his ears going a bit pink. Quickly, he changed the topic. "Anyway, I think we need to make some sort of decision."

"What do you think I've been doing all day?" She poked at her food moodily.

"Trying to write a letter?"

She scowled and Matius gave her a sympathetic look. She pointed her fork at him. "You can be very frustrating sometimes, you know."

He rested his chin on his hand. "Oh?"

"Yes! You disappeared all day leaving me to figure things out and then you tell me you talked everything over with Fenrin on your own."

"Did you not want me to?"

It was an honest question and the irritation left Jayln and she sighed. "No, I'm glad you did. I guess I'm just angry I didn't do it myself."

"No offense, but I don't think it would have worked if it'd been you. He has a lot on his mind and most of it has to do with you. You two are sides of the same coin that way."

"What do you mean?"

Matius gave her a knowing look. "How many of those letters were about Fenrin?"

Most of them. She wanted to be mad that he was right, but his eyes were so kind, his face watching for a chance to help and she let him. "You're right. I'm torn between my responsibility to my people and to Fenrin."

She waved a hand. "And I know what you're thinking, I shouldn't feel responsible for Fenrin, but I can't help it. I can't just leave him after what he went though, it just doesn't feel right."

Jayln had expected Matius to look worried or concerned, but instead the look he was giving her made her blush.

"I know," he said with such fondness that for a moment the two just looked at each other regretting the table between them.

Then Matius coughed and Jayln took a drink as he said, "From what Fenrin told me, your responsibility to your people and your journey with Fenrin used to be aligned. Is that not the case anymore?"

“Well, originally we were going to move my people to the valley, but..." she trailed off and then looked at Matius dumbfounded. "You really think?"

Matius shrugged. "I don't see why not. I've been busting my butt the last few days clearing it of any lingering Brimstone influence."

That clinched it, she stood up, rounded the table, and grabbed the startled Matius and kissed him.