His heart breaking, he stood and went to the balcony railing. Celeste followed. Summoning her composure as best she could, she laced one arm through his.
"I did this to you," he said after a long silence. "You have every right to hate me for it. Your life has always been difficult, and loving me has only added to your burdens. I'm so sorry."
Reaching out, she turned his face to hers. "You didn't know. It's as much my fault as anyone's." Then she let go and turned to look out over the balcony.
"I've changed already, haven't I?" she asked. "I'm aging. Don't tell me tales, my love. I've seen what is happening to me."
Her tears came again, and then she blurted, "Will you still love me?"
Her question broke his heart. He gently placed his forehead against hers. He could smell the lovely, familiar scent of myrrh in her hair. He pulled her closer.
"Always," he answered.
After thinking to himself for a moment, he finally made a decision. Squaring his shoulders, he turned to leave.
Celeste was puzzled. "What are you doing?"
"Something I should have done long ago," he answered.
Walking across the room, he went to the door and opened it. The two warriors standing on the other side immediately came to attention. Tristan whispered something to one of them. After clicking his heels, the warrior left his post. Tristan shut the door.
As the prince walked back to the balcony, Wigg and Jessamay gave him curious looks, but he ignored them. Returning to Celeste, he went to one knee and looked up into her face.
"Will you marry me?" he asked simply.
Celeste's face exploded with joy. "Yes," she answered, her voice cracking with emotion. "A thousand times, yes!"
Coming to his feet, Tristan turned to Wigg. "As Lead Wizard of the Directorate, you were empowered to perform marriages, were you not?" he asked.
Tears glistened in Wigg's eyes. "Indeed I was."
"Good," Tristan said, "because I respectfully request your daughter's hand."
It took Wigg several moments to find his voice. "Granted," he said.
Wigg and Jessamay came to hug them both. Only moments later, there was a knock at the door. Tristan nodded to Wigg, and the wizard went to answer it. The warrior had returned. He held a box in his arms.
Tristan beckoned him inside. The warrior walked to the prince and handed him the box.
"Is it all here?" Tristan asked.
"Yes, my lord."
"Then you are dismissed."
With another click of his heels, the Minion left the room.
"What is it?" Jessamay asked.
Tristan opened the box. It contained several finger rings and two freshly wound crowns of laurel leaves. He smiled at Celeste.
"These rings belonged to your mother," he said. "I guessed that if her wardrobe was still here, her jewelry might be, too."
Celeste looked at her father. Wigg's eyes were wet, but he smiled as he nodded back.
The ring Celeste chose was a deep blue square-cut sapphire surrounded by Parthalonian diamonds. Tristan took it from her and put it in his pocket. Then he removed the laurel wreaths. He placed one on Celeste's head, and he put the other on his own. He removed his weapons and placed them on the balcony floor, then took Celeste's hand. As he did, he felt it tremble slightly.
Wigg and Jessamay came to stand before them. Tristan and Celeste went slowly to their knees. They closed their eyes.
Reaching out, Wigg placed an ancient hand atop each of their heads. For several moments quiet reigned, the only sounds the rustling of the trees and the soft calls of the night creatures.
In quiet, measured tones, Wigg began to recite the ceremony.
CHAPTER XLIX
When the pair of patrolling warriors first heard the laughter, they thought little of it. With so much activity in the royal residence these days, all manner of noise had become commonplace. The distant laughter waxed and waned, but as the Minions continued down the corridor, it grew louder. The two warriors stopped and looked at each other.
"Do you hear that?" Oleg asked.
Nodding, Justus quickly held up one hand. He turned his head, trying to determine where the laughter was coming from, but with all of the traffic in the hall, he couldn't tell. Finally he indicated that they should walk on.
As they went farther, the laughter grew even louder, and its timbre changed from lighthearted to delirious. The warriors realized that something was very wrong. Then the screaming began.
Drawing their dreggans, the warriors started to run. Following the frantic screams as best they could, they eventually skidded to a stop before the door to one of the many personal chambers. From inside came the sounds of breaking glass, and for a few moments the screaming be came much worse. Then they heard a series of soft thuds, and things went eerily quiet.
Without hesitation, Justus kicked the door. After another kick, the sturdy Eutracian oak gave way and the door banged open. Dreggans held high, the warriors rushed into the room.
The Minions were no strangers to death, but they were unprepared for the sight that greeted them. After making a quick search of the adjoining rooms, they sheathed their weapons.
"Go find Abbey and Adrian," Justus ordered. "And have a guard detail posted outside the door. Be quick about it!" With an obedient click of his boot heels, Oleg hurried away.
Sighing, Justus shook his head. He crossed the room, parted the drapes, and opened the windows. The sunshine only accentuated the ghastliness of the scene. ALONE IN HER CHAMBERS, ABBEY POKED HER fork at her breakfast of spotted quail eggs. Shawna had cooked them just the way she liked-slow-fried in a generous portion of fatback. The accompanying hog loin strips and dark gingerwheat toast all looked delicious, but she couldn't bring herself to eat any of it.
Exchanging her fork for a teacup, she took a sip of the dark, rather bitter brew. She had made the nerveweed tea herself, hoping it would calm her. The cup was still warm in her palms, and the tea felt good going down.
Deciding to abandon her breakfast for good, she stood and walked to her dressing table at the other side of the room. The image reflected in the mirror showed how tired she was from worry and lack of sleep. Sitting down, she picked up her brush and began absentmindedly running it through her hair.
She feared for everyone who had left the palace, but Faegan's group concerned her the most. They had been away far too long. Given the large number of warriors involved, they should have made short work of the Valrenkians and returned home by now. With each passing moment her worry increased.
With so many members of the Conclave gone, she knew it would be up to her to come to the aid of the crippled wizard and his warriors. In one hour, she was to meet with Adrian in the Conclave chambers. Abbey had an idea, but she would need Adrian's help to carry it out.
When she heard the insistent banging on her door, near panic gripped her. Dropping her brush to the table, she shot to her feet and whirled around.
"Enter!"
The door opened to reveal a Minion warrior. His chest was heaving.
"What is it?" she demanded.
Still trying to catch his breath, the warrior made a quick explanation. Abbey immediately tore from the room, and the two of them ran pellmell down the corridor.
When they reached the chamber, the doorway was ringed with guards. Brushing them aside, Abbey rushed in.
Sister Adrian was already there. Her face was pale and drawn. Vivian and the warrior Justus stood beside her. No one spoke as Abbey took in the grisly scene.