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  "I accept," were the first words out of Mirele's mouth. Ze pointed to the knot on hir cape.

  And then Shahira was throwing her arms around hir neck, laughing. Mirele caught her easily and spun her around before setting her back on the floor.

  "I'm so happy," she said, unable to stop smiling. "I was worried that you might freak out, so I just did it that way. I know it probably wasn't the most conventional way to propose, but I think we're past mere conventions. I also have no ring for you."

  "I'll forgive the lack of ring," Mirele said, kissing her. "I get to spend my entire life with you now, my love. I think that is better than any piece of jewelry."

  Shahira smiled. "Me, too."

  IV

  Spring came, warming those frozen by winter's chill, and with it, the promise of something new.

  The ocean breeze ruffled Mirele's hair, the slight mist from the water hitting hir face. Ze leaned against the railing on the ship's deck, a letter clutched in hir hand.

  "Enjoying the weather?" Shahira approached Mirele, hugging hir from behind. "I thought I lost you on the docks, darling. I was very close to having a printer make some fliers with a very detailed drawing of you on them."

  A smile tugged at the edge of Mirele's lips. "You can't draw, Shahira."

  "I know." She was likely pouting. "What's that in your hand?"

  "A letter from Leon," Mirele replied, turning around so ze could face Shahira.

  Shahira took the letter from Mirele's hand and read. "Will Leon ever stop complaining about his so-called war wounds? Those scratches must be fully healed by now." She shook her head fondly. "I'm glad Lucia is settling into her new position and that her first act was to execute Zaman," she said, a touch of bitterness in her voice.

  "As am I," Mirele agreed. Finally, the royal family, Salah, and the others could rest in peace. "I'm even more glad it's not you on that throne."

  "Don't think I would make a good queen, darling?" Shahira laughed.

  "Not at all, my love." Mirele brushed a stray lock out of hir eyes. "You're safer not on the throne."

  "I'd be safe anywhere as long as I was with you," she said, slipping an arm around Mirele's. "I'm glad we're leaving Navio," Shahira said. Her gaze traced the horizon ahead as the ship left the docks. "I think it's time for something new."

  "I already have the most wonderful wife in the world," Mirele said as ze pressed a kiss to Shahira's cheek. "I'm not sure what else I would need."

  "Charmer."

  "I try."

  "I've never been to Kulonn," Shahira said. "Wasn't your family originally from there? I think I remember you telling me that."

  "My great-grandparents left many years ago to escape the civil war," Mirele said.

  "Right, right," Shahira said absently. "I'm excited. Are you?" She turned to face Mirele, and not for the first time, Mirele was completely taken aback by how beautiful she was.

  "I'm excited to start a new life with you, my love."

  Shahira giggled. "We'll get a nice house, I can work with the apothecary and garden, you can be a carpenter or something, and maybe we'll have a couple of little ones." At Mirele's bewildered expression, she only giggled more. "Maybe, but that's far off."

  Mirele shook hir head fondly. "I love you, you silly person."

  "And I love you," Shahira responded.

  In that moment, on the deck of a ship, with Shahira beside hir and the ocean breeze in hir hair, Mirele knew that there was nowhere else ze would rather be.

  FIN

  About the Author

  Andrea is a college student currently studying biology at the University of Chicago. When not working on her numerous writing projects, she is most often playing video games, rolling terribly in Dungeons and Dragons, or doodling on her tablet. She also enjoys nature and space documentaries and watching Jeopardy daily.