Mayr drew back to caress her cheek. "I'm surprised you're here. How's Tash going to get on without you?"
"Considering he's ready and waiting on you, he'll be fine." Arieve smirked. "Besides, the last kiss I gave him should keep his thoughts scrambled long enough to start missing me."
"Are you suggesting I'm holding things up?"
"Not suggesting. Telling."
"You're so mean," Mayr breathed. "I'm getting married today, you know."
Arieve shrugged. "I'll be nice tomorrow." She coiled the ends of his hair. "Actually, make that whenever you finally surface from bed. One day won't be enough."
"Can't argue there." Mayr teased her nose with his and pouted. "Is Tash truly ready to start? He's not pacing the hall, fending off annoyed guests, is he?"
"Mayr," she reproved. "You really are nervous, aren't you?" She cupped his face with both hands. "He's having a moment with his parents. If he weren't so proper, he'd be jumping around like a little kid. I've had to calm him down twice." She gave him a gentle hug. "I'm so happy for you," Arieve whispered. "I wish I could describe how much I want you to have this."
He clutched her as if she were the last person he would ever see. "Even though I'm not marrying you?"
Honesty crushed him, his question punching him in the gut. Mayr grimaced and buried his face in her hair. Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid… They were far from ready to go there. Not only was he not ready to ask, he wanted to dote on Tash with their marriage, not make him share absolutely everything. He doubted Arieve was ready to consider marrying him and Tash as it was. For all he knew, Arieve still wanted to marry Coye. She could not be in two marriages at once, not by Kattal's laws, and a single marriage with all four of them would never work. Mayr preferred to keep Coye at arm's length, and she felt the same about men in general.
It was too soon. They were too new. There were so many unanswered questions…
Arieve slid her hands around his neck. "I don't have to marry you to be yours," she said softly. "I belong with both of you, I know it. If I didn't, I wouldn't be desperate to hold onto you. I wouldn't seek you and Tash out or wish I could see you every moment of every day. I lie awake when I'm not with you, remembering how you say my name like it's worthy of something more than just me."
Her fingertips glided over his smooth jaws. "I cherish you both, and I'll stay as long as you'll have me. No one else offers what you do, not even Coye. Her love is a different gift, one I can't breathe without." Arieve's lips claimed Mayr's, light and uplifting. "Her love sustains my days and brings me peace of self," she murmured, "but your love is time unfolding, winding back to recover everything I thought I'd never have. A love that's there, so easy to share and curl up in. With you and Tash, I feel…"
"Different?" Mayr suggested.
"Secure. I feel secure with you." Arieve's pensive gaze searched his. "Even if we don't last for some reason, I know you won't abandon me or each other." She grasped his hands and kissed his fingers. "I also know you'll give everything to our baby. You'll never leave, never stop loving. You'll lay the whole world at our child's feet."
Assuming we get that far, especially with your time split between us and Coye. Though every couple days I wonder if you might be… just a bit…
Mayr kissed her before he asked the one question he dared not voice, not without getting their hopes up or sabotaging what could be. He settled for the sweetened taste of her lips on his, words echoing in his thoughts. Something was off in her tone, but he was too nervous to ask why.
Arieve pushed away with an assuring grin. "I should get back to Tash. We'll talk later, promise. I love you."
Moving aside, Mayr ushered Arieve out of the room. Lira waited in the hallway, hands clasped. Beside her, Aeley and Pellon leaned against the wall.
"Love you too," Mayr whispered, watching Arieve return to Tash's chamber several doors down. He nodded at Aeley. "Shall we finish?"
"We shall." Aeley flounced past him, headed for the bed.
Lira swept into the room with Pellon. "All of your guests are here. The priests are ready to start whenever you are," she said, stopping in the middle of the room. While Aeley sorted through the items on the bed, Lira flashed Mayr a smile. "Your mother is being well cared for. She's having a wonderful time. Your father's been pacing a storm, however. Loftin assures me it's expected."
Aeley snickered and joined Lira, a red leather coat draped over her arms. "Weddings and Malary aren't exactly friends," Aeley said. "He appreciates what they mean but dislikes the wait, especially when his only role is father. But enough of that—" she held up the coat "—time to finish dressing."
With Aeley's help, Mayr slipped into the blood-red long coat as Lira maneuvered his hair out of the way. The coat's hem brushed the toes of his boots, and its cuffs hung loosely around his wrists. Similar to the long coats worn by the High Council, his bore elaborate black vines that spiraled around a shield on his back and coiled down his arms. Where the High Council's coats boasted the emblem of the Council, his displayed the Dahe crest. Of all his wedding attire, the coat was one of his favourites, having been a surprise gift from Aeley and Lira.
"There." Mayr lifted his arms and spun slowly. "Looks good? Gentlemanly?"
Lira smoothed Mayr's hair over his shoulders. "Very. It's definitely you—as perfect as the two of you getting married." Her smile faltered. Tears wet her eyes before she wiped them away. "Thank you for asking me to be an attendant. I've never been a witness for anyone. Seeing as I'll never be one for my brothers or the friends I don't have, this means something."
"Hey, now, no crying until the ceremony starts," Mayr chided gently, drawing Lira into a hug. "You've got more friends than you know, but you're also family. We do this sappy stuff. It's in the rules. Well, the good ones."
Her reply was a sniffle interrupted by a laugh. "They're the ones that count." Lira kissed his cheek. "Thanks."
"And thanks for getting married by an actual priest this time." Aeley arched one of her blonde brows. "As much as I loved witnessing that first time, I'm enjoying this wedding infinitely better."
"Thanks for rubbing it in," Mayr muttered. It was awkward enough that Betta and Iliane were at the wedding.
Aeley kissed Mayr's cheek and embraced him. "Only good wishes for you, brother. We'll always cheer you on." After a wink, she gestured to Pellon. "Grab the sword. It's time to do damage."
"Aye, aye, Steward," Pellon said with a toothy grin. Humming a happy tune, he rushed to the bed to retrieve the sword Mayr would give Tash at the ceremony and its black leather scabbard. The hilt was forged from yellow and white gold adorned with black and red jewels in a spiraled pattern. The blade was crafted from brilliant silver, save the colourless crystal in the centre. Engraved along one edge was the word Always, with Soulbound engraved on the other.
Mayr forced himself to breathe. When he married Betta, a simple knife had been the best gift he could afford. As Head of the Guard, his wages granted him a taste of the extravagance enjoyed by the Grand Families. He only hoped Tash liked the sword, fancy as it was.
"We're off," Aeley announced, gliding out of the room with Lira.
Mayr and Pellon followed. Together they strode through the corridors between the private chambers. Every hallway looked the same: long stretches of white marble interrupted by white wood doors, all of them shut. The varied aromas from incense and candles on the small shelves in the corners blended and shifted from section to section, a woodsy fragrance underlying them.
Once Mayr turned into the corridor that led to the altar, he nearly froze.
Tash stood at the other end. Arieve, Ress, Kee, and Armamae waited with him, all of them gathered beside the tall, spiraled pillars that denoted the sacred space of worship. Tash had traded his religious vestments for traditional wedding attire tailored by his parents. His long-sleeved shirt was of the same shimmering red fabric as his robes, embellished with gold embroidery at its hems and cuffs, while red ribbons and pearl toggles laced the shirt close
d at his throat. The shirt fell to his thighs, guiding Mayr's gaze to deep red pants that hugged Tash's legs beneath knee-high boots of a slightly brighter red, tied up the side with red cord. Over it all was a sleeveless leather coat, its high collar turned up. The coat hung open and trailed along the floor, a series of gold and pearl closures down the front.
Mayr slowed on his approach. The waves of Tash's blond-streaked brown hair were more pronounced than usual, playing over his shoulders at different lengths. An antique hairpiece made from intricately entwined lengths of silver was nestled on the bed of twists and plaits at the back of his head. Thin strands of silver dangled from the hairpiece into his hair, offering flashes of white and red jewels. An heirloom, Tash had said, passed down through his father's family. Tash's father had worn it when he married Tash's mother, and Tash would pass it down to his child.
Reality slammed into Mayr, clarity tumbling as he stopped before Tash. The child who inherited the heirloom would be theirs. The significance nearly knocked him over.
"Mayr," Tash whispered.
Mayr all but melted at the hope in Tash's eyes. He spared a glance to the others in the hall. Arieve let go of Tash's hand to urge him forward. Ress stood behind Tash in white tunic and pants, his cane nowhere in sight. A long, black box with gold latches sat in his grasp instead.
To Mayr's left, Armamae and Kee appeared as they did every day. A small glass dish rested in Kee's hand.
Everyone else waited on the other side of the pillars behind them, watching the exchange. The other attendants formed a semi-circle around the black altar in the centre of the room. Clothed in white, family and friends stood in a wide, near-closed circle around the attendants, taking up half the space of worship. Around them was another circle formed entirely of priests, full and dense with Tash's peers from the temple and the Sacred Assembly, including Keeper Felensa. The priests stood back as far as they could, several pressed against the pillars. Guards from the Dahe estate stood along the walls, dressed in white and holding wooden staves. At the request of Kee, the guards had left all other weapons at the estate.
Consumed by a sea of bodies clad in red and white, the entire area seemed to have shrunk from its normally spacious expanse.
No pressure whatsoever.
He would do this right, nothing left to interpretation.
Mayr removed his marriage ring and caressed the silver. Tradition called for Tash and he to bow to one another and present their rings for blessings during the rite.
It was too little for so great a gift.
Before anyone spoke, Mayr sank to one knee and offered the ring to Tash in his cupped palm. Head lowered, he ignored the gasps and light sighs that broke the silence. He prayed no one noticed his trembling.
Tash's fingers slipped beneath Mayr's chin and lifted his face. A thin layer of tears glistened in Tash's eyes as he accepted the ring. Bowing low to level their gazes, he brought Mayr's palm to his lips and replaced the weight of the ring with the heat of a kiss. A hint of perfume wafted around him, subtle with a pleasant musk.
Mayr held his breath. A metallic clink accompanied his ring as Tash slid it into the glass dish, followed by the sound of Tash's ring.
Kee's smile stunned Mayr, its youthful glee far from her serious demeanor. "Thank you. You may proceed onto the Walk of Union." She spun away in a flurry of robes and headed for the altar with Armamae.
Tash pulled Mayr up. Palms pressed together, Mayr leaned his forehead against Tash's. He needed the calm, the reassurance.
"Ready?" Tash asked, nuzzling Mayr's cheek.
"Are you?"
Tash squeezed Mayr's hands. "I have no doubts, only determination." He took his place to Mayr's right and laced their fingers together. "Let's take our stroll."
They moved between the pillars and through the opening in the circle of priests. Aeley and Arieve followed, flanked by Pellon and Ress. With matched steps, Mayr and Tash turned left and walked through the space between the priests and the inner circle of guests. Slow as their steps were, Mayr could barely sort one face from another, unable to focus on anyone except for his father and mother, who sat in a chair close to the front of the altar.
The first part of their walk ended where it began. They passed through the inner circle and walked around the altar, then stopped in front of the altar. Aeley and Arieve took their places in the empty space between the altar and the line of attendants, with Aeley to Mayr's left and Arieve to Tash's right. Pellon and Ress stepped into the middle of their lines, each holding their respective gifts in flattened palms.
Kee and Armamae stood in front of the black stone altar. At the back corners of the altar stood two priestesses, one with black hair to her waist and the other with red curls that framed her face. The black-haired priestess held a gleaming scepter of silver and glass in both hands to represent Emeraliss and Laytia. Her counterpart held a silver staff with elaborate engravings, a symbol of Hastal and Navara.
Behind Kee and Armamae, the altar overflowed with wedding cheer. Spiritual tools blended with nuptial items, bathed in a soft red tint from the circular pane in the ceiling. Four wide, white candles sat in a line across the centre of the altar, each with four lit wicks and a colourful crown of lush spring flowers around their base. Instead of goblets and bowls filled with offerings from worshippers, four colourless glass goblets of rich mauve mead formed a square around a fifth goblet. Three red glass bowls accompanied the goblets. The first was filled with white and silver feathers, the second with water, and the third with red earth. A stick of woodsy incense burned on a black clay plate.
Behind the bowls and goblets sat items from Mayr and Tash's relationship, including the locked box of feathers from their bedroom altar. Next to the feathers sat the box containing the bracelets from Emeraliss, left open to display the colours. In front of both boxes was the love letter from Tash during his visit to the Sanctum after their last confrontation. A pile of tightly plaited white and silver ribbons lay in front of the goblets, coiled beside a second glass keepsake box that shone with gold and silver flecks. Beside the ribbons was the glass dish with their rings.
Four copies of their marriage record lay on the right side of the altar, along with an ink well and white quill. High Council would retain the first document in their Records Hall. The other copies would remain in the possession of Aeley, Mayr and Tash, and Kee.
"Very good," Kee said, lifting Mayr and Tash's clasped hands. "Yours is a strong, confident walk. Now we must bind that strength."
Armamae tapped Tash's elbow. Mayr and Tash faced one another, Kee's hands wrapped around theirs.
"Friends, family, community of the sacred, I welcome you to this most blessed celebration," Kee said loudly. "We have gathered to share in this solemn act, tying together two hearts so the rest of the world may know them as we do. In all the power I possess on behalf of the Goddesses, and with deepest blessings, I am overjoyed to fasten the lives of Mayr and Halataldris, whom I am proud to call my holy brother. Blessed be love."
"Blessed be love," the assembly responded, along with shrill whistles and cheers. Mayr swore he saw handkerchiefs already wiping away tears.
Kee waited until silence returned. "Under the gaze of the most radiant Emeraliss, you are here to become legally recognized as one. It is with mutual consent that you take such a step. You may make your intention known to all, however you wish."
Mayr did not need to be told twice. He took to Tash's lips quickly. As Tash deepened their kiss, Mayr struggled to avoid doing what he truly wanted. Keep it chaste. No tongue, no tongue, no—
Tash's tongue swept through his mouth, slow and sensual. A groan escaped Mayr before he could stop it. He fought against the weakening of his knees until Tash answered with a quiet moan.
When Tash pulled away, Mayr was nearly undone.
Amusement brightened Kee's eyes as she laughed. "Indeed." She withdrew her hands from theirs. "You may now declare your affections with such vigour. Brother Halataldris?"
Withou
t hesitation, Tash fluttered kisses over Mayr's knuckles. "Thank you for asking me to marry you," he whispered. "I cherish your courage, taking these steps forward after being pushed back so far." He clutched Mayr's hands to his chest. "I will never make you regret it. There is sacredness in what we have. Being with you feels like worshipping at Emeraliss's altar every moment, tasting everything She offers. Through you, through us and our families, I better understand Emeraliss and everything priests are meant to give. What I can give." Tash pressed his forehead to Mayr's, his fingers gliding over Mayr's hair. "You've given me the rest of my life. I owe you every lifetime to come."
"And you've put me on the spot," Mayr murmured. Focused on the warmth of Tash's short, light breaths as they danced over his lips, he barely noticed the silence around them. He blinked back tears that refused to go away. "I can't offer the kind of words you give—I'm not good at it—but I can offer you everything I have and show you my love. You're part of me, deep inside every thought and action, every glimpse of the future." Cupping Tash's jaw, he drew him closer. "I may have given you the rest of your life, but you pulled me from darkness and gave me light. The night we met, you asked me to trust you. I was yours from that moment, and that won't change."
Before Kee could give her next instruction, Mayr slid his lips over Tash's, imparting all the passion he could muster without losing control. Tears slipped down Tash's cheek and pooled on Mayr's fingers.
Giggles from the crowd prompted Mayr to pull back. He cleared the moist trails from Tash's cheeks with his thumbs, earning Tash's smile in return.
"Blessed be your luck in finding each other," Kee said, waving the stick of incense over and around them.
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