Amáne of Teravinea - Black Castle (The Teravinea Series Book 4) Page 4

  Murmurs went through the crowd. I noted sounds of excitement and approval. The king’s eyes swept over the guests.

  “For those of you not of Teravinea, I will explain. The Washing of the Feet had always been a ritual in Teravinean weddings. It is based on the idea of service to each other. Affirmation that King Ansel will honor and respect Lady Amáne, and she, likewise, will honor and respect King Ansel.” Tynan nodded at Ansel and then at me, before he continued. “The act demonstrates a humility of heart and character, kneeling before your spouse. In turn, it communicates, ‘I will accept your help.’ That is, indeed, a test of love when you realize you need each other’s support.”

  A woman with a beautiful voice began to sing a traditional ballad as an attendant brought forward a chair. Another carried a fine porcelain basin and a pitcher made especially for the ceremonial Washing of the Feet. A scene of dragons flying above Castle Teravinea decorated the set in gold leaf.

  These items meant even more to me as they were crafted by my mother, Catriona. She had been a potter in this city, and had made much of the ceramic ware for the House of Drekinn when they ruled. This set was found in a storage room in the castle, untouched for decades. It comforted my heart to know a work of art from my mother’s hands would be here with me on this extraordinary day. She had been the most important person in my life.

  I also had an item of my father’s, whom I never had the chance to get to know well. I could feel Duer’s presence as I carried a small dagger of his sheathed in the folds of my gown. Without much protest, Fiona had fashioned a special pocket for it. She knew how much it meant to me.

  I lowered myself onto the chair. Rio, Mila and Kira approached to help with my gown. Ansel knelt before me and removed my slippers.

  Holding my feet over the basin, he poured the water from the pitcher and tenderly washed them. The guests in the front row were close enough to see my right foot where my linking mark from Charna entwined around my ankle. Like Eshshah’s image on my arm, his was a stylized image of himself — a tattoo of sorts. I heard soft whispering and some astonished inhales.

  Ansel gazed up at me, “My heart, my love, my Amáne, I kneel before you to make a pledge for all to witness. I promise to always defend you, to honor our union, and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you; laugh and dance with you when you are joyful; share your tears with you when you are sorrowful. You will always be the color in my day, the salt of my sustenance, until the day I meet my ancestors.”

  I smiled at him as I wiped a tear from my cheek.

  Rio handed him a towel. As Ansel dried my feet, he caressed my ankle. I inhaled sharply as the warmth of his touch rose from my foot to my face. His lips turned up as he replaced my slippers, knowing the effect he had on me. I shot him an embarrassed glance with a hint of a warning, but I couldn’t keep the smile from my face.

  Ansel stood and offered his hand. We traded positions and I knelt at his feet. Thankfully, I didn’t have much trouble removing his boots.

  As the water flowed over his feet, I drew my eyes to his and recited, “Ansel, my love and my life, I kneel before you to make a pledge for all to witness. I promise to love you unconditionally, to respect you, to care for and protect you, to comfort and encourage you. In you I have found a great treasure, a faithful friend, my sturdy shelter. Your friendship and love is beyond price. Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. You are my heart and my love until the day I meet my ancestors.”

  I took the towel Mila offered and began to dry Ansel’s feet. Knowing the front rows had a good view, I arranged the towel to conceal my action. I ran my hand softly from his heel up his calf. Biting my lower lip, I offered him a teasing look.

  I’d witnessed Ansel enough times in affairs of state and official ceremonies, and his composure always impressed me. I wasn’t sure of the reaction I expected, but the passion in his smoldering eyes took me by surprise. His self control momentarily interrupted, he huffed out a short breath. I swallowed and tried to appear smug, but it didn’t stop the heat rising in my face. Dropping my eyes, I assisted him with his boots.

  Ansel placed his hands beneath my elbows, and helped me to my feet. Considering the dress into which I’d been sewn, I couldn’t have risen without him. With his eyes upon me, the urge to tip my face up to his overcame me. His burning expression made it difficult to maintain the refined behavior expected of me.

  Eshshah’s humor entered my thoughts. “Amáne, I’m surprised at your restraint.”

  Without a second thought, I pulled Ansel’s face to mine and kissed him soundly on the lips. Ignoring the gasps from the guests, and some cat calls from the back of the crowd, I pulled away, raised my chin and placed my arm in the proper position over Ansel’s. I didn’t dare gaze in his direction as I regained my composure. I managed a dignified expression, as if my brash action had never occurred.

  “Eshshah, you shouldn’t have encouraged me,” I said to her in thought transference.

  She rumbled her laughter.

  “That’s my girl,” Ansel whispered out of the side of his mouth.

  I responded with a small shrug.

  We turned back to King Tynan, who, with eyebrows raised, shook with silent laughter.

  He paused a moment longer and took in a few breaths as he attempted to collect himself. Then he continued in an even voice. “King Ansel and Lady Amáne, do you have the rings?”

  Gallen stepped forward and handed them to Tynan, who held them up above his head. Another song began, the blessing of the rings song. As the singer’s voice faded, King Tynan handed Ansel my ring.

  Ansel recited as he slipped the ring on my finger, “Because this ring is perfectly symmetrical, it signifies the perfection of true love. As I place it on your finger, I give you all that I am and ever hope to be.”

  Tynan handed Ansel’s ring to me. I faced Ansel and said, “Because this ring has no end or beginning, it signifies the continuation of true love. As I place it on your finger, I give you all that I am and ever hope to be.”

  The king descended the steps of the dais and motioned for me to place my right arm over Ansel’s left arm, in the same position in which we had started. He took the silken cord and wrapped it three times around our hands, then turned us to face the guests as he announced, “Lords and ladies, may I be the first to introduce to you, King Ansel and his wife, Queen Amáne of Drekinn. You may now seal your vows with a kiss.” Under his breath he said, “Again.”

  Ansel and I turned to each other. With his free hand at the small of my back, he pressed me close. Our lips met. We left no doubt that our vows were sealed.

  King Tynan waited patiently, then continued, “Please walk through the arched door to begin your new life.”

  He stepped aside as Ansel and I climbed the three steps toward the door. Ansel opened it and we passed through. Eshshah and Sovann waited on the lawns that spread out on the other side of the door. They lifted their heads to the sky and trumpeted with joy. Flames burst from their mouths and shot high into the air.

  Cheers resounded through the crowd.

  At that moment, the twenty-two dragons who had been perched on the city walls took flight, bellowing their responses to our dragons. They came together in a V formation and glided over the event. The sight, as well as the sound, was breathtaking.

  We approached our dragons. After we unwrapped the silken cord from our hands, Ansel helped me gather my train and hook it over my arm as Fiona instructed. He gave me a boost up on Eshshah and secured my feet before he got astride Sovann. Eshshah and Sovann launched into the air to join the other dragons in an aerial dance, much to the delight of the guests. The musicians struck up a melody written expressly to accompany our flight.

  “A large male dragon flew in before the ceremony,” Eshshah informed me. “Sovann and I didn’t recognize him.”

  “Why would a lone dragon come here?” I said. “All the riders now have a mount. There’s no one with whom he can bond. I
s he flying with us now?”

  “No. We informed Braonán, who sent Calder and his dragon to investigate. They returned saying they couldn’t find him.”

  “It’s possible he just came to bring a gift from the Valley of Dragons and has headed back home. Everyone has been so busy, they probably overlooked telling us. We’ll find out tomorrow when we open the gifts. I’m sure it’s not anything we need to worry about.”

  After a few passes, Eshshah and Sovann veered off and headed for another part of the castle grounds. The other dragons continued their aerial show. We landed by a private entrance that led to where the feast was to be held.

  Dismounting, I made my way to Eshshah’s head. I held her fangs and leaned my forehead against her nose. She hummed her delight.

  In thought transference, she said to Ansel and me, “Congratulations to you two. I wish you a long life. Never forget your troth today.”

  I kissed her and said, “There’s no chance I will ever forget this day. Ever.”

  Ansel and I watched with pride as Eshshah and Sovann leaped into the air. My love for my dragon nearly overwhelmed me.

  Feeling Ansel’s eyes upon me, I turned and said, “What?”

  “Have I ever told you that I love you?”

  “Hmm, I think it’s been quite a while. Probably nearly half an hour.”

  “I should do something about that.”

  Placing his hands on my waist, he pulled me close. I dropped my train and locked my fingers behind his neck. The heat of his kiss sent a tremor through my body. It was as if a fire had ignited inside me.

  “I like that you showed me, instead of telling me,” I whispered.

  “Then let me show you again,” Ansel breathed. And he did, even more fervently.

  “Oh, excuse us. We’re sorry ... er. We’ll just wait over there by the banquet hall door.” Young voices broke into our embrace.

  We parted to see Rio, Mila and Kira moving quickly back through the corridor.

  Ansel and I laughed as we rushed to catch up.

  “Girls,” I called, “it’s all right. Wait for us. We’re ready.”

  We moved through the short corridor to meet the three girls at a set of large double doors. They fussed about my gown and spread the train as we waited for the signal to enter.

  At last trumpets sounded, a herald announced, “All hail King Ansel and Queen Amáne!”

  We stepped into the Great Hall. I gasped at the sight. Fabric banners of every color hung from the rafters. Tapestries that I’d never seen here at the castle decorated the walls. Colorful scenes of dragons and riders were woven in marvelous works of art.

  “Do you like them?” asked Ansel. “They’re gifts from King Tynan.”

  “They’re magnificent. He must have an army of tapestry makers. If you agree, I’d love that one in our chambers.”

  I pointed to one that had attracted my attention. One depicting Sovann and Eshshah flying over Serislan castle.

  “You can do anything you like, my queen.”

  The dragon riders again lined a path for us to follow to the other end of the hall. We stood on a thick, richly-woven rug about five paces long and four wide. A long line of guests queued to offer their felicitations. King Tynan, Gallen and the Healer stood with us in positions of honor. Neither Ansel nor I had parents who would normally have occupied that role.

  The guests took their turns greeting us. I nodded, offered my hand, laughed lightly when appropriate and kept a polite smile until my face muscles hurt. The gentry, of course, had been first in line. Relief spread through me when I saw the dragon riders next in the queue, taking up the last of the well-wishers.

  The first to approach was Braonán, who’d been the lead rider in charge of Ansel from the time Ansel was a small child. He saluted both of us with great pride.

  Done with the stuffy aristocracy, I opened my arms to the large bear-of-a-man. He enclosed me and hugged me with more emotion than I’d ever seen from him. Calder followed suit and added a kiss to my forehead.

  Next in line, was Avano. Another who had the responsibility of overseeing Ansel’s upbringing. He was the last of the dragon riders to link before Eshshah and I came along.

  Dragon riders lived very long lives. Avano looked only a bit older than Ansel, but he probably had seen at least fifty years. After Gallen, he was my favorite of all the riders.

  With a flourish of his arm, Avano took a deep bow before me. “I offer my blessings and congratulations, my queen.”

  I stepped in and punched him in the chest.

  With teeth clenched, I said, “If you ever bow to me again, Avano, I will use my queenly powers and command off with your head.”

  He threw his head back and burst into laughter. Wrapping his arms around me, he lifted me off my feet. My laugh came out as loud as his. Heads turned, but I didn’t care.

  The rest of the riders bid their good wishes in their turn and headed toward their table. My heart swelled with honor that the members of this extraordinary group were my friends, my brotherhood.

  Fiona glided up and took Ansel’s and my hands. “You did a beautiful job in the ceremony. Even you, Amáne, after you stopped clinging to King Ansel and took his hand like a proper bride.”

  “I was hoping you didn’t catch that,” I said.

  “That wasn’t the only thing I caught,” Fiona said raising her eyebrows.

  My eyes went wide.

  “Delightfully scandalous,” she whispered in my ear.

  “I agree, Fiona,” Ansel said.

  It was her turn to stand in embarrassment.

  “Ugh, I forgot about you riders and your hearing.” Her musical laugh surrounded us.

  “Speaking of scandalous, when can we be excused?” asked Ansel. “Please tell me we don’t have to stay until the sun comes up.”

  “Patience, m’lord,” she answered. “This is an early wedding. You’ll be able to make your getaway around sunset. I’ll tell you more about that when the time draws near.”

  Ansel squeezed my hand. I shot a nervous look at Fiona.

  “Your guests are being ushered to their tables, please move to the high table and take your seats. Once you’re seated, the feast will begin. Enjoy.”

  “Fiona, I want you to enjoy yourself, too. You’re so busy, you’re not celebrating with us.”

  “In truth, Amáne, I’m having the time of my life. Tomorrow I’ll be bored and moping until you assign me another event.”

  “Then I’m afraid you’ll have to mope for quite some time. The only thing I want to take part in after all this is ...” I shot a glance at Ansel, whose expression was expectant. “I mean ... that is ... oh ... er...”

  Fiona tipped her head and smiled. “I can’t help you with that, love.”

  I pressed my lips together and tugged Ansel to our seats at the high table. My eyes scanned the room and I realized the guests were standing by their places waiting for us to take our chairs. I sat quickly and Ansel followed.

  The music changed cadence and the room bustled with servers. Delicious aromas wafted around us. Just then, I remembered I’d hardly eaten anything all day. My stomach called for attention. I sighed. This gown would not allow me to enjoy the amount of food I normally could consume. I decided to put my mind to something else.

  “Ansel, I have a question.”

  “Yes, my beloved?”

  “First I want to tell you I think your words to me were beautiful, but I’m not sure I understood what you meant when you said I was the salt of your sustenance. Are you sure you didn’t mean the salt in your wounds?”

  “Never,” he laughed. “Since you seem to prefer being shown rather than told, let me show you.”

  He beckoned a serving maid to us. She curtsied and stood wide-eyed and nervous. Leaning toward her, he whispered something in her ear. Surprisingly, I couldn’t hear what he told her. The young girl curtsied again as she backed away and hurried off.

  My eyebrows came together and I lifted a shoulder. Ansel seemed amu
sed.

  The maid returned with a steaming plate of roasted meat that made my mouth water. At Ansel’s gesture, she placed a slice on his plate. He cut a small piece and offered it to me. I closed my eyes and savored it with delight.

  “Your chefs have outdone themselves,” I said between chews, forgetting my manners.

  “Our chefs, my love. You have to get used to it. All this is yours as well.”

  I laughed as I licked my lips.

  He nodded to the girl and she served another slice from her platter. It looked just as enticing. I wondered at his apparent lesson, or possibly it was a Drekinn tradition that the groom feed the bride. I opened my mouth for the next burst of flavor.

  As my teeth came together, my face scrunched up. The meat sat tasteless in my mouth. I couldn’t, with any manners, spit it out, so I grabbed the goblet in front of me and tipped it back, forcing the insipid meat down my throat.

  “What did they put in that meat?” I said choking.

  Ansel couldn’t hold his laughter. I had the feeling my reaction was just what he’d hoped for.

  “That, my beloved, is the taste of meat with no salt or seasoning of any kind. Now do you know what I meant?”

  I pinched his arm.

  “Yes, now I understand, salt of my life,” I laughed. “Lesson learned. This time I would rather you had simply told me.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Trays and bowls of meats, breads and cheeses continued to flow into the hall. Toward the end of the meal a clanking of knives on goblets rose from the dragon rider’s table. I swung my eyes in their direction as they started chanting, “Tell us the tale. Tell us the tale.”

  By tradition, during a Teravinean vows celebration, the newly-joined couple is encouraged to tell the story of their first meeting and how it led to this day. I couldn’t be sure the upper classes observed the same custom, but when you have a table full of riders insisting, the practice would carry on.