He stomped into my kitchen and I shut the door behind us.

“I apologize for the intrusion, but I have come for my nephew.”

Lord Soren had two sound settings: roar and thunder. He was trying to be polite and so he confined himself to a moderate roar.

“These little vacations and excursions when he disappears without warning are becoming legendary. People are whispering. The Marshal of House Krahr is gone again. Where is he?”

I opened my mouth to tell him.

“It’s time to grow up. It’s time to join the House when matters of importance and state are to be discussed, in which his opinion as Marshal is required. Is there not enough at home to occupy his mind?”

I started walking toward the ballroom. Lord Soren followed me.

“He took his destroyer to Karhari for no reason. He was attacked.”

“He won,” I said.

“Of course he won!” Lord Soren’s eyes bulged. “He is my nephew! He took them on seven at once, and he tore through them like they were children. His recording has been shared across the Anocracy.”

Oh no. Arland had gone viral.

“We’ve received four – four! – offers of a potential match in the last two days.”

I couldn’t tell if he was proud or upset or both.

“The boy has potential. He has talent. But does he apply himself? No. It is time to take a wife. It’s time to produce children. He isn’t going to live forever and he is far too young to retire. He can’t just take off whenever he wants like some sort of cosmic vagabond without a family or duty. There are certain responsibilities. If he didn’t want these responsibilities, he should’ve thought about it before he fought the other eligibles for the post of the Marshal. Do you know what he told his aide?”

Lord Soren stared at me for a second.

“I-”

“He said to tell me that taking this holiday would make him happy. I don’t want him to be happy.” Lord Soren pounded his gauntleted fist into his other palm. “I want him to be an adult! I want him to deal with his duties. I want him to get a wife and make children so our House doesn’t wither. He was doing so well until he visited Earth. Really, this fascination with Earth women has to end.”

The ballroom door opened in front of us and I led him into the cavernous room.

“I understand the appeal. However, no Earth woman would ever make a suitable spouse for a Marshal. For one thing, they’re not familiar with any of our customs. They do not understand our society. They don’t grasp the significance of family ties or our politics. They are not even equipped to defend their offspring…”

Maud chose this moment to jump up and wallop the side of Arland’s head with her sword. He snarled and swung his mace. She rolled out of the way and grinned at him. “Try harder, my lord.”

Helen laughed like a little bell ringing.

Lord Soren closed his jaw. “Who is that?”

I gave him a sweet smile. “It’s an Earth woman.”

We watched Arland and Maud dance across the ballroom, Arland delivering devastating blows and Maud dancing out of the way, agile like a cat. Finally, Arland managed to slam her into the column. My sister shook her head a couple of times and said something, I couldn’t tell what, since he was still pinning her to the column. He said something back. She raised her eyebrows and tapped his bicep with her hand. He let her go.

Maud started toward us. Helen jumped off the dais and snarled at Arland. Arland raised his arms to the sides and roared dramatically. They ran toward each other. Arland picked Helen up and threw her in the air about twenty feet high. I gasped. He caught Helen. She squealed.

“Lord Soren,” I said. “My sister, Maud, and her daughter, Helen. Maud, this is Lord Soren, Lord Marshal’s uncle and Knight Sergeant of House Krahr.”

Maud smiled and bowed her head. “I believe I’ve met your second cousin, my lord. Lord Cherush on Karhari.”

Lord Soren finally recovered. “My lady. How is my, arhm… cousin?”

“Fair as usual. He still meets with Kaylin of House Setor every fall. They talk of raiding the Karim to the south, but never do. It’s not profitable. The cost in fuel alone would be higher than whatever they would get from the tribes. Lord Kaylin’s ward, Eren of House Phis, is of a marriageable age and your cousin’s second son is still unmarried and has expressed his interest, so I believe it is all for the best.”

Lord Soren puffed his chest. “Phis? My second nephew wants to marry into the House of those cowards?”

“Not the Southern Phis, my lord. Give the poor boy some credit. Eren is from the Northern branch. Her mother was of House Toran, daughter of their Knight Sergeant. There is good blood there, and as you know, the Torans still hold the northern port. The alliance would benefit Lord Cherush in his fur trade.”

Lord Soren heaved a heavy sigh. “Does she have all of her fingers and teeth, at least?”

“She is a lovely girl. Very good with an energy rifle.”

“I shall have to write to my cousin,” Lord Soren said. “It’s been ages, after all.”

“Indeed. He mentions you fondly. If you'll excuse me, my lord, I must refresh myself. Your nephew is quite vigorous. One would think that a man who had taken the full onslaught of a World Killer would be in his bed, moaning in pain, yet here he is.”

“World Killer?” Lord Soren blinked.

“He has saved us all,” Maud said.