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Leyenda and Kelirahc smiled at Lin as she came over to them, and motioned for her to come and sit with them.

"I'm too excited to sleep," Leyenda replied softly, her eyes sparkling in the darkness. "I mean, we've been away, what, six years? And so much has happened in that time ... and I haven't seen my friends in that long ..."

Kelirahc smiled, only his teeth, eyes and hair visible in the darkness. "I too am looking forward to meeting Leyenda's friends," he said quietly. "I do not know what to expect in this land, but I am looking forward to finding out all about it."

Amalirahc, his skin just a little bit lighter than his father's by this age, stirred in Kelirahc's arms and yawned a bit, his own white teeth contrasting brightly against his dark skin.

Leyenda smiled and reached over, gently stroking her son's head. "There will be so much to tell everyone ..."

Leyenda blushed and continued to stroke her son's head softly. "I don't know whether to be nervous or excited to meet my family," she admitted. "I've heard so many different stories about them ... I mean, I am excited, but I'm nervous at the same time. My friends, at least I know how they'll react, what they'll say, and that they'll be equally excited to see me and my family. But my extended family..."

"They are an unknown variable," Kelirahc murmured. "I understand. But you should not worry so much, I am sure that they will all be excited to meet us."

He leaned over and kissed Leyenda gently on the forehead.

Kelirahc chuckled softly. "Of that, I have no doubt," he agreed with Lin. "I had never thought of traveling before I met all of you ... but I have always been adventurous, and I find that I enjoy it. Meeting new people, discovering the unknown ..."

Leyenda squeezed his hand. "As for me, it turned out to be so much more than I could ever have dreamed of," she murmured. "Despite the fact that it was completely by accident that we married ... I have not regretted it once."

"I was afraid when I realized that you did not know what I had asked you," Kelirahc admitted sheepishly. "I thought ... I believed that you could understand what I said to you, as I believed that I understood what you said to me."

"I've never been happier to be mistaken," she replied with a laugh. "But I can imagine the looks on everyone else's faces when we explain how it all came about." She touched the mark on her bare arm. "I just wish I could summon my own dragon," she said wistfully.

Kelirahc hugged Leyenda with one arm, careful not to jostle Amalirahc too much.

"Do not worry so much about it," he murmured. "It will come when you least expect it."

Leyenda sighed. "I know."

When morning broke, the cry rang out: "Namonuito!"

"Prepare for landing!" Roydon called out: and suddenly the deck was swarming with crew, adjusting the sails and the anchor and the ropes.

In the midst of it all, Kelirahc, Leyenda and Amalirahc woke up all at the same time. Kelirahc moved immediately to help Roydon and the crew, handing Amalirahc to Leyenda as he headed off.

Leyenda grinned, her eyes sparkling brightly. "Lin," she said, leaning over and shaking her shoulder gently. "Wake up! We're here!"

Leyenda laughed and held her hand down to Lin to help her to her feet. "Yes," she giggled, "we are! Come and see!"

As soon as Lin was on her feet, she ran to the side of the ship so that she could look out over the city. There were crowds gathering on the shore, watching as the three small ships came into the port and prepared to moor.

Amalirahc, perched in her arms, stared out at the city, his golden eyes wide, four fingers in his mouth, his other hand clasping Leyenda's shirt tightly.

Leyenda thought about Lin's comment, and she nodded slowly. "Yes ... it is," she murmured. "When you think about it. The last time I really spent time here, I was ... not even an adult."

She looked at Amalirahc thoughtfully, then giggled and nuzzled noses with him. "Well. Look how much more I have now."