“He’ll perform both rituals so that we can be wed by your customs as well as ours. Your Brother Santee insisted that he be carried down for the wedding so he could at least prompt the priest if he forgot anything. Is that acceptable?”
“More than acceptable,” Kayli said, relieved. She hadn’t realized how much she’d counted on a proper bloodbonding, her one assurance that this marriage was a true one, not merely political prostitution. “I thank you for your consideration.”
“And I thank you for the horses,” Randon said quickly. “They’re wonderful beasts. If not for the circumstances of your arrival, I’d have been in the saddle long before now. I couldn’t have asked for a nobler gift. Were they your choice?”
Kayli couldn’t suppress a flush of pride at his words.
“They were the finest in my father’s stables,” she said. “I was so pleased by the beautiful hawk you sent.” She sighed. “I fear he was lost in the raid and is likely seeking a mate of his own somewhere between our two countries.”
“No matter,” Randon said quickly. “I’ll take you to the mews and you can choose another.” He hesitated. “Lady Kayli, I want to make this as easy for you as I can. Of course I need an heir, but you may keep your own rooms and—”
Kayli chuckled a little bitterly, remembering her own hopes that her husband, like Jaenira’s, might not trouble her overmuch. Somehow her attitude had changed in the intervening days. She had given up too much in the name of this alliance. If this marriage must be, she would not let Randon or anyone else make a mere travesty of it.
“In Bregond,” she said gently, “it is the custom for husband and wife to share their quarters. I thank you for your kindness, but although I was no more prepared for this marriage than you, it is my intention to honor my vows in every way, and strive to be the best wife and High Lady that I can be.”
Randon smiled in relief.
“Thank you, lady. I begin to believe the Bright Ones have blessed me with a most exceptional bride.”
Kayli had to smile again. No, she was not so exceptional. But given time, hard work and Brisi’s grimoires, she would be.
“I thank you,” she said quietly. “Is there time to change my clothing before the ceremony? I had a gown made from the fabric you sent, and I would wear it for our wedding.”
“Of course, there’s time,” Randon assured her. “I’ll speak to the council and have everything prepared for the ceremony. It’s midafternoon now; can you be ready at sunset?”
In Bregond, weddings would have been performed at dawn or moonrise; a sunset wedding would be considered inauspicious. Obviously the Agrondish thought differently.
“I will be ready at sunset,” Kayli said. “Where will the ritual be held?”
“In the great hall,” Randon told her. “Ordinarily it would be held on the front steps; it’s our custom that the bride and groom step over the threshold of their home together. But that’s best saved for the large ceremony later.”
Or perhaps best avoided in case the bride must be set aside for another. Either Randon truly believed that Kayli would be the wife to bear his heirs, or he was trying to spare her feelings; either way, Kayli was warmed by the gesture.
“Is there any special preparation I should make for your ceremony?” Randon asked as Kayli rose to leave.
“In Bregond you would have a dagger specially made and consecrated, unless you belonged to an Order and had your own thari, ”Kayli said. “But we can share my thari. Such a minor infringement of custom is acceptable.”
“Very well, then.” Randon took her hand and bowed deeply over it. “Until sunset, lady.”
“Until sunset,” Kayli said, feeling awkward and stiff once more. She hurriedly retreated, glad to return to her room.
Endra was, to Kayli’s surprise, not dismayed to learn how soon the wedding was to take place.
“Better sooner than later,” she said
“More than acceptable,” Kayli said, relieved. She hadn’t realized how much she’d counted on a proper bloodbonding, her one assurance that this marriage was a true one, not merely political prostitution. “I thank you for your consideration.”
“And I thank you for the horses,” Randon said quickly. “They’re wonderful beasts. If not for the circumstances of your arrival, I’d have been in the saddle long before now. I couldn’t have asked for a nobler gift. Were they your choice?”
Kayli couldn’t suppress a flush of pride at his words.
“They were the finest in my father’s stables,” she said. “I was so pleased by the beautiful hawk you sent.” She sighed. “I fear he was lost in the raid and is likely seeking a mate of his own somewhere between our two countries.”
“No matter,” Randon said quickly. “I’ll take you to the mews and you can choose another.” He hesitated. “Lady Kayli, I want to make this as easy for you as I can. Of course I need an heir, but you may keep your own rooms and—”
Kayli chuckled a little bitterly, remembering her own hopes that her husband, like Jaenira’s, might not trouble her overmuch. Somehow her attitude had changed in the intervening days. She had given up too much in the name of this alliance. If this marriage must be, she would not let Randon or anyone else make a mere travesty of it.
“In Bregond,” she said gently, “it is the custom for husband and wife to share their quarters. I thank you for your kindness, but although I was no more prepared for this marriage than you, it is my intention to honor my vows in every way, and strive to be the best wife and High Lady that I can be.”
Randon smiled in relief.
“Thank you, lady. I begin to believe the Bright Ones have blessed me with a most exceptional bride.”
Kayli had to smile again. No, she was not so exceptional. But given time, hard work and Brisi’s grimoires, she would be.
“I thank you,” she said quietly. “Is there time to change my clothing before the ceremony? I had a gown made from the fabric you sent, and I would wear it for our wedding.”
“Of course, there’s time,” Randon assured her. “I’ll speak to the council and have everything prepared for the ceremony. It’s midafternoon now; can you be ready at sunset?”
In Bregond, weddings would have been performed at dawn or moonrise; a sunset wedding would be considered inauspicious. Obviously the Agrondish thought differently.
“I will be ready at sunset,” Kayli said. “Where will the ritual be held?”
“In the great hall,” Randon told her. “Ordinarily it would be held on the front steps; it’s our custom that the bride and groom step over the threshold of their home together. But that’s best saved for the large ceremony later.”
Or perhaps best avoided in case the bride must be set aside for another. Either Randon truly believed that Kayli would be the wife to bear his heirs, or he was trying to spare her feelings; either way, Kayli was warmed by the gesture.
“Is there any special preparation I should make for your ceremony?” Randon asked as Kayli rose to leave.
“In Bregond you would have a dagger specially made and consecrated, unless you belonged to an Order and had your own thari, ”Kayli said. “But we can share my thari. Such a minor infringement of custom is acceptable.”
“Very well, then.” Randon took her hand and bowed deeply over it. “Until sunset, lady.”
“Until sunset,” Kayli said, feeling awkward and stiff once more. She hurriedly retreated, glad to return to her room.
Endra was, to Kayli’s surprise, not dismayed to learn how soon the wedding was to take place.
“Better sooner than later,” she said
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