The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1) (33 page)

The
planning of the wedding was becoming a point of contention. Shortly after Deborah
had set the time table, courtiers and council members began to interject
suggestions and demands. Deborah listened for nearly an hour before she called
an end to the falderal. She stood and straightened her clothes while the room
got quiet.

“This is
what I see happening,” she said coolly. “My marriage ceremony will be simple,
as extravagance is not called for. I will not be commissioning an elaborate
dress, hairstyle, or decorations. I would like things to be uncomplicated. I
require only that the royal chapel be cleaned thoroughly. Also, in addition to
rings being exchanged, the crown of the Seventh Kingdom will be placed upon my
head at the conclusion of the ceremony.”

Deborah
turned to her left, where Hogan was sitting. Her tone softened and a smile played
upon her lips. “Is there anything in particular that you request at our
wedding?”

Hogan
stood and took Deborah’s hand. “I am aware of the importance of a woman’s
wedding, so if those arrangements make you happy, then I fully support you.
However, in elven marriages we don’t exchange rings, we place a locking
bracelet upon opposing wrists. The male bracelet is placed upon the right
wrist, and the female bracelet goes upon the left.”

Though
Deborah tried to hide it, her face fell. She did not want Hogan to be
disappointed in their wedding. This was the only thing he had mentioned about
their ceremony, so it was important to him. She herself had dreamt of a ring
from her betrothed for many years now.

Hogan
read the indecision and disappointment on her face. The council members began
to murmur. Was this a sign of an unsatisfying union so early in the
relationship? Both Hogan and Deborah began to speak, but were interrupted from
an unlikely source.

Zilda,
the Koens’ tutor, stepped out of the fringes of the assembly. She was standing
at the front of the balcony. The rest of the Koen girls were with her, except
for Eve. Zilda started to apologize for interrupting, but before she could
fully do so a dozen council members were on their feet. Some complained about
interference from the spectators, the very reason they had advised against
them. Others yelled that Zilda had no right to speak as she was not from this
realm. Yet others insisted on hearing from Deborah or Hogan who had been so
rudely interrupted. A loud crack emanated from the impact of a metal staff
against the marble floor.

Deborah
held the three-foot metal staff inches above the floor, poised to slam it down
again. Silence filled the hall, and a smirk played on David’s lips as he sat in
the corner behind the throne. The small staff was a symbol of office in the
Seventh Kingdom. The two-inch-thick sliver staff was topped with a solid metal
ball slightly smaller than a baseball. Deborah had taken the staff as her own
shortly after her seclusion, and had quickly learned that one of the best ways
to use it was as a gavel to call the council to order.

Deborah
sat on her throne and gestured to the tutor. “I will hear the good lady Zilda.
As a friend of the family, she will always be welcome to speak here.”

David’s
grin widened at the imperious sound of his daughter. She was playing her role
well, if not a little over the top. He suspected it was what the councilors
needed to be kept in line.

With a
slight bow, Zilda spoke again. “In all my training as a teacher I have also
served many years as a jewel smith. If the lady and sir would allow, I believe
I have an idea that would suit both your desires.”

Hogan
knelt beside Deborah and spoke softly. “The dwarven people are renowned for
their metal work. They are able to produce the most solid, functional, and
intricate items. Your staff of office is evidence of their craftsmanship.”

Deborah
looked down at the staff and the ball topping it. They seemed to be one solid
piece, without a hint of a joint. However, while the staff was plain, the ball
was carved with a detailed scene, featuring a dwarf presenting the staff to a
taller winged humanoid that Deborah guessed was an avian. Though the scene was
etched into the ball, the grooves were filled in with gold; The blending was so
well done that the ball was as smooth as if it was cast whole.

Hogan
whispered closely to her. “It was made in the final days of the dwarven rule of
the Crossroads. This and other artifacts were made to pass on to the avian to
show their continued support of God’s will in the ruling of their lives.”

“We are
foundation people by nature,” Zilda spoke softly. “When the Creator tasked us
with the rule of the Way World we were commissioned to build it up. We did so;
nearly all the structures are our handiwork. Allow me to help build a
foundation for you so your rule does not begin with a quarrel, but a
combination of the two of you.”

Deborah
nodded slightly. “Very well; we shall defer to your skills in this matter.”

Barely
perceptible, a few council members began to grumble. When Deborah looked up to
identify them, she found the room silent. The silence did not last. As Zilda
sat down, a council member stood. This man was a replacement for Brother
Brogene; either a cousin or nephew, she could not remember which.

She
started to speak before she fully remembered the man’s name. “The chair
recognizes. . . um, sorry, Brother. . .”

“Eleen,
your majesty.” The gaeder spoke with honeyed tones. “Do not fret about the new
details, my lady, in time we will all become more adept in our new
possessions.”

Deborah
smiled and thanked him, though in the back of her mind she was trying to figure
out if she had just been insulted.

Brother
Eleen continued, “I agree with the great lady and her desire to have simplicity
as your wedding theme. However, I must point out there is much to celebrate.
The people have come to admire you in such a short time. It would be
unthoughtful to not allow them some frivolity upon this festive occasion.
Perhaps if you do not desire the trappings of a grand wedding, then a ball
afterwards would help my colleagues and the people express their
congratulations to you.”

Deborah’s
head spun as she took in all Brother Eleen’s words. Then she latched on to the
idea of a ball.

“Yes,”
she said, not truly realizing that she was speaking out loud until Brother
Eleen began to nod. Images swam in Deborah’s head and she began to voice them.

“A royal
reception to be open to all the people. We could use the lesser hall that opens
into the back courtyard. There can be candle light and dancing, soft music
playing, tables for food both inside and out. Oh, yes; that would be lovely.”

This last
comment was addressed to Hogan, who was smiling broadly, swept away by the
joyous enthusiasm in Deborah’s voice.

“Yes, if
it please you so much, yes.”

“If it
also pleases your Highness,” Brother Eleen interjected, “I could oversee the
details for you.”

Several
council members grumbled, but Deborah ignored them.

“Very
well, Brother Eleen, though Yero and Evangeline will work with you in their
respective capacities.”

Eleen
bowed as much to show respect as to hide the hint of disappointment on his
face. “As you wish, my liege.”

This
matter settled, Deborah stood. “I see no need to proceed any further today.
Unless there are overly pressing matters I do not wish to meet officially again
until after my wedding.”

There
were some sour faces, but no one objected. Deborah nodded and left. Hogan went
with her, their hands intertwined.

David
left the great hall via an exit separate from Deborah and Hogan. He wound
through the castle and came to the very courtyard that Deborah had envisioned
using for her reception. The man could not smile at the thought, however, as
this courtyard was being used for a different reason today. In the middle of
the courtyard sat a veiled cart that smelled strongly of incense and spices.
Within the shrouded interior was the body of First Thunder. Yero and Mel were
checking the straps which held the cloth in place. In front of the wagon, Fleet
of Foot was securing a horse to it. David stopped close to the cart and began
to talk to Rock.

“I know
you can’t delay your journey any longer,” David spoke quietly, “but, I wish we
could have your company for the foreseeable future.”

Rock bobbed
his head solemnly. “The road ahead of you will require the aid of many allies.
In the months to come perhaps I can be one of them again. Now, though, my
brother must return to his home lands to rest, and one of us must take him. I
am eldest now and his household duties fall to me. I leave Fleet of Foot to
continue with you.”

David
placed his hand upon the other man’s shoulder. “Safe travels, dear friend, and
may your blessings outnumber your trials.”

Fleet of
Foot completed his job and came up to his brother. “All is ready; may your
journey be swift and without event.”

Rock
turned to his brother and pulled him into a hug. “Be wise, eager one, and watch
where you step.”

“All that
is mine back home I give to you to help ease the sufferings of Thunder’s bride
and babe. Tell them of his bravery and to watch for the coming new king.”

“Of the
first, I will speak boldly as honor demands. Of the last I will speak truly but
softly, as caution will be needed.”

Fleet of
Foot broke the embrace and nodded. They then clasped forearms and both said “In
God’s time,” a traditional Coterie parting. Then each of the other men there
did the same. Once this was done, Rock mounted his own horse and took the reins
of the horse leading the cart. Without further ado, Rock set off.

The men
stood and watched as the cart slowly ambled out of the castle gates. As it
departed, Mel turned to his father.

He spoke
quietly, his voice a little unsteady. “Dad, will I be called next? I’m not sure
I’m ready for all of this.”

David
reached up and put his hand on Mel’s shoulder. “I have no idea in what order or
way each of you will be called. I do know that when He calls upon you He will
give you what you need to be ready.”

Mel
sighed and David could still feel the doubt and uncertainty flowing within his
son. He sighed, too, and squeezed Mel’s shoulder. David then prayed quietly
over all of his children once again.

*

In the
last two days before the wedding, a calm came over the Seventh Kingdom. While
there was much busy work - cleaning, decoration, fittings, and food preparation
- there was no visible or audible political drama, no huge shifts in staff, and
no sign of overt demon or Void activity. It was a moment of respite that both
sides knew the other would use to build up for the next gambit.

The day
of the wedding dawned, and everyone was swept up in a furious amount of
activity. As part of the groom’s party, Fleet of Foot, Yero, and Mel were
conscripted to attend to last minute fittings and details of the reception.
Eve, Esther, and Ruth were all cloistered together in Deborah’s suite, as a
variety of different servants rushed in and out to help them prepare. The girls
got swept up in the moment, feeling the nervous and giddy excitement of the
day.

After
hours of preparation, the girls were finally ready. They stood in front a
three-paneled mirror that had been brought in. Esther and Ruth marveled over
all the dresses and hairstyles. Eve studied herself and smiled. She liked the
braiding in her hair, how the dress felt and looked, and enjoyed the way the
makeup brought out her eyes. Eventually, though, all the girls were all focused
on Deborah.

Eve tried
hard to quell the jealousy that usually cropped up in her about her older
sister. It wasn’t rational to have these feelings about Deborah on this of all
days. Yet there they were. Of all the Koen children, Deborah and Eve were the
most dramatic example of their mixed heritage. While most of the children had
features and skin pigmentations that showed the mix well, Deborah and Eve each
favored one parent more than the other. With her light skin tone, strawberry
blond hair, and green eyes, Deborah was nearly the mirror image of their mother
and her Irish ancestors. Meanwhile, Eve had a russet tinge to her skin, raven
black hair, and brown eyes that were all gifts of her father and his Native
American ancestry.

Throughout
her life, Eve had constantly been confronted with how beautiful her sister was.
Over and over again, people commented on how much Deborah had the striking
beauty of their mother. Boys in school seemed to fall all over themselves to be
close to her. It wasn’t as if Eve didn’t have her admirers, just not as many
and not as vocal.

Eve tried
to push her negative thoughts aside, but the regal beauty of Deborah and the
magical fairytale qualities about the day made jealousy
seeth
inside her. True to her nature, though, nothing showed outwardly and her smile
held.

Soon
there wasn’t time to consciously think about such things. The girls were moved
to an anteroom of the royal chapel. There was a hustle and bustle of activity
in the main hall that the girls could overhear. First, it was the sounds of
last minute preparations. Then after a brief time of near silence, the steady
hum of arriving guests began.