The air around Jame crackled with magic as everything fell away from her senses, leaving just the two of them to share their souls at the alter of Bal.
Somehow the cups were lowered back to the pedestal and the acolyte removed the cloth from their bound hands. Jame snapped out of the momentary dance in the realm of Bal, and Tigh looked equally dazed.
The acolyte smiled. “You may affirm your joining with a kiss.” Tigh stepped around the pedestal and gathered Jame in her arms. The sounds of her laughing and cheering family faded as she captured Jame’s lips with her own.
As her family indulged in a glass of the joining wine, Tigh led Jame to the top of the terrace overlooking the harbor.
“Will I ever be able to live down fainting at our joining?” Tigh asked, as they wandered hand in hand along the wide expanse of stone that comprised the first terrace.
Jame pretended to ponder the question. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll never mention it, if you promise not to faint at our joining in Emoria.”
Tigh stopped walking and turned to Jame. “Does the ceremony involve sweetly fragrant water and talk of honor and love through eternity?”
Jame worked to keep a solemn expression. “It involves a sword and the ceremonial spilling of blood.”
“In that case, I promise I won’t faint,” Tigh said.
Their laughter echoed across the park as they walked hand in hand into their dreams of the future.
THE END
Future Dreams Page 23