Adrina nodded. “Indeed you are. Pure integrity.”
She almost had her. “Migo is wise beyond his years, and these are more perilous times than we’ve ever seen. He is young, passionate, and impulsive, but also very careful and contemplative. He will need counsel from those who are wiser. Someone like you. But I fear he would not be able to trust you if he does not feel you can trust him. He is used to the ways of Marems, with their sovereigns and loyalties by oaths. He doesn’t have the luxury of trusting through family ties, because his mother was the very same person who betrayed him.”
“Sands,” Adrina said, the first time Katsi had heard such language from her teacher. “I am not the one about to marry him, Katsi, but if I tell you I will consider your words very carefully, will that be enough for you to stop?”
“It’s a start.”
“Then let’s get out there. You look wonderful, and you are wonderful. Migo is lucky indeed to have your affection.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Katsi beckoned to Scales with a hand as she headed to the door. He clambered after her, wings tucked tightly against his back. It was her wedding. She could have whatever guest she wanted, even if it was a lizard. Besides, there was nobody else she could even think to have invited. Perhaps Shinaseh, but she was halfway across the world.
No, this was it.
Her and Migo.
Scales croaked beside her.
And Scales.
His body had changed more. His legs and tail were longer, his body slimmer. The scales on his underside were mostly a dark yellow, though some shimmered with orange, and the scales on top were deep green, some of them blue along his ridged spine. The most vibrant colors were around his neck, currently hues of red and purple. If not for the color difference, she could tell there was certainly similarity between the body structure of Scales and Migo’s bestial form.
“I was engaged once,” Adrina said from two steps ahead of her as they descended a flight of stairs.
Katsi perked up, waiting for her to say more.
“When I was very young. My parents wanted to match me up with another family of strong shamans, but the man was quite a few years older, and he was known for having despicable mannerisms. He was conceited, and I had no interest in marrying him, so I left. I roamed the Ring for a few years until I ended up here in Mazanib.” She paused before a set of doors, a solemn look on her face as she regarded Katsi. “Perhaps love and marriage is not for everyone, but I’m glad it is something you can find joy in.” She opened the door, revealing a wide staircase. “The ceremony will be down here. Are you ready?”
Katsi nodded. She hadn’t been to this portion of the castle. It was on the lower level, the area in which she’d done the least exploring. Her eyes must have been looking to new heights the whole time apparently. The ceiling sloped down along with the stairs, so she couldn’t see far beyond the bottom.
Scales didn’t like going down stairs at their slow pace, so he stretched out his wings and glided over their heads to the bottom, eliciting a shriek from somebody who was just out of view. Katsi smiled, connecting with the air to glide down after him, mostly curious about who it was that Scales had frightened. She could feel Adrina’s sigh more than hear it as she floated down to land beside Scales, trying not to smile at the guard who stood at the bottom of the stairs where an open doorway led out onto a large balcony on the side of the cliff.
The balcony overlooked Mazanib, though they were much closer to the ground level, and the angle made it so she could only see the roofs of buildings in the distance. Chatter echoed up from below, signifying that a sizable crowd must have gathered to witness the event. Katsi paused in the doorway, taking a deep breath.
On the far side of the balcony stood Migo, looking as majestic as ever in an intricate, black lace shirt, fitted with a velvet cape over the shoulders to match her sash. His hair was clean and as wavy as ever, and he looked like he’d had a much needed bath.
As their eyes met, his lips parted, and he clasped his hands behind his back. He smiled, a warmth that spread to his eyes. All she wanted was to run to him, but she smiled back and walked slowly toward the middle of the balcony as he came to meet her.
They paused just in front of each other, and he held out a hand, taking her own in his massive grip.
“Sands, this is real, right?” Migo said, his eyes drowning out all other sights from her vision.
“If not, then it’s a very pleasant dream,” she said.
Katsi realized she’d never seen a wedding before and barely had any idea what was supposed to happen, but Migo’s confident smile suppressed her concerns. Luckily, Adrina pointed her arm toward the balcony where Jafir stood in a dark orange robe holding a small pot in one hand.
Migo squeezed her hand and together they walked to the balcony, just in front of Jafir.
A large field stretched out below where some five hundred people gathered together.
Jafir raised a hand and the crowd cheered as Katsi and Migo came into view. He lowered his hand and the crowd grew silent. When Jafir spoke, his voice echoed loudly off the stone walls. “Emperor Migo Rikaydian and Shaman Katsi Danan. Marriage is unity. You were once two beings. Together, you are one.” He dipped a finger in the small pot then dabbed it on the back of Migo’s hand, leaving a purple smear. Katsi held up her own hand, and he dabbed hers as well, leaving the same mark.
Jafir lowered his voice to a whisper so that only Katsi and Migo would hear. “Repeat the next words I say out loud, in unison.” Katsi nodded her understanding, then Jafir cleared his throat and continued. “One mind. One heart. One soul.”
Migo squeezed Kasti’s hand again as they repeated the words together, Migo speaking with such conviction that Katsi couldn’t help the swelling in her chest.
“Now and forever,” Jafir said.
“Now and forever,” Katsi and Migo said together.
Jafir smiled and dipped his fingers again, this time lightly touching Migo’s cheek, then Katsi’s. He then raised his hand to the crowd and more cheering ensued.
Migo beamed at her with the biggest smile, and Scales, who must have scampered over, bumped his head into Migo’s leg with a happy croak.
Katsi laughed, and Migo stepped up to her, bending his head down. Heat rose in her cheeks as she worried that he was going to kiss her in front of all the people, but all he did was touch his forehead to hers and close his eyes.
“Is that all?” Katsi asked.
Migo breathed a laugh. “That is all. We are now married, Katsi. And I’ve never had a happier moment in my life.” He laced his fingers around hers and all other sounds faded to the back of Katsi’s mind. All that mattered was Migo’s fingers and his forehead, pressed against her own. This was something worth fighting for. She’d been lost for so long. Homeless, really, and without a family, but with Migo she was grounded. He was something she could always rely on. He was her family now.
Even through the din of her blissful sensation, she was keenly aware of a pair of boots echoing as someone descended the stairs as fast as their feet could carry them.
“Message for the emperor,” a voice said to the guard by the door. “From Alishara.”
Katsi’s heart dropped and she looked away from Migo. Perhaps Jehubal was the next city that would fall.
Chapter twenty-eight
Politics
