Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Though it was abundant.
It was also celebratory and beautiful.
But nothing compared to her.
Nothing.
She was nervous, he could see it.
But with every step she took to him. Every second she gazed at his face as she came closer.
That disappeared.
When Mars arrived with her at the altar, True did not look to her protector to hear his message, as tradition dictated.
He said to Farah, “I didn’t think you could be more beautiful, but every day, you prove me wrong.”
Her smile lit up the vast space.
“I think that’s enough said,” Mars remarked in a low voice, and True tore his eyes from his bride to look to his friend. “Except this,” he went on. “There is not a man in any realm I would offer her to without some sense of unease.”
A king then dipped his chin to a prince and finished.
“Except you. Be happy.”
True accepted this honor with a silent nod.
Mars turned to Farah to see her beaming up at him.
He bent to kiss her cheek then put her hand in True’s proffered elbow.
That done, Mars walked away to join his wife in the pews.
“Is this really finally happening?” she asked.
“It is, my love.”
“It’s like a dream.”
She was not wrong.
His mother had given them a beautiful wedding gift.
So beautiful, it was like a dream.
He wrapped his free hand around her fingers at his elbow.
“Mercy had the most beautiful gown made for me,” she shared.
He felt his lips quirk. “I did not miss that.”
“Apparently, this color is not tradition,” she told him.
“It isn’t.”
“But it very much suits me.”
“It does.”
“The incense, True, that was so kind. Remind me to thank her.”
He thought he might start laughing.
He did not.
He answered, “I will.”
“You look most handsome.”
His lips quirked again. “Thank you, darling.”
“Are you as nervous as me?” she queried.
“No,” he answered. “I’m impatient.”
She got his meaning and her eyes gleamed.
They heard a throat clear and both looked to the Wohden priest standing before them.
“By your leave, Your Majesty, if I could start the ceremony?” he requested.
Hell yes, he could start the ceremony.
For then it would be done.
And Farah would be his princess.
His wife.
His future.
One he was finally looking forward to.
With pleasure.
“Please do,” he bid.
Farah shifted, pressing closer to his side.
True locked his frame to support her weight.
The priest smiled in amusement, drew in breath, lifted his hands palms up.
And he began.
True kept his fingers curled around Farah’s the entire ceremony.
He was unsure he heard a word.
He smelled her perfume.
He felt her presence at his side with such acuteness, he knew he would not forget, standing right there with her pressed against him, not for the rest of his life.
But mostly, he didn’t hear the words to the ceremony because he was keen to have her pronounced his wife.
Not to mention, he was very ready for their wedding kiss.
80
The Plan Commences
Prince True
Temple to Wohden, Notting Thicket
WODELL
The first indication that something was wrong was when Prince Cassius’s lieutenant, Macrinus, made a stealthy exit for reasons unknown.
However, he was seen by a few people, a few fairies, some sprites and several gnomes catching sight of something at a side entrance to the temple.
Macrinus then left his seat silently, but with haste, and disappeared through there.
True, focused on his bride, focused on his future, focused on the fact that it was for once bright, missed this.
Completely.
Thus, he missed that the man Macrinus saw there was Nero, another of Cassius’s lieutenants. A man sent to Airen over a month ago to see to its defense against a probable revolt.
And missing it, he missed Nero was travel worn and his face was a mask of foreboding.
The second indication that something was wrong was when Cassius caught site of something at the entrance of the temple.
There was a quiet altercation happening there. A common woman with copper hair appeared determined to gain entry but was being held back by Dellish guards.
She fought like a warrior. However, her tact was as a warrior that didn’t wish to harm anybody.
And thus, six guards to one woman, she was losing.
Cassius’s eyes narrowed on it.
He then brought Elena’s attention to it.
She looked that way and her head jerked in surprise.
True missed this as well.
For it was only moments before Farah would be declared his wife.
And he was not going to miss that.
The final indication that something was wrong, True could not miss.
No one could.
And as Macrinus rushed back into the sanctuary, moving swiftly toward his prince, and Cassius seemed to be attempting to stop Elena from coming up from her seat, at the back of the balcony, twenty men wearing dark-gray robes, black hoods with eyeholes and carrying longbows rushed in and lined the back aisle.
There was barely time for the murmurs and frissons of surprise of those seated in the balcony to register on the rest of the congregation before, as one, the assailants raised their bows aimed toward the front of the sanctuary.