“Then again,” she said, “they did spend a few days with Ari and Janco when they moved down to Sitia. Who knows what stories Janco told them about you?” She grinned.

“About us, love. Janco has just as many Yelena stories.”

“Oh.”

“Not so funny now, is it?”

“Maybe we should stay at a walk. It’s such a lovely morning.”

Kiki flicked her tail and broke into a smooth gallop. So much for that idea. At this pace, they’d be at his parents’ new tannery by the afternoon. Wishing to be near their children, they had decided to move to Sitia without visiting first, as they’d originally planned. Valek had located a small complex that had been for sale. It was just outside Owl’s Hill. It had a four-bedroom house, a storage shed and a building big enough to be used for his father’s business. The Commander had approved the move, but it had taken a few months to transport the equipment, their furniture and dozens of crates full of their belongings. They’d lived in that house in Ixia for over forty-five years.

Valek could commiserate. The Commander had sent all of Valek’s things, including his carving tools, soon after Liana was born. The boxes filled two entire floors of Irys’s tower. Once Valek had completed his magical training, they would purchase a home somewhere in northern Sitia. It didn’t matter where, as long as it was quiet and hidden. The Commander had given him a very generous retirement bonus, so they would be able to keep the apartment above Alethea’s bookshop as their public address and for when they had business in town. Plus the Council planned to pay Yelena to resume her Soulfinder duties once he finished his training at the Keep.

His parents’ tannery was on the northwest side of Owl’s Hill. The path from the main road wove through the budding trees before it ended at a white picket fence that surrounded the complex. The house dominated the clearing. Valek’s mother had insisted on at least four bedrooms so there would be plenty of room for her children and grandchildren to visit.

Kiki hopped the fence with ease, and Valek heard giggles. When Onyx cleared the barrier, he joined Yelena. She smiled at him. “Liana likes jumping.”

Sure enough, his daughter’s happy face peered from the sling, her blue-green eyes alight with glee. Figured. So far, she’d been a joy, easy to put to sleep and entertain. But Valek suspected that might change when she was older. He wondered if Liana would develop magical powers, or if her blocking skill was the extent of her abilities. Time would tell.

They stopped outside the main door of the house. Valek dismounted and helped Yelena down from Kiki. The squeal of a screen door alerted him. Yelena squeezed his arm. He drew in a deep breath and faced his parents.

His father strode toward them with a welcoming grin, while his mother hung back, uncertain. They both still wore their Ixian uniforms.

“About time you came to visit,” Kalen said, slapping Valek on the back. “The twins were here two weeks ago. And you must be Yelena. Nice to finally meet you.” He shook her hand with both of his. “Valek didn’t exaggerate when he said you were beautiful. Ahh! There she is. Can I hold her?”

“Of course.” Yelena removed the baby from the sling and handed her to Kalen.

His father’s face lit up with an amazed joy as he gazed at Liana lying in his arms. She peered back, studying him with interest. Years of grief seemed to melt from Kalen’s lined skin, and his brown eyes shone.

“Oh, she’s a beauty. Olya, come see. She resembles your mother.” Then he lowered his voice. “Let’s hope that’s as far as it goes.”

“I heard that, Kalen,” Olya said, joining them. She nodded at Valek and said hello to Yelena. But her reserved demeanor changed when she saw her granddaughter. “She’s lovely.” Olya plucked the baby from her husband’s arms.

“Hey,” he protested, but it was weak.

“Aren’t you a sweetie!” She marveled at the baby, letting Liana clutch her finger.

Kalen gestured with a hand. “Let’s get out of this sun. Come on into the house.”

“Go on,” Valek said to Yelena. “I’ll take care of the horses.”

Yelena gave him a don’t-you-dare-leave-me-alone look. He suppressed a grin.

“No need,” Kalen said. “Zebulon!”

Valek’s brother exited the tannery, then strode over to them. He wore plain brown pants and a cream-colored tunic. Zebulon’s black hair flopped about his head, and his brown-eyed gaze scanned them. With the same distant manner as their mother, he greeted Yelena and Valek, but warmth flashed when he spotted Liana.

“Zeb, can you take care of the horses?” Kalen asked.

“Uh.” Zeb glanced at the horses with a queasy expression.

“Groom and feed them like the twins showed you, and then join us inside,” Kalen said.

“All right.”

Valek skimmed Zeb’s surface thoughts. The twenty-year-old had only watched Zohav and Zethan care for the horses. Zeb had no idea what to do. Valek met Yelena’s gaze, and she nodded.

Hurry up, she thought.

“I’ll be right there,” Valek said to his father. “I’ll help Zeb—it’ll go faster.”

As they headed to the house, Kalen asked Yelena, “Is it always this hot here? I’m roasting.”

“No.”

“Thank fate!”

“It gets hotter.”

He groaned. Yelena would be too polite to tell him he needed to wear Sitian clothing, but Valek would find some way to mention it. In the meantime, he showed Zeb how to remove the horses’ saddles and tack. Then he handed his brother a curry comb and demonstrated how to use it. Zeb groomed Kiki. They worked for a while in companionable silence.