[ A hum, agreeable and fond, and Bastien shifts fully onto his side to look at By. (His earlier indecision about which side of the bed to claim has been settled instinctively and undramatically—perhaps with some quiet accommodation from Byerly—by which side allows him to face Byerly without having to bury his good ear in the pillow.) ]

Maybe it is in the blood, after all those ages of mages who had their way about everything. Or maybe we only get the difficult ones, in Riftwatch.

Maybe they think the same about us.

[ Or— ]

About you. [ With faintly amused apology for his chronic agreeability, ] Enchanter Marcus gave me a Satinalia gift.