stifle it.
“You stand here before the Gods of our realm and ask them to bless this union, do you not?”
“We do,” they both answered.
“King Ryneq, do you trust this man to be loyal to you and your people, and dutifully represent the kingdom as your consort?”
Ryneq caught Nykin’s eye and smiled, and Nykin felt himself relax a little. “Yes.”
“Nykin,” the priest said, and Nykin glanced at him before turning back to look at Ryneq. “Do you swear to do your duty as king’s consort, be loyal to the kingdom, and protect your king unto your dying breath?”
“Yes.” Nykin thought the wording was rather old-fashioned, and heavily weighted in Ryneq’s favor, but he smiled anyway.
They spoke the traditional vows, listened to the priest as he asked the Gods to bless their union, then kissed in front of everyone to complete the ceremony.
Nykin blushed as the crowd below cheered, but Ryneq just pulled him in for another, deeper one. In fact, if Cerylea hadn’t cleared her throat rather loudly, Nykin was almost certain they’d have treated the people of Torsere to much more than that.
Ryneq stepped toward the edge of the balcony, and the noise died down a little, allowing him to speak. “As a celebration of our union, let the feast begin!”
Cheers erupted again, as carts of meats, fruit, and breads were wheeled out into the courtyard. Tables were set up along the edges with barrels of wine hoisted on top, and Nykin could only imagine the state everyone would be in come morning.
With the party below in full swing, Nykin and Ryneq eventually left the balcony through the wide double doors. They entered the great hall to loud applause and congratulations from the dragon riders and Ryneq’s personal guard. Eldin, Nysad, and Cerylea joined them at their table, and everyone in the room fell silent as Ryneq stood, cup in hand, to give his speech before the eating began.
“It is my great honor to present to you my Royal Consort, Nykin—bonded dragon rider and member of the Torserian Army.” He raised his cup to Nykin and took a long drink before offering it over for Nykin to do the same.
The hall erupted into cheers and whistles as Nykin drained the whole thing and banged it down onto the table.
Nykin caught sight of Selene and Jaken at one of the tables over to the right. They both grinned and cheered loudly, and Nykin laughed as Jaken clearly forgot he was still holding his cup of wine and promptly spilled it all down Selene’s back.
Food was served, and the hall quieted down to a low murmur of excited conversation as everyone began to eat.
“That wasn’t so bad, now, was it?” Cerylea said as she nudged Nykin with her elbow.
Nykin smiled back at her and shook his head. “No.” He shifted in his seat until he faced her. “Thank you for doing this for us. Today would never have happened if it wasn’t for you.”
Cerylea blushed and cast a furtive glance over at Ryneq. He was laughing at something Nysad was telling him and looked remarkably relaxed, considering the news they’d received earlier. “I’d do anything for my brother, Nykin. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him this happy.”
Ryneq turned toward them, as though he’d heard them talking about him. He smiled at his sister and threw Nykin a look that had him wishing they were back in their rooms already. Nykin sighed. It was going to be a long afternoon.
As soon as the celebrations were underway, Ryneq pulled Nykin to one side of the hall. “I have to go.” He placed his hand on the back of Nykin’s neck and drew him forward into a quick kiss. “I’m sorry. I’ll be as quick as I can, but—”
“It’s okay. This isn’t something you can put off until tomorrow.” Nykin leaned closer so his mouth was right next to Ryneq’s ear. “I’ll be waiting for you.” He pressed his hips into Ryneq’s ever so slightly, and Ryneq closed his eyes with a groan.
“Nykin,” he hissed, sliding his hands down over
“You stand here before the Gods of our realm and ask them to bless this union, do you not?”
“We do,” they both answered.
“King Ryneq, do you trust this man to be loyal to you and your people, and dutifully represent the kingdom as your consort?”
Ryneq caught Nykin’s eye and smiled, and Nykin felt himself relax a little. “Yes.”
“Nykin,” the priest said, and Nykin glanced at him before turning back to look at Ryneq. “Do you swear to do your duty as king’s consort, be loyal to the kingdom, and protect your king unto your dying breath?”
“Yes.” Nykin thought the wording was rather old-fashioned, and heavily weighted in Ryneq’s favor, but he smiled anyway.
They spoke the traditional vows, listened to the priest as he asked the Gods to bless their union, then kissed in front of everyone to complete the ceremony.
Nykin blushed as the crowd below cheered, but Ryneq just pulled him in for another, deeper one. In fact, if Cerylea hadn’t cleared her throat rather loudly, Nykin was almost certain they’d have treated the people of Torsere to much more than that.
Ryneq stepped toward the edge of the balcony, and the noise died down a little, allowing him to speak. “As a celebration of our union, let the feast begin!”
Cheers erupted again, as carts of meats, fruit, and breads were wheeled out into the courtyard. Tables were set up along the edges with barrels of wine hoisted on top, and Nykin could only imagine the state everyone would be in come morning.
With the party below in full swing, Nykin and Ryneq eventually left the balcony through the wide double doors. They entered the great hall to loud applause and congratulations from the dragon riders and Ryneq’s personal guard. Eldin, Nysad, and Cerylea joined them at their table, and everyone in the room fell silent as Ryneq stood, cup in hand, to give his speech before the eating began.
“It is my great honor to present to you my Royal Consort, Nykin—bonded dragon rider and member of the Torserian Army.” He raised his cup to Nykin and took a long drink before offering it over for Nykin to do the same.
The hall erupted into cheers and whistles as Nykin drained the whole thing and banged it down onto the table.
Nykin caught sight of Selene and Jaken at one of the tables over to the right. They both grinned and cheered loudly, and Nykin laughed as Jaken clearly forgot he was still holding his cup of wine and promptly spilled it all down Selene’s back.
Food was served, and the hall quieted down to a low murmur of excited conversation as everyone began to eat.
“That wasn’t so bad, now, was it?” Cerylea said as she nudged Nykin with her elbow.
Nykin smiled back at her and shook his head. “No.” He shifted in his seat until he faced her. “Thank you for doing this for us. Today would never have happened if it wasn’t for you.”
Cerylea blushed and cast a furtive glance over at Ryneq. He was laughing at something Nysad was telling him and looked remarkably relaxed, considering the news they’d received earlier. “I’d do anything for my brother, Nykin. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him this happy.”
Ryneq turned toward them, as though he’d heard them talking about him. He smiled at his sister and threw Nykin a look that had him wishing they were back in their rooms already. Nykin sighed. It was going to be a long afternoon.
As soon as the celebrations were underway, Ryneq pulled Nykin to one side of the hall. “I have to go.” He placed his hand on the back of Nykin’s neck and drew him forward into a quick kiss. “I’m sorry. I’ll be as quick as I can, but—”
“It’s okay. This isn’t something you can put off until tomorrow.” Nykin leaned closer so his mouth was right next to Ryneq’s ear. “I’ll be waiting for you.” He pressed his hips into Ryneq’s ever so slightly, and Ryneq closed his eyes with a groan.
“Nykin,” he hissed, sliding his hands down over
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