"Perhaps if we're quick we can rescue Spring and Prime from their wingless lack of romance too, before they get accustomed to just being friends."

"Yes. Quickly, we have to drop everything, we'll let Zevros run the country, this is important."

"But Zevros isn't here! We can't retreat into seclusion to work on wing hexes with no one to install as an interim ruler."

"Hmmm. Let's make my father do it, then. Bury him under paperwork and say we're being cruel and unusual with torture."

"Now there is a plan without flaw, drawback, or room for improvement."

"Yes, I'm absolutely certain that his foresight and moral center will let him run the country well while we're busy working on how to make wings."

"And if he finds it overwhelming to work on by himself, why, we'll just have Ice resurrect your mother."

"Flawless plan. She's got more experience than the both of us with ruling a country, why, we should do that anyway and ask her for pointers."

"What do we need pointers for? We're going to be busy charting for the wing thing. And then when we're done with that we'll probably be overwhelmed with the desire to - preen each other or something and have no chance to put any of her advice into practice."

"Fair point. Alas, we'll remain unenlightened. Not to worry, she can teach Zevros when he returns. He can be heir, we'll run off into the woods and build a nest. Or something."

"A nest, lined with down, nice and snug."

"I'll start collecting string."

"What's the string for?"

"The nest, of course. You can't have a sturdy nest without string. And twigs. And - I have no idea how to build a nest."

"I think birds manage without string. Your string-related nestbuilding ways are a dealbreaker, Edarial, we cannot bird together, the difference is irreconcilable."

"Nooooo. Who will I be a bird with now? How will I ever find romance? I'm doomed to become... To become Prime!"

"Wingless, loveless Prime!" laments Iobel. "Surely ruing the day he came into the world by some non-hatching mechanism, behind the wall of impenetrable sarcasm."

"Poor soul. Poor, pathetic soul. Take me back, Iobel! I'll renounce my string gathering ways!"

"I can't ask you to change for me!" she says dramatically, flinging the back of her hand to her forehead. "To betray who you are, only so that you can share my nest? Unthinkable!"

Edarial covers his eyes with a hand, and lets out a fake-sounding sob. "But - but don't you believe in love?!"

"I can't! I don't have wings yet! They're essential to the process!"

"We'll try the embroidery! The hex will take too long, I can't stand it! Come away with me, to the tailor!"

"It will never work! I simply don't have your optimism."

"Alas. Our relationship is doomed before it even began. Tell me, who do you plan to build a nest with now? I must know, what is his name?!"

"Are... are you going to duel him? For besmirching the honor of your queen?"