Snow Fields - Book Two of The Fields of Mendhavai Trilogy

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

The edges of the road between Tap Hill, Raldia’s only remaining town, and the keep swelled with people dressed in their finest. Children raced each other up and down the road, stirring the dry dirt up into a thin haze of dust. Samae’s young, now adults yet filled with the vibrancy of youth, chased the children, tails wagging as they snapped playfully at their heels.

Exotic flowers, brought from the humid climate of Navora, clung to the keep walls in garlands of many hues and decorated the hair of the women. The flowers, which would not have survived the trip if not for magic, were brought by Nivetta and her brothers Torsten and Fiord. They had arrived the previous day via the Portal stone that stood amid what was once the ruins of the Temple of Lucent; ruins which I’d had rebuilt when my scribe had come across sketches of them, drawn before they’d been destroyed, in a book hidden away in a secret room in the keep’s cellar.

A group of young musicians from the town were gathered underneath the portcullis in the shade where they strummed and drummed through several popular ballads while we all awaited the arrival of the bride. Peps stood nervously at my side, shifting constantly from one foot to the other as if he had ants crawling up his leggings. I reached over and laid a hand gently on his arm and smiled at him when he looked over.

“You look very handsome in your suit, Peps,” I said soothingly. “Murcii will barely be able to contain herself at the sight of you.”

The soldier gulped and tugged at the collar. “I’d rather be in me armor, m’Lady, e’en hot as ‘tis.”

“Aye,” I agreed, swishing my skirts to circulate some cooler air under them. “I imagine Murcii is feeling much the same in her gown.”

“’ere she comes!” shouted Taphille, Murcii’s adopted son, from atop the keep wall.

All heads turned to look down the road toward the town where Murkana had been readying the bride at her inn.

The stout cook sat sidesaddle upon a mare, white as fresh snow, who picked her feet up high with each step in time with the march played by the musicians. The mare’s neck was arched prettily and flowers had been woven into her long silky mane and tail. Murcii was grinning broadly as they approached, her eyes sparkling joyfully. She smirked when she noticed how uncomfortable Peps was in his new suit. When the horse halted a few paces from Peps and I, Captain Lauda moved to the mare’s side and helped Murcii from the saddle. He held his elbow out to her and she slipped a shaking hand into the crook of his arm. Lauda smiled at her, only having to look down a bit, as the Captain was nearly as short as she was.

Lauda and Murcii had been close friends for as long as I could remember, though their bond had deepened while they’d depended on each other through despair - both had been widowed in the first encounter with The League.

A young boy came and took the mare by the reins and led her away. Lauda leaned forward and gave Murcii a light kiss on both cheeks, his eyes shining wetly. Grinning, he led her forward then stepped to the side to stand beside Danu as the bride and groom laced their fingers together. They turned to face Veyga, my Healer, who was acting as officiate today.

As Veyga began the lengthy ritual that would bind these two together for life, I looked around me at the happy faces of those gathered. Lining the roadway were the men and women from Tap Hill, the men grinning unabashedly and the women dabbing at their eyes with lacey handkerchiefs. I turned my face into the sun and watched the children whispering secretively from their places on the keep wall, inattentive to the words Veyga delivered to the couple. To my right, on the short grass that grew on the rise between the wall and the moat, the Keep Guard stood in lose formation wearing formal leather armor. I noticed though, that none of the town’s newest folk were present. I felt Danu step silently over to my side and he took my hand, weaving his fingers into mine and giving a squeeze. I knew he longed for this moment to be ours as well, but it wouldn't happen until we had somehow figured out a way to be together without having to leave Raldia without a ruler; or, worse, an incompetent one.