Page 107 of Heart of the Shadow King

For one thing, she did not wear the traditional crown of red rubies all queen consorts had worn before her. Instead, her husband set a circlet of shiningurzulstones on her head. This was considered very strange. King Vor was known to be devoted to his human bride; why would he give her a crown of such common stones? Perhaps it was in honor of the sacred Urzulhar Circle, which was destroyed in the Last Stirring. A lovely thought if so, though many still disapproved.

No one could deny how beautiful she looked, however. Small, yes, as humans are. But upright and confident with her long waves of golden hair falling down her back. She wore ceremonial white, as befit both a bride and a new queen.

“Kurspari-glur.”The name rippled throughout the court, whispered here, murmured there. Everyone knew it was she who had drawn them all back up from the stone in which they were trapped, using her gods-gift to save them from the spell. There were other rumors as well: that she had fought Arraog and killed her. Or possibly tamed her? No one was entirely certain of the details, and different accounts flooded the kingdom.

But everyone agreed that she was Mythanar’s savior. And it was right and good that she should be crowned their queen.

A hush went through the hall when she knelt before her king. He lifted theurzulcrown high and spoke the sacred words in a voice which seemed to roll out from the room and across the whole of Mythanar, traveling to the farthest corners of the Under Realm. “Kurspari-glur,” he declared.“Aruka tor Mythanar bi sor Grak Harred!”

“Here, now, what was that he said?” Prince Theodre plucked at the captain of the guard’s sleeve. “It sounded important.”

Hael turned her head just enough to cast him a long-suffering look. “He called her the Woman of Crystals, Queen of Mythanar and the Under Realm.”

Theodre whistled softly through his teeth. “Well! I suppose that makes it official then, doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” Hael replied in a low rumble, crossing her arms and blinking back the tears that shimmered in her eyes. “I suppose it does.”

The king lowered the crown to his wife’s brow, speaking the final solemn words of blessing. They rolled from his tongue, filling the chamber. The walls themselves seemed to pulse with an energy of life and love which no one observing could either wholly explain or deny. But none could miss the way the king and his bride held each other’s gazes, their two souls inextricably bound. And if one listened closely, one could almost hear the strains of a great, celestial dance singing up from the deeps of the world and rippling out among the stars.

“Gods,” Theodre whispered, shaking his head in wonder. Then he leaned in close and whispered in the captain’s ear, “You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I’m really going to miss this place. I mean, the food is a bit odd, and the people always sound like they’re growling at each other. But it’s a nice enough sort of world. And who knows what greeting I’ll have from dear old father back home? He would have been just as happy if I was crushed under rubble.” He sighed, his brow puckering. “Part of me wishes I could stay.”

Hael cast him a sidelong look. “So, stay,” she said.

The prince’s eyes bulged. His mouth dropped open, and he turned to the captain, the light of hope dawning in his face. “My dear Hael!” he gasped. “Did my ears deceive me? Did you just say what I think you—”

Perhaps to the relief of everyone concerned, his voice was drowned out the next moment. For King Vor helped his bride to her feet and turned her to face the assembly. And all the people of his court raised their fists above their heads and sent up a great cry. “Kharsug-mor Aruk!”they sang.“Kharsug-mor Aruka!”

“Long live the King!

Long live the Queen!”

THE END

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