by Ally Shields
Brunic stopped before the closed doors. “Wait here. I’ll see if the king is ready for you. Prince Trystan, come with me. As a visiting monarch, the king would not want you to be kept waiting.”
That too seemed odd to Kam, but Trystan nodded complacently and followed the captain.
“Is something wrong?” Rhyden whispered.
Before anyone could answer him, the oak doors were thrown open and six guards approached in full dress uniforms of black and dark green. The one in the middle stopped in front of Kam. “If you’ll accompany us, Lieutenant Ryndel, Special Officers Seth and Rhyden Lormarc, and Miss Estelle Ryndel, the king awaits.”
What was happening? Kam took a steadying breath, stepped inside the room, and stopped.
At the far end of the king’s audience chambers Seliwyn stood with Theanne on his left and Trystan on his right. To either side of them were Kam’s parents, Harad Lormarc, Seth’s parents, and various other members of both families. Two double rows of King’s Guards stood at attention lining a path to the king.
King Seliwyn motioned for them to approach, and someone cut off a laugh. Seliwyn smiled. “I believe we’ve surprised you. Your king and Elvenrude are deeply indebted to you all.”
After five minutes of going over a whitewashed version of events during the last few weeks and especially the preceding forty-eight hours, His Highness finally got to the point. “In recognition of her achievements, Lieutenant Kameo Ryndel is promoted to Lieutenant First Class. Well done.”
Kam’s eyes widened in disbelief, and she stammered “thank you” when he handed her the gold clasp that made her second in rank only to Captain Brunic. She glanced at her captain…and he winked.
Seliwyn wasn’t finished. He moved down the line. “Special Officers Seth Lormarc and Rhyden Lormarc now carry the rank of Special Lieutenants.” When he’d given the men their new insignias, Seliwyn turned to Esty with a smile and presented her a small box. “Miss Estelle Ryndel as an honored citizen is awarded the Guard’s Medal of Commendation.”
Seliwyn returned to the head of the room, and his smile broadened into a fatherly beam of approval. “Congratulations to all of you.”
Kam blushed at the applause and looked at her companions. The only one who didn’t seem embarrassed was Esty. Figured. Her sister was smiling prettily, which finally made Kam grin.
“Your Majesty, I’m honored. We all are,” Kam added, realizing her friends were still stunned. “None of us expected this.”
“It was well-earned, First Lieutenant.” He looked at Trystan. “I believe you had something to add.”
“Indeed I do.” Trystan’s gaze met hers, then moved on to her companions. “While you’re not officially members of Cyrilia, you have proven yourselves our friends and are always welcome there…wherever we live in future years. As a token of our appreciation, I’m declaring you honorary members of the Cyrilian royal guard.”
When the official ceremony ended, family and friends surrounded the honorees with their own congratulations. Kam struggled to grasp it all until Brunic broke the unreality. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Don’t you forget I still outrank you.”
Kam burst out laughing.
* * *
The following Saturday, most of the same audience—minus the guards but including a fully recovered Prince Tadeous—gathered at the Ryndel home to witness Rhyden and Esty’s promise ceremony. Esty glowed with happiness in a fancy silk top of midnight blue and black jeans, and Kam had never seen Rhyden so sure of himself as he was with Esty at his side.
At the end of dinner, Esty and Rhyden rose and pledged their love with sparkling goblets of redberry wine. Their promises were brief and sincere, vowing to use the next year to prepare themselves for a long life together.
As the guests lifted their glasses in a toast, Kam met Esty’s eyes across the room, and they exchanged a private smile. A perfect beginning. The promise year would be good for them. Time to work out the kinks in their relationship. There’d be no broken promises, and next winter or spring they’d fulfill their oaths to become husband and wife.
Kam slipped away to her room during the extended congratulations.
A few minutes later, she pushed her bedroom door open a crack to peek out. The tables had been cleared and moved aside, ostensibly to allow room for the traditional party and dancing. Rhyden and Esty came to the center of the room, and he clinked a knife against his wineglass until he had everyone’s attention.
“Before we get to the party, Esty and I are pleased to—”
He was interrupted by a tap on the front door, and Murielle entered, slamming it closed against a rush of light snow. “Am I late?” she asked breathlessly.
“Perfect timing.” Rhyden chuckled. “I was about to tell folks what we have planned for the rest of the evening.”
“Very good. Carry on.” Murielle waved a casual hand, and Meotta Ryndel escorted her to the back of the house.
“OK, folks. As I was saying…” Rhyden drew the crowd’s attention back to him. “My cousin Seth and Esty’s sister Kam have had a hard time getting their engagement formalized. They’d postponed it twice before, waiting for a better time, and last time it was rudely interrupted in order to rescue one of tonight’s guests.” He grinned at Tad, and there was scattered laughter. “Well, they’ve decided to not give fate another chance. They’re skipping to the final bonding ceremony…here, this evening…and you’re all invited to attend.”
Surprised laughter, applause, and approval met the announcement. The house lanterns were quickly replaced with large white candles. A harp was uncovered from a silk drape in the corner, and Murielle appeared in a long, white robe carrying a basket of red and white rose petals on her arm. As a wise woman and priestess of Elvenrude, Kam had asked her to bless their union. As the best friend of Kam’s godmother, she would also stand for the continuity of heritage and spirit.
Soft harp music began, and guests sought seats or standing space at the edge of the room. When everyone was quiet, Kam and Seth entered the room, her right hand resting lightly on his arm.
Her heart welled with excitement. She’d wanted to look her best for him, and a last peek in the mirror had told her the shimmering, silver-blue gown and the matching scarf at her throat had been perfect choices. Then he’d met her at the door and taken her breath away by how stunning he looked in his forest green cape over the traditional black pants and black silk shirt.
As they crossed the room, his cape swished against her long skirt. Candlelight picked up the gleam of the silver and emerald clasp she’d finally given him the night before; his engagement gift of silver piercings with blue sapphires glittered on her ears.
Kam glanced at her family and friends, swallowing a lump of emotion. But when they stopped in front of Murielle, they turned to face each other, and she only had eyes for Seth.
He gave her his slow smile that made her heart flutter, lifted her hand, and pressed it to his lips. “Kameo Ryndel, I pledge to love you forever. I want you to be my wife, my mate, my closest friend. Will you accept my bond?”
“I will.” She blinked hard and returned a trembling smile but captured and firmly clasped both of his hands in hers. “Seth Lormarc, I pledge to love you with all my heart and to spend my life devoted to you. Will you accept my bond?”
His green eyes gave her the answer before she heard the words. “I will.”
Esty stepped forward to hold Murielle’s basket. The wise woman covered Kam and Seth’s joined hands with one of hers. With the other, she sprinkled their bowed heads with a handful of rose petals. “May the gods bless you and your home. May the fates grant you a long and loving life. These bonds may not be broken.”
Seth kissed her then, and the room erupted in cheers and good wishes.
It was almost an hour before Kam and Seth cornered Rhyden, Esty, Trystan, and Tad away from the others.
“While we’re breaking with tradition, we’ve decided to borrow a custom from the human world and take a
honeymoon,” Seth said.
Kam smiled up at him. “We want to walk on a warm beach in the moonlight. It’s an exotic Pacific island we visited once before…and vowed to return someday.” She turned to include their friends. “We want you to come with us.”
Esty squealed with delight. Trystan and Tad seemed confused.
Rhyden lifted a brow. “You want to share your honeymoon with us?”
“Well, only parts of it,” Seth said dryly. “We have a special reason. If Kam and I have figured things right, our Cyrilian friends will find something of particular interest.”
* * *
Two days later, the six friends walked barefoot across the beach, their toes leaving imprints in the sand. Sunlight sparkled off the water, and the breeze carried the scent of tropical flowers. The sun’s rays warmed Kam’s exposed back. They were dressed for a mid-morning swim, but it wasn’t really a pleasure outing. Two of them were set to explore a cave; the others were backup…in case their conclusions were wrong.
Last night Kam and Seth had related the details of their prior visit to the lava cave, including the life-threatening storm, their unexplained survival, and Kam’s sighting of the young girl. With the king’s permission, they’d also shared the details of the story of the Heart of Ishka with those who didn’t already know it. And they’d told Trystan and Tad what they suspected.
Tad bent down and scooped a shell from the sand. “I’m still not sure how you put it all together.”
“It was the word ishka that first got me to thinking. I looked it up. It means water in old Elfish. Seth and I talked about it and how the twigs in the statue’s hair might actually be seaweed. It seemed to fit, considering our strange experience.” Her voice grew more confident. “I’m sure the water sprite is guarding something. I felt the power in the lava cave, not latent like the destroyed stone in Cairo, but definitely shielded. It could be the missing relic. Seth and I were thrown out of the cave because it wasn’t meant for us.” She looked at the two Cyrilians. “We believe it’s waiting for you.”
“But we barely survived our encounter,” Seth warned. “If we’re wrong…well, we’ll do everything we can to rescue you.”
“We talked it over last night.” Trystan exchanged a look with Tad. “If there’s a chance to save Cyrilia, we have to try.”
Tad splashed his toe in the water. “I’m ready.”
Kam placed her hand on Tad’s arm. “As long as you realize success or failure is mostly up to her.”
Kam and Seth led the Cyrilians to the underwater entrance to the lava tunnel and then returned to sit with Esty and Rhyden on the beach. Kam folded her arms over her knees, digging in the loose sand with her toes.
They chatted about the island, the things to see and do, and their plans for lunch. Although Trystan and Tad were leaving that afternoon—regardless of the outcome of their cave excursion—Esty and Rhyden were staying two more days, taking a break from Elvenrude’s winter. As the minutes lengthened, conversation lagged.
“Do you think they’re all right?” Esty finally asked. “It’s been half an hour. Shouldn’t they be back?”
“Any time now.” Seth lobbed a pebble at a piece of driftwood. “Another ten minutes, and I’m going in to check on them.”
“Hey, what the hell!” Rhyden leaped to his feet, dragging Esty with him, and backed up the beach toward higher ground.
A large wave rushed toward the shore.
The four elves scattered, leaping out of the way as it broke over the rocks behind the beach area. It receded immediately and left Trystan and Tad sitting on the wet sand. Tad clutched a black obsidian statue of a young woman with hair like twisted seaweed.
But Kam’s eyes were on the girl standing waist-deep in the water. Her silvery hair—crowned with a ring of seaweed—cascaded across her shoulders and swirled round her in the blue waves.
“Thank you for ending my long vigil.” The girl’s soft voice was as lyrical as a song. “I have guarded half of the Heart of Ishka too long. It is time for the darkkin and the moon elves to be two halves of one whole, as it was intended. Go forth. Fulfill your destiny.”
“Wait,” Kam said, moving toward her. “Tell us who you are.”
“You know me. I’m a child of the sea.” The water sprite smiled, then turned and dove into the waves.
* * *
Ten days later Kam and Seth returned from their honeymoon, tanned and glowing. One of the first things they did was visit Cyrilia, where bright sunshine and budding trees proved Trystan and Tad were making good progress in harnessing the power of the Ishka stone.
King Radnor died two weeks later but finally at peace, knowing his world would survive him. Trystan was crowned king and continued his close friendship with Elvenrude. The bonds between the two worlds grew strong as they visited and traded back and forth.
Esty had enjoyed her work in New Orleans so much that when Kam gave up her position as the Acquisition’s Agent, Esty asked for the appointment, and it was granted.
Rhyden took charge of a major housecleaning at the Lormarcs’ Elvenrude guild. Not everyone was fired, but those suspected of any complicity with Jermon’s former supporters were warned and moved to less sensitive positions on the farms or in the mines. Merik Trevain was appointed the new Guild Master. If anyone objected, no one said so. The Lormarcs had made it clear they didn’t want to hear about it.
Olseon and the remnants of Kurzi Everins’s gang were tried and convicted of conspiracy against the kingdom. King Seliwyn still couldn’t bring himself to order an execution, especially of those he considered mere underlings to the real culprit. The length of each sentence was indeterminate but eligible for review every ten years. Olseon—and most of the conspirators—could count on a long stay.
Dreysel, Andolf, and Seye faced charges of treason and attempted murder before the Cyrilian assembly. All three were convicted and sentenced to death, as demanded by Cyrilian law. Trystan commuted the penalties to life-long incarceration—saying death was too easy for Dreysel, and the three prisoners were taken to a dungeon far from the royal palace.
With more free time than ever before, Seth and Kam traveled the world, returning to the Smithsonian and the Egyptian Museum, and they completed a few CIA missions for Noah Crain. With Crain’s encouragement, they formed their own security firm, enticed two of the paramilitary leaders who’d defended the guilds to run the agency, and hired a computer tech aka hacker to cut through some of the red tape. Noah Crain continued to be their contact with the government world.
Kam and Seth hadn’t really decided where the next few years might take them. They enjoyed everything they were doing. Eventually they wanted a family—not the dozen Kam’s mother wanted, Esty and Rhyden would have to help with that—but a couple boys or girls or one of each would be perfect. The honeymoon they’d started in the Pacific still hadn’t run its course.
By the following August, Cyrilia had recovered sufficiently to supply abundant foliage and flowers to decorate the palace for the first official visit of Elvenrude’s king to King Trystan’s court. Huge crowds from both elven worlds were expected to witness the momentous event.
Kam and Seth transported to Cyrilia with Rhyden and Esty. They were met at the portal by Caleb, Bria, and baby girl Sarren. The infant’s cherub face and big blue eyes were surrounded by a halo of red curls, flaunting her mixed heritage.
As soon as the initial baby gushing was over, Kam waved an arm toward the sky and surrounding countryside—the sun, the forests coming to life, growing fields stretching to the horizon. It was a different world than she’d first seen. “This is amazing.”
Bria smiled proudly. “Didn’t you tell me a long time ago we needed a miracle?” Bria looked down at her daughter and smiled. “We got two. You helped give us one of them. I never dreamed my world could be so beautiful.”
“We’re still working to make it self-sustaining,” Caleb said. “It will be. But we can talk about the details later. If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss th
e main event.”
They joined the others streaming toward the palace. As soon as they stepped out of the forest, Kam stared at the transformation. The palace sparkled, its pure white marble and gold glittering in the sun. King Trystan and Prince Tadeous sat on a raised dais in the courtyard, installed for the occasion to accommodate the large crowd.
In a well-orchestrated procession, a coach pulled by six white horses appeared from the direction of the main portal to and from Elvenrude and slowly made its way through the cheering crowd.
Trystan and Tad stood immediately. When the coach stopped, they descended the steps and personally escorted King Seliwyn and Princess Theanne to seats beside them on the platform.
Kam glanced at her husband, her sister, their friends. The small group around her knew what was coming next and what it would mean to Cyrilia and Elvenrude. But in her heart, it paled to what she already had. She laced her fingers with Seth’s. He squeezed them and gave her the smile that always curled her toes.
King Trystan began to speak. “Today marks the beginning of a new era for Cyrilia. We’re honored to welcome King Seliwyn and his daughter, Princess Theanne.” After thunderous applause, he spoke about the advantages of the two worlds working together for mutual good.
When King Seliwyn spoke next, he thanked Trystan for the warm welcome and added his hopes for future prosperity.
Oh, come on. Just say it.
As if he’d heard her, Seliwyn reached for his daughter’s hand and placed it in Trystan’s. “As final proof of the unity of our elven worlds, I have the pleasure of announcing the coming marriage bonds of Princess Theanne and King Trystan.”
Kam barely heard the last words through the roar of the crowd. Her eyes misted. They made the perfect royal couple. With their union, the Heart of Ishka would be complete.
She turned her head to find Seth watching her. He lifted a finger to trace her mouth, then bent his head to gently kiss the corner. She slipped her arms around him, holding close the promises in his touch, wanting to laugh and cry with the sweetness of the moment.