THE PLUSH CARPET SLOWED MY pace on the wide corner and it took a moment of concentrated effort to guide the skirt around. It made me awfully grateful for the mesh top, the lace coverings preserved all modesty and that mesh allowed the air currents Kassie coaxed to cool my skin.Keeping my shoulders square, I dipped an arm slightly to swing the hoop skirts around, a vivid image of Scarlett O'Hara swanning around Tara in her summer gown strong in my mind, making my lips tremble with laughter for a moment.The red carpet led the way up to the enormous gleaming white arches of the formal entrance to the castle, covering the stair case.Perched on the second step, two griffons rose from their seated positions. My eyes fixed on the wide spread, heavy-taloned paws that sunk silently into the deep carpet. Heart racing properly now, I lowered myself in a curtsey which in actuality meant bowing low on both knees in an almost Japanese manner. But as no one could see beneath the layers of skirt
THE RINGING SILENCE MADE MY focus on the forged fire bird suddenly sound loud in my mind. With his eyes on mine, a strong smile spread.Making an elaborate bow, Alek bent on one knee before me, offering the diamond encrusted sword with both hands.As he did so, his own golden energy swelled out, a golden smoke within which something moved. An exclamation like a massive wave moved through the crowd behind me, starting from close and rolling back as the golden smoke gained the shape of a dragon. A dragon like none I'd seen yet. With a wing span equal to the phoenix I held in motion high above my head, the maned dragon coiled through the air before rearing back in front of my phoenix. Keeping the images strong in our minds, Alek and I appeared to lock eyes while in actuality we focused on making our two creatures first greet each other, then merge into a hybrid creature of red and gold. Almost nodding my head in time to the count Sian kept running for us, I made an elaborate show of
I COULD HEAR THE HUM of the guests in the opened throne room and ballrooms. Kassie's energy hummed rather loud in my mind too, making me inwardly shake my head.Tiny, feisty, and horny. Constantly.I really needed to work on my shielding my mind better.'Can you bend your shoulders back a little, your Majesty?''Of course,' I exclaimed, mind back to the moment. Arching my back slightly, I pulled my shoulders back, allowing enough slack for Ada to zip my dress up.For this formal, private, ceremony Elena had ordered an entirely different gown. About as opposite as you could get really.A beautiful soft antique gold shade, Ada had woven the fabric in such a way that certain sections looked like satin, while others a sheer silk. With embroidered cut-outs this dress bordered on unintentionally scandalous, or so futuristic it deserved a place in a sci-fi convention. Again, not a gown I would have chosen, but certainly beautiful.The heavily embroidered under-dress had cut-outs that
THE FEASTING AND CELEBRATING WENT on for hours. At some point during the incredible fireworks display, as we stood watching in the courtyard, I was fairly certain I could hear Audrey on the inner gate yelling in excitement.Always a contradiction, my girl loved fireworks but was terrified of the vacuum cleaner.At least she'll never be tormented by that again, I thought in amusement, leaning back against Alek, his arm around my waist as all manner of creatures appeared in the sky in starburst style. The fireworks weren't quite like what I was used to, with no explosion sound and they left no scent of gunpowder. I could only assume they weren't made with gunpowder, instead with some other chemical that acted in a similar way.That was until I noticed the row people standing against a wall, all watching the sky intently. They wore smocks of yellow and green leggings, not like any other uniforms I'd seen today.'Who're they?' I tipped my head back to look at Alek's face. He looked dow
CAT?Kitty cat?Pssstttt- Cat?I woke with voices echoing in my head, the sound rather bewildering after the pleasant dreams I'd been ensconced in.'What-,' I fumbled around the sheets, brain still not piecing it all together.CAT!'Yes!' I yelped.'Kitten?' Alek, some distance from me on this huge expanse of bed, all cocooned in sheets and cover. 'Go see Kassie, would you. She won't shut up.' 'But,' I began to whine.With a flick he uncovered his head from the sheets, bloodshot tired blue eyes squinting at me. 'Farewells today. Cabin tonight. Go see Kassie.'Scowling at his now sheet covered head, I muttered away to myself while scrambling across the bed. The edge was softer than I expected so I promptly tumbled out onto my hands and knees.'All good?' Al called.'Fine! Don't you worry yourself.'I heard his chuckle at my snide reply while I aimed for the doorway.A quarter hour or so later and I made my way from our quarters, yawning widely as Leseach and an ecstatic A
'YOUR MAJESTY, OUR CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN on your felicitous marriage. May you have many healthy children,' the Prince and Princess of House Vaethon, along with two of the Grand Dukes' and Grand Duchess' all echoed the age-old appropriate lines. The oldest of the noble houses, Vaethon was the only to have a remaining royal bloodline, and they wore it with pride. It always amused Alek greatly when the Princess looked down her nose at him while curtsying. Adopted or not, the family he came from started with very humble beginnings, just a common man who wanted to make a difference. It might have been millennia ago, but House Vaethon never forgot your base.After the three required bows, the house of nobles backed their way from the throne room, in the process of being reduced to its normal size, the numerous bouquets and trees in pots already removed.It's amazing how quickly everything returns to normal, Alek thought, absently giving the royal nod while flicking his gaze around the ro
'OH!' I GASPED AS THE ground shuddered. Leseach grabbed my arm when I wobbled. We all watched as the two Magus flicked their enormous wings wide, a crack ringing out through the air.The griffons, our griffons, who'd come out to farewell their honoured guests all threw their heads back with broad ringing cries that started as a deep bellow and shifted to a higher shriek-like sound.Circling the courtyard, the Magus' called back, their own cries so resonant you could feel it ring through your bones before wheeling off with an easy thrust of their wings. They vanished with a murmur of energy while flying over the inner gate.Ears ringing from all the sound, I turned to Elena. 'Do you get quieter with your energy release as you age?''Not so much with age, as with use. The more you practise, the quieter you'll be.' The Sorceress smiled at me. 'Now, that was the last of the people we needed to farewell. You are welcome to your own time.'It felt a little ironic to thank her. Still s
'ARE THEY RELATED TO AWUFS?' I asked while sidling back further still until I stood just behind Alek.A better question might have been, are they herbivores?The heavy set four legged animals looked more likely to be related to a rhinoceros than the timid but massive awufs; potentially a carnivorous rhino. They had long snouts they kept wrinkling as if snarling, revealing decent sets of teeth. On the end of their snouts two twisted curling tusks grew, the pointed ends sticking out, and both creatures bore scars on their faces that looked like they had been on the receiving end of another's tusks. Their hide was a dense short fur that bristled out with flowing striations of shades of tan and black across the dark brown fur. Their feet were cloven.The centaurs leading the creatures appeared indifferent by their appearance, calling them, smacking their snouts or backsides to get them lined up in front of the wagon.Nudging Alek when I realized he hadn't answered my question, he jolte