The Touch of Salvation

40: The Ring

DAARIO

Goliath stands at the city's goldsmith, looking at the displayed pieces of hand-crafted jewelry. The craftsman had insisted that he purchase a set for Adalind, and Goliath had, but the soon-to-be Regent also asked to utilize the man's tools.

"Is my work not to your liking?" A slight twinge of hurt and pride fills the man's voice.

Goliath smiles often, and he laughs as well, a stark contrast to how he would interact with us prior. He shakes his head, smiling as a King would at any person. "Your work is impressive and I will give these to Adalind at the ceremony. However, in my culture, the males personally forge their mate's ring. Demise forged Grace's Enforcer Ring, and while Adalind is not an enforcer and already has her Rider Cuffs, I would like to fashion her a ring."

"A ring? Whatever for if it means nothing?"

The man gestures to himself before responding: "It means everything. It would signify our communion and my love for her. Admittedly, I also need others to know she is mine. My mark is not a place often viewed."

"Do you know how to smith," Paul asks.

Goliath nods. "I do. I would love it if you would watch to ensure I produce the best item, however."

I can see the way Paul swells in pride and is comforted that his Regent has such faith in him. My sight filters away as I see Paul nod and Goliath venture to the back of the house, asking Lucian and me to make sure Adalind doesn't know where he is.

My vision then clears back to the present, the future already acknowledged by me. My vision accurately predicted what would happen next. Goliath walks to the back, and Lucian and I head back to the palace to distract our Regent.

As we come into the office, Adalind is sitting behind her desk, her long, now brightly luminescent hair cascading down her dark skin. She doesn't look up to greet us, but she does say hello as her head is buried into those ledgers. She hands them off to Lucian, who has always been better at numbers than her. He's the best at most things.

A bit of envy runs up my spine. He was one of the most intelligent men I have ever met. He commanded respect because of his mind and I did because of my brutish ways. Lux's hand lands on my bicep and she gives me a pointed look that screams stop pitying yourself.

"Where is my mate?"

We can all hear the excitement in her voice and for once, she swings her head up. Lux answers because she's the best at lying and always had been.

"He's with Sepehr."

Good lie.

Adalind's face falls a little. She isn't upset he was there, she was just sad he wasn't here. It was the love of mates. The type of love no one else in this room would ever experience.

"Oh, good. He needs to bond with that dragon. I feel awful about the circumstances."

All of us nod. Riders were supposed to...well...ride. Dragons were meant to be free, and yet neither Goliath nor his dragon could do so.

Adalind nervously picks at her fingers. Her bright eyes look at me and then Lux. "I need a favor," she says, her eyes on Lucian. They jump to Lux and then finally me.

Lux straightens, crossing her arms. "You want us to go to the Wolf King."

"Demise is Goliath's best friend," my Regent says. "He should be there. He hasn't responded to our invitation. Goliath says it doesn't bother him..."

"But I can feel that it does," Lux says. "He feels anger but more than that he feels...sorrow."

It was customary that both mates in a pairing have their closest friends stand with them as they agreed to their pairing. Adalind had asked Lux and Lucian, but she hasn't asked me yet. I try to not let it get to me. Not only had I not been asked at all, but if I will be asked, I would be the last.