by D. H. Aire
“What?” Ander asked.
“Where did they get the stuff?” Gallen said.
“Apparently some apothecary setting up for festival,” he answered.
“That must be some apothecary…” Gallen said. “I’ve never heard of such a medicinal.”
Aaprin shook his head. “But why?”
“Perhaps, the apothecary’s target was not two foolish boys, who do stand out in a crowd, but their master,” Juels could not help but say.
“They only took half each,” Aaprin said.
“And it has… incapacitated them. Can you imagine what it might have done to Lord Je’orj?” Gallen said.
“He’s lucky they didn’t dose him with it, seeking to… help him,” Ander added.
Juels stared and glanced at her sandaled toes. Luck.
#
Lord Westerleaf watched the carriages and their escort of formerly retired Legionnaire’s parade back upTier with a line of guest carriages and their bodyguards joining them as they came further and further upTier. “I don’t see the mageling boys.”
“Drat, they must have used it on themselves,” the dark cloaked man said.
“Do you think we might be lucky enough that it killed them?”
“At their age? Only if one overdosed on the majority of it.”
“Would we were so lucky,” the elford said. “Apparently, I have a wedding to attend then, where I must smile at the likes of Count Tristan.”
“Will you marry the Lady Belina then?”
“Who knew that being a bachelor would grant me such a chance as this? Marrying Grendel’s daughter actually puts me on the dais...”
The other nodded.
“Perhaps, the other families will see me as the traditionalist I am… a voice at Court offering Her Majesty sensible advice. And should we succeed an accident will befall my near child-bride that will leave me the opportunity to become consort to the Empress, and Highmage, of course.”
The man nodded. “I will see to it you have what you need then.”
“I take it the apothecary will not be a problem.”
“No one will ever find his body.”
“Excellent.”
#
Carwina’s hand trembled as she entered Court. Representatives of those in the Empress’s bridal party were here. Here final… agreements would be made. She had a decision to make. Lady Rowena, the head of an Imperial mercantile house, was speaking with Sianhiel even now. He glanced at her and smiled, which gave Rowena pause until she noted the entrance of Lady Karolynia and her granddaughter.
“She can’t be.”
Sianhial turned, “She’s quite the gall. I did not expect her to accept Her Majesty’s invitation.”
Rowena glared, “She plays the game. She’s marrying off Belina to best advantage.”
“She’s likely already made the arrangements. I wonder who the unlucky…” at Rowena’s dark look, he said, “uh, lucky fellow is.”
“Sianhiel,” she said, “perhaps you could find out.”
“You know as well as I do how that would look.”
“I’m sure Belina will be offered with a fine dowry,” she replied with a thin smile.
“She’s little more than a child.”
“Please find out who Karolynia’s sold her to.”
“Sold her?”
“Believe me, I put nothing past that… that… never mind. Just do this for me and I’ll owe you.”
“Beyond considering marrying me?”
“I could do worse… Westerleaf’s sister working the crowd.”
“Your enterprises would be bankrupt within the year.”
“His partnerships do seem to be the worse for working with him.”
There was an imploring look in Rowena’s eyes, he had never seen before. “As you wish, my dear lady.”
#
Karolynia frowned thoughtfully as Lord Sianhiel came over to them. “Do not tell me you are interested in Belina?”
The young woman suddenly looked a bit less terrified, which made Sianhiel distinctly uncomfortable. “Why, of course, I am… who wouldn’t be?”
“See, another suitor. Your father’s treason truly does not lessen your prospects.”
“That’s… excellent, grandmother.”
“Of course, it is. So, Lord Sianhiel, what do you seek in such an arrangement?”
“I’m not one for blind bidding.”
The old elvin woman laughed, “No, I suppose, after conversing with Lady Rowena you would not be. What’s she offering?”
He smiled. “A quarter of her holdings.”
Belina gasped as Karolynia turned to glare at her. “My, how unlike her. But, I suppose, she sees great advantage.”
“Likely another loyal to the Empress.”
Karolynia frowned, “That would likely help my granddaughter’s prospects at Court. Perhaps, it would help if I told you how biddable she can be?”
“Funny, that’s not how I understand her to be from school,” he replied.
Belina stiffened.
“Karolynia, I thought we had a deal!” Westerleaf’s sister said as she came over.
“I’m not one to pass up on a better offer,” Karolynia replied. “Care to sweeten the stew?”
As Rowena watched, she realized Sianhiel was making an offer in earnest. He briefly met her gaze. She was going to owe him big.
#
Carwina frowned, watching the scene play out, knowing her hopes of marrying Sianhiel were vanishingly small now. Seeing a boy elflord smile at her, made her wince. No, she was not just going to stand here. She walked right up to Sianhiel and interrupted, “Oh, you are too generous… I think you and I can make a much better arrangement.”
Belina went pale as did Lady Rowena. “What?” Sianhiel rasped.
“I think you and I have much to talk about.”
Those scheming matches around them watched them keenly.
#
“My, my, Senason’s younger brother is the only other eligible left on the bride’s side of the dais,” murmured Llewellyn’s factor at Court.
“The Empress has a soft spot for the lad. She’s placed in honor after that trumped up Faeryn mage of a cousin of hers,” his courtesan replied.
“Ah, look, his family has another would be suitor.”
“Not for long, I believe we hold a substantial note on them as well.”
“Remind them of that, my love,” the Llewellyn said, “then see our friend offers his kinswoman.”
More quietly, she replied with a nod, “I understand she has a killer dowry.”
“So, I’ve heard,” he replied with a thin smile.
#
“Then the matter’s settled,” the elflady said.
Belina’s grandmother nodded, “But, of course.”
“Excellent… I will be certain to share with my brother your comment about how biddable she is. Believe me, he will appreciate that. Greatly.”
Trembling, Belina feigned a smile, knowing she would soon be free of her grandmother and would cut out the heart of anyone who harmed her.
#
The old man looked out from the palace’s east tower. He could hear the Empress yelling, “Where is he? When the Highmage’s is arriving?”
“Everything’s on schedule!” he heard the senior herald almost plead.
“The flowers, I’ve heard no report!”
“They’ve been arranged to your order!”
“His suite!”
“In perfect order, Your Majesty!”
“Everything needs to be perfect!”
“It’s all perfect,” another voice, a woman’s voice, could be heard through the ventilation grille. “It’s all perfect, and you look beautiful, Your Majesty,”
Hiding?
He thought about ignoring the ghost, but what was the point, “You were lucky not to have a High Elvin wedding…”
Lucky? You know I didn’t seek to become Highmage.
That’s why you were the perfect choice,” the
old man said.
I had a true love.
“In the Empress’s eyes that made you all the better a choice as consort.”
My girls are together.
“Carwina will look lovely and she will likely walk with Sianhiel.”
If a ghost could wince, that of Highmage Alrex would have. She does not love him.
“He’s loyal to the Empress.”
She doesn’t love him.
“What, you have no wish for grandchildren?”
That brought a resounding silence.
The old man frowned, “Alrex, what game are you playing?”
Me? You are the one who plays games…
“So, I love chess, but I’ve few enough people who even remember that game. Yet, old friend, I think you elves have your own version… Alrex? Alrex… huh, a ghost, leaving me to talk to myself. Go figure.”
#
As the carriage reached the First Tier, Raven dove upon it and climbed in the window. She shimmered and turned into a little girl. “Satisfied,” Cle’or asked, holding out the box.
Raven nodded, crouching naked, ‘I will not… like wearing that.’
“Only because you won’t be able to change back until it deteriorates,” Fri’il said. “It won’t be so bad.”
‘Never been human so long.’
:There are worse things,: Staff shared.
Raven crawled into George’s arms. “It’ll be all right,” he whispered. “And you’ll be standing with Lonny. You like her.”
We got your back, she thought back at him.
#
Terus moaned, lying on the bed, curled up. “We can’t miss the wedding,” Terus rasped. “We just can’t.”
Revit rolled over, “Well, how?”
Their warder stood watching. “Balfour told you it will eventually wear off.”
“But we’ll miss the wedding,” Terus wailed.
Revit nodded, “And…”
“And you’ll never get a better chance to stare at Ander,” the warder replied.
“It would have been… funny,” Revit railed.
Terus sighed, “If we didn’t have to be naked.”
The warder stared, “You both are ridiculous. Will you never grow up?”
“We were trying,” Revit said, chuckling.
“We’re really grown now,” Terus said with a laugh. “Ow.”
The pair was quiet for a time. They glanced at each other, “I really just wanted to be there for Je’orj and the others…” Revit said. “It was funny learning that Ander might have to bond with one of us…”
“Well, if not us, she’s just going to bond Aaprin, which won’t be too bad,” Terus said.
“She’s marrying Aaprin, you loons,” the warder said.
“What?” they chorused.
“I thought you both understood?”
“Understood what?”
“All those in the groom’s and bride’s parties must be unmarried, unless they are children. Ander’s too old to be considered a child. Aaprin and the others will be married as part of the ceremony.”
Both boys struggled to rise, “No, she can’t!”
“Why, because she’s your true love or something?”
“No, because she loves Ruke, and he’s not invited!” Terus cried.
“What?”
“It’s true, look, she’s beautiful and everything, but… she’s pining for Ruke and, if anyone should be marrying her, it’s him.”
They both struggled, but couldn’t sit up. “Drat!”
The warder stared and did not say a word for a moment. “If you could get out of bed and go to the wedding, would you make things right? Not try to bond her yourselves?”
“We wouldn’t hurt Ander for the world!” Terus shouted as Revit nodded.
“Well, there might be a way then.”
They stared. “You can’t mean…”
“You won’t be able to walk naked down the aisle.”
They looked at each other. “Uh, you can’t…”
The warder came to the foot of the bed they shared, hating to be apart even in sleep. “You will make this right.”
“But…” Revit murmured.
Terus nudged him. “There’s no other way and… we can’t be sure exactly what will happen.”
“That’s what worries me,” Revit replied.
“But we’d be there and may be able to help Ander.”
The warder stared at them, dreading they would agree, fearing they would not.
#
The guests arrived soon after the Highmage’s carriages. They began filling the Great Hall, milling about and encouraged by the well-dressed dwarves to sit. George leaned on his staff watching from the balcony, knowing soon he would be called to begin his naked march through that hall to await his elvin bride.
“Je’orj.”
He turned and saw Se’and standing there barefoot in her robe. “Herald Varian’s looking for you. It’s nearly time.”
They returned to the chamber they had been assigned, guarded by Aaprin and Gallen’s warder. “Milord Highmage,” the warder said, gesturing to the door which opened for them.
“Thank you.”
Lonny stood within wearing her elvin silk gown, which gave off a similar pearly incandescence as that of Raven in hers. “Then the order of precedence is as follows: Lord Je’orj will march first with Se’and, Fri’il, and Cle’or. Once on the dais, you will move to his left, forming a semi-circle, and you will, at first, hold his left hand, later rest your hand on his hip, holding Fri’il’s hand as she holds Cle’or's. Raven and I will follow behind you and I will place my right hand on Je’orj’s shoulder and Raven will hold my left.
“Balfour and Me’oh will follow us and once reaching the dais will move along the semi-circle so that Balfour with be facing Je’orj as his best man. You and Me’oh must touch no one else. The Empress’s party will complete the circle on the other side with the old prelate of the Temple of Knowledge in the center.”
They nodded.
“After Balfour and Me’oh, Aaprin will approach with Gallen and Ander on either side, Juels following behind. I’ve discussed this carefully with the heralds. Aaprin you will put your arms around their waists. During the vows, you will hug each other close and may whisper the marriage forms to each other. Juels, you will press close up to Aaprin from behind.”
“She’ll what?” Aaprin rasped.
Lonny frowned, “She’s adopted Carthartan and will be officially bound to you.”
“I didn’t agree to marry or get engaged to her.”
Gallen nudged him. “You’re not, exactly. She’s far too young… More of like a Cathartan bond. If Revit and Terus were here, she’d be bonded to one of them, more like.”
Juels winced.
With a sigh, Aaprin shook his head, muttering, “Just wonderful.”
“Now, I suggest, all of you get over feeling embarrassed and remove your robes. And, gentlemen, you do not want to appear less than manly.”
That drew both laughter and blushes.
Chapter 9 - Preparing for the Ceremony
The Empress stood in her robe, the wall beside her, now a window to events in the Great Hall. Her young elfblooded servant carefully unwrapped the Empress’s Elvinsilk gown and presented it. “Your Majesty,” she said, bowing.
“That is lovely,” said the ogress standing behind her.
The Empress glanced at it, “It’s exquisite.”
Carwina, wearing her Elvinsilk gown, came up to her with a robed Lord Sianhiel by her side. “Majesty, the heralds want to get us into position.”
“It is perfect, isn’t it?” the Empress said, taking hold of her half-sister’s hands.
“No one will ever forget it,” Carwina said with a smile.
Sianhiel was astute enough to say not a word, not really wanting the Empress’s complete attention.
The Empress kissed her cheek and muttered, “Forgive me if I’ve made a mess of things… Mother never told me.”
“I know,” she whispered back. “And I could have done much worse, believe me.”
The Empress smiled and watched the pair move past her cordon of ogre and warder bodyguards.
The human orchestra began playing the fanfare, which echoed across the palace. The prelate began marching in his scarlet robes down the aisle. The Empress leaned forward, frowning, “The Keeper of the Keys is the prelate of the Temple of Knowledge, too.”
The ogress nodded, “He’s multifaceted.”
The Empress turned, “You talk?”
“You do, why shouldn’t I?”
“I, uh, didn’t think ogres could talk.”
“Oh, that’s one of the things your mother appeared to hate about us… you see we tend to be rather blunt.”
“I, uh, see… that always did bother Mother. She was always having to be right and all. Uh, what do ogres talk about?”
“Oh, believe me, when ogres talk we have the most fascinating things to discuss… and not just about how we like our food to be eaten live.”
The Empress frowned, “Um, I guess it’s good you’re on my side then.”
The ogress smiled, “I’m only kidding. But, honestly you look lovely… good enough to, uh, eat. Will settle for dealing with those who would betray you and the Empire, though.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”
#
Herald Varian paused. “Remember, you will be standing between Lady Babylon and Lady Me’oh on your part of the semi-circle. Juels, as a child, you will stand behind them, next to Lady Raven… just be certain not to touch anyone during the ceremony, understood?”
Juels nodded. “Definitely.”
Gallen and Ander turned to stood face Aaprin as Varian hurried off to have a few last words with others, leaving Juels half-hidden behind them. The Elvinsilk was flowing with patterns that seemed to stray away from what he most hoped not to be staring at.
“Well?” Gallen said.
“Um.”
Aaprin swallowed, standing there, his heart thumping. Oh, By the Gate.
“Well, he looks like he’s getting excited,” Ander grumped.
He covered his private with his hands.
“You can’t do that, Aaprin,” Gallen said. “They need to see your manhood and know we’re, uh, in full flower, so to speak.”
Juels muttered, “Uh, I really thought this stuff was going to be less uniformly transparent.”