Bam leaned against the rail, watching Wolhaiksong's ship approach. He could still vaguely feel the electric vibration of the shinsu in the air, though the storm hadn't yet appeared on the horizon. If it came from the Khun Family's territory, as Hwaryun had suggested, it would likely pass through Bam's kingdom before approaching Wolhaiksong.

"What's going on?" Xia Xia asked as she staggered onto the deck, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Khun sighed irritably, and Bam couldn't blame her for sleeping in, considering how late she'd arrived the night before.

"Wolhaiksong's ship," Khun replied.

"Have you decided what I should say to your wife, my lord?" Xia Xia asked.

"First, I want you to tell me everything that happened before you left," Khun replied, not failing to notice the way Xia Xia shifted nervously at his words. "What did you hide from us last night?"

"I wasn't hiding it," Xia Xia said slowly. "I just thought you might not want to hear about something you couldn't change."

Bam couldn't muster the strength to be angry. "Just tell us, please."

"Well, from what I hear," Xia Xia hesitated, "Bellerire is insisting that the wedding ceremony be held very quickly. Like, say, today."

"Today?" Even without waiting to reach Wolhaiksong, Bam would never have made it to his kingdom in time. He gripped the railing behind him to stay upright, feeling a tremor in his legs, and Khun's eyes darkened to a deeper blue.

Bam felt the wood of the railing creak beneath his clenched fists and quickly released it, taking a few steps forward on unsteady feet. If they couldn't be there, he could at least ensure that Xia Xia earned his trust and supported him in some way.

"I see," Bam said quickly. "It's not your fault." It was their fault for not having the strength to return home so soon. He fixed Xia Xia with a firm gaze, and she straightened under his gaze, her ears pricked. "There's a tree in the north courtyard. Buried among its roots is a small metal chest where we keep the rings we exchanged when we became lovers, even before we were married."

"We buried it as part of our wedding ceremony, but no one other than our closest friends knows what's in that chest. Don't dig it up, just tell him what's inside," Khun concluded with a small sigh.