as we hug each other and I introduce her to my daughter, who was just a wee baby when Talis saw her last. I turn back to Louisa, "It will be wonderful to catch up on old times, and the dinner tomorrow at Phaistos sounds wonderful. It will be nice for Spacia to see someone less ancient than myself, Callista, or even Ismene."

I chuckle, as I recount some of the episodes on the way here, and of course, Spacia chimes in with her favorite theme song, "Ohhhhhhh, mothhhher."

"It will be fun planning the coronation; you do remember how I love planning dinner parties, don't you? But I daresay this will be a bit more complicated than just a simple dinner party." I sigh. "Actually, I've gotten out of the habit of planning much of anything the past few years, since the death of both my husband and mother. I am sure this will be good for me, however, to get the blood flowing in my brain once again."

"Did Callista and Ismene take our baggage to our rooms? I think both Spacia and I are feeling about done in." I look over at Spacia, who is looking a little droopy, very unlike her and nod. "yes, I do think it would be best to have a rest before we do anything else, as much as I would like to sit here with you and talk. Ahhhh, but we have plenty of time for that, don't we?"

I smile at Louisa as Talis takes us to our rooms.