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“Are you really going to wear a dress tomorrow, or will you wear your usual getup?” Hierm lounged against the low wall that enclosed the private garden just off the throne room at the palace in Karkwall. “You know we’re all dying to see you dressed like a girl.”
“I think a hunting shirt and breeches would look grand,” Oskar said. “She wouldn’t look out of place at all.”
Shanis rolled her eyes. “I am a queen, and apparently a queen is expected to wear a dress at her wedding. Not that I’m happy about it.” From her seat on the soft grass, she shot a dark look at Larris who raised his hands in mock protest.
“It’s not my fault. It was the custom long before either of us came along.” He dropped down to the ground beside her, laid his head in her lap and gazed up at the night sky.” Besides, Lothan is your country. If you want to change tradition, that’s up to you.”
“This time tomorrow it will be your country too. I suppose I can wear a dress for one day,” she sighed. “Besides, Mistress Faun spent years trying to get me into a dress. Considering she traveled all the way here to attend our wedding, it’s the least that I can do.” She absently stroked Larris’ hair and gazed up at the stars.
It was late at night. All the evening’s obligations had been met. She’d greeted more self-important nobles than she could count, eaten far too much food, and smiled until her jaws hurt. It was, as Bertram had reminded her, all part of being queen. She was still amazed that royals from all over Gameryah had come to Lothan for her wedding. She supposed she shouldn’t be too surprised, though. Since the Battle of Calmut, as it was being called, her story had apparently spread far and wide. Now everyone wanted to meet the farm girl who saved the world. She didn’t believe she deserved such accolades, but there was nothing to be done about it. For now, she put those thoughts aside and simply enjoyed being with her friends.
“I still can’t believe Mother made the journey,” Hierm said. “But it will be her last chance to see me, Rinala, and the baby for a while.”
“So you’re really going through with it?” Oskar asked. “You’re going to live among the clans?”
Hierm nodded. “Rinala is the daughter of a clan chief and she feels it’s her responsibility to help them rebuild their home. Besides, Lothan should be as safe a place to live now as any. No more clan war.”
“Never again if I have anything to say about it,” Shanis said. She turned to Oskar. “How about you? Once our wedding is over will it be time to start planning another?”
Oskar choked on his wine. “What’s that?” he blustered. “No, Lizzie isn’t exactly the marrying type. At least that’s what she tells me. She says I promised to travel the world with her and she won’t marry me until I’ve proven myself to be a man of my word.”
“You’re not going back to the Gates then?” Hierm asked.
Oskar shook his head. “I’m going to stay in Lothan for a while. I’ll spend some time in Calmut at the magic school, and then Lizzie and I will decide where to go from there. Besides, Aspin says, even though the Gates has been reclaimed from the coldhearts it will be a long time before its reputation is restored.
“Does Naseeb ever plan on going back?” Larris asked.
Oskar grinned. “Naseeb will go wherever Gillen goes. The two have been inseparable since the battle.”
Larris looked up at Shanis. “Perhaps there’s a match to be made there if you’re so eager to attend another wedding. Of course, I expect Lerryn to marry soon. He needs to get busy producing heirs to the throne. His only problem now is choosing between the suitors who all want to marry the man who killed the Ice King.”
“Pedric Karst killed the Ice King,” Shanis whispered.
Larris took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I know. We’ll make sure his story is told. He did some terrible things, but in the end he was a hero.”
“We lost a lot of heroes.” Oskar gazed down into his cup.
Sadness welled up inside Shanis. The pain of losing so many who were dear to her still cut deeply.
Larris sat up, filled an empty cup, and stood. “Let us drink to fallen friends.”
The others rose and formed a circle.
Oskar raised his cup. “Whitt and Dacio.”
“Granlor,” Shanis said.
“Khalyndryn,” Hierm added.
Larris smiled sadly. “Allyn.”
Shanis knew that the loss of his friend would haunt Larris for years to come
“They will not be forgotten,” she said.
“They will not be forgotten,” the others repeated.
They drained their cups and then stood in silence, listening to the whisper of the wind.
Finally, Larris sighed. “Now that I’ve dampened everyone’s spirits I should be away to bed. It’s almost midnight and it’s bad luck for me to see the bride on our wedding day.” He leaned down and kissed Shanis on the forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“And every day after that,” she said.
After Larris had left, she, Hierm, and Oskar sat there for a long time. None of them seemed to know what to say, but neither did they want to leave. It felt right that they should be here together again.
Finally, Oskar chuckled. “Do you remember the fight we had when Shanis and I decided to leave Galsbur?”
Hierm nodded. “You were going to travel to some place over the sea where women could be soldiers.”
“Hallind. You know what I found out while I was studying at the Gates? It isn’t even a real place. Your father’s book had it wrong.”
They all laughed. It felt to Shanis like her first real laugh since the war had ended, and for a moment she was transported back to Galsbur. They were simple townspeople again, youngsters with daydreams and small problems that seemed huge.
“Well, it sort of worked out,” Hierm said. “Shanis got to be a soldier and you got to see some of the world.”
“Do you ever wish we had just stayed home?” Oskar asked, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance.
“I don’t think we had a choice,” Shanis said. “The gods, or the universe, or the prophecy had bigger plans for us all.” She reached out and took their hands. “But I’m glad that, at least for tonight, we’re together again.”
-End of The Absent Gods-