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H is teenage brother was getting his butt kicked. Tashi watched with interest as Xal blocked a wicked overhand swing and then got his legs swept from under him by a second attacker. He fell, rolled and leapt back up. His expression was controlled fury.

“You started him on two opponents?”

Their father, General Zir te Yal, grunted. “Three, sometimes. It's not as if opponents come to you in neat batches in battle. Multiple opponent skirmishes are once a week. He needs to practice his core moves. The spear is atrocious, and he needs to learn when to lose his temper.”

Thanks to his human mother, Xal was a berserker. “Isn't losing his temper his superpower?”

“Won't do him any good if he can't use his brain when he needs it. There's a time for everything.”

“Hm. Speaking of which, I'm getting married.”

His father gave him his full attention. “To who?”

“Lily, Kan's heir.”

His father gave him a long stare, evaluating the situation. “How did this come about?”

“She came to me after Hurdle's funeral. Kan was so mad, he ordered a hit on her.”

“Does not explain why you're marrying her.”

This was his father. No one knew him better. “I want her. I've wanted her for years.”

Yal taught his children how to think, not what to think. “Sounds like you've thought about it. Have you told your mother?”

Tashi's relationship with his stepmother had evolved over the years. His own mother had died when he was young and he hadn't wanted to call Ashi ‘mom’. She had earned the right however, and in time he'd settled on calling her the more formal mother . “Not yet.”

Yal grinned, wolf teeth gleaming. “This should be fun.”

It was a beautiful sunny day, and they found Ashi in the side yard, informing the kids it was almost lunch time. The gaggle of siblings, fosterlings and the supervising nanny formed an orderly group and hustled into the house to wash up, trailing dust and noise.

“Tashi!” she said, as she noticed him. She leaned over the arm of his chair and gave him a hug. “I haven't seen you in days. Did you come for lunch? Cook is making the marinated mushrooms you like so much.”

“Sounds delicious,” he said, “but I actually came with news. I'm getting married.”

Ashi's eyes opened wide with surprise. “What? When? Who is it? Do I know her? I've never heard you talk about anyone.”

Yal laughed. “I told you so.”

Xal watched the show with interest. “Three, two...”

Tashi ignored him. “It's Lily, Zul Kan's heir.”

“One,” Xal mouthed.

Ashi's face froze. “Zul Kan? The thug who fought Artur Bloodhand for years? The mobster?”

“He's dead now. Lily ran away from him and he ordered a hit on her.”

His mother was a protective woman. She didn’t like to see a woman in danger. However, Tashi was her son. “This is a bad idea.” She spent the next hour telling him why, point by point. She was very calm and very intense.

Finally, her husband put his arm around her and gently squeezed. “Tashi isn't a fool. He's thought about this.”

She looked up at him, eyes wide with stress.

“We'll keep an eye on the situation,” he murmured in her ear.

She looked down unhappily, but she trusted him.

“Well,” Tashi said, slapping his hand on the arm of the chair. “Thank you for weighing in. I appreciate your concern.”

“We’ll be keeping the ceremony small. I brought a copy of the marriage documents. I thought you might enjoy looking over them.”

His parents opened them and read them carefully. By this time they had finished lunch and moved into the parlor.

“She agreed to this?” His father said doubtfully.

“This is a really terrible contract,” his mother said with concern. She might have argued against the bride, but she didn't like lopsided agreements.

“It was a test. I'll amend it later,” Tashi assured her.

She grimaced. “I would hope so. The poor girl.” She realized what she said and sighed. “Although marrying her is still a bad idea.”

“You'll change your mind when there are grandchildren,” Tashi predicted fondly.

She scowled.

Yal smiled, but didn't comment.

Satisfied he'd done everything he needed to, Tashi prepared to say goodbye. Just then, a servant ran in with urgent news. “Miss Lily has been injured.”