Page 46 of The Gargoyle's Glade
“It was written all over you,” Imo confirmed with a nod. “The irrational agitation, the grumpiness.”
“The chest rubbing, the denial.” Lovette flourished a hand. “Very obvious you were falling for her. Emotions and mate bonds are tricky like that sometimes. Trust me, I know.”
I scowled at them both. “I’m not grumpy.”
They glanced at one another and fell into raucous laughter. Imogen basically keeping Lovette from falling to the ground at one point. “If you say so, little brother.” Imogen produced a small blade similar to Hailon’s herb knife from a sheath on her belt. It would be put to good use in Merry’s hands while she gardened, as well as for protection. It was a perfect little belt knife. I swore, promising to do my best not to worry over it.
“You work fast.” I turned it over in my hands, her impeccable craftsmanship impressive as always. Where the leather-wrapped handle met the blade at the bolster was a piece of red jasper.
“I had the steel mostly done already, just waiting for the right purpose. Rylan agreed to give me the stone when he was done with his examination of her bracelet.” Her gentle smile expressed how proud she was of her work.
“What happened to the rest of it?” I asked, knowing Merry had been very attached to the jewelry, but it had been beyond repairing to its original state.
“Brom needed more time, but he’s incorporating what he can into a sheath for her.”
“That’s very kind of him. Is he here?”
My older sister blushed as she took the blade back from me. “No, he’s at the outpost finishing commissions for the armory.”
I needed to make time to visit with the leathersmith, it would seem. I’d like to get to know the man who’d managed to capture Imo’s affection.
“One would think such a celebration would allow a day off, but no.” Lovette frowned. At least my sisters had one another to complain about the demands of the outpost with. “Come on.” Lovette tugged on Imogen’s sleeve, and they went off toward Merry’s cabin.
I took a deep breath and waded into the fray, joining my father and the demons under Grace’s watchful eye and stern direction.
“She’s fine,”Lovette patted my hand as Merry was escorted up onto the little platform and seated between Ophelia and Jorna. “She insisted she was ready, we checked with her several times. She’s smiling even.”
“She smiled through terrible headaches for who knows how long,” I countered, still upset with myself for not noticing what she was going through sooner.
“Fine, but she’s literally sitting with Ophelia. And her horse is just there.” Lovette pointed off to the side of the platform, where Jacks stood, bedecked in a floral garland woven from all the wildflowers that grew in the glade, looking very regal. Both Belmont and Archimedes were perched in a small tree on the other side, and Morticia was lounging near Jacks’s hooves. “And all the creatures are orderly and behaving themselves.”
It was my father who spoke up next. “Rylan gave her a spelled trinket to hold if she feels overwhelmed—it will filter some of the voices out, protect her mind.” That brought some relief.
“Her new blade has the jasper in it too,” Imogen added.
“We’re all here, watching.” I turned at Hailon’s voice, and found that all the demons, including Tap, had arrived and were settling in near us, as were their equally powerful wives. “Nothing is going to happen to her. And if she seems at all distressed, we’ll stop everything. Take her away from the ceremony.” She squeezed my arm, and the flurry of bees in my chest quieted.
“Nobody wants to see her hurt, Coltor,” Greta added, sadness still etched into her face. I hated that she blamed herself for not checking in with the familiars.
“Who’s minding the doorways?” I asked Seir, while looking at Tap.
The crossroads demon fidgeted, looking as uncomfortable away from his station as I often felt. And that wasn’t even considering he was one of four demons in a very large gathering of stone kin. We’d become quite cordial for beings that were once sworn enemies.
“I called in a favor with my unit leader—they’re doing what they can from Hell. The rest will wait a few hours.” He glanced at his brother and whispered, “He needs to blow off some steam.”
“It’s a miracle you got him to leave,” Vassago teased.
Tap’s nose wrinkled. “I attended Rylan’s wedding not all that long ago. Left me with a mighty mess, but I did it.”
“I’ll help you with any resulting problems,” Seir reassured him.
Tap nodded and settled between Seir and Rylan. “You absolutely will.”
Several stone kin had turned to look at the gathering of demons. They were not strangers to the conclave, and wereofficially kin, but for many of our kind, we were still getting used to being among them as friends.
The sun was setting, tossing the glade into glorious shades of orange and red, bathing Merry in the light that suited her beauty the best. Euphemia commanded everyone’s attention from atop a wide tree stump that had been placed for later use as a table.
“It is known that throughout the ages, those of us with magic have been friends with the creatures of the earth. Much of that time, there was a Keeper, a special witch or stone kin—sometimes both at once—that was master or mistress of all the beasts. They were the ones to address quarrels and help ensure that the balance is kept.” Euphemia tipped her head to the side. “As much as one can anyhow. Nature does much of that herself, after all.
