O'vel-win returned home with all of the twelve children and H'lua-win without much thought about his new acquaintance, apart from the passing thought that he was easy to talk to and seemed non-judgemental. Eleven children returned to their parents and H'lua-win returned to the home area of her branch of the family, while O'vel-win carried his chatterbox cousin to their rooms.

"Ch'mai-tul only attends school once a month, but she is so smart already. G'lin-win said her penmanship is ugly, but he's just jealous. The teacher praised her writing last month, but never praises his, just says he needs to work harder... oh and Y'tai-cat spilled ink on his trousers and then blamed H'nan-win, so I stuck up for my cousin and told Y'tai-cat that it is not good to lie..."

O'vel-win nodded and made noises of agreement in all of the correct places as the boy clung to his back.

The following day, he returned to work. The small group of technicians made much progress on the Machine and test results performed looked promising. The technician's returned home, purses healthier and with satisfied smiles. The mood lasted for O'vel-win right until the point that he reached the doors to the living spaces of his immediate family.

"Why is your son insisting on rejecting my daughter, S'vel-hen? You know he won't find a girl as good as mine elsewhere." 'Aunty' D'lua-ning was wed to his grandfather's cousin's second son and was the doting mother of H'lua-win.

"D'lua-ning," he heard the voice of his mother attempt to reason. "We cannot change what is in the hearts of our children, nor should we. My son cannot see H'lua-win as a wife. It is a shame, but it is what it is." He understood that his mother was saying this to be diplomatic. Although she did not mind the girl, she didn't have much time for the mother.

"He is too fussy," the woman continued to rant. "My daughter would make him a wonderful wife. He should be thankful that any girl have an interest considering."

"Oh and what is that supposed to mean?"

D'lua-ning did not hear the warning undertone of his mother's words. "Why his foolish job of course. I understand that it was difficult for you, finding him an apprenticeship that would make a better man of him. You were probably grateful so you accepted his placement. With a wife and children to think of he would definitely reconsider his life choices. H'lua-win would steer him onto a better path. Is that not better for you as well, S'vel-hen? It must be embarrassing to admit that your son works with the people that created that abomination after all."

"D'lua-ning," his mother said, sternly. "I believe that we are done here and I wish for you to leave."

"Well, I never!" The woman became indignant, as if she was the one to be wronged despite her unpleasant words spoken in a household not her own. "You will regret this, S'vel-hen, mark my words."

O'vel-win stood discreetly to one side as the woman stormed past him without a word of greeting and headed back towards her own part of the mountain. He waited a few breaths before entering his home, where his mother was looking angry and flustered. "The cheek of that woman, so rude," she muttered as she cleaned up all clues that her distant cousin's wife had graced her abode.

"Hello, mother," O'vel-win greeted. "I am home."

"Welcome home, sweetheart," his mother smiled, but it was clearly strained.

He looked downcast as he approached her. "Is it my fault?" He asked softly.

"No, no," his mother sighed. "You had every right to turn her down, but those women refuse to take no for an answer. Trust me, no good will come from any bad words she might have about you. All of the family would agree to your right of choice."

"Just as they will all agree with her about my career choice," O'vel-win said, wryly.

"They just do not understand it," his mother said, patting his shoulder. "I can't say that I fully do, but if your words become truth, I can see your work will be good for our people. Given time, they might too."

*****

Whatever harm or influence D'lua-ning sought to bring about came to nothing. Family members liked to gossip just as anyone, but just as both mother and son claimed, as much as his career might fall to judgement, his right to choose his bride was not. Thus things settled around the estate to the usual tidbits of gossip, such as one young man attempting to woo a girl from another family and how pitiful a certain young wife was as she struggled to start a family with her husband and how 'talented' a certain spoiled child happened to be... or not as the case may be.

Not much progress was made at his place of work with the Machine either, for the step forward that had been recently made, they were forced two steps back as further tests failed to produce results and they were all wondering in which way things had gone wrong. He was still mulling things over as the wagon carrying himself and his colleagues entered the town in order to drop them off.

O'vel-win stretched his legs before jumping from the wagon and saying his goodbyes. His stomach rumbled and he wondered if he could trade tokens for a snack to sustain him before reaching his home for the evening meal. Heading down the street towards the market, he noticed a familiar form, but had to wonder for a moment where he had encountered this person and then it came to him;

"The tree farmer from the school!" The young man in question glanced toward him and he felt the heat in his face rise as he realised he had spoken out loud. He coughed into his fist. "Oh... sorry."

K'tai-tul 's smile contained mirth, causing his eyes to twinkle as if containing suns within their pale depths. He was a handsome young man and he had an inch or so more height than O'vel-win. With such features plus his occupation, that whilst tougher than some, was still considered honourable, it wouldn't be any wonder for him to already be wed. They were of similar ages, but there were those who just had more fortune, he mused.

"We meet again," K'tai-tul said and held out his hand. O'vel-win placed his palm against the other, noting the roughness of the skin, an indicator that this was a man worked hard with them.

"How is your small sister and your family?" O'vel-win asked politely.

"Fine," came the reply, though there was a little hesitation. "And yours?"

"Doing well," O'vel-win returned. "My young cousin speaks of your sister often, about how clever she is mostly."

"It is a shame that her cleverness will mostly go to waste," K'tai-tul said honestly. "A tree farming family requires more muscle than mind."

"She is unable to be apprenticed out?" O'vel-win asked curiously.

"Sadly, that won't be an option for her," K'tai-tul replied, sadness in his tone. "As much as both she and I might wish otherwise."

"I'm sorry," he regretted bringing up a potentially painful topic.

"We've laid to rest our regrets," K'tai-tul said with a reassuring smile. His lips did not stretch broadly as was a habit of O'vel-win, but somehow the man found that these smiles revealed more unspoken words that his own.

"So are you in town for business or pleasure today?" O'vel-win asked.

"I couldn't claim either," came the response. "I am seeking a gift to give cheer to my aunt-in-law. She is suffering with the loss of a child and has yet to recover her well being. But when it comes to women, I admit, I remain at a loss."

"Surely not," O'vel-win jested. "A man, such as yourself, must have a wife or at least be sought after as a husband."

"No, no," he answered, but without distress, "I am still very single."

O'vel-win allowed this piece of information to sink into his mind and found himself nodding with satisfaction. Even if he did not physically compare with this man, it seemed their status was similar, O'vel-win could even feel smug knowing he had had at least one suitor, but he did not. "So do you seek, perhaps a sweet treat or a distraction?"

"I was, originally," K'tai-tul replied. "But the more I thought of this, the more it seemed to not be right. I feel as if that would just be a plaster stuck over a wound to hide it."

"I don't think I am of much help," O'vel-win said, honestly. "I am also a little clueless when it comes to women, despite being from a family filled with them. My mother laments at times. That and I do not know your aunt-in-law, so my opinions would hold next to know weight."

"Still, I appreciate the company," K'tai-tul gave him one of his smiles and O'vel-win felt his stomach flutter, but the feeling was fleeting, so he laid the blame for it on his hunger. He glanced over the sweet pastries that they happened to be close to and made enquiries before selecting two. One he handed to his new friend, who groaned in appreciation. O'vel-win's throat felt suddenly dry. "How did you know that I loved frostberry?"

He shook his head, of course he did not know, but felt as if the man might have his fill of fruit from trees considering that he had traded plum jam with H'lua-win before. That and frostberry was a rare delicacy as it grew in the coldest regions north and had to be carefully prepared before being shipped to the warmer climates. They ate their pastries as they walked side by side, glancing over wares that they passed.

"You know," O'vel-win mentioned, suddenly recalling a thing, "My mother once spoke of a sister's miscarriage, aunty felt as if she had failed her husband. Perhaps your aunt-in-law needs reassurance that it was not her fault that nature treated her cruelly. Ah, but the last thing she needs is to be told that she will fall again and all will be well. Born or not, it must be hard to lose a child and be expected to move on quickly."

They paused beside a stall of children's toys and K'tai-tul picked up a small carved doll. "I think you are right," he said, quietly. "It must be hard losing a child." A small, almost distant smile appeared upon his face as if drawn into his mind. O'vel-win felt a slight ache in his heart, but could not say why. K'tai-tul bought the doll, before turning to O'vel-win and giving him a much warmer smile. "Thank you."

This time, O'vel-win could not ignore the flutters within his stomach.