Blood of the Righteous

A Wedding To Remember

"David, wake up," the gentle voice said. A hand gingerly shook his shoulder.

Groggily, he opened his eyes and pushed the blankets back off his face. The cold chill of the castle air that entered his lungs contrasted sharply with the soft warmth of the bed, covers piled three high atop his body. His nanny, Jolina, stood over him, excited smile draped across her grandmotherly face. "Oh, Nana, just a little longer. Please?"

She shook her chubby finger sternly at the young man. "David Ki Kalendeen, you get out of that bed right now. We mustn't keep everyone waiting. The sun has been up for quite some time now, and master Alexander wants to speak to all of the members of his wedding party in an hour. Your mother and Lady Branvold have been planning this marriage for seven months, and it will not be ruined by the likes of you!" Her tone softened a bit. "I've had Drake draw a nice warm bath for you. If you sleep much longer, you won't have time for breakfast."

The warm bath did sound inviting. "Yes, Nana." Slowly and uncomfortably, he got out of bed. Every muscle in his body ached, amplified by the sudden feeling of the crisp morning air washing over him. The day before, the Branvold family and their servants had arrived at Lystra for the wedding of Mareth Branvold and his oldest brother, Alexander Ki Kalendeen IV. He and his friend Liam Branvold, a boy also fourteen years of age, had spent the past evening sparing with practice swords, trying to outdo one another in feats of strength, and running through the entire castle. They had played for several hours past their bedtime, as they always did whenever they were fortunate enough to see one another. The city of Kheog was three days' journey to the west, so they only saw each other four or five times a year.

His feet hit the cold stone floor with a painful thud. He bowed his head to Jolina, as he had always been taught to respect his elders, even if they were servants. "Thank you, Nana."

She gave him a warm smile, patted him on his shoulder, and walked out the door, closing it gently behind her. David had a lot of affection for Jolina, as much as he would have for his own grandmothers, had he known either of them. She had been Nanny to the Ki Kalendeens for two generations. She was hired to first take care of his father, the now Lord Alexander III, then his uncle Rameus, born six years later, who was now a Holy Defender. She also took care of Alexander IV, his brother Gabriel born three years later, his sister Eleenia two year after that, and now him. David was the youngest, born two years after his sister. Everyone thought Jolina would retire after David, but she was thrilled with the possibility of serving the Ki Kalendeens for a third generation. His brother Alexander had always wanted a large family, and he and his new bride were planning on having a child within the first year of their marriage, if it was within the will of God.

A shiver swept over him as the chill of the floor seeped into his previously warm feet. He walked over to the door of his private bath, and as he opened it, a flood of steam poured out of the little room. Quickly darting in, he closed the door behind him so as to not let any more heat escape than necessary.

The warmth of the water overtook him as he lowered himself into the tub. Slowly his muscles began to loosen and the pain ebbed out of them. Leaning back, he closed his eyes and tried to picture what was going on in the rest of the castle. His mother would be running around like a mad woman, shouting orders at the servants, trying to make everything just right for the wedding. His oldest brother, Alexander, would be taking his morning horse ride around the grounds on his horse, Skylark, despite his mother's objections. Knowing his father, he would still be asleep. The Branvolds would be asking if there was anything they could do to help, being told promptly by his mother to stay out of the way. Servants would be darting here and there, getting the wedding feast ready, hanging decorations, thus adding festive coloring to the dull gray of the castle.