Page 41 of The Ivory King

He knew me so well.

We moved on quiet feet to Lady Raewyn’s door.

A subtle knock brought a quick reply. Merrilyn, in a sleeping gown of the dullest gray, opened the door, her long blonde hair free, her jaw set in disapproval as soon as her eyes met mine.

“Good eve, Merrilyn,” I said as pleasantly as possible. “Is your lady awake? I have brought my guard captain so that she may meet with him and perhaps discuss our plans for the morning?”

Her bright blue eyes darted to V’alor standing awkwardly behind me in a plain brown robe with his shield and sword in hand. I’d teased him about his weaponry when we’d left my room. When Merrilyn stepped aside to allow us to enter, I caught the glint of firelight off the broadsword she had hidden behind her back. V’alor looked at the sword, then at me. I ignored the little jab of righteousness as we entered a large suite. One door to the left stood closed, the bedchamber I assumed. The sitting area was decorated with sturdy and tasteful furnishings, serviceable to be sure, but well-made. A fire burned brightly in the hearth. A desk covered with neat stacks of vellum, inkwells, and quills rested by a double window with closed shutters.

Merrilyn left us standing on a soft rug of yellow and green to summon her mistress. A moment after the bedroom door closed, it opened, and Raewyn hurried through it in a cloud of frothy white robing. Far and away from the usual sleeping attire of the sisters.

“My lord Aelir, it is so good to see you. I thought we would not lay eyes on you until the morn, given that your beloved has returned to your arms!” She rushed to clasp V’alor’s hand between hers, her hazel eyes glowing. Her cheeks were ruddy as well, and her usually neat hair tangled. “I am so happy you are well. Our lord was grievously worried about you.”

“The pleasure is mine,” V’alor said, bowing over their joined hands.

“Come, sit! Tell me all about your journey here, V’alor. I am nearly bursting to set off come the morn! I’ve not set foot from the holy steppes since I was brought here as a small child and I wish to see the world! All of it! Do you two sail? I hear the seas calling to me! My soul longs to sail and discover the mysteries that my family never could.”

She pulled V’alor to a chaise and sat beside him, her hand still clasping his. Merrilyn moved about in silence, pouring wine into goblets carved from light wood before taking a stand behind Raewyn, a hand on her lady’s shoulder. I took a seat on a well-stuffed foot stool as I sipped at the pale pink wine.

“Our people have sailed to the Black Sand Isles for diplomatic reasons, but it has been many years since we have done so,” I explained, enjoying the sweet taste of the peach wine on my tongue. “Lady Raewyn,” I began. She frowned. “Apologies, Raewyn, we have come to you with a proposition that you may find unsettling. If so, please speak truthfully, and we shall never speak of it again.”

Raewyn glanced at V’alor, gave his hand a squeeze, and then leaned forward, sending her knotted tresses over her shoulder.

“Tell me of your idea, my lord.” I frowned. She smiled. “Apologies. Aelir. Tell me what your clever mind has dreamed up!”

And so I told her my idea. V’alor sat quietly, his shield and sword at his side. Merrilyn stood stoically behind Raewyn as I relayed my thoughts as succinctly as possible. When I was done, Raewyn chewed her lower lip for a moment before turning to look at her handmaiden.

“What do you think, Merrilyn?” Raewyn gently asked. The strapping woman nodded just once and gave Lady Frostleaf’s shoulder a soft caress. Raewyn turned her attention to me. “Iam willing to take on two husbands as long as neither requests a presence in my bed. Only my dear Merrilyn sleeps at my side.”

V’alor seemed vastly uncomfortable with how open Raewyn was about our unique situation, which was odd for a lad raised in a whorehouse. Surely, he had seen many things in that brothel far more carnal than four willing adults entering into a contract of marriage.

“And V’alor is the only one who shall sleep with me,” I said and looked at my love to ensure he felt the same. He bobbed his head, his unease apparent. “We shall work out the details on our journey to Celear. I know this is unusual for mainland elves, but an open union will negate us having to lie and sneak about in the dark.” We all agreed on that point. “We now need to secure the grand cloisterer’s agreement to such a diverse request. Before we approach her with our announcement, we must research. Is there a way we can read over the scrolls of marriage laws?”

Raewyn gave me a wink. “I have access to all the libraries here. Let me grab my slippers and a covering!”

The lady pecked V’alor on his cheek before releasing his hand and dashing into the bedchamber with her maiden following behind. The door closed softly.

“You look stunned,” I whispered to V’alor.

“There is much taking place at a rapid pace. I prefer to have things laid out in advance, so there is less chance of mistakes made from rushing.” I knew that well about him. He was not a fan of spontaneity. “Also, is the maid dumb?”

The door opened. Merrilyn stuck her head through the crack.

“The maid is not dumb,” Merrilyn said and closed the door once more.

“So she can speak and possesses the ears of a harrier, good to know,” V’alor commented dryly as we shared a look of gentleamusement. I hoped the grand cloisterer would be as amused when we presented our plan to her.

The grand cloisterer was not amused.

She was not happy with being woken before the sun rose, nor was she overly excited about our very Sandrayan plans. She balked numerous times as we presented our findings, finally acknowledging that there was no written law forbidding a union from being more than two people. We all sighed at that terse announcement from a very aggrieved Eldacar still in her sleeping robes and soft slippers.

“I shall do the binding ceremony as you request, Lord Aelir, but know that a raven will be sent as soon as it is completed and that when you arrive at the capital the exalted cloisterer of that temple may refuse to acknowledge the troth made here,” Eldacar stated as she rose from behind her desk with a weary sigh just as the first rays of a new day peeked through her shutters. “If she does, remind her that the vows you make here on this morn are irrevocable. Be sure that you are happy in this decision for once the troths are made, they are not easily undone.”

“We are aware that there may be discord,” I said before getting one final nod from the other three, who would soon be my chosen life partners. “And we are sure.”

Eldacar gave us all a long look as she lifted a plain gold cord from a carved box sitting atop a handcrafted side table filled with scrolls, spent candles, and a jar of lavender spikes.

“I do not wish to guess why you four are entering into such a union, but as I have been bid to ensure Aelir and Raewyn are promised to each other with haste, I shall do as Umeris hasinstructed. He and Ihdos can sort out the other two additions to this situation.”

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