Iomedae internally discards her list of Guesses About People Who Might Be Evil Maybe Undead Wizard Alfirin. "No other questions, sir. …how do people in Lastwall announce an engagement. Americans exchange rings."

"Well, typically the, um. The man gives his betrothed a weapon, and she keeps it for the engagement period, which is usually about a month, and returns it in the wedding ceremony."

Iomedae nods, seriously. "...does this symbolically mean she can stab him if he backs out, or anything?" 

"Ah, no. But for most young men - the weapon is a significant investment. Most men only have one sword, and it would be shameful to be disarmed because of backing out of a marriage. And it's a symbol of how he is pledging not to seek unnecessary danger, and when she returns the sword it signifies how he will be able to protect her and their family. Sometimes women give the swords, if they are warriors, though warrior women do not marry very often."

"I like it," says Iomedae, after a second to think. "...I am sure it must seem that I am a strange foreigner with complaints about everything but there are a lot of beautiful things here, and ones I am honored to be a part of. We will figure out how one adapts it for our circumstances."

"For all your foreign ways, we are honored to have you."