Then quietly, too quietly, he ended, “Should T’Vine Residence, other members of the Family, or I discover that you have broken this new Loyalty Oath, you will be summarily executed and your body thrown over the castle walls and left for scavengers to eat.”
Avellana wasn’t the only one to gasp at this horrific threat. Her ears seemed to ring with intense and buzzing silence. Rhyz purred and that echoed, also.
Too soon, Muin gestured to the woman who had taken Bifrona’s place as housekeeper. “Please come forward, place your hands within mine, and swear to me your Oath of Loyalty. I will, in turn, give you mine.”
She seemed stuck in place, mouth open. Perhaps she should not be the Head of Staff.
With a cough, a man came from behind Avellana and Muin, circled them—Duon, the Chief of Guards.
“As I stated when I arrived here in Druida City four years ago, I am pleased and honored to have a home with my Vine Family and a career that serves the Family, and the GreatLord, Muin T’Vine.” He offered his large hands to Muin, who set his around the man’s, then glanced at Avellana. She pressed against Muin’s side and touched both Muin’s and Duon’s hands.
Duon began, “I, Duon Dewberry Vine, promise with this Vow of Honor, that I take a Loyalty Oath to Muin, FirstFamily GreatLord T’Vine, and Avellana Hazel D’Vine, to serve them and the Family to the best of my ability . . .”
After Duon finished, Muin gave his oath, then Avellana recited hers—and swore not only by the Lady and Lord, but also by the Four Spirits of the Intersection of Hope faith.
She got a lot of odd looks at that, and Duon stared down at her with steel-gray eyes, and said lightly, letting his voice fall back into his original lilt, “Swearing by six deities. You’d best take care you keep your word. Wouldn’t be nothin’ left’a ya if you broke it.”
She smiled up at him. Muin dropped his hands from the three-way clasp, and Avellana squeezed Duon’s big fingers . . . with no apparent reaction except a smile lurking at the ends of his mouth.
“I do like you,” she said. “And I repeat that I will fulfill my responsibilities to you and defend you, if need be, with my person.”
He patted her on the shoulder. “You should leave the defending to me, D’Vine.” Then he turned to the rest of the staff in front of them. “I am T’Vine’s man. His Chief of Guards. And I agree with him. Leave now if you intend to betray him, and the Family, if you can’t take this Loyalty Oath. ’Cuz if I catch you a’breakin’ it, I’ll kill ya myself and throw your remains over the battlements.”
On shaky legs, the housekeeper came forward. “I am ready to swear my fealty to T’Vine and D’Vine.”
Duon stepped to Muin’s right and watched. “That’s good.” The guard’s gaze swept the rest of the staff. “Doesn’t look like no one’s a’leavin’, GreatLord T’Vine.”
“No,” Muin said, equally cool.
“Think we finally cleaned out the last of the nest of betrayers?”
“Yes, I do. I am grateful for those of you, my Family, who are staying to serve the Family, who recognize my leadership of this Family, and who welcome my wife and HeartMate, Avellana Hazel D’Vine.”
A small, ragged cheer went up.
Then they proceeded with the rest of the Loyalty Ceremony, each Vine, Muin, and Avellana swearing loyalty to each other.
Finally Rhyz hopped to his feet and pranced around. Muin bowed, Avellana curtseyed, and they were rewarded with greater acclamation consisting of applause, joyful shouts, and some bows and curtsies. She acknowledged each and every Vine, fixing names, faces, and vocations in her mind.
The Vines split into two columns with space between them. Avellana took a breath in unison with Muin, then followed a swaggering Rhyz and hopping Flora between the lines. They exited the courtyard through a gate to the sacred grove, the Vines falling in behind them.
Duon raised his rough but surprisingly musical voice to sing, one of the simple and beloved songs everyone knew.
Muin and she stopped before the altar—yet angled the way the Hopefuls preferred. Facing her, he said, “I love you, HeartMate.”
She replied, “I love you, HeartMate.”
Rhyz yowled and sent mentally, Welcome T’Vine and D’Vine, My Family!
Now voices roared.
Avellana turned to the Vines, who’d curved in a circle around them. “Let us gather together in love.”
And they did.
About the Author
Robin D. Owens is the RITA Award–winning author of the Celta Novels, including Heart Legacy, Heart Fire, and Heart Fortune. She lives in Colorado.
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Heart Sight Page 41