The Eternal Rose

by Gail Dayton

  "For a thief.” He added the words he knew she was thinking.

  "For anyone.” Leyja's fierce retort startled him. “I didn't understand how it was. Now, Kallista's magic has shown me. Shown us all. I know.” She took a step closer, slid her hand under the Reinine's, supporting her appeal. “Will you say yes?"

  The others moved, joining her, adding their hands so that they all reached out with the Reinine's hand.

  Overwhelmed, Padrey couldn't speak, could scarcely meet their eyes. But his muscles worked, some of them. He nodded. He took the hand offered and in the next instant, he was lifted off the bed and tossed into the middle of a ten-way embrace.

  Everyone hugged him. The women all kissed him, and some of the men. Padrey didn't know how he felt about that. The women kissed him again, even Leyja Reinas, then the Reinine wrapped her arms round his waist and waved the others off.

  "Go on. Get busy.” She laughed as she clung to him. “I want the ceremony at the nineteenth chime, so the children can attend without being too cranky. Aisse, can you find something suitable for our Padrey to wear? Joh, the location is up to you. Find something—"

  "Suitable, yes.” He tipped his head in acknowledgment, his long queue sliding forward, a smile in his eyes if nowhere else.

  That first day, Padrey made the mistake of straying too far from the Reinine once and collapsed into the fit they'd warned him about—fortunately just after he'd got out of the bathing pool, so he wasn't in danger of drowning. It hurt though. A lot. Bad enough he made sure not to do it again.

  The Reinine—Kallista—she corrected him every time he called her “my Reinine,” but it was deathly hard to remember. Kallista kept touching him, and when she did, he forgot everything including his own name. She would sling an arm over his shoulders, or pat his hand, or stroke a finger around his ear, and every time, something inside him sizzled, or sparked, or glittered, or came awake. Though the waking wasn't entirely inside him.

  Torchay Reinas—just Torchay, the Tayo insisted—kept teasing her for petting him. She'd tease back, saying she had to get acquainted with his magic. That's what the glittery sparks were. His magic. Joh Reinas said it would stop reacting like that eventually, would only rise and sparkle when she called it. Padrey didn't know whether or not he hoped that was true.

  Aisse Reinas started calling him Padrey Reinas every time he forgot to leave off the title. It sounded strange—but good. Who would have thought? Him, one of the Reinasti.

  The others touched him too, patting his back or squeezing his shoulder mostly. Fox Reinas kept scruffing up Padrey's hair, and Viyelle would smooth it down again for him. Aisse leaned. She would lean past him for something, or into him, or over him. She kissed too. His cheek or the top of his head, usually, but sometimes his mouth, always too quick for him to kiss back.

  Aisse was exactly his age, or around there. She nor Fox knew exactly how old they were, but Fox thought he was a couple of years older. Aisse was glad to have another “youngest."

  They found him a red tunic done all over with gold braid and real jewels,so fancy it made his guts quake at the thought of getting something on it. The servants were setting the last stitches in the hems of his trousers while he wore them, as the nineteenth chime sounded. Everything was ready, or would be by the time everyone was assembled and the servants and troopers pressed into service stilled their scurrying.

  Padrey waited with the men of the ilian in a small antechamber off the embassy's ballroom. The night was too chill to have the ceremony in a courtyard as Viyelle had suggested. The head of the bodyguard corps put his head in the door. “It's time."

  With Jondi in the lead, they strode into the ballroom in the order they had joined the ilian. Torchay came first, as one of the original four creating the ilian, then Obed, followed by Fox. They had joined in that first year. Joh came next—he'd been marked and married the next year—with Keldrey behind, married in after the last Reinine died and before Kallista was selected Reinine. Padrey trailed them all, feeling incredibly young, terribly ignorant and unfathomably grateful.

  The ballroom blazed with hundreds of candles, glittering in the mirrored walls. The candelabra were draped in gauzy red, the Reinine's color, and a floor cloth painted with the design of the compass rose had been rolled out onto the hardwood floor. In a masterpiece of timing, Kallista was moving to her place on the north arm of the compass, just far enough ahead of Padrey to keep him from collapse. Padrey followed her around the arc to his place, nearest her on the east. Each of the other women stood on one of the compass points—Aisse to the east, Leyja, west and Viyelle, south. The men spaced themselves out between.

  Gweric stood in the middle, in his black prelate's robe, looking nervous. He kept clearing his throat. The three oldest girls stood a pace behind Kallista, trying to keep the bands they held from chiming together too much. Sky and Tigre stood behind Torchay, who was closest to Kallista on the West. Beyond them, around the large chamber, the Tayo Dai, the embassy staff, servants and escort troops ringed them with solemn faces. On the front row, the rest of the ilian's ten children were gathered.

  "This is my first wedding.” Gweric's voice cracked and everyone chuckled.

  It was Padrey's first wedding too. The first time to see one—a proper one—and his first time to marry.

  "I suppose that's obvious to everyone,” Gweric went on, “but I am overjoyed to have this opportunity. I have known this family since Captain Naitan Kallista Varyl refused to leave me, a crippled Witch Hound, in the Ruler's palace in Tibre, and Fox, Warrior vo'Tsekrish carried me out because I could not walk."

  Padrey listened, fascinated. Gweric had told him some of this the few times they were in their shared room at the same time, but not all.

  "I am sure all of you know, as I do, how fortunate Adara is in her choice of Reinine. We mourned with them when this ilian lost one of their own, and now we rejoice with them because the One has brought them someone new to love.” Gweric paused to clear his throat. “We have a new Godmarked."

  A spontaneous cheer broke out among the crowd of witnesses, and faded quickly under Gweric's glare. “Once, when I was young and foolish, or younger and more foolish than I am now—” He got a chuckle. “I was jealous of the magic binding the Godstruck with her marked ones. You all know, I think, that magic is all I can see, and the magic that flows between the godmarked—"

  He paused to turn his scarred face upward, an expression of joyous awe spreading across it. “This magic is the most beautiful I have ever seen. And I wanted badly to be part of it. But over the years, I have come to accept that the One knows what She is doing, knows much better than we do.

  "Those brought to this ilian are exactly the persons who need to be here. The magic that binds them together is based on love, and it binds all of them, marked or not.” Gweric smiled. “Yes, Keldrey Reinas, I can see you also, though perhaps not as clearly as the others. The magic is still there. The love is there. And that being said..."

  He moved into the vows portion of the ceremony. The women went first, beginning with Kallista. Aisse came next, because though she was the youngest, she was one of the ilian's original four, then Viyelle and Leyja. One at a time, they went to one knee before him, placed a band on his right ankle, recited the vow, kissed him and returned to their places. When the women were done, the men came, placing their bands on Padrey's left ankle, until he wore nine anklets, five left and four right.

  Then it was Padrey's turn. Gweric had agreed to act as attendant as well as prelate, so he moved outside the circle behind Padrey and handed him the first bracelet.

  Obed had offered to provide the ilian bands, but Padrey refused. He had the money he'd been saving first to buy his way free, then to buy his sister and her babies. Maybe some of the money—most of it—was made by thieving, and maybe the bands he'd bought weren't as fancy as the ones they'd given him—though the one from Torchay was plain chased silver like what he'd bought—but it was his money that he'd more or less earned. The
bands he gave were from his own efforts, his own heart.

  Padrey crossed the few paces to Kallista and went to one knee, slipping the slender silver band onto her left wrist with the six already there. “I come pledging myself to you,” he said. “Heart to heart, my body for yours in whatever comes our way. We, above all others, joined as one before the One who holds all that is, was and will be. So I swear with everything that I am."

  He stood and with trembling hands touched her face as he leaned in for the kiss. This was real.

  He was actually, seriously, truly marrying into the royal ilian of Adara. Him. Padrey Emtal, trader's boy, slave, thief, spy—now godmarked Reinas of Adara. It still felt more like dream than reality. He touched his lips to Kallista's and drew back, searching her face.

  "Yes.” She smiled. “This is me, and that's you.” She laid her hand over his heart. “But remember—” She laid her other hand over her own heart. “Here, I am only Kallista Varyl. A soldier naitan. Don't let all this blind you with its glitter. Please."

  Padrey blinked. That sounded like an actual plea. Did it matter so much to her? The thought that it might made him smile. She smiled back and he couldn't help but burst out grinning.

  "Kallista.” He said her name. It seemed important to her. He bowed, and yeah, maybe it was just a bit cocky, a bit of a tease. It made her laugh, and when he walked back to get the next bracelet from Gweric, he walked with a touch of swagger.

  Padrey made his vows to the rest of the ilian, twice nine trips in all across the compass rose. Kallista had to take a few steps into the center when he crossed to Viyelle on the southern-most point to keep him from collapse. They'd made the compass rose symbol as small as possible, but with ten of them to space around it, it couldn't be too small. Finally, he worked the last anklet over Keldrey's foot, made his last vow, gave his last kiss, and it was done. Nine vows taken, nine given. No wonder the ceremony seemed endless. It was.

  Gweric stepped forward, not into the center of the circle, but into the space between Kallista and Padrey. He took their hands and nodded for the rest of them to hold hands as well. When they were joined in a circle, Gweric spoke the final words.

  "As you have each vowed today, giving and receiving these bands in pledge and in symbol of the vows you have made, as a prelate of Arikon in Adara, I recognize this ilian."

  He smiled, looking at each of them. “May the One bless you with love, with loyalty, with grace, hope and peace."

  "May it be so.” Everyone in the ballroom spoke in response.

  And now it was really done. He was married. To these.

  Gweric stepped back outside the circle and placed Padrey's hand in Kallista's. The instant the circle closed, something slammed into Padrey, a crashing boulder of pure pleasure. His body went tight and hot, and he cried out.

  Welcome, Godmarked, our Padrey.

  It was Kallista who said it, he knew that, but not with her voice and he didn't hear it with his ears. Nor did he know how he knew it was Kallista, except that it simply was. She was inside him somehow. Or he was inside her. Or—

  Kallista chuckled. It's the magic, sweet Padrey. We are together inside the magic.

  Somehow she wrapped herself completely around him as the magic stretched, rushing on. Torchay was there, and Obed and Fox, tangled up inside Kallista and the magic. Aisse and Viyelle and Joh and Keldrey and Leyja, all of them together with the strange delight that was the magic. Padrey couldn't see them or hear or even touch them, but they were there. Part of him somehow. His. Like he was theirs. Part of them.

  The magic drew them tighter, bound them closer, until Padrey couldn't tell where he ended and they began. He was still himself, and they were each definitely their own selves, but the edges between were hard to find. Not that he tried very hard. The magic felt so good. A bit like yesterday, with Kallista.

  Padrey's thoughts dissolved. He felt stretched out, his body pulled up onto tiptoe, arms stretched wide, hands holding tight. The magic burst, showeringtheirconjoinedselveswithcascadingpleasure.Heheardhisshout echoed by other voices. Kallista let them slip away from her as the magic faded until last, she poured Padrey back into his body. He shuddered.

  "Tell your children and your grandchildren,” Gweric called into the silence. “That was the mystery of the ilian bond played out on a scale bold enough to be seen. And you have been privileged to see it."

  The witnesses burst into cheers again, a few of the bravest coming forward to offer congratulations and well wishes. They were accepted graciously and everyone diverted to the wedding supper set up in the reception halls. Kallista and her ilian made a brief appearance before slipping out with the excuse that the children needed to be put to bed.

  Kallista was worried. The demons had left them alone for a whole day. What did it mean? Did they have more time? How much?

  Did they dare sleep tonight? Did they dare ... not sleep? A great deal of sex had been done lately, to the accompaniment of a great lot of magic. The demons could not possibly have missed it. Why hadn't they attacked? Could they still be hoping Kallista might meekly give up and go away? Surely not.

  She stole one of the flaky honey-and-nut pastries from the tray brought to her chamber where they'd all gathered, and swore when the honey dripped onto her elaborately trimmed tunic.

  "What is it now? Not just the honey.” Torchay handed her a plate with more substantial food on it.

  "Isn't anyone else wondering what they're waiting for?” She waved Padrey into a chair and took the one beside him.

  "Who?” Padrey asked.

  "The demons,” Aisse whispered to him.

  "Vulnerability,” Joh said. “Since they didn't—perhaps couldn't—attack before Padrey's mark, I'd wager they're waiting for something to soften us up. To make us an easier target."

  "But what?” Kallista thought hard while she ate, the others apparently doing the same.

  "The kids,” Keldrey said after a time. “They're our weak spot. We should've left ‘em home."

  Kallista shook her head. “We'd have been weaker without them and less able to protect them. With them here, we know if they're safe, and I can maintain the protections around them. So we tighten their protection.” Kallista touched Padrey's hand as she threw another layer of shielding up, taking delight in the eager response of the magic. “And we act."

  "Tonight?” Torchay lifted an eyebrow.

  "I said act, not attack—though if we have to...” Kallista called magic, shaped it to hunt, gave it teeth and armor and sent it out. “It's late. Tonight, the magic can hunt. Tomorrow is soon enough to follow where it leads. We can rest tonight."

  Aisse gave her a wicked grin, sliding into Padrey's lap. “You believe we will get any rest?"

  Kallista laughed as Padrey's surprise melted into a cheeky grin. “Eventually. I hope. The bed is awfully small."

  "We'll manage. We did before.” Fox scooped her off the chair and tossed her onto the bed, then stripped off his tunic. “Everyone playing?"

  Not everyone spoke, but everyone agreed.

  "Oh dear.” A little twinge of nerves, laced heavily with anticipation, slithered through Kallista.

  "Oh good.” Aisse's voice sounded all anticipation and immense satisfaction.

  "It is our wedding night after all.” Fox squeezed closer to Kallista to make room for Padrey against his back, with Aisse on the other side.

  "Do we want magic?” Kallista twisted her hand in the links, but didn't call.

  "Enough to bind us,” Torchay said. “To feel each other."

  "Enough to help us wait.” Obed kissed Kallista's nape.

  "But no more.” Viyelle hooked an arm around Joh's neck. “Just ... enough."

  "Done.” Kallista called magic as she returned Fox's kiss.

  * * * *

  Kallista woke late. Again. But this time, the bed was crowded with naked bodies and someone was knocking at the chamber door. A brisk knocking, not timid, but not a frantic pounding either. Important news, but not desperate.


  "Hey.” She worked a hand out of the crush and patted some part of someone's body. Ribs, she thought. Male. “Whoever's on top, go answer the door."

  "Already done.” Keldrey tied off his trousers and slipped out the door to see what was wanted.

  Kallista used elbows and hands to clear a space big enough to wriggle through, slapping away Fox's hands when he tried to pull her back. She was belting her houserobe by the time Keldrey returned. She took a second to check her hunting magic. Nothing. Had she hurt the demons so badly?

  "What is it?” Kallista didn't like Kel's grim expression.

  "Message from the justiciars. Without evidence of wrong-doing, our accusation against Chani's dismissed."

  "Without evi—” Kallista stopped her outburst.

  Keldrey had more to say. “Apparently, there is no sword."

  She frowned. “We sent it. With the complaint."

  "Well, they haven't got it. That's what they say, anyroad."

  She took in a deep breath, let it out again as her mind laid plans. “So either it didn't reach them, or somebody's lying. And since we sent the sword with Nur im-Nathain, I think we can count on the lie.” She flicked a glance at Keldrey. “Send an escort for Nur Truthsayer. Ask him to bring another blade and meet us at the Justice Chambers. That's where we'll begin."

  "Begin what?” Joh pulled his hair forward over his shoulder to begin the process of combing and braiding it.

  "Our demon hunt.” She held her hand out to her new godmarked ilias. “Come, sweeting. Time to hurry. Anyone who's coming with us had better hurry too."

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  All nine of the godmarked rode to the Daryathi Chambers of Justice in Mestada, Keldrey once again staying behind to keep guard over the children. Kallista had to admit it eased her mind to know one of their own watched their horde of little ones. She just wished she had better contact with him so she could reassure herself whenever she wanted that all was well.

  Nur Truthsayer was already through the gate, escorted by his own local bodyguard-champion rather than the soldiers Kallista had sent. Clever of him. The justiciars would have no chance to cry collusion. Kallista rode into the courtyard at the head of her party and dismounted. Only she and Allanda the lawyer—and Obed as Reinas and bodyguard, and Padrey who couldn't be left behind—joined the truthsayer at the Chambers building entrance, waiting for the justiciars to arrive.