"...Of course you did," she says. "I can't imagine how I didn't think of that. Which one of you burned our house down, or was it a joint effort?"

"That was all her, but she was trying to burn me, the house just got in the way."

"He showed up and threatened me, I set him on fire and ran, he chased me down and hauled me back home, I kicked him in the dick and set him on fire again, he raped me a few times, then we talked out our differences and now we're fine. He's cute and he's into torture, you'll get along great."

...she starts laughing helplessly.

"Yes," she says between giggles, "of course, of course that's what happened. I love you."

"And he claims he's the Emperor of Ansaith and he made me a lady!"

"A lady. Wow."

"It seemed the thing to do. What's your name? I'll make you a lady too if you like."

"Fianari Sennic. Pleased to meet you, my lord." She makes a very halfhearted attempt at a curtsy, from a sitting position and wearing pants. The effect is on the whole not very ladylike.

"Lady Fianari." He offers her his hand. "Since it's more or less my fault your house burned down, want to come live on my mountain?"

She takes it and hauls herself to her feet. "Sure."

And away up the mountain they go, all three of them.

"Isn't this place the greatest?" says Anleisin when they materialize in Serik's bedroom.

"It's pretty amazing," she agrees. "Why am I the only person here with clothes on? That seems silly."

"I can help with that."

Anleisin kisses her and sends a candleflame down her pants, and when the burns hurt enough to draw power from she makes a whole lot more fire and burns away the rest of Fia's clothes.

She likes that.

They're really something, these two.

Aren't they just?

"You've got easy healing with pain magic? That's impressive."

"It's not the easiest thing in the world, but we can do it, yeah."

He materializes a bottle of healing water and sets it down on his bedside table. "I, of course, cheat. You are impressively happy about being set on fire, Lady Fianari."

"It's one of my favourite things! Why don't you try it?"

"I think I will."

He does.

She's very impressive. Both of them are. Between the two of them - if he had a fix for the swan spell, if they never got tired of him, he could keep the mountain going on them and nothing else. No need to keep looking for people he's willing to torture, and no need to keep anyone who isn't willing to let him torture them. If he had a fix for the swan spell, and if they never got tired of him.

Snuggles!

"You look pensive," Anleisin observes.

"Yeah."