Hurtle was a flourishing village, just on the very tip of turning into a town.
“Lo blind me, what a surprise,” Kirin said, looking at the busy square filled with people and stalls. “I wonder what’s going on?”
Lily’s smile seemed to lift her spirits. “I know what this is. It’s the Blossomtide Festival. All the towns and villages will be swamped by it shortly.”
“Of course,” Kirin said, wondering at all the color and frantic preparations. “We’ve clearly lost track of time.”
Lily nodded. “I know I have, living in the forest all this time. I’ve only enjoyed one festival in the last decade, I think. That was at Francham and because it’s mainly merchants and transients, they don’t make much of it.”
“Well, they take it very seriously in the city.”
“The barbarian permits it?”
“Oh, he’s very much for it, actually. You know, for all his savagery and ruthlessness when he invaded the realms, you’d be surprised if you met him to see how sophisticated he is.”
“What do you mean?” Lily said, tearing her gaze away from a queue of little girls waiting to have flowers braided into their hair.
“Well, he doesn’t sit on a throne, dressed in black and calling for the heads of people so he can drink their blood, if that’s the image in your mind. He’s not at all like that. If he walked into the main street of Hurtle right now, he’d pass unnoticed. He’s actually a quiet sort of man. And by that I don’t mean he’s silent. He just doesn’t need to hear the sound of his own voice.”
“So he’s subtle, you mean.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. He’s also surprisingly retiring, very engaging when he decides he’s interested in something and he has a mind that can soak up information like a sponge. According to Freath it’s the empress who wants all the balls and grand events. Loethar’s happiest on his horse riding around the moors. He even quotes poetry, for Lo’s sake!”
“And yet we’re all intimidated by him.”
Kirin nodded. “As you should be. No one should be fooled by his demeanor. His intelligence is vast and history attests to what he’s capable of. And his nasty half-brother is always waiting in the wings. Now there truly is an evil man. His name is Stracker. Likes to take the title of general.”
“Half-brother?”
Kirin nodded. “Mark my words. He’s shown remarkable patience but I don’t understand what keeps Stracker in that second-in-command position. He could overthrow Loethar in a blink if he wanted to.”
“Truly?”
Kirin shrugged. “Why not? He controls the army. Loethar may be emperor but Stracker is the voice of the warriors.”
“But they’re not militant, are they?”
Kiring considered this. “They haven’t been allowed to be but they train hard. There’s nothing soft about them. Loethar’s just very keen to see them integrating so he agrees instantly to any mixed marriages and children of those marriages are given special considerations: money, schooling. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t start bribing them with land.”
“Bribing?”
“Freath says he calls it encouragement. These children grow up with a great understanding of east and west, both languages, both customs, a good grip on the two cultures, and so on. Loethar’s clever, I’ll give him that. He’s slowly building a population that has known nothing but imperialism and thrives on that.”
“I see. You sound as though you like Loethar.”
“I hate him for his conduct of anni gone by. The killing of innocents was deplorable. Today he appears a completely different man.”
“He’s reinvented himself, you mean?”
“Not really. I think he’s always been this man. I think he’s also the barbarian warlord. He’s what ever he needs to be at the time.”
“So right now he’s a loving husband and doting father-to-be.”
Kirin’s mouth twisted. “Definitely looking forward to fatherhood, I gather. I’m not so sure about the loving husband. From what Freath has told me, and from what I’ve seen, Loethar merely tolerates his wife. It was a marriage of convenience.”
“How sad. I know how it feels,” Lily said, looking away.
Kirin looked at her. “How many more ways can I say I’m sorry?”
She shrugged. “Forgive me. That was unfair.”
“This festival can help us actually.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, the Blossomtide celebrations are essentially about love and fertility. They say couples who marry on the day of the festival are blessed. You’ll find loads of lovers will be planning to wed today.”
“So how does that help us? Surely it only complicates things in terms of the priest being available and—”
Kirin laughed. “You really have been in the forest for too long, Lily. They don’t do individual marriage ceremonies at Blossomtide. They marry all the couples at once. I suspect they’ll hold the ceremony on the village green—that would account for all the decorations going up. It means we can be married relatively anonymously. Few questions will be asked and no one will recall the strangers who took vows. Come on, let’s go find a stable and also a place to stay. The inn is probably crowded to the rafters.”
As it turned out, The Miller and Magpie had a single, tiny loft room left.
“It’s very small,” the innkeeper apologized. “I feel obliged to tell you that it’s normally reserved for children but there’s a double cot…”
Kirin slapped a joyful hand onto the counter. “That’s all we’ll be needing, Master…?”
“Annis,” the innkeeper finished, watching Kirin pull Lily close and tickle her. She giggled helpfully before slapping away his groping hands.
“We’re to be married today,” she said to Annis, beaming.
“I’d never have guessed it,” he replied with a wry smile. “Just sign here,” he said, pointing Kirin to a line on his ledger. “Evening meal’s normally at sundown, though on a festival night anything seems to go.”
Kirin grinned. “As I said, all we’ll need is the bed,” he said, winking.
Annis sighed. “I guess you’ll be wanting to speak to Pastor Byron then. Better catch him soon and register. He’ll want to see the ring and bless it beforehand. There are too many of you for him to do it later.”
“The ring,” Kirin repeated. “Yes, of course. I’ll find him right away. Thank you, Master Annis.”
“Happy nuptials,” the man said. “Two flights up. There’s only one door so you can’t get lost. One of the girls will give you a key when you’re ready. How did you come into town?”
“By horse,” Kirin replied.
“Stabling is just out the back. Hay is included in the room price.” Kirin nodded. “I see you’re traveling light. Do you need help upstairs with anything?” When both Kirin and Lily shook their heads, he said, “Enjoy your stay,” adding, “and congratulations. I hope you’re both very happy.”
They murmured thanks before Kirin pulled Lily back outside. “We need to get you a ring,” he said urgently. “I’m just not sure I have enough money to—”
She bit her lip and frowned before reaching down under her bodice. She pulled out a ribbon from which dangled a pretty silver ring, engraved with leaves. “My mother’s wedding ring,” she explained at his look of query. “I, er, I always planned to get married with it.”
“You don’t have to give up that wish. Save it, I’ll find us something.”
“No, Kirin. Use this. It’s…well, it’s just silly not to.”
There was pain in her voice and Kirin hesitated, but he didn’t have much money with him. The room at the inn would eat into most of what he had and he still needed to consider food and drink. “Thank you. It will be a great help. Shall we go?” She nodded and he offered an arm. “Time to pretend again, Lily. You did well in there. We just have to keep it going a bit longer.”
She pulled his arm around her more tightly and gave him a peck on his cheek, beaming widely. “Like that?” she inquired lightly, the smile not faltering as people walked by them.
“Perfect,” he said, a little sadly. Suddenly he realized he had never loved anyone outside his own family. His closest friend had been Freath and his relationships with women were fleeting. As he walked beside Lily now, his arms tightly around her slim body, her warmth passing easily between their clothes, he felt an unfamiliar stirring of emotion.
“Kilt Faris is a lucky man,” he murmured.
“Let’s hope he sees it that way,” Lily replied, and somehow Kirin was sure she’d missed his point.
Pastor Byron, when they finally had their few moments with him, looked addled and apologized before Kirin even had a chance to explain their presence.
“Forgive me but today is not my favorite of days. I like what it stands for but it wears me out and sucks at my tolerance like an insatiable leech. You don’t even have to tell me why you’re here. It’s written plain on your faces; I can see you’re a couple in love and old enough to know it.”
Kirin closed his mouth.
The pastor continued, “I’ve tried to turn away so many youngsters today. They think they love one another but I can tell it won’t last. They’re too young, they still have so much to learn about themselves. But you two must both be past your third decade?” They both nodded dumbly. “Neither married now or previously?” They shook their heads. “Excellent! The ring, please?”
Lily untied the ribbon and handed the pastor her mother’s wedding band.
“Very nice,” he said. “I like older pieces. Your mother’s?”
“Yes,” Lily replied. “I’m Lily and this is—”
“No need, my dear. Forgive me if that sounds rude but I have dozens more to see today. I won’t remember your names past the next pair of lovers.” He began to bless the ring, dipping it into Lo’s Bowl at the front of the chapel. Finally he opened his eyes. “There. Now you’ll take your vows publicly with everyone else. Please be on the green at start of fourth tide. Thank you and bless you both.” Kirin patted Lily’s hand affectionately and they both withdrew. “Er, you’re most welcome to leave an offering,” the pastor mentioned over his shoulder, his back already turned to them. “Oh, and don’t forget the veil. That’s one tradition I will insist upon.”
Outside in the sun once again, their eyes adjusting from the chapel’s shadows, Kirin aimed for a lighter mood. “Well, that was painless. Let’s go get you a veil, shall we?”
“Kirin. You go back to the inn. I, er…” Lily shrugged. “Well, I wouldn’t mind a little while on my own and I feel a bit funny about your coming along to help me choose a veil. That’s something that the bride should do with other women. I’d rather do it alone.”
He understood. “All right. Where and when shall I see you?”
“I’ll meet you on the green.”
Kirin nodded. “Lily, are you planning to run away? I’m sorry I feel compelled to ask you that.”
She looked at him with shock. “It hadn’t crossed my mind.”
“Forgive me for putting it into your mind, then. I could pry, of course, but I’d prefer not to, given that I’ve already gone blind today on your behalf.”
Now Lily just looked sickened. “I’m aware of my precarious situation, Master Felt, and I will go through with this. I just have to come to terms with it.”
He gave a small bow. “Then I shall see you shortly.” Kirin took her hand and kissed it. “For the sake of those watching,” he assured her, and then he turned and left her.