by Charles Lamb
“Do you? Cassie has told me many things about you. Who you were, where you came from. You and Ben come from a place very different from this realm and he struggled with that difference with Abrianna’s mother,” she replied. Alex presumed he was referring to something Alex knew nothing about. They had never talked about Ben’s wife.
“Amelia, this is different. The boy was offered a chance to go home and he turned it down for Cassie,” Ben replied softly. Alex figured this was not the time to question Ben about his past, but his declaration softened Amelia.
“Is this true?” Amelia asked Alex as she turned back to face him.
“Yes,” Alex replied flatly, seeing no need to expand on the subject. Now more than ever, he saw returning home without Cassie as no option at all.
“What is the second thing?” Amelia asked, apparently satisfied with her daughter’s suitor.
“That is why we are speaking privately,” Ben replied slowly.
----*----
By the time Alex had left Ben and Amelia, it was dark out. They had sent word earlier that everyone should eat without them, as they had urgent matters of state to attend to. In reality, Ben had uncovered a bit of disturbing information that if proved to be true, could change Cassie’s life forever.
Sworn to secrecy, Alex departed the study and made his way to the royal chambers, his quarters as the Windfall head of state. Entering the room, he found Cassie already changed and ready for bed, with a plate of food on the table.
“I had the kitchen make you something in case you didn’t eat,” Cassie replied to the unasked question.
“Thanks. No, we didn’t have time. Your Uncle has a pile of things for me to do and some of it couldn’t wait,” he lied as he picked up the plate and started eating while sitting on the edge of the bed.
“You know you can’t lie to me to save your life,” Cassie whispered as she leaned over to kiss his neck.
“That is true, but I am sworn to honor your Uncle’s wishes. I can tell you he wanted to be sure your mother was ok with me,” Alex replied between bites, knowing that subject would distract Cassie for the moment.
“Mom loves you!” Cassie replied.
“Yet she questioned my dedication to you,” Alex responded, as he set the empty plate down, exchanging it for the nearby cup.
“She did?” Cassie asked in response.
“Well, of course she did. She really doesn’t know you like I do,” Cassie added almost immediately.
“Rest assured, after our conversation with your Uncle, she seems satisfied I am not merely taking advantage of you,” Alex responded playfully, after taking a sip from the cup and then replacing it on the table.
In an effort to end the conversation, Alex gently pushed Cassie back onto the bed, kissing her passionately. Her eager response was more than enough to tell him the conversation was finished for the night.
----*----
Bright and early the next morning, Alex and Cassie chatted lightly as they descended the staircase leading to the private dining room. It had been a long time since the two had been able to enjoy each other’s company, unburdened with a trip or task.
Upon entering the dining room, they were surprised to find Ben, Amelia, Abrianna, Leander and the mermaid twins all in attendance.
“Are we late?” Cassie asked as they found themselves seats among the group. Scanning the table, Alex could tell they must have been there for some time as most had finished eating.
“No dear, we just got an early start. I am told that you no longer have your own room so now have reason to linger in the morning,” her mother said in a not completely disapproving tone.
“Mother!” Cassie replied with a tinge of a blush. Alex knew privately that he had been encouraged to delay their morning routine.
“It is just as well as it allowed us to address some questions before your arrival,” Ben commented with a smile. Alex exchanged looks with the man, receiving the slightest nod in return. He then looked to Amelia and the twins, to see their smiles.
“Uncle, what issues?” Cassie asked.
“Come here, girl,” Ben asked as he stood from the table. Cassie did as she was bid, getting up from the table and walking to Ben. Everyone watched as he led her over to a small round table, about waist high. On the table was a silver tray, and a long slender knife.
“Give me your finger,” Ben asked as he extended his hand. Cassie gave a nervous glance about the room as everyone watched.
Taking her hand in his, Ben took the knife and pricked the tip of her finger, drawing several drops of blood in the process. The blood was dripped onto the silver tray, over to one side.
“Kelby?” Ben asked as he released Cassie, but motioned her over to one side of the table rather than redirecting her to her seat. Everyone watched as Kelby got up from her place and proceeded over to Ben.
Alex watched as Ben repeated the procedure with the mermaid, allowing the blood to drop on the opposite side of the tray. He repeated the process a third time with Leena until all three women were standing to one side.
“When these delightful ladies first arrived in Windfall, I could not get over the resemblance they shared with our Cassie. As I spent more time with them, I recognized behaviors that reinforced that opinion,” Ben began.
“While you were gone, I did some research. To begin, I should explain that the ancestor Cassie got her nymph from was her father.”
“Uncle, I don’t understand,” Cassie interrupted.
“You were never told that it was your father that was born of a nymph mother for fear of its influence on you. As he was a halfblooded nymph, you are far closer to true nymph than anyone we have encountered,” Ben explained.
“Your father was male and therefore unable to connect with the nymph blood that ran through his veins,” Amelia began to explain to her daughter.
“When you were born, we had no idea how much the nymph blood would affect you. Then that day in the river, we discovered the true extent of its influence over you,” she finished.
Alex recalled the story Cassie had told him of her coming out, so to speak. As a young woman, likely a teenager, she had gone wading one hot summer day, only to find herself uncontrollably radiating sexuality. He mother had to wade through the admiring boys to lead her back to the castle.
“What Amelia didn’t know was that Cassie’s father was aware of his linage from a very young age. Even without the connection to the nymph blood that you feel, Cassie, he was drawn to water. He struggled with his past, having difficulty resolving the mixed heritage.”
“Before ever meeting your mother, he had gone to sea, sailing out of Windfall and traveling west with the shipping trade as a sailor,” Ben continued, taking over from Amelia.
“He told me many times of his trips to the ports of the west, including Freeport and Tazmain. It is not a stretch to envision a lonely young man enticed by a beautiful young mermaid. Kelby can confirm that mermaids are drawn to men of power. A mermaid would be able to sense the magic in his blood.”
At this point, Cassie began to see where this was leading.
“You don’t think?” she said as she turned to the twins and then her mother.
“There is a way to determine if you are related. When I burn the blood on this plate, we will either see them all burn the same color, the smoke intertwining, or they will burn separately, with Cassie’s smoke separating from Kelby and Leena.”
With that explanation, Ben turned to the table and began to hover over the silver platter. Alex watched as the three nearby women closed in around him, their fates tied to the outcome of the results.
As he watched, Alex saw three aqua flames jump up from the plate, their smoke plumes intertwining into a single braided column. Everyone’s eyes moved from the plate to the three redheads, all with tears running down their faces.
“Sisters?” Cassie said almost silently as she turned to the twins.
“Half-sisters actually, you share the same father. Since mermaids alm
ost never meet their father, it would be normal for them to not know who he was,” Ben corrected.
“Mother, what now?” Cassie asked as she gathered her new found siblings and all three cried together.
“Ben wanted me to know about his suspicions before he told you. As Cassie’s father was my husband, I would gladly take you in as my own daughters,” Amelia said as she stood, looking at the twins for a reply. Rather than speaking, all three rushed her, wrapping her in a blanket of arms and red hair.
Chapter 31
The next several weeks were filled with activity as they planned for the royal wedding. Cassie had more help than she knew what to do with as the twins, Abrianna and Amelia took command of the preparations. With the popularity Alex was generating in Windfall with his economic programs and stability on the seas, they had been pressured to have the wedding in Windfall rather than Great Vale.
Fortunately for Alex, Leander had gathered the courage to ask King Ben for permission to marry Abrianna, which gave Great Vale a royal wedding of their own in the near future. Ben and Leander had to return home to deal with items neglected in their absence, while Alex was left to handle the barrage of questions from the women.
Ben had overseen the division of Tantalus’s treasure before leaving, dividing equal shares for Windfall and Great Vale. He suggested, and Alex agreed, that the remaining eggs be placed in the vaults in Great Vale for safekeeping. With Alex’s talents for dragon interactions, it reduced the possibilities of misinterpreted interactions should a dragon appear unexpectedly.
Alex was able to enlist several of the men destined to return to the west to return the fire glass spear they had borrowed from the temple on the mainland. They were to transport the spear to the Rangers in Tazmain, who would then return the relic to its rightful place in the temple. All were generously compensated and made to understand it was better to have a wizard indebted to you than angered at you. He had no fear that it wouldn’t arrive safely.
In an effort to avoid the constant barrage of questions, Alex did his best to stay away from the castle and remain hidden amongst the businesses he was supporting. The shipyards had begun taking orders as well as performing repairs, to the delight of the tradesmen involved.
The port master was thankful for the return of his manifest, borrowed so long ago, and reported record trade passing through the warehouses. On that note, the Harbormaster reported Captain Regas had escorted two cargo vessels safely to port after chasing off the marauders attempting to pirate the cargo.
As a reward, Alex had treated the good captain and several of his officers and crew to drinks at the Drowning Man. While there, he was relieved to find neither of his newly adopted sisters-in-law still plying their trade in the tavern.
Earlier he had heard Amelia informing the twins that they were now royalty and above frequenting such places. Alex was not about to inform the good Lady that both her daughter and brother had other opinions on that subject. He had little doubt that should the twins choose to do so, the Drowning Man would have the pair patrolling the barroom, looking for victims to scam.
His real fear was the influence the pair would have on his soon-to-be wife. While Cassie was far from a prude, the twins did seem to have a liberating influence on her that made Alex blush. Several times in the last few days he had come home to find all three redheads in his and Cassie’s room, wearing less than a swimsuit while performing some female grooming ritual.
Abrianna had done her best to balance their antics, but even she had thrown her hands up in exasperation on several occasions. Fortunately for all, Cassie did heed her mother’s warnings and toned down the antics.
----*----
The day of the wedding was bright and sunny, the city of Windfall alive with celebration. King Ben had returned to Windfall just a few days earlier, bringing Leander and several other dignitaries with him.
Alex was beside himself trying to accommodate the traveling royalty that descended on Windfall. King Elion arrived via one of his flying horses, while Kings’ Brokkr and Teivel arrived in more traditional fashions.
While Elion had already delivered Rose as his wedding gift, King Teivel offered an exquisite golden figurine depicting a tiny golden Alex, sword extended, facing a giant coiled serpent. The gift was incredibly detailed and caused Cassie to cringe at the memory it depicted.
Masters from all the Houses and Guilds paid their respects to the happy couple, providing tokens of appreciation and gratitude for Alex’s improvements to the city. Even the common folk from the countryside came to see the festivities, as Ben had declared a day of celebration for all.
Privately, Ben had informed Alex that the spoils recovered from House Drakon would more than cover all the costs of the wedding while still providing a sizeable contribution to both Windfall and Great Vale.
Alex discovered he was required to be separated from his intended the day before the celebration, a tradition that seemed to transcend the differing worlds of their origin. He had actually taken up residence on Cassie’s Quest, a few days prior, in an effort to give the women the freedom to share a single room.
Alex had asked Leander to be his best man as Ben would actually be presiding over the ceremony. Cassie had Abrianna as her maid of honor, but continued to outnumber the men with Kelby and Leena as bridesmaids. Poor Kinsey had been awash in all the new arrivals, her only respite when they retreated to the schooner at night with Alex.
When the day finally arrived, Alex found himself in the great hall of the castle, the galleries on both sides filled to capacity. The second tier had been reserved for visiting royalty, insuring them the best possible vantage point. As he scanned the gallery, he noted many a familiar face, with just as many unknown to him.
He was sure Lady Amelia, who would be escorted first in the procession ending with the bride, was the final word on the guest list. Even Ben dared not challenge her on the choices. Alex was just happy to be finally getting married.
As he watched Lady Amelia being led into the room, her position as mother of the bride insuring her the seat behind the bride, he gave a sigh of relief. He looked down to see Kinsey squeezing in between him and Leander, as if looking for protection from the crowds.
“Hang in there, my friend, it’s almost over,” Leander whispered, misunderstanding the exhale.
After Amelia was seated, passing Alex with an adoring smile as she did so, they began with the bridesmaids. Both Leena and Kelby were true visions in the extravagant dresses provided for the occasion. Alex had been told that special materials had been delivered from the elves to dress the entire wedding party.
He could see the material shimmer like nothing he had ever seen before as each of the women passed him by. The material looked alive as it changed colors from a bright pure white to a pearl with rippling streams of color, like the inside of an oyster shell. He could see the mermaid influence with the low-cut bodice presenting a generous amount of cleavage. Their red hair was done up, giving then a look of true elegance.
Next it was Leander’s turn to gasp as Abrianna appeared. Her gown was like the others but with a much more modest cut to the design. In addition, her hair had been left down but clipped back, giving her a mane of brown to accent her green eyes and flawless complexion. The smile she gave both men as she past was absolutely radiant.
Finally, Cassie came into view. Framed in the stone archway that held the open doors, she was in a snow white flowing gown that seemed to cascade off her shoulders and flow out in all directions. Her veil barely covered her face in what appeared like a falling snow, each flake appearing and disappearing as it drifted past her glowing smile.
She seemed to be floating as she approached the altar, her eyes never leaving Alex as she stopped beside him. He reached out and took her hand in his, the warmth of her touch sending a thrill throughout his body. They both then turned to face her Uncle and the ceremony began.
Alex had no real idea what transpired after that, all he recalled was Ben speaking the words, �
��You may kiss the bride” and the ooh’s and aah’s of the crowd.
As they were presented to the witnesses, Alex believed they were beginning the greatest adventure of their lives.
----*----
Elion stood by the railing on the second level of the great hall, watching the festivities below with a smile. He had been one of the many witnesses of the royal marriage between Windfall’s Lord Protector, Alexander Rogers, and now Lady Cassandra Rogers, niece to the King of Great Vale and now Lady of Windfall Castle.
The ceremony had been everything one would expect of a human nuptial, grand on their scale he was sure, but lacking when compared to an Elven affair. Alex had been dressed in a combination of Windfall colors with his symbol of House Rogers emblazoned across the ceremonial breastplate he wore.
Lady Cassandra was resplendent in her gown and accompanying train, all the materials provided as a gift from the elves. Adorned in white and trimmed in the colors of Great Vale, her beautiful red hair had been done up, adding to the elegance of her appearance. Elion had to admit she would challenge an elven bride with her beauty.
It was as he was enjoying the show before him that he felt the presence of another behind him. He didn’t bother turning, as the overwhelming aura of neutrality that washed over him foretold the intruder’s identity. He lost the joy he was feeling, only to have it replaced with ambivalence.
“Here to pay your respects Avenstore?” Elion asked flatly, as the Dark Elf King stepped up to the railing next to him.
“In part, Elion,” Avenstore replied. Both elves stood patiently, each waiting for the other to broach the subject hanging over them.
“She is with child?” Avenstore finally asked, trying to make it sound a question.
“Yes, though unaware. The baby holds great promise as the mixture of wizard and nymph, if female,” Elion replied, knowing it added to the unspoken problem.