Nathaniel grinned. “It was one time. It will be fine.”
“Of course, you can bring your Tiro,” Desmond said. “If they assign you someone before then.”
“Oh.” Nathaniel faded for a moment. “I don't think they will. Do you?”
“I don't know,” Desmond answered. “They may have someone already in mind, or they may be watching the tournaments late in the year. They will likely give you a warrior, Nathaniel. And you should be prepared for that.”
“I know,” Nathaniel let out a breath. “I just think I've grown so much since then.”
“You have,” Desmond answered. “And I'm sure the council sees that too. For now, don't dread the future. Whoever you get will join into our family, our bond.”
“Our bond,” Nathaniel said. “Is growing mighty large.”
“It is,” Desmond replied. “And one day, when you look back on all of this, you will see your accomplishments not in the quests you win, but in your Tiros, and their Tiros. It may seem a long way off, but trust me, Nathaniel, it will come full circle.”
“You've been a wonderful Maestro, Desmond,” Nathaniel said, in a rare moment of emotion.
“And you will be better still.” Desmond rose. “There is much to do. I'll see you tomorrow, then?”
“Yes,” Nathaniel assured him. “And by sundown tomorrow, you'll be pledged. No longer free.”
“Or more free than ever,” Desmond answered, “depending on how you look at it. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” Nathaniel called, unable to keep the smile off his face. There was a time when these past few days would have been a nightmare. But now, they seemed like a good dream that was just beginning
Chapter 23
“Is this what Desmond had in mind when he suggested you pledge yourselves to each other?” Sybil asked, as she looked around the historic church. “It's beautiful, but it's a bit…old-fashioned.”
“They had a quest here once,” Mariah said. “And Sienna thinks it's stuck in the stone age, which makes me think of our love. Forever.”
“That's beautiful,” Sybil said, as they stood waiting just off the main alter. “And it's wonderful that it was free just when you needed it.”
“Aye, well,” Mariah replied. “That took a bit of magical convincing.”
Sybil shook her head. Mariah hadn't opted for the traditional white, flowing Earth dress. She simply wore a white tunic, with her hair gathered behind her head and her face bare. She looked stunning. Her sightless eyes on fire with hope and happiness.
“And maybe you'll be next,” Sybil nudged Sienna. “Now that you and Devon are officially going to move into together.”
“I don't know,” said the young girl, her blush prominent “But maybe…one day. He seems nervous about it.”
“That's just the way boys are,” Mariah said. “He'll come around, don't you worry.”
“Right. We're all ready,” Christa, ever the organizer, entered the room. Her hands were on her hips, her face determined. This ceremony was going to go off perfectly, and even better than perfectly, if she had anything to do with it. “The boys are waiting. The music is set. Mariah?”
“I suppose all they are waiting for now is me,” Mariah said, with a smile. “Does Desmond look nervous?”
“He looks cool as a cucumber, as always,” Christa said. “But I can feel his mind isn't quite as smooth. I've never really seen Desmond nervous before.”
“Hopefully for a good reason,” Mariah said, and Christa reached out her arm. She and Sybil were going to walk her down the aisle, to the organ playing a slow, romantic tune. “Shall we, then?”
“Are you sure you want me to throw these?” Sienna asked, picking up the basket of rice. “It seems odd.”
“Humans on earth throw flower petals,” Mariah answered. “Which we obviously aren't going to do. But we can throw rice, which they do often. It isn't going to cause you any issues?”
“No, I doubt I have any magic left,” she said, trying to smile. “I'll be fine.”
“Then you're on first,” Mariah said, shooing her on.
Desmond was watching the end of the aisle, his hands folded. His heart was thudding out of his chest as Mariah approached, her arms tight in their Tiro's.
“What do I do with this?” Sienna asked Nathaniel in a whisper, standing beside Desmond.
“Leave it.” He pointed to the alter.
“Earth traditions are weird,” she said to him with a smile, as she took a seat. Nathaniel smirked at her.
“Wait until you hear the vows.”
The priest, who had performed more than human weddings, was unphased by this as Mariah approached and put her hands in Desmond's.
“Well, my love,” Desmond said, as he squeezed her hands. “Forty years have led to this moment.”
“Forty years and a lot of hope,” she said. “I can't believe we are doing this.”
“Now or forty years ago, I have always belonged to you,” he assured her. “You know that.”
“Shall we?” she asked, and he nodded to the priest, who cleared his throat. The condition to getting married in an Earth Church was Earth vows, which Desmond didn't mind. He always had an interest in different cultures and Mariah knew it was more about the ceremony than the words that came within it.
“Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by His presence and first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and His Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people. The union of husband and wife is intended by God for their mutual joy, for the help and comfort given each other in prosperity and adversity, and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.”
She didn't know what half of those words meant, as they were using the Earth region that had been around for thousands of years, but it didn't really matter to her. Her heart soared with joy as Desmond squeezed her hand. She felt the happy presence of those around her and knew that she was making her dreams come true.
“Into this union, Mariah and Desmond now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully wed, speak now, or else forever hold your peace.”
No one dared say a word, although Nathaniel considered it, simply to be funny. But he knew that Desmond would knock him upside the head if he so much as tried to speak.
“I charge you both, here in the presence of God and the witness of this company, that if either of you know any reason why you may not be married lawfully and in accordance with God's Word, do now confess it?”
“No,” Mariah answered first, her confidence strong. "There is absolutely no reason why we should not be married."
“No,” Desmond replied. “There is no reason why we should not be married.”
Married was the old word, but they were happy to comply, as they stood even closer to each other.
“Mariah," the priest turned to her next.
“Will you have this man to be your husband, to live together with him in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” she answered, remembering her prompting in the rehearsal that had taken place just that morning. She hadn't realized that there would be so many opportunities to speak. She thought that they would just sweep in, nod their heads, sign some papers and be done with it. But Earth clearly had different ways of doing things She was just happy that so far, she had remembered to speak at the right times.
“Desm
ond, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together with her in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?”
“I will,” he said, his deep voice echoing through the stone arches. She always loved his voice deep, rumbling, and comforting. When she lay her head against his chest and closed her eyes, she knew that she was safe, no matter what danger was approaching.
“Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?”
“We do,” Nathaniel led the cry, enthusiastically Desmond resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Nathaniel, despite his age, would always be a child.
“Bless, O L’ord, these rings as a symbol of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves to each other, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“Oops.” Desmond glanced to Mariah, who shrugged. The Earth God had come from Nature, had relied on Nature, had waived his hand and changed water to wine, a magic trick. As far as Mariah was concerned it was all one God, and that was Mother Nature herself.
“The rings, please,” the priest prompted and Nathaniel stepped forward. He had two small gold bands in his hand, plain and unarmored Neither had wanted flash bands. They were simple, in their love, in their dreams. All they wanted was to belong to each other.
Desmond went first, picking up the ring and Mariah's long fingered hand. He slipped it over her knuckle, whispering the words they had been taught, “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.”
Nathaniel placed the ring in Mariah's hand next. She had also always taken comfort in Desmond's hands, his strong finger gripping hers.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you,” she said, as she put his ring on. It glinted in the sunlight coming through the windows, and Desmond vowed that he was never going to take it off.
“Now that Mariah and Desmond have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.” The priest crossed himself, which made Desmond wonder whether he was going to perform some magic as well. But instead, he just bowed his head.
“Let us stand and pray together the words our Savior taught us,” the priest said. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
It interested Desmond how close it sounded to what the swore to Nature, to magic.
“Amen,” he echoed, as he considered the pledges they had taken.
“God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you. The Lord mercifully with his flavor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace. That you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting. Amen. The peace of the Lord be with you always,"
“And also with you,” Mariah said.
“Mariah and Desmond, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife. Desmond, you may kiss the bride.”
He hadn't actually expected that part and he blushed. He had never kissed Mariah in public, and certainly not in front of all his Tiros. But then, if anyone knew that they were actually kissing in private, it was their Tiros.
He leaned in, planting a kiss on her lips with love. She kissed him back in such a way that his knees went weak.
“Forever,” Mariah said and he smiled. Witches believed that their souls remained together as they vanished in Nature, absorbed and reused. He would never leave her side, even if they were just two dust specks floating in the universe. In the whole galaxy, he had found his soul match – the one that was shaped by Nature to be beside him.
“Forever,” he promised her.
Chapter 24
“Watch the tournament with you?” Sienna replied in surprise to Nathaniel's request. “Why?”
“My new Tiro is competing,” Nathaniel said. “And I thought it would be good closure for both of us.”
“Your new Tiro?” she said. It had only been a week since Desmond and Mariah's pledge ceremony, and they had already moved out. As soon as she was strong enough to travel to Jeffro, she and Devon would be gone, as well. “Who is it? Already?”
“I don't know,” Nathaniel said. “The Jurors are being cryptic, per usual. They want to see if I make the connection on my own.”
“Is that because they feel guilty about randomly assigning you a Tiro?” she said. “Because they shouldn't do that.”
“I didn't think they would do it so soon,” Nathaniel admitted. “Nor did I really have any interest in them doing so. But I suppose…it's only right, given how none of us are going to live forever. They don't like inactive Maestros. You don't have to come if you aren't comfortable.”
“No,” she said, after a moment. “I'd like to come, at least to watch. I always wanted to compete in more tournaments than I did.”
He gave her a soft look. “I'm sorry we didn't find a way,” he said. “I wish we could have.”
“It's all right,” she assured him. “I learned early on that I couldn't experience everything. It's why I read so many books about warrior quests, why I always asked you. That was the way I experienced things, and I was all right with it.”
“I imagine you'll get quite a few fans,” he said. “The young ones are taught about you, the Tiro with determination.”
“But I'm not a witch,” she said, and he smiled.
“Of course, you are,” he said. “And you are as special now as you were that first day.”
“You're emotional today,” she teased as she took his arm. She was still razor thin, cheek bones bare of any plumpness, and eyes hollow. He would wonder for the rest of his life if blocking her magic was the best choice. But for now, he accepted he had to look forward to the future.
The tournament hall was crowded, with young potentials running to and fro. Maestros without trainees were sitting off to the side in the observation stands, looking at each move critically Those who were just spectators were on the other side, noticeably more at ease. Sienna looked around at the scene with a smile.
“Was that you and Desmond, once upon a time? In the observation stands?”
“No,” Nathaniel answered, in surprise “We were in the spectator stands when we found you. I believe I even sat on the floor, it was so crowded. We weren't looking, Sienna, but you got our attention anyways.”
“I wasn't looking, either,” she replied. “And I am grateful for the years I got.”
He led her over to the observation stands, trying to be blind to the many stares that they got. Their story was so usual, so outlandish and so odd, that the other Maestros couldn't help but stare. They didn't allow their Tiros to whisper, but Nathaniel felt eyes burn into his neck as he settled down beside her.
The tournament started with its usual razzle and dazzle showcase, usually by the top Tiro potentials who would be picked right away. It was stunning, with rainbow colors of magic, back flips and vanishing acts.
In the center of it, there was a girl who caught Nathaniel's gaze. Displaying levitation, that was uncommon in Tiros that young, she was literally head and shoulders above the rest. She was curvy, short, the opposite of Sienna's outward appearance, but it didn't seem to stop her. Her eyes were focused on her task, and he heard whispers as she displayed her skill.
It wasn't until the combat that Nathaniel knew that was his new Tiro. She entered the arena, a
nd in less than ten seconds, had slammed her opponent to the floor, her face focused on his, and her magic effortless. She never displayed a hint of emotion, never moved so much as an eyebrow. Her magic was clear, flawless and her body was rigid as she flooded through it.
The next few opponents to face her were the same – put down within five seconds. There was almost an anger within her, a vengeance that was not acceptable in the magical world.
The crowd roared its approval and shock as she put down yet another. Her eyes flashed up, only for a moment, before she looked to the ground
“Such skill,” came the whispers.
“Such anger,” came another. “What happened to her?”
“Can she be tamed?”
“It's that one,” Sienna said, softly, as Nathaniel rose to applaud. “Isn't it?”
“Yes.” Nathaniel sat beside her as they continued to watch the display. “I think so.”
“Who is she?” Sienna's face was emotionless as she watched.
Nathaniel reached for his program, unable to take his eyes off a warrior potential that had scared even him.
“Prada Reigns,” he said, looking at the program. “Creator.”
“What?” Sienna leaned over, reading from the printed manual. “Princess of Powys…She's royalty. Powys doesn't exist?”
“It doesn't exist anymore,” Nathaniel said. “Her planet is dust now…Oh, my. I don't know if I can do this.”
Under Prada's picture, there was a description of her abilities and vices. Her magical levels were off the charts, but it appeared that was all. In classes, Prada displayed no emotion. She didn't speak. She didn't react. She destroyed.
“If they think you are capable…”
“Once,” Nathaniel said. “I would have been thrilled for a Tiro like that. But not now, not when you've made me more than a warrior. I hope it's not her.”
“Of course, it's her,” Sienna said, as the whispers went around them about the girl. “She needs you the most.”
Nathaniel's heart sank as he stared at the picture.
“I thought the Jurors would understand that I have become more than a warrior. That I need to be diverse to understand magic better.”
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