Sands, he could get used to more victories.
***
“Sinteya,” Hatan said, fingering the ring in his hand. He was utterly exhausted, but he knew this needed to be done sooner than later.
Sinteya’s hair was tied back, and she wore the simplest clothes he’d ever seen on her as she assisted with clearing some of the rubble from the streets.
She was a good woman. A wonderful woman, in fact, and she would make a most excellent wife to a good man. She offered him a tired smile, but it was still as beautiful as ever. “Hatan. Don’t tell me you made your way over here just to find me.”
Hatan shrugged. “I did, in fact.” He had that feeling again, like a weight hung to his insides. This had to be done. He held out his hand, holding her ring between two fingers. “I needed to return this.”
Sinteya tilted her head at him. “At all times and places, you choose now?”
“Yes, but…” He took her hand and placed the ring in her palm, then took a deep breath. “I must end our courtship.” Her face dropped but he hurried to say more before she could protest. “I know that on paper it sounds like an arrangement between the two of us would be wise, but I have been conflicted for some time, and quite frankly, it is because my heart belongs to another.”
“Ah.” Sinteya tucked the ring away. She blinked and took a deep breath. “I see. She is indeed lucky then.” She offered a quick smile. “I hope to see you married soon, then. A king should not delay such things.”
“Thank you, Sinteya.”
“Of course.” She nodded. “I still offer you all my support. Our nation is in good hands.”
Hatan stepped back and turned away. It was only upward from there.
***
A few more days had gone by.
Migo had met with every leader of every nation, and with most of the individual shaman tribes. Under the combined leadership of Katsi and Migo, everyone swore fealty. They’d taken a force directly to Wanay and reclaimed it from the Reyganin Tribe. It was laughable how easily they were able to retake Wanay once they were actually prepared. Combined forces of shamans and skilled hunters, along with the Ashjagar himself and Stormcaller Danan, they could track down any remnant bleeder force with ease.
The rotations of the sun had caused serious rains, and the dam holding back Delirad Lake had broken, a flood of water gushing out into the Scorched Waste. The Bayvana Tribe was already sending shamans out into the wasteland to see if they could reclaim it and restore the soil. They said they had potions that could expedite what would otherwise take hundreds of years.
There were bright days ahead, and to think that he and Katsi were only eighteen years old now, and she was coming more into her powers every day. Ris agreed to teach her more about stormcalling specifically, and together they’d discovered ways to help regulate temperatures on a global scale, something that would be imperative in the coming years as places like Mazanib became much colder.
Today, Katsi and Migo were dressed in their finest attire, Migo in a sharp suit with a maroon cape, and Katsi in a maroon dress riddled with golden stitching. Migo squeezed her hand, letting her know he was ready.
Katsi held a stone over to him, and he grabbed on. Katsi muttered a phrase, and their bodies reappeared inside Rikaydian Palace in Jehubal.
“Ah, there you are, Your Excellencies,” said Agwe as soon as they appeared.
“Are we late?” Migo asked. It was sometimes difficult to keep track of the correct times from one city on the Ring to another.
“Only a little, Your Excellency,” Agwe said, leading them out to the front courtyard.
The coral bushes were looking particularly vibrant, or was it that the sun was high? The three brasswood trees that grew in the courtyard were taller than he remembered, but that could have been another effect of the different weather.
The entire courtyard had been decorated with strings of flowers. Colorful blue and yellow ribbons hung from the trees like streamers, and, of course, an entire long table laden with various treats sat under a large pavilion.
A proper setting for a wedding.
About fifty people stood in the courtyard. Migo recognized all of them. Many were soldiers and nobles. Shanon had recovered from her injuries. A benefit of shaman magic that Migo was all too familiar with.
Even several shamanfolk were present. Hatan kept good relations with the tribes, to the point that many shamanfolk had taken up residence in the city. Among them was Shinaseh, one of Katsi’s childhood friends. The girl was all smiles on seeing Katsi, and the two of them embraced.
Captain Falshon had fallen at the battle, but his wife was present. She still held a place on Hatan’s council.
“There you are!” Hatan roared, rushing over to Migo with wide arms.
Migo rolled his eyes but embraced his cousin.
“Ah, it must be nice getting invited to your cousin’s wedding,” Hatan said. “I’ve never experienced such a thing before.”
Migo laughed. “I apologize. Things were a little rushed at the time.”
“Not to worry,” Hatan said, patting Migo’s shoulder. “But I made more of those cookies you like, some other ones you’ll die for, and my bride says you’ll love the drink she made to go along with it.”
“I’m sure I will, cousin,” Migo said.
“We finally got that shop up and running,” Hatan said. “She’s masterful at business.” He paused, warmth settling over his face as he clasped his hands in front of him, watching Penym approach. “And there she is.”
Penym smiled. She looked radiant in her black dress, a purple sash over her shoulder. She dipped her head to both Katsi and Migo.
Hatan beamed at her, placing a hand on the small of her back. “You taught me something, Migo,” Hatan said.
“I didn’t know that was possible,” Migo said.
“No, really. It’s about love,” Hatan said. “Love is sometimes unexpected, but we also choose it. We commit ourselves to it. Not just in the moment of infatuation, but in the difficult times as well. That in something like a marriage, you work together. You’re a team. You’re partners. Nobody showed that better than the two of you. Without your love there would be no Jehubal.”
Katsi squeezed Migo’s hand, but Migo felt it in his core.
