After hanging up, Hesta hurried out of the room. Several Quicksilver Needles on the second floor wore the same expression she did. Ende had already dropped into a half-crouch. "Where did you hear about 'marriage'?"
Zoe frowned. "...Could it have been Qizhen and her fiancé just now?"
"Grass Sprout told us that once you get married, you can get lots and lots of sheep!" Kiki said excitedly. She stretched out her arms, nearly as far as they could go. "More than thirty—maybe even more!"
"And two calves!" Eleven added, pressing both hands against the sides of her forehead. "Grass Sprout said they were baby cows, but they were already taller than me!"
"Wait..." Victoria had caught a new name. "Grass Sprout, Grass Sprout is...?"
A commotion rose outside. The sounds of the flock drew closer, startling those inside. When they went downstairs to look, the once-empty clearing had filled with lambs—along with two tawny calves. They followed behind the Shepherd, herded together by several large dogs.
A man in a long robe stood at the door. He cast a cold glance inside and asked something in the local dialect.
Santa hurried over from the backyard, then looked up at Hesta. "Salima, they're here for you."
Kiki understood the words and could not help looking at Hesta. "Is someone here getting married?"
"No one is getting married." Hesta stepped forward. "What is it?"
The robed man bowed to Hesta and quickly moved aside to clear a path. "This way, please."
Hesta turned back and told Lairin to go upstairs and wait for Tulan's call, then followed the robed man outside. Victoria soon caught up with her. Behind them, Santa was helping the Shepherd drive all the lambs and calves into the cramped pen in the backyard.
They arrived together before a