Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (80 page)

Athena walked up behind him. “I would love to take you to meet everyone, honey? What a great idea.”

“Isn’t it though?” George pandered. He turned around, pulled Athena close and then placed his chin on top of her head.
I’m so excited I can’t wait to shoot myself in the head,
he thought.

After releasing her, he reached down and scooped Maldwin off the floor. He threw the rodent into his pack, took Athena by the hand and then headed out.

It would take most of that afternoon to find everyone. By the moment they were finished, Maldwin had seen the faces of every family member that he would need to send a vision to.

On their way out of town, they stopped by a dairy that had more than 420 milk producing corgans. Just off the road, the farmer’s wife had built a small store, and she was selling many forms of cheese.

George purchased a block for Maldwin, thanked the lady, and then they headed out. Once they were back on the road, they passed a large number of military personnel who were headed toward town.

George questioned Athena. “What’s that all about?”

“Wagons are being built for the harvests. Word has spread that the harvests are going to be bountiful. The king has declared that they were blessed by the gods. Some of the men have been hired to build barns on the far side of my Mother’s farm.”

“How do you know all this?”

“It was posted on the message boards at the center of town. The king has paid these men to carry out his orders ... which is highly unusual.”

“If a god has blessed the crops, there must be something big about to happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have no idea. I’ll let you know when I do.” George continued to think,
Where’s Kepler when I need him?
He knew the demon would get the answers he was after as he stalked the shadows. He would make a concerted effort to find out what was going on after his union.

As Maldwin shifted in his pack, George remembered what Kepler had said before they separated:
“… the rat will need to be provided a quiet place to send his visions.”
George took the little guy to Mary’s barn and left him with the block of cheese. It would take the rat quite a while to reach everyone in Athena’s family to get them to a midnight meeting. The manipulator hoped that it would be held the next night.

The next morning George woke, kissed Athena’s soft lips, and then excused himself to check on Maldwin. When he arrived in the barn, the rat was sleeping on a bale of hay. The block of cheese was untouched.

The mage tiptoed over and whispered, “Maldwin. Maldwin. Wake up, little guy.”

The rat stirred. When he looked up, George could see he was exhausted. The rodent’s eyes were bloodshot. Maldwin pulled himself over and lowered his head onto George’s lap. As he did, the rodent assured, “Everything is A-okay, man.”

The visions Maldwin had sent must have been hard to deliver. George did not want to push his little ally any harder. He supported the rat’s head as he moved out from under it. He was about to shut the door to the barn when Maldwin called out. “I like cheese, George.”

George smiled, gave the rat a thumbs up and then walked back into the barn. He tore off a chunk of cheese, laid it next to the little guy’s paws and then left.

The meeting Maldwin had set for Athena’s family would be held on the same night as his union. The family would learn about how wondrous it would be to live with George and Athena in the Barbarian Kingdom and how peaceful their existence would be.

George grabbed Athena from inside the house and headed down the road. His plan was coming together. They needed to hurry to town, grab the rings, their clothes, and then return to the farm to get dressed before Late Bailem.

George would also need to teleport back into town to pick up Athena’s new treasure box since he did not want his surprise to be ruined.

CHAPTER 29

Two Weddings

And A Funeral

The City of Brandor

SAM LEFT THE MEETING with the officers of the king’s army and hurried into the city to find Shalee. He was shocked at how hard it was to find a woman who stuck out like a sore thumb. When he finally found her, she was with Helga inside the store of a local jeweler.

Sam entered. A heavyset man was reaching across a polished, wooden counter to place an elegant, emerald-covered gashal on Shalee’s head as the corgan bell above the door rang.

Everyone turned to look.

Sam smiled and took a moment to admire Shalee’s radiance. Her eyes showed her delight by his presence. “Hey, good looking,” she called out.

How ironic,
Sam thought.
Of course she’d be in a store filled with rings right now. It’s befitting to the conversation.
“Hey,” Sam said as he crossed the room to give Shalee a quick smooch. “Nice headpiece.”

Shalee removed the tiara and handed it back to the proprietor. “It’s not fashionable to call it a headpiece, sweetheart. The correct term would be a gashal or a tiara. I’m just looking for something to spend your hard earned coin on. How was your little meeting? How did Mosley do?”

“He did alright. He scared the king’s officers half to death, and he looked twice his size.”

Shalee gazed over her shoulder and grinned at Helga. “I bet everyone freaked.” She looked back at Sam, “Did they?”

“Yeah, but that’s kind of an understatement.”

The older sorceress chimed in. “I bet it was a wicked scene.”

Sam could only grin at how Earthly Helga was sounding. She was definitely hanging out with Shalee too much. “I’m sure you guys would’ve enjoyed the moment if you would’ve been there.” He took Shalee by the hands, turned her to face him and then took a deep breath. “Mosley said something that has stuck with me all Peak.”

It was easy to see Sam’s hesitation. Whatever it was, it was big. “What did Mosley say to get you so worked up? Do I need to take you back to the castle and chase you around with Precious?”

Sam’s expression did not change.

“I’m sorry, sweetie.” She reached up and caressed his cheek. “What’s bothering you?”

Sam cleared his throat. “Mosley said you were my betrothed. I think the wolf thinks we’re going to get married.”

Shalee did not know what to say.

Helga chimed in again. “Just leave it to the mutt to meddle in the affairs of others. If that mongrel wasn’t a god, I’d peel` his fur right off him.”

Sam held up his hand. “No, no, no ... it’s not like that. Mosley wasn’t meddling. Shalee, did you say anything to him about us getting married ... maybe when I wasn’t around or something?”

“For heaven’s sake, Sam, I wouldn’t do something like that.” Shalee pulled the army’s future second in command close. “But I’ve gotta say, I kind of like that. Being hitched to you is not the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” She smirked. “I suppose a girl could do worse.”

“Hmpf,” Helga grumbled. “A lot worse.”

After hearing Shalee’s response, Sam sort of smiled. “Gee, thanks ... I think.”

Shalee stepped forward and threw her arms around him. “We’re only kidding. I want you, stud. I’ll hitch up with you, if you’d like.”

All the concern Sam had about talking with Shalee vanished. He was now able to be his usual, bold self and approach the rest of the conversation with confidence. “I also like the idea. Come on. Let’s go find Keldwin, and ask him to marry us.”

A huge grin appeared on Shalee’s face. “Oh Sam, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.” She looked down at the gashal that the proprietor had set on the counter. “But if you want me to marry you, you better buy me that. I might need it. I’m just saying.”

Rather than ask how much it cost, Sam pulled a Yaloom out of his pocket and tossed it on the counter. “Will that cover it?”

The proprietor shook his head. “Sir, that’s not enough. You need an additional Yaloom and one Jervaise.”

Sam rolled his eyes and then pulled the coins out of his pocket. “I feel like I just got robbed.” He looked at Shalee. “But you’re the hottest thief I’ve ever met. Put that thing on, and let’s get going.”

Shalee snatched the gashal off the counter and placed it on her head. “Getting married by a king sounds so romantic. Don’t you think?”

“Sure,” Sam shrugged. “Let’s get going.” He clapped his hands to show his enthusiasm. “We don’t have any moments to waste. Keldwin will be leaving us soon. I think we should ask him to unite us this very second.”

Helga screamed and started to run around the store. “My babies are getting united! My babies are getting united!” She stopped dead in her tracks and then turned to look at Shalee. “Hey! What’s a ‘second?’ Does that mean you want to do it now?”

Shalee laughed at the woman’s antics. “I’ll explain later. Let’s go.”

“Okay, Child! Let’s scoot!”

Shalee kissed Sam on the cheek. “I guess we’re getting hitched. Mom has spoken.”

The brilliant-minded doctor, fighter, lover, soon-to-be second in command, and friend was suddenly engaged. He grabbed Shalee, lifted her, gave her a big kiss and then pulled the ladies out of the store to find the king. As they hurried to the castle, Helga was sent to find BJ.

When they entered the throne room, they sent a servant to fetch the king, making sure he relayed the message as urgent. They knelt and waited. It seemed like forever, but on this occasion only a few moments passed before Keldwin entered. The king had been sleeping due to his illness.

“Sam, what is it? Why did you wake me?”

“Keldwin, do you remember saying you wanted us to treat you as a friend when others were not around?”

“I do.”

“Okay, okay. That’s good. We’re here to do just that. I’ve decided to form a union with Shalee, and there’s no one we want to perform our ceremony more than you. We can’t think of a better friend to give this honor. We would like this to be our gift to you before you pass.”

Keldwin was speechless. Never had he been so touched. For the first series of moments, other than his personal friendship with Justin Graywind, he felt like he had real friends.

“I ... I feel honored ... and blessed.”

BJ and Helga barged into the room and quickly stopped to bow.

Keldwin smiled. “Please stand. Everyone come here.” He motioned the group to embrace. When the hug was finished, he kissed Shalee on the forehead and then placed his own against Sam’s. “You’ve honored me. I would be pleased to perform the ceremony to honor you in return.”

The king pulled back and clapped his hands. “We have much to do.” A slave ran into the room. “I want my seamstress, cook, jeweler, and driver brought to the throne room. Hurry!”

The slave ran from the room.

The king turned to face the group. “This union will be one to remember. I shall marry you at the start of my tournament. You shall stand before thousands of my subjects from all over my kingdom to proclaim your vows. A union has never been performed in the arena. Everyone will know your names throughout the land.”

Shalee shouted, “Howdy-doody! Another group hug, y’all, and high-fives all around!”

Sam looked at BJ. As usual, the trainer rolled his eyes.

Shalee did not let BJ’s lack of enthusiasm ruin her mood. She turned to Helga and slapped hands with the older woman.

Keldwin, seeing the joy in the ladies’ eyes, reached out with both hands and exchanged his first set of high-fives.

BJ rolled his eyes again, “Ohhh, brother.”

Eventually, Keldwin excused himself and went back to bed.

Sam and BJ headed out of the palace. Just like many men do when the moment comes to plan a special occasion, they figured they would leave the planning of the wedding to the women, and they mindlessly headed into the city to grab a few ales.

Shalee would have been upset, but Precious would make quick work of the tasks at hand. The young sorceress had a special style of wedding dress in mind—as most women do when they plan their weddings as young girls. She ordered the seamstress to bring an assortment of fabric to the throne room.

When the woman returned, she was carrying 10 bolts of assorted colors. Shalee lined them against the wall to get a good look and then huddled with Helga until they agreed on the perfect combination—a predominantly white dress with a dash of pink. Shalee raised Precious into the air and spoke her words of power.

The seamstress stood in disbelief as the fabrics lifted off the floor and disappeared into a ball of light. When the light faded, a flowing masterpiece was left floating in the air. The women exchanged a bouncing embrace, pulling the seamstress into the celebration.

Shalee retrieved the dress and tried it on. She was stunning—a mortal beauty without equal. The lines of the dress accented every curve and the pink brought out the glow on her face. She took off the dress and gave it to the seamstress. “Please put it in a safe place. Thank you ever so much.”

Next, they were off to the kitchen. When they walked through the doors, the head cook seemed displeased that the ladies were invading his domain.

Shalee winked at Helga. “Chefs on Earth were grouchy, too.” Grinning, the younger sorceress scanned the entrance to the kitchen to determine how big a cake she could make.