Page 21 of WarBride

With my body will I protect you.

With my arms will I shelter you.

With my heart will I warm you.

From this day forth, my mouth, my lips, my tongue,

My every waking breath,

Are dedicated to your pleasure and delight.

My life is yours,

And, should you require it,

My death.”

The words, though spoken, become song when combined with the ongoing hum of the licorneir surrounding us. As I speak, as the song swells, the girl’s tight brow relaxes, and her eyes soften somewhat. A faraway look comes over her, as though she hears voices calling from a great distance. Her eyes are still on mine, but she seems to see into another realm entirely.

When my song is done, my vows declared, she blinks and snaps back to the present. “What was that?”

I’m not about to interpret those sacred words. I say only, “I have now sealed you under my protection.”

“Am I supposed to say something?”

“You are not required to. Not tonight.”

But something has happened. Something has changed inside of me now that those sacred words have fallen from my lips. I feel a strange sense of . . . connection. A draw, a bond, to this girl, this stranger, whose name I do not know. Is this the Goddess’s work in me? One does not speak her holy words, one does not sing her sacred songs, without becoming essentially changed.

More to reassure myself than her, I lean in close to the girl and whisper in her ear: “I vow this to you,zylnala,above all other vows: I will return you to your own people, safe and whole.” This vow may not be infused with holy solemnity, but I mean it with my whole heart.

She swallows, her eyes very dark in her pale face. Then she nods.

Vamir steps forward, ending the ceremony with a final prayer: “United by the will of the Goddess,” he intones, and my people respond: “Blessed be the Goddess.”

As he speaks, thevelracord wrapped round our forearms vanishes suddenly. The girl gasps. “What the—? Where did it go?”

“Nowhere,” I reply. “It is still there.” It is strange to have to explain this part of the ceremony to my own bride. I’ve grown up observing many such moments; it’s easy to forget that every culture and every race has different practices to celebrate their bondings.

She stares hard at her own arm, trying to discern what cannot be seen. “So . . .” she says slowly, “is my hand permanently stuck to yours now?”

A chuckle threatens in the back of my throat. I swallow it back and answer simply by releasing her hand and taking a step away. She sucks in a relieved breath. But when I move my arm, the faintest glimmer of gold flashes in the air. “It isvelra,” I tell her, “woven from the roots of theilsevelblossom, which is sacred to my people. The influence does not last more than a few hours, but it temporarily binds us to one another.”

Her eyes flash, confusion mingled with something like shock. “What did you say?” she demands.

“It is old magic,” I begin, but she shakes her head.

“No, that . . . that name. Was it . . . ? Did you sayilsevel?”

I blink down at her. She looks truly unsettled, though I cannot fathom why. Before I can offer any answer, however, Ashika murmurs, “What dotheywant?”

I turn from my bride to see three tall, solemn figures approaching. My own people part to make room for them, and the licorneir retreat, unwilling to be seen by strangers. Thenewcomers pay them no heed but proceed straight to me and bow. They are women—cold, cruel, and beautiful Noxaurian women, ladies of the prince’s court. Their hair is black as night and bound back from their faces with bands of onyx and jet. Their skin is the dusky purple of twilight.

“Prince Ruvaen sends his compliments,” the foremost of them says, her voice deep and rich. “We are to prepare your bride for you.”

My bride, as they call her, eyes the women nervously, her expression tight. I cannot imagine explaining to her what they intend, not with all my own people watching. I say only, “Go with these women. They will take you somewhere safe where you may bathe. They’ll find you fresh clothing as well.”

She pulls her cloak a little closer. “You said you would help me find my sister.”

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