The Raven's Reflection

Chapter 40 - Statistic

Two months passed since the citizens of Ralnsah arrived, and Saorsa was already seeing at least one or two new families every few days. Cerno smiled as he looked down over the city from his bedroom window, knowing it wasn't going to take too many years before Saorsa would no doubt surpass Ralnsah in size.

"You're going to be late for work if you just keep ogling at your city like that," Kinsley chuckled sleepily.

"A Lord is never late, everyone else is merely early," he replied with a playful snort. He turned back toward the bed as Kinsley sat up and stretched. "What are your plans for the day?"

"I'm going to go and help mama with her shop today. Her and Khasta have a wonderful harvest of mid-summer fruits ready to pick."

"Is she still growing peaches?" he asked as he climbed onto the bed and over to her, leaning her backwards as he crawled over her. "I could go for some of that peach cake you made a few weeks ago, my dessert goddess."

"You keep eating my desserts like you do, and you're going to turn into one!" she laughed, rubbing his just slightly roundish belly as he hovered over her.

"I could just eat you instead," he growled playfully, laying down on top of her and nibbling on her neck as he pinned her down under the blankets. His heart raced in happiness hearing Kinsley explode into laughter.

A loud knocking sounded on the front door downstairs.

"I told you you were going to be late," Kinsley laughed as Cerno groaned and got back onto all fours before crawling off the bed. She sat back up again and watched her fiancé scramble to finish getting dressed. "I love you," she said softly as she got to her feet.

Cerno smiled. "I love you, too," he replied as he stepped up to her and gave her a loving kiss. As he finished buttoning his shirt, there was another loud knock. "I'll see you later this afternoon."

"Oversleep?" Samuel chuckled as the door finally opened and Cerno stepped out.

"Saying goodbye to Kins," he replied, a smile happily glued to his lips.

"I heard you two finally picked a date?"

Cerno smiled even wider as they walked down the path. "Mid-December, around the eighteenth or so," he replied. "I've done a little research and there should be plenty of snow in this area during that time for Kinsley's dream wedding. We'll have the ceremony outside in the courtyard at City Hall, and hold a reception inside."

Samuel looked up at Cerno and he chuckled...Cerno's cheeks had suddenly flushed pinkish. "You running a fever?" he teased.

Cerno laughed softly. "No...I was just thinking about how real it's getting. Kinsley even picked out her dress just yesterday."

"Have you seen it?"

He shook his head. "I refuse to break that tradition. It's bad luck to see your bride's dress before the wedding."

"Mister Cerno!" a young girl's voice cried as they neared the City Hall. She sounded panicked.

"Madeleine?" Cerno turned toward the cry and saw Rosalie's sister running toward them. "What's wrong?"

"My sister needs help! Mat's hurting her!" As soon as she realized Cerno and Samuel were running toward her, she turned back toward her house.

"Mathias is here?" he asked, sounding worried.

"Who's Mat?" Samuel asked as they ran.

"Someone not good from Rosalie's past...Madeleine, stop!" Cerno yelled at Madeleine in a hushed tone just as she was about to open the door. Glass could be heard shattering inside and angry yelling carrying on though it was fading, as if traveling upstairs.