“Your uncle is High Lord Arjuna?” Jala asked, pausing in mid-step. She had thought perhaps a lesser lord, or maybe the steward, certainly not the High Lord himself.
“On Father’s side,” Finn replied with a nod and tugged on her arm gently. “Don’t worry, I am well received here.”
“Shade said if you ever left Sanctuary you were as good as dead,” she reminded him.
Finn laughed and gave her a huge smile. “If the Rivasans want to come get me here, I’ll cheer them on. The Firym will bend them over and shove swords someplace they won’t soon forget.”
“Do you have to be so crude, Finn?” Sovann sighed.
Giving her a wink, Finn nodded to the guard on the door. “Is my uncle still awake?” he asked the man.
Jala stared openly at the guard, admiring the scarlet red plate mail and embossed black horse on his breast plate. If this was just a simple guard’s attire, she couldn’t imagine what the famous Flame Riders wore.
“He is in his study, Kozva’Fyree,” The guard replied with a slight bow before opening the massive wooden door to admit them to the palace. “Shall I summon a servant to guide you?” the guard asked as they passed through the doorway.
Finn shook his head and smiled. “I haven’t been gone that long, Jax, I can still find my way,” he replied.
With a simple nod the guard closed the doors behind them.
The hall itself stretched out almost past the point of her vision. In the back of the room a staircase arched from both walls curving in its path to the second floor. Directly below the balcony was another fountain, this one immense in size and carved from black stone. Seven horses adorned the top, all in various forms of a charge, their riders leaning forward with swords raised. Finn led her nearer and let her get a closer look, motioning down into the water as they approached. Bright colored fish swam in the water. Their bodies like gems in shades of scarlet, blue, and green.
Sovann looked down at the fish and gave a faint smile. “Do you remember the time Uncle caught you fishing here?” he asked Finn.
A frown formed on Finn’s handsome face and he nodded grimly. “I remember not being able to sit properly for a week because of it,” he replied. Glancing at Jala the frown faded a bit. “I was young, maybe seven at the time, and upset because I couldn’t manage to catch anything at the river like the older boys could. So I took matters into my own hands and went where I knew beyond a doubt there were fish for the catching,” he explained.
“And I blistered your backside well enough that you never looked at my fountain again without respect,” a deeper voice said from the hallway. “Welcome home, Kozva’Fyree.”
Finn had turned at the voice and bowed low to the speaker. Jala gave a slight curtsy and remained silent waiting for an introduction. The Firym Lord reminded her a great deal of Havoc in his build and coloring. He wasn’t a large man though his bearing and fine clothes did make him imposing. His dark red hair was cut short, as she had come to expect from most swordsmen. She met his eyes when he looked to her with curiosity and noted that they were the same deep green of Finn’s.
“Uncle Arjuna,” Finn began, his voice filled with warmth. “May I present, Jala, my soon-to-be wife. Jala, this is my Uncle Arjuna, High Lord of the Firym nation.”
“A pleasure, Milady.” Arjuna nodded his head respectfully and looked her over again with an expression of approval. “Soon-to-be wife, you say?” he asked looking back to Finn.
“That is actually why we are here, Uncle. I was hoping you would perform the ceremony for us,” Finn replied. “I know there is no warning, but I want to get it done before the lady changes her mind. Look at her, Uncle, by morning she may realize she can do far better than me,” he grinned as he spoke and Arjuna gave a deep chuckle.
“By all means then, let us find a more comfortable place to talk. You can explain where you met your lovely lady, and how she comes to be followed by a Bendazzi.” Arjuna motioned for them to follow as he turned back down the hall from which he had come.
Jala glanced to Sovann who had remained silent the entire time and raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay, Sovann? You are so very quiet,” she asked, keeping her voice low. Finn had moved ahead to join his uncle but she kept her pace slow to match Sovann’s
He gave her a nod and a faint smile. “I didn’t spend as much time here as Finn did. I’m more Avanti by nature, I suppose. Not nearly as rough or aggressive as this side of my family. So, for the most part, when I’m here I remain quiet. Better to be considered the silent sort than to offend them with my Avanti ways.” he explained.
She nodded her understanding and let the topic rest. “Do you know what Kozva’Fyree means?” she asked, wondering if it was Finn’s name here. She certainly hoped it wasn’t it seemed far too complicated and she wasn’t even sure she had pronounced it right.
Sovann smiled and nodded. “It’s a title of respect the Firym give to outsiders. It means worthy of fire. It isn’t a name you will have to use so don’t worry.”
She let out a sigh of relief and he laughed softly. “You have no idea how happy that single sentence just made me,” she grinned at him.
“The Firym are a unique culture and a very proud one. To be said you are worthy of fire here is one of the highest praises you can achieve. Finn is definitely favored by Uncle Arjuna.” He watched the two figures ahead of them for a moment and then looked to her. “Did he explain the Firym marriage customs to you at all?” he asked.
She shook her head in answer and frowned. “Are they very different from the ones the Aspect Temples use? I’ve seen hundreds of weddings before the altar of Fortune.”
“There are no rings for one thing. And it is impossible for a Firym wedding to be forced, both the man and woman have to be fully committed to the arrangement or it isn’t legal in the eyes of the Firym. I’m sure Uncle Arjuna will explain better before he begins, but suffice to say once the ceremony is complete there will be no hiding the fact that you are married,” Sovann explained, his words raising more questions in her mind.
They both fell silent as they passed through the doorway Arjuna and Finn had disappeared into. She looked around as she entered and decided this must be the study the guard had mentioned. Even though it was quite warm outside, a small fire burned in an ornate fireplace on the far wall. The floors were marble and polished to a shine so high she could see her reflection in them. Bookshelves filled with leather bound volumes in all shapes and sizes lined the wall. Near the fireplace a massive desk rested, its top covered in tidy piles of papers and envelopes. Arjuna led them instead to overstuffed leather chairs and motioned for them to sit while he poured drinks into tiny crystal tumblers.
“So Finn tells me the Bendazzi is your Familiar,” Arjuna began as he handed her the drink.
She nodded and smiled at him and then looked down at the drink with suspicion. From the color of it she guessed it to be Firewater and from the scent it was a good deal stronger than Finn’s decanter. If she drank this too quickly there was a good chance she would be choking on the floor. If she didn’t at least taste it, though, she might offend the High Lord.
“Quiet, isn’t she?” Arjuna commented to Finn taking a chair by his nephew.
“She is afraid whatever you just gave her is going to kill her,” Finn replied with a grin and took a long drink from his own cup. He smacked his lips a few times and gave a nod. “And chances are it will. She doesn’t have a tolerance for Firewater yet, Uncle.” With a grin to her, Finn took her glass and poured the drink into his own. Arjuna started to rise again but Finn motioned for him to sit. “I have a flask that she will enjoy, don’t trouble yourself Uncle,” he assured the High Lord and handed Jala the flask of Jimpa Brandy.
“Thank you,” she said taking the flask. Looking back to Arjuna she lowered her head slightly in embarrassment. “I’m sorry I didn’t want to offend you. It’s just the Firewater is a bit strong for me,” she said.
Arjuna gave a chuckle and nodded, his smile reminding her of
Finn’s, full of confidence and good humor. “So you wish to marry my nephew then?” he asked, settling himself farther into his chair.
“I do,” she agreed.
“And what do you think of this, Sovann?” Arjuna asked, addressing his youngest nephew for the first time since they had arrived.
“I think it’s rushed and impulsive just like everything else Finn does in life,” Sovann answered with bitter honesty.
Arjuna raised an eyebrow and looked to Finn. With a shrug, Finn smiled at his uncle. “Live by the fires of the heart, for the first emotion is often the truest,” he replied.
Arjuna’s smile returned showing white teeth and he nodded with approval. “You are more Firym than any other in your family, my boy. Then it is settled, if the Brazier accepts your pledges you shall have a wife.” Arjuna rose gracefully from his chair and moved to a cabinet on the back wall. Drawing a key from his pocket he unlocked the doors and removed a heavy looking wrapped bundle.
“Brazier?” Jala asked in a bit of alarm. Sovann had said there would be no doubt she was married, did they intend to brand her.
“Look at his left arm when he returns, there will be patterns on the skin there. Those symbolize his marriage. It isn’t a burn, it’s done through magic, and it doesn’t hurt, I promise,” Finn replied, his tone reassuring.
“The only time a wedding is painful here is when the band of one party is smaller than the other side,” Arjuna said with a smile as he sat the bundle down on the table between the chairs and carefully unwrapped it. Nestled inside the plush red velvet was a bowl made from what looked like solid gold. It had three legs holding it up from the table, and the sides were engraved with images of couples in such detail it held the eye. The center of the bowl was blackened as if heated too many times and Jala looked at Finn in apprehension.
“You place your hands on one side of the bowl, I place mine on the other,” Finn explained, moving a hand to demonstrate. “It won’t burn you. The outside stays cool.”
“It is part of the ceremony, you and Finn must sit with the bowl tonight keeping your hands upon it,” Arjuna said pausing to look at Finn. “Both hands on the bowl, Finn,” he warned.
Laughing, Finn grinned at his uncle and picked the bowl up and handed it to Jala. She took it carefully from him and her eyes widened at the magic she could feel coursing through it. Turning it slowly in her hands she studied the engravings.
“You must place your hands on opposite sides and thus you will be facing each other. You cannot help but think of another while sitting for so long face to face. If the marriage is meant to be, the bowl’s magic will sense it. In the bottom, a chain will form, each link formed of devotion and love. The thicker the chain the truer the bond,” Arjuna explained. He held his own hand out for her to examine and she looked down in fascination at the thick lines tracing over the back of his left hand and around one wrist. “This is the mark of a Firym marriage,” he explained, turning his hand from left to right for her to see. The marks did not resemble burns or tattoos. They had a metallic quality to them, as if metal had sunk into his skin. One side of the marking was silver while the other was gold in hue and together the pattern they made was truly beautiful.
“There is no such thing as a political marriage here,” Finn told her with a smile. “If you do not love the other holding the bowl the chain will not form. Without a chain there is no marriage. Which is for the best, considering the Firym definition of divorce.”
Arjuna laughed and nodded with a smile. “We do not marry for power or money here,” he agreed.
Looking between the two of them Jala raised an eyebrow. “What is a Firym divorce?” she asked.
“The event that comes shortly before a Firym funeral,” Finn answered with a chuckle.
“You aren’t joking,” she said after a moment of watching them both.
Arjuna gave a shake of the head and another sip from his Firewater. “Our people are passionate ones. We do everything in full measures. Although to be fair, it isn’t always called a Firym divorce. Generally it is referred to as an Immortal divorce. There are few among the Elder Blood that would leave an enemy alive. If a marriage has come to such bitter terms that you can no longer stand to live in the same house, you are enemies.”
Jala nodded her head slowly in understanding and carefully set the bowl back down onto the table. “Okay, so we sit with the bowl tonight, then what?” she asked eager to change the subject.
“Then if a chain forms by the first hint of the sun we are taken off to prepare for the wedding. Each of us will have an attendant. I’m not sure who will act as yours. Preparations are made before the sun has fully risen and once the sun is fully crested, Arjuna will bring us both together and the chain will be wrapped around our hands binding them together. This is another part of the ritual. If we tremble or drop the chain it is a sign that while we do love each other we are not ready for marriage. If we are calm and steady throughout the entire ceremony, which will last however long my uncle wants to keep us standing there, then we are considered married,” Finn explained and narrowed his eyes at his uncle. “If my uncle is kind he won’t leave you baking in the sun long,” he added.
“No, she is not Firym, I would not cook her,” Arjuna agreed good naturedly. He seemed ready to add more but the door cracked open a fraction and a nervous-looking servant peeked in. “Yes?” he asked, his tone sounding mildly irritated.
“Milord Arjuna, Lutheron is here and begs leave to speak with you,” the girl said quickly.
Standing, Arjuna set his glass down and nodded to the three of them. “Forgive me, I must see to this,” he said leaving the room without another glance.
“Lutheron?” Sovann asked, his gaze on the door. “The Lutheron?” he repeated turning to look at Finn.
Finn was frowning and Jala raised an eyebrow at him. “I have no idea why he would be here, but it can’t be good,” Finn said finally.
The door opened again and Arjuna returned with a man and woman in tow. He closed the door behind the three of them and motioned the newcomers to a seat. “I would appreciate it if you keep this short Lutheron they have preparations to see to that shouldn’t be delayed much longer,” Arjuna said, his tone respectful yet firm.
The woman pulled her hood back revealing features that brought the twins Lex and Leah to Jala’s mind. Her gold eyes fixed on Jala and then looked to Finn. She looked them both over in appraisal and then nodded to Lutheron.
Pulling his own cloak down, he offered a hand to Jala and then Finn. “My name is Lutheron as you have likely already gathered. We’ve come here on behalf of the Fionaveir. This is Symphony.”
Symphony bowed her head to the two of them and fixed her gaze on Jala. “I would like to speak with you alone if possible,” she said with a hesitant look toward Finn.
Glancing around the room at those assembled, Jala shook her head slightly. “Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of those present. I have no secrets from Finn or Sovann and Arjuna is soon to be my kin by marriage,” Jala replied firmly and didn’t miss the smile that crossed both Finn and Arjuna’s faces.
Clearing her throat, Symphony gave a slight nod with only a slight flicker of her eyes in the direction of Finn. “The Fionaveir are aware of who you truly are, Jala, we have been since you were born,” she began and paused as if expecting Jala to object to her words and demand privacy.
Jala nodded and forced a polite smile. “Would that one of you could have shared that information with me before I went to Tolanteer. Finn could have been spared a great deal of pain,” she said trying to keep the sharpness from her tone.
“Only the council has known, else I’m sure Havoc or Victory would have told you. It was deemed that you needed more time to learn before you were told, so that you would be better prepared,” Symphony continued.
“I think that I will have a better chance of learning what I need to know by knowing who I am,” Jala countered.
Symphony gave a slight nod. “
Perhaps, but it is a moot point now and not what we have traveled here to speak of,” she conceded and seemed hesitant to continue.
“You are here because you don’t think she should marry me,” Finn cut in and Symphony had the decency to look chagrined.
“We are here because we are concerned that this might not be the best match for what she has ahead of her. A political marriage to one of the houses would be more beneficial. Surely you can see that,” Symphony said carefully.
“Why would that matter to the Fionaveir?” Jala asked not bothering to hide the bite in her words any longer.
“Because we have very high hopes for your future, Jala, and we want very much to see you succeed,” Symphony said.
“Why?” Jala asked again her suspicion growing.
“Because we are bloody sick of endless wars and houses being killed off. Because we need a stable government, and in order to have one, we need High Lords and Ladies with honor and integrity. Because we think that you have both of those qualities,” Lutheron cut in before Symphony could respond.
Symphony glanced at her companion and looked back to Jala and nodded slowly. “The way our government is now we will never have peace. We must have a monarch to keep the houses in check. Arjuna himself is a supporter of this cause,” she said, her tone gentle.
“I am, as are several other lords. What does this have to do with young Jala, though?” Arjuna spoke up, his expression a bit confused.
“Her true name is Jaladene Merrodin. Though we would thank you to not share that information,” Lutheron explained.
Arjuna nodded slowly and looked Jala over once again. “The Merrodins were swarthy of skin with dark hair and eyes like coals. Are you certain?” he asked at last, his words hesitant.
“Absolutely,” Lutheron assured him.
Arjuna nodded again, apparently trusting Lutheron’s word. “And why is my nephew unworthy?” he asked, sounding rather offended.
“We don’t know that he is or isn’t worthy, Arjuna. Our concern is that he holds no armies. If she were to marry within a High House the marriage would come with defenses,” Symphony said, her voice still gentle.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Bk 1 In Shades of Grey Page 44
