35. Tahlia

In the end, they decided to wed on the castle’s grounds. It only seemed fitting for two Mist Knights to marry amid dragons and the highest peaks. Tahlia selected a cluster of crystals as the sacred handfasting site. Marius had approved of the creativity and told her that Ragewing was in full agreement. Lija preferred it as well because she still wasn’t able to fly, so she couldn’t travel far.

The Druid had arrived to see if he could help Lija heal. Fara couldn’t stop grinning at the idea of learning under the Druid’s tutelage, even though she hadn’t been promised such a situation. “Try to stop me,” she’d said to Marius, narrowing her eyes. Marius had replied that he’d never even considered such an act.

In the corridor outside of Tahlia and Fara’s room, Healer Albus whispered to them and Marius.

“They found runes charcoaled onto the floor in Ophelia’s chambers. The Bloodworkers also determined that both the former commander’s and Ophelia’s blood were present on a knife found in the former commander’s rooms as well as on the small rug that had covered the runes in Ophelia’s apartments.”

Tahlia wasn’t surprised. But she had more questions. Rumors were zipping about the castle, and there were a lot of hushed mentions of a ritual book. “What book is everyone whispering about?”

“Yes,” Albus said, “the dark magic book. Unseelie runes and so forth. A witness saw Ophelia take the book from the library. They asked to remain anonymous.”

“Don’t blame them,” Fara mumbled.

Marius crossed his arms. Anger rolled off him, threads of the deepest orange shimmering from his body to lace around Tahlia like a protective barrier. “So Ophelia did indeed murder her father to do blood magic.”

“I believe so,” Albus said. “I don’t think she knew exactly what she was doing though. At least to the extent of the evil she wrought. The Druid confirmed that when I met with him upon his arrival.”

Fara grinned. “I love him so much.”

Albus nodded at his new Healer student. “Talented male, for certain. We are blessed to have him in the Realm of Lights.”

“What about Ophelia’s admission to Tahlia about the poisoning? Any physical proof for the others?” Marius asked, brows knitted.

“We found two vials of ghostmint, one full and one empty, in Ophelia’s bedchamber.”

“I’d say I’m surprised about all of this,” Tahlia said, “but I’d be lying.”

All sets of eyes snapped to her face. Her human blood would never stop making her stick out a bit from the crowd at Dragon Tail Peak.

Marius let his arms fall and the threads around him faded into that ghostly transparency they normally had when Tahlia wasn’t focusing on them and when the emotions of anyone nearby weren’t running high.

“I knew it, too,” Marius said. “And I apologize for not pressing the issue to Commander Gaius as soon as I guessed it.”

“Stop apologizing for that,” Tahlia said. “I forgave you already. Let’s move on to what I’m actually annoyed with you about.”

Marius raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips. “If you bring up the fact that I let you sleep through breakfast again…”

Fara stepped between Tahlia and Marius as Albus chuckled.

“You’ll do what?” Fara asked, fists bunching.

Marius looked to the ceiling. “I will request an extra plate of crystal cakes for the both of you while you are preparing for the ceremony.”

“One thing that is, um, less conducive to our more settled state of mind here…” Albus tilted his head and studied Tahlia.

“What is it?” she asked.

“The Druid can’t help Lija.”

The breath went out of Tahlia, and Marius took her arm. If Lija never flew again, she would die. Tahlia knew it as surely as she knew her own name.

Albus continued, “Her wound has a strange lacing of dark magic. But he is wondering if the humans’ Witch might be able to do something.”

“Really?” Fara asked.

Tahlia chewed her lip. “Would she?”

Shrugging, Albus worried the edge of his cloak. “The Druid said he will ask.”

“I can make a request of King Lysanael and Queen Revna myself,” Marius said.

“Thank you,” Tahlia said. “All of you.”

They thanked Albus again for the information about Ophelia, and he left, wishing them well.

Fara linked her arm in Tahlia’s. “Sorry, Commander Marius, but I need to steal your promised mate. It is time to fancy her up!”

The Witch would heal Lija. She had to.

Tahlia laughed with Fara and shook her head. “I’m already dreading what type of corsetry you have decided on.”

Marius kissed Tahlia, his lips warm and firm. “My heart beats solely for our upcoming bonding.”

Fara let out a dreamy sigh as Marius left the corridor. “He is still scary even though he’s in love.”

“More scary, really. You should have seen the protective threads humming around him while Albus was talking.” Tahlia let out a breath, her shoulders finally relaxing. At last, they knew what Ophelia had done, they’d lived through it, and it was time to move forward.

“I wish I could see them. Do they look like wool?”

“Sort of.”

They chitchatted happily and entered the bedchamber to prepare for the wedding.

“You look perfect,”Maiwenn said as she finished cramming another mountain bluewing blossom into Tahlia’s complicated braids. “You don’t need more nature shoved into your hair. Not that anyone is asking me for beauty tips.”

Fara shooed Maiwenn back and adjusted the blooms as well as the circlet of golden laurel leaves Tahlia wore. Fara’s fingers were light and quick, unlike Maiwenn’s. “They’re the commander’s favorite.”

Maiwenn covered her mouth and her shoulders shook. “Commander Marius has a favorite flower?”

Fara whirled, glaring. “I know you can murder me with one move, but I will land at least one hit before death if you keep teasing them.”

“Calm yourself, Lady Fara. I’ll back off. I don’t want you to stop making my evening tonic. That stuff works miracles.” Maiwenn faced Tahlia. “Why are you so quiet?”

Tahlia’s lips pulled into a wide grin. “I was just thinking about what Lija told me this morning.”

All the riders could now speak with their dragons because Fara had made it her mission over the last fortnight to travel and retrieve an entire basket of salvia scarletta, the plant with blood-red leaves that connected the minds of dragons and their bonded riders.

“What did she say?” Maiwenn asked. “I’m still surprised Donan has a northern accent.”

“I mean, he is a Seabreak,” Fara said.

Maiwenn wrinkled her nose. “I’d thought most of them were born on the eastern coast.”

It had to be odd to hear a very Northern pirate-type accent in one’s head. “Lija said because Marius and I chose the crystals for our ritual that even dragons would respect our bond. That we have accidentally mimicked the old dragon ways.”

Maiwenn’s eyes widened. “Do they bond in a version of marriage too?”

“Many of them used to,” Tahlia said, “but their traditions have changed over the centuries. It is seen as a very serious announcement of dedication now.”

“Fitting, I think,” Fara said. Then she glanced at the candle that marked the hours on the bronze shelf near the door. “Oh! We have to go now. You’re going to be late! Commander Marius will think you’re standing him up!”

“Everything is fine, Fara. Now, give me a solid hug, my old friend.”

Fara leaned down and wrapped Tahlia in her spindly arms. “I love you. If you need me to strangle your mate at any point for not pleasing you, just let me know.”

Maiwenn snorted. “I doubt you could complete that task, Healer. Also, is it odd being so aggressive and wanting to heal at the same time?”

“I don’t feel both ways at the same time. Plus,” Fara said with a slightly dangerous grin, “life and death go hand in hand.”

“Aye, they do,” Tahlia said. “But please don’t murder anyone today, all right?”

Fara stepped back and began straightening up the vanity table. “It’s up to everyone to behave properly,” she said in a cheery voice.

Tahlia exchanged a glance with Maiwenn, who mouthed, She’s scary.

Laughing, Tahlia stood and smoothed her blue-green skirts. The embroidered gold sigils—Tahlia’s chosen dragon’s tooth over an oak’s silhouette—ran in stripes down the cascading folds of fabric. The sigils sparkled in the window’s light. She wore a military-grade vest complete with draped mail and circles of bronze plating that hugged her shape. The capped and embroidered sleeves of a fine wool shirt peeked out at the shoulders. The outfit was exactly as she’d wanted it to be—reminiscent of the first riders’ vests, but still having that feminine beauty to it in the voluminous skirts. And her Weaver’s belt remained at her waist, the wool a bright red and humming with power.

Fara and Maiwenn rushed her out of the keep and down the narrow steps that led to the small mountain glen just beyond the courtyard. The wind from the cliff’s edge swept over them, stirring fabric and Maiwenn’s unbound hair. They hurried around the corner to find the other riders gathered alongside much of the castle staff, all the Healers—Fara’s new associates—and most of the Bloodworkers. Titus lifted his hand in a quick wave, his eyes shining. Tahlia winked at him.

At the rocky outcropping that butted against the keep, a jagged array of crystals in purple, gold, clear, pink, and sage green sparkled. Lija, Ragewing, and several other dragons perched above, scales glittering in the setting sun.

Morning, friend,Tahlia said to Lija.

Happy bonding, rider.

Tahlia smiled up at Lija, pride swelling at the sight of the dragon that claimed a big piece of her heart.

The mottled light through the pines flitted across the crystals’ varied surfaces as if in welcome. Courage, connection, and health energies flowed from the crystals. Before meeting Mother Twilight, Tahlia had only felt the crystals’ power once—when a tremor in the earth had jostled the rose-hued ones and sparked the natural attraction between Marius and her. It had been intense. But now, as she watched the threads twinkle in and out of view, she recognized the hum of encouragement from the purple crystals especially. Perhaps the magic somehow knew she was nervous. She smiled and welcomed that energy in, stepping forward. Marius walked out of the shadows of the pines to join her at the crystals.

Head crowned with a golden laurel circlet like Tahlia’s, Marius wore a draping dark blue cloak. His sigil showed on the bronze clasp at his throat—a partially coiled whip and a crystal cluster. A newly fashioned white leather military vest covered his broad chest and trim stomach. He wore riders’ leather trousers as well as typical rider boots. He looked every inch the powerful Fae leader he was now. Commander of the Order of Mist Knights.

But more lovely than any of his raiment was the look in Marius’s eyes. Love shimmered from their gray depths and Tahlia couldn’t wait to start her life with this male. Already she longed to whisk him away from the crowd and into their shared bedchamber. She wanted to trade whispers in the sunset light, feel his palms warming her belly and thighs, listen to his sighs of happiness and contentment…

“Your beauty is beyond any phrase I could utter, my lady,” he whispered in his deep and melodious voice. The breeze stirred his hair and ruffled his cloak.

Joy danced inside her. They had made it.

The ceremony went as planned. First, they burned a beeswax and sage candle for Gaius, asking those attending for a moment of quiet in respect. Then, together, Tahlia and Marius burned dragon lavender at the base of the crystals and detailed their gratitude for their dragons and for the mountains that housed them. Touching a fist to their temples each, they sealed their offering of herbs.

Next, they set their palms against the rose-colored crystal, and Healer Albus wrapped their hands in the braided handfasting cord. The old male spoke the holy words, and once Tahlia and Marius laced their fingers, faced each cardinal direction, and voiced their intent to mate, their bond was formed. Marius’s hands were so warm and comforting. Tahlia never wanted to let go.

With a rush of light, threads leapt around their joined hands. The ties of energy sparkled and undulated like waves on the sea.

“What is it?” Marius looked down at her, wonder in his gaze.

“The threads… We are united in deep blue and gold threads of energy. It’s amazing.”

“You are amazing, my love, my mate.”

They kissed chastely, and the crowd cheered as they swept past the gathering and headed back to the keep for the feast.