"I were you, I'd leave it to the bard to sort her out," he said, weary with disgust. "When she wants to, she's really good at shutting people out." His eyes flicked toward the bandage on Marcello's arm. "Someone probably should have warned you."

Marcello shrugged. "No, I already noticed that about her," he answered. "It's all right. I'm good at oversharing enough for both of us." He gave Starling a crooked smile.

Starling snorted. "Have fun with that. Maybe now that everything's settled down, and the royals are gone, things'll . . . get normal."

"I don't imagine it will ever be normal," Marcello replied. "But I hope things calm down a bit. I'm a little bit tired of always being in the middle of some big dramatic trouble."

"Could be worse," Starling said cheerfully. "You didn't marry Grandmum. Grandmum goes out and starts this shit; with Nialla, it just sort of happens."

"Well, from what I've heard, your grandmother has had her fair share of husbands," Marcello said. "So I'm sure someone finds that attractive." He smiled. "At least you already know what to watch out for."

He looked non-committal about the matter of who or what might marry his grandmother. "Hey, you haven't got to meet my grandda'. He's practically normal." He shrugged. "I need to go tell Elaine that I was with you the whole time, is that all right?"

Marcello laughed. "Of course," he replied. "Although I think Elaine will understand. Especially since I wouldn't put it past that one to hunt you down again."

"It does no good to tell these women you're already taken. They just think they can talk you out of it. It's a feckin' sport." His face, however, had gone red again. "Elaine will just think it's hilarious. Or else she won't. Either way, I'd rather just have her not find out."

Marcello snorted. "She'll probably find out at supper when Hereditary Princess Whatshername tries to sit in your lap."