Angela is over here, talking to Alleluia, who keeps coming to Bellparties when invited in spite of finding them somewhat overwhelming every time.

Steel listens.

"- in a few years," Angela is saying. "I think I'll leave it up to you if you want to share any of the secrets with your children before then. Of course I'll be happy to make them all torchable with or without informing them, if you're worried Jane will go down again."

"She was gone for a decade," Alleluia says. "I wouldn't want to be without one of my children that long, not if I needn't."

"Then sure, bring them all to the Eyrie and I can take care of it. Steel? Can I help you?"

"I am quietly eavesdropping on all the Bells until they notice me. You are the latest," Steel says dryly. "Hello."

"Why are you quietly eavesdropping on Bells until you are noticed?" inquires Angela.

"It is a convenient and often informative way to start a conversation."

"It's not particularly polite," opines Alleluia.

"Isn't it?"

Alleluia shakes her head. "I don't think so." She pauses. "Perhaps things are different here?"

"Well, I don't mind, and we wouldn't be discussing anything truly private out loud anyway, not at a party," says Angela.

"I consider it no more or less courteous than interrupting your conversation without first finding out what it is about."

"Well, we were talking about Alleluia's children, but now we have concluded that," says Angela.

"I should have asked years ago," says Alleluia, shaking her head.

"I see."

"Did Glass cover yours yet? It's entirely possible to do it without affecting their growth," Angela says.

"She did."

"That's good."

"It has also come to my attention that the married Bells are supposedly the most adorable. Do you have a comment on the matter?"

Angela laughs. "Do you want me to see if Micaiah is busy? We could let you see for yourself."

She nods.

[Love, someone has been spreading rumors about the cuteness of married Bells.]

"He's busy," she says.

Alleluia shakes her head.

Steel looks inquiringly at Alleluia.

"Hmm?"

"You have an opinion?"

"Well, it's none of my business, I just don't understand it."

"It took some adjusting for me too, but that was a long time ago."

"Somehow we manage."

"Have you met my children?" Angela asks Steel. "The two who come to these parties, at any rate, I think Ariel will be old enough to learn about magic soon but not yet."

"I have not."

"Would you like to?"

"I would."

"They're over there with Rose and the rosebuds - oh, and your girls, too, I wonder why they're all girls," says Angela, starting towards the cluster of small Bellspawn.

Rose waves as they approach.

"Mine are all girls for magical reasons, I believe."

"Magical reasons?" asks Keziah.

"Their mothers are all girls."

"So?" asks Céleste.

"So the magic that created them had only girls to work with."

"Why does that mean they're girls?" asks Keziah.

"Why wouldn't it?" says Tanalin. "Where would the magic get a boy from?"

"I'm going to be mad if those other Mommies have a me and it's a boy," asserts Carinna.

"How come?" asks Kiawen.

"It would be weird! And I don't have as good ideas for names."

Steel smiles.

"Pick me up," says Kiawen to Sherlock.

The Griffins' mothers

pick up their secondborns.

Steel scoops up her youngest daughter and hugs her.