Public opinion of the recent drive for Affiliation is souring.

  Despite ongoing endorsement from the Great Families individuals are claiming that the benefits of Affiliation rarely outweigh the expectations of the Holdings.

  "We are expected to uphold their values and support their initiatives, but we when we need their help we are told to contribute more."

  "Why do they need us to tell everyone about how wonderful they are. Shouldn't their behaviour speak for itself?"

  "Do they even care about their tenants? Rent might be cheaper, but that hardly matters when things are worn down or broken."

  Attempts to discover which Holdings were being referred to found no answers. No Holdings or Families responded to our inquiries, simply stating that they held themselves to higher standards than those implied by these quotes.

  ~ * ~

  Seb couldn't make up his mind. Anya's dress was ready for a final fitting whenever they decided on a date, it had been ready for several months at this point. He'd picked out his suit, no, Fay had picked out his suit after consulting with Anya, so their clothes were not the issue. The issue was that he had no groomsmen.

  Anya wasn't rushing him. They hadn't planned on marriage, they hadn't thought of it until that moment when he proposed. It had felt right in the moment, the connection between them flaring in confirmation of their shared agreement on that. They were still pushing, still keeping ahead of the looming deadline that her Godparents had told them about.

  Fay and Sandra had been easy choices, they were family. He didn't have anyone that could fill that role, not without asking Fay to somehow be in both their parties? He'd considered that, even mentioned it to Anya, they'd both agreed it wouldn't work, especially not when she'd already agreed to be Maid of Honor.

  Valene? Anya sent from where she was finishing cooking dinner outside the tent.

  Invite him, but no. Doesn't feel right.

  You could always ask Alex. Retainers are traditional choices.

  I know, he sent as he stepped out of the tent. Not as best man though. Have you decided who will walk down the aisle with you?

  He felt her hesitate. He could tell she had someone in mind. They'd already spent hours discussing whether she would be walked down the aisle, he had left the decision to her but she'd insisted on his input. She'd oscillated back and forth, having someone in that role fit the traditions she'd been taught, being presented felt wrong though. In the end she decided she wanted someone there, it fit her idea of a wedding, but it would simply be an escort, a gesture to fit childhood dreams.

  Tomas? I mean…

  I'm sure he'd be honored.

  Didn't he train you too?

  At first.

  Then ask him. Him and Alex.

  But then you-

  -would have him serving two roles?

  Seb picked at his food as he considered. Anya's thoughts were blurring into his as they dwelt on the idea, neither one completely happy, but both satisfied with the option. Tomas had helped raise her, had guided his training until they met. They might both be far past him at this point, but he still had significance to their past.

  They didn't need to make the decision now. They had over a week before they'd be back in their Holding, another week of testing themselves and pushing closer to their goal. They weren't in a hurry to have the wedding, or rather they weren't in a hurry to take an extended break, and if they were going to get married they were going to enjoy themselves, take time to themselves, not get caught up in rushing their way through the moment.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Now that was a thought that left them both blushing every time they even started to discuss plans to any degree. They took breaks from Diving, they spent time with others, they unwound either by choice or while healing. But somehow neither of them was sure what they'd actually want to do if they had an extended period of time on their own to simply be together.

  Seb coughed, hearing Anya do the same in near perfect harmony. These weren't ideas they shied away from, simply ideas that were for then. They had time, they had each other. Why would they rush things? Was there anyone who actually cared that it had been six months since he proposed? He knew Anya didn't.

  So they could make this decision, decide on who would be part of the ceremony, and then find the perfect time for a wedding. They were still young, they were still everything, at least to each other.

  ~ * ~

  "No," Anya said with a sigh. "We aren't going to get married sooner just so you get to wear your dress before you turn 20."

  "But-" Sandra said.

  "Sandra," she said more sharply than she intended. "The wedding isn't about you."

  "I know but the dress is so pretty."

  "And it will still be pretty when we settle on a date."

  "Fine!" Sandra huffed before grabbing the last piece of bacon and racing to the couch in an attempt to get away with it.

  Anya swatted at her, intentionally slowing herself down to give the illusion of failure then turned back to her coffee. She'd wanted that piece of bacon but she hadn't needed it. She could always get Seb to- The sharp sizzle of grease made her smile.

  You read my mind, she sent.

  We were both eyeing that piece and you know it.

  She smiled into her mug, they were having breakfast with Fay when Sandra decided to show up and ask questions about the wedding. Or rather try and get them to set a date as soon as possible so she could show off her dress. She wasn't happy that they were keeping the ceremony small, fewer people meant less attention after all.

  "Everything we can plan is planned," Fay said. "Just need you to pick the date you want so we can make arrangements for perishables. And you need to decide on the final members of the wedding party."

  "We did," Anya said. "Although we still have to ask them."

  "And who will officiate?"

  "Oh," Anya said and felt Seb's thoughts start spinning again.

  They'd covered everything they needed, they had made all the decisions. Except they hadn't, they'd forgotten one role. They needed someone to perform the ceremony, to complete the ritual motions they had decided to include. Someone to stand there and look important, to prompt them when they inevitably got distracted by their band and make sure those few matters of formality were attended to.

  We're already planning on inviting him, Seb sent.

  We know he'll take things seriously and not talk our ears off, she agreed.

  She did say a Seer would be best, or an Arbiter. And couldn't be a member of the Holding because it's us.

  "Can you ask Valene?" she said after a moment.

  She saw Fay smile before nodding. There really only was one choice for the role out of the people they knew. Yshe apparently could have qualified but had already told Sandra that if she heard one more word about the wedding before it happened that she'd have her scrubbing parts for the next year. The local Seers would have been an option but the thought of Sean being at the wedding, let alone officiating was terrifying.

  Valene was the best choice, assuming he accepted. Senior, experienced, knowledgeable. He was on their short list of guests, along with her Godparents, Yshe and Sam, their retainers, and her family. And, importantly, Fay had suggested him from the start.

  "Is he still sending you work?" Seb asked.

  "Almost more than when I was his protege, which is still less than I used to have since no one else has yet. And sometimes it's the oddest things he's asking about. One time he'll-" Fay began before shaking her head. "Sorry, I can't talk about it. At least not right now."

  Anya saw Fay glance at Sandra, at least part of her reluctance to clarify made clear. There was likely other matters she couldn't discuss with them, aspects of the WidePond that they didn't even know enough about to be able to ask any questions about and give her an out.

  The limitations were irritating. They mostly avoided them, after all Seb almost always wanted to know something about a topic that she'd been sure no one cared about, only to find out that Fay knew something, or was happy to look into it while they were gone.

  She was curious, she wanted to know things. She didn't want to know why every pond had the same day night cycle, why they could travel anywhere and the time might shift, timezones did exist, but 24 hours was still a single day. She understood why he found it strange, she actually agreed with his surprise once she thought about it, but she never would have questioned it if not for him.

  Fay hadn't found the answer to that one yet, she'd admitted that it was frustrating, that the information had to exist somewhere. That she just couldn't find it and Valene wouldn't even give her a hint if it was something she didn't have access to.

  "Has he asked you to figure out why there are the same number of hours in the day?" she asked ever so sweetly, only her eyes failing to hide her anticipation.

  Anya!

  "You know he hasn't. You know I haven't found the answer yet," Fay answered with a glare. "I've found evidence others have looked into it, even evidence someone found the answer. But not the answer."

  Seb set the fresh bacon down between the three of them as Fay started muttering under her breath. Anya nearly kept teasing her but she knew Seb would find a way to keep the bacon out of her reach if she did. He hadn't said anything, not this time, but he'd threatened to in the past. Sibling teasing was fine, but there were lines.

  "This bacon is better than the first batch," she told Seb.

  "I know, the grease made it cook better."

  "Better?" Sandra asked from the couch, starting to get up as she did.

  "I only made six pieces, two for each of us," Seb said.

  "But there's four of us," Sandra said.

  "Only three who didn't steal the last piece of bacon," Anya said and bit into the crunchiest piece.

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