“You don’t need your flail tonight,” Trox said, sensing her problem. “There will be 100 Knights in attendance along with most of the Kingdom’s leaders.”
“I’m going to be sick,” she whispered softly.
“Just take a deep breath.”
She spun and disappeared into the washroom as Trox chuckled.
Alric walked in, fully medalled out in his royal tunic and even a thin gold crown on his head, “How is she?”
“I think she’s sick.”
Alric cringed, “Really?”
“She’s had no color for almost an hour, so yes, I think she’s sick.”
“Are you ok?” Alric called through the door.
“I changed my mind,” she said weakly.
“It’s too late. Everyone’s here and we start in 20 minutes.”
Trox smiled, “I’ll have her there.”
“If she seriously can’t get out of the bathroom, we can do this in secret.”
“The Kingdom needs to see you married. It’s important for royal blood to hold the line.”
Alric sighed, “I know.”
“However…”
“Don’t say it,” Alric said. “We’re not even discussing children until she’s comfortable with marriage.”
Trox nodded, “Good idea. Sire, you better head down.”
Alric glanced again at the door and then walked out.
“Kyrin, dear, are you ok?” Trox asked.
“I can’t do it.”
“I’ll be with you.”
“Just go for me.”
Trox laughed, “That I can’t do.”
When she walked out, she was pale with a tint of green, “I need to lay down.”
“It’ll mess up the dress and your hair.” Trox had watched for four hours while two women from Valhara had strung white beads and tiny white flowers into Kyrin’s dark hair.
Kyrin turned again and looked in the mirror. She would give almost anything to change into her fighting tunic and pants. She also would feel better if she had her flail. Auldian and some of the top-ranking elves were there, and she would be defenseless.
“You do look quite lovely,” Trox said again.
She turned to him, “What precautions are in place in case I decide to cast on everyone and get away?”
“What makes you…,” he sighed, “a lot.”
“What?”
“Well, Alric will have your hand.”
“I can still bring them together.”
He smiled, “I will have the other.”
“I won’t cast,” she said, looking sideways in the mirror at her hair.
He smiled and put his hand out, “Good, well, it’s time to go.”
She instantly paled and looked at his hand.
“Calm down.”
Kyrin nodded, but didn’t take his hand.
Trox reached out and took her hand, then pulled her out of the door as she slightly tugged against him.
“I’m going to puke,” Kyrin said when the voices of the gathered could be heard.
Trox just laughed and then stopped at the doors where four Knights were waiting, facing inside the castle’s church. Everyone grew silent and Kyrin briefly considered shifting out of Paragoy when she heard Sithias’ voice.
“Please stand out of respect for the bride.”
The Knights moved aside, and Kyrin backed away when all eyes fell on her. Trox pulled harder and finally got her through the door.
A broad grin crossed Sithias’ face when Kyrin walked in, and Alric shook his head and motioned for one of the Knights at the door. The Knight looked down at Kyrin, and the flail grasped tightly in her hand. He reached out and took it, half expecting her to turn him into a flaming ball of fire.
Kyrin was too nervous to even notice that the flail was taken. She focused in on Alric, trying to ignore the oohs and ahhs of the crowd. Trox again started walking down the aisle and pulled her along behind two little girls from town that were throwing rose petals at her feet.
Once standing before Sithias, Alric took her right hand, and Trox kept her left as he stood beside them.
Sithias motioned for the audience to sit down, and the room grew silent.
His voice boomed through the ballroom, and Kyrin looked up at him with wide eyes. She pulled slightly at her hands, but they were being held tightly.
“It is a joyous day when the King of Valhara finds a wife. The Kingdom is then blessed with the kind nature of a woman who can tame the wild heart of such a young leader.”
Kyrin frowned slightly and wondered if he was actually referring to her.
“What we have here may be a bit different. This bride is unique and brings a power to this Kingdom that hasn’t been seen in centuries. Her harsh nature and brutal ways are just what this Kingdom needs.”
She was completely confused by his words, and it was while she mulled over what he was saying that he went into the actual marriage part of the wedding. As Sithias spoke of the roles of a husband in a marriage, she looked over to the side and saw Trox watching his god intently.
It wasn’t until Alric nudge her that she looked up at Sithias. He was smiling, “Dear, are you listening?”
Kyrin didn’t know what to do and was too afraid to lie, so she simply shook her head. A soft laugh sounded from behind her, and the panic within her grew. She tried again to get her hands free. A spell popped into her mind that would freeze everyone in the room, and she could get away.
She struggled harder against Alric and Trox, trying to get her hands free.
“Calm down,” Alric whispered, and squeezed her hand softly.
“Ozehshiesh,” she whispered, hoping for once she wouldn’t need her hands to touch, but nothing happened.
Sithias stopped speaking and looked at her when she spoke.
Alric shrugged slightly and smiled, “She’s ok.”
The god nodded and continued. Kyrin felt her throat closing off. She’d made a mistake and had realized her deepest fear. When had she agreed to this? When had she actually said she would marry? Her head began to spin, and she looked nervously around her, praying for a way out. She begged for Daemionis to come and get her from the hell she agreed to.
When Alric spoke next to her, she looked at him but couldn’t hear what he was saying over the pounding in her ears. The thumping grew louder and faster as Alric looked at her and his lips moved.
He saw the terror in her eyes and leaned forward to whisper into her ear. She wasn’t sure how, but she could hear his soft voice, “Calm down. This is almost over.”
Her heart raced and she felt herself becoming weak, “Help me.”
He kissed her softly and then looked into her eyes, “I’m here, ok? Just focus on me.”
When he felt her start to give way under his hand, he took her hand in his other and wrapped an arm around her waist. Trox looked over at him, concerned, and then motioned for Sithias to continue.
When Sithias called her name, she looked up at him. It was like looking through a tunnel, and she started to pull away, but hands held her firmly.
“Do you take him?” Sithias asked again, clearly entertained at her fear.
Kyrin looked at Alric and he leaned forward again and whispered, “You have to say yes.”
She was trapped. Daemionis wanted this marriage, as did Sithias and Alric. No one was going to back her if she turned and fled. She had nowhere to go that would take her fully out from under Daemionis. Not having a choice, she managed to whisper a strained, “Yes.”
Sithias’ voice boomed, “As god of this land and over the people of Valhara, I hereby announce the union of the Lord and Lady of Valhara, Alric and Kyrin.”
A cheer erupted, and Trox almost lost Kyrin’s hand when she jerked suddenly away from him. His hand tightened as he looked at her, noticing she was still pale and would run at any moment.
As was customary, the guests left first to go to the reception in the ballroom, while Sithias, Kyrin, and Alric stayed behind to be anointed
in private. This would make them the official royalty of Valhara. Trox stayed behind, as requested, to keep Kyrin’s left hand.
Alric dropped to his knees when asked, but Kyrin remained standing, not sure what to do. Her stomach was settling down now that she didn’t have hundreds watching her, but she was still wondering how to shift out of Paragoy.
“Kyrin, I need you on your knees,” Sithias said, smiling down at her.
She shook her head and tried to get her hands free.
“Do it.” Daemionis’ voice rang out angrily in the room. Trox and Alric both looked around, but didn’t see the demon.
Again not having a choice, Kyrin dropped to her knees and lowered her eyes as Alric’s hand tightened on hers.
Sithias finally began, “Alric, having been born of noble blood and of great Kings, you are taking this woman into your life to rule my honorable Kingdom of Valhara. Such trust in another is dangerous, and it will be your responsibility as her husband to see that she is learned in the ways of our people and adheres to the laws of the land. Do you so agree?”
“Yes, my Lord,” Alric said.
Sithias gently touched the tip of a long, glowing sword against Alric’s right shoulder, “I hereby anoint you as her husband. Your souls will become one.”
He lightly touched the tip of the sword to Alric’s left shoulder, and stepped back. Alric stood and took the sword from his god, and then turned to Kyrin.
He knelt down and whispered, “Kyrin, I need both of my hands. Swear to me, you aren’t going to cast.”
Kyrin felt his hand release, and she nodded slightly as Sithias chuckled behind Alric. Alric stood finally and used his right hand to draw the cross of Sithias on his forehead before taking the sword in his hands.
He brought the tip to Kyrin’s right shoulder, “You, Kyrin, being chosen by the King of Valhara of the noble Holy Knights of Sithias, are hereby touched by the sword of the gods, anointing you as ruler of the land of Valhara. You are forthwith to abide by the sacred rules of the ruling lands and to always put the people of Valhara before yourself.”
Alric stopped talking when Kyrin’s finger twitched slightly at her side. He was secretly waiting for her to panic and turn all three of them into trees.
“Go on,” Sithias whispered after a few seconds.
He cleared his throat and moved the sword tip to her left shoulder, “By agreeing to abide by the laws of Sithias and Valhara you are anointed as Lady of Valhara to go forth and do the bidding of Sithias and to honor the King and the laws of the realm so long as you live. I pass this virtue to you.”
She swallowed hard and looked up at him when he handed the sword back to Sithias and again knelt by her side. He took her hand in his and held them out in front of them.
Sithias pulled a thin gold chain out of nowhere and bound their wrists, “This chain is to remind you that you are now bound, body, mind, and soul.”
He then laid the sword down in front of them, “The sword a reminder that you are to protect each other, and the people of Valhara.”
Again out of thin air, a delicate gold crown appeared, and he placed it on Kyrin’s head, “The crown a symbol of your loyalty to Valhara.”
Sithias laid a shield before them, “The shield a symbol of respect, reverence, and duty to myself and to the Kings of the past.”
“Lastly, you swear of your purity, of which gives you the ability and obligation to further the noble family line of Alric’s family, and to…” Sithias stopped talking when Kyrin tensed.
“Skip that part,” Alric said, tightening his grip.
“I cannot skip it,” Sithias told him. “She has to swear that she is pure…”
“We know she is! Now skip it.”
“Kyrin has to go through this ceremony,” Trox told him. “It’s been done for hundreds of years.”
Sithias sighed, “Alric, we know she’s pure, but the ceremony must be done. It’s her promise to remain so, to ensure us that any children she produces are of noble heritage.”
With that, Kyrin sprung forward. Alric and Trox weren’t expecting it, and she slipped out of their grasp, grabbed the sword in front of her, and turned it on the two Valharans and their god.
“Kyrin,” Alric said, putting his hands out.
She glared at him, her eyes black, “You said nothing about children.”
“That’s because it’s not a decision we have to make right now,” he explained. “It’s not going to be forced on you.”
“That’s not what he just said!”
“He has to say that, it’s tradition. I’m not my father, nor his father. I don’t feel like it’s my duty to have children.”
“It is your duty,” Sithias told him. “We cannot have non-noble blood ruling Valhara.”
“Can we not!?” Alric snapped at him, and then his eyes grew wide. “I’m sorry, my Lord.”
Sithias chuckled, “Understood, however, she must know her responsibilities as Lady of this land.”
Alric looked back at Kyrin, “Listen to me, ok? I’m never going to force you into anything. What Sithias is saying is just tradition. We’re almost done and then you’ll see that nothing will change. In the morning, you’ll feel the same, and we’ll go about our lives the same as we have been. I swear to you.”
She shook her head, “No! You talked me into marriage, fine… but I am not going to agree before your god to have children!”
“I can’t change the ceremony,” Sithias told her. “However, let’s finish and we can all discuss this later.”
“No! I’m done…”
All three from Paragoy gasped when Daemionis appeared suddenly behind Kyrin. She didn’t see her god, and kept the sword pointed at the men, “I agreed to this marriage to appease Daemionis and to try to stay with Alric, but it’s not worth it if you’re going to force children onto me!”
Without a word, Daemionis slammed his fist into the back of Kyrin’s neck, and she crumpled to the floor.
Alric rushed forward to see if she was ok, and Sithias glared at Daemionis, “Was that entirely necessary?”
“She sometimes forgets that I am in charge, and she is to do as I ask,” Daemionis said, pleased. “Now you may finish this ceremony once and for all.”
“Leave”
Daemionis glanced down at Kyrin, smiled wickedly, and then disappeared.
“Is she ok?” Trox asked, joining Alric on the floor.
“Kyrin, can you hear me?” Alric asked, brushing the hair from her face.
Sithias reached down and picked up the sword, and then stood back and watched them.
“She’s alive,” Alric said. “I think he just knocked her out.”
“Seemed a bit harsh,” Trox said, irritated.
“You can expect nothing more from a demon,” Sithias said. He walked up and looked down at her, “We should take advantage and finish.”
“While she’s unconscious?” Alric asked.
Sithias smiled, “Yes, it could save your life.”
Alric sighed when Sithias continued, “Swear of your purity, of which gives you the ability and obligation to further the noble family line of Alric’s family, and to bring happiness to this castle in the name of your… erm… in my name.”
Sithias again touched the right shoulder of both Alric and then Kyrin, and smiled, “As my power extends, so shall you reign.”
Trox shut his eyes and lowered his head, followed by Alric.
“She’s going to have quite a headache,” Sithias said, smiling down at her.
Alric opened his eyes and then sighed, “Yes, she is. I’ll go get her to bed and put a cold rag on her eyes. That might help.”
Trox shook his head, “I’ll do that. You need to attend the reception.”
“I’m not going to leave her side when she’s like this.”
“Trox will watch over her. You still have your duty,” Sithias said, and then he shimmered and disappeared.
Alric took her hand, “I shouldn’t have done this, Trox. She’s not re
ady.”
“She will see soon that her fears are unfounded, and her life won’t be as different as it was before,” Trox said. “This will make it easier. She no longer has to fear marriage.”
“But children… she doesn’t even know how they are made.”
“I know, but as her husband it’s your duty to teach her about all of that. Now go to the reception, I’ll watch over her,” Trox said. He bent down and lifted her gently.
Trox watched over her until she started to stir. He’d shut all of the drapes and had a cool rag over her eyes. She sat up and grabbed her head, “What happened?”
“Daemionis has no patience at all, does he?” Trox asked, handing her a glass of water.
She shook her head and took a drink, “I don’t remember the end.”
“Sithias finished and then I brought you here to recover. How is your head?”
“Bad,” she said, and then laid back on the bed.
“The reception will be over soon, and Alric will be back to care for you.”
She nodded and then shut her eyes. Her head was pounding, and her neck felt like it wasn’t aligned properly, “What am I going to do, Trox?”
“You’re going to trust your husband. He has only your best interest at heart.”
“Don’t trust anyone,” she whispered.
“It’s a little late for that. You have to trust your husband, and you have to try to understand what he tells you. Alric is a good man, and a good King, and it’s not in his nature to hurt those he has sworn to protect,” Trox explained.
A few minutes later, Alric came into the room and sat down beside them on the bed, “How are you?”
She just shook her head.
“She has a headache,” Trox said, irritated. “That demon is lucky he didn’t paralyze her, hitting her neck like that.”
“I know,” Alric said, touching her face lightly. “I never thought I could love anyone like this, Trox.”
“You are going to have your hands full tonight, so I will leave,” Trox said, and then quickly left after shutting the door.
“Kyrin?” Alric whispered softly.
She stirred slightly and then pulled the rag from her eyes and looked up at him.
Dimension Shifter Page 27
