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“AND SO, YOU MAY NOW seal your marriage with a kiss. May you have a lifetime of love and light. I give you all, Lord and Lady Asthore!”
We all cheered and clapped wildly as the recently reinstated Lord Baxley Asthore kissed his new bride, Lady Adallia Asthore, formerly Adallia Pahame. It was the following spring, and we had all gathered to celebrate the wedding of Baxley and Adallia. I now had a new aunt, and my uncle had been officially recognized as an Asthore again after years of disgrace.
As the bride and groom walked down the aisle to receive the congratulations of the wedding attendees, Rhyss nudged Farrah. “Two weddings in two years. Kind of makes you wonder when it will be your turn, doesn’t it?”
Farrah got a strange look on her face. “Maybe. I guess I never really thought about it. Until you brought it up just now.”
Kaela, sitting on Farrah’s other side, giggled at their conversation but didn’t comment. Instead, she turned to me and winked. I just smirked and shook my head. Let Kaela play matchmaker if it pleased her; that definitely wasn’t my area of expertise.
Just a few seats ahead of us, the newly married couple was hugging Delphine, Jondan, Juneyen, and Carissa. Shortly after the trial’s completion, Juneyen and Carissa had left Rothschan and moved to Orchwell to be with Jondan. Jondan’s family adored Delphine, and the feeling was mutual. And from the loving looks Delphine and Jondan gave each other, I knew it was just a matter of time before theirs was the next wedding I attended.
Delphine had been true to her word and had generously gifted Rhyss, Farrah, and me each with a substantial reward. Rhyss and Farrah had opted for a monetary reward.
As for me, I was now the proud owner of one of Lord Olivera’s smaller estates. It definitely wasn’t as large or fancy as Asthore Manor, and it was in need of some repair, but I was happy to have a place of my own, as well as work to keep me busy in between commissions.
Not that I had a lot of down time.
In a strange and unexpected turn of events, the truth of Delphine’s trial and the story of Lord Olivera’s treachery had spread throughout the Gifted Lands, making my services now highly sought after. Sometimes people would hire my sister and me together, which added a new dimension to our commissions. I had never worked in tandem with Kaela before, and it strengthened both our bond as siblings as well our magical abilities to work together.
And the oddest thing was, I now didn’t mind my work as a Seeker.
Before I had resisted the darker side of emotions, thinking it less valuable or something that shouldn’t be touched too often. And while I still didn’t enjoy delving too deep into sadness, regret, or despair — who does? — I had now learned to embrace them when needed, and viewed them as just one side of the same coin of the human experience.
Uncle Baxley and my now Aunt Adallia had reached my row. Embraces and handshakes were exchanged as Farrah, Rhyss, and Kaela congratulated the new couple. When they reached me, Uncle Baxley clapped me on the shoulder, pulling me in for a big hug.
“Kaernan, you’ve given us both so much to celebrate this day,” he said. “You brought my family back to me, as well as given me a new one.”
“Yes,” the new Lady Asthore said as she embraced me in turn. “Without you, this wedding may never have happened. Thank you for giving us our love back. And for giving me hope.”
My uncle and aunt smiled at me, then moved to the next group of people waiting to congratulate them. As I watched the joyful couple, I felt my lips tug into a smile.
Perhaps I was capable of helping people find their happy endings after all.