Rage of the Dragon

CHAPTER 28

The morning of his wedding day, Skylan eyed with disfavor the long caftan the Aquins had given him to wear. A warrior was wed in his best clothes, a man’s clothes. Skylan thought back to his first marriage, the ill-fated union with Draya. He looked backward through time at a Skylan he barely knew-a callow youth, arrogant and proud, thinking only of himself, never of others.

“I treated Draya shamefully,” Skylan said softly, overcome by guilt and remorse. “I deserved the punishment meted out to me by the gods. I do not deserve the reward of such happiness I will be given this day.”

He took hold of the silver amulet of Torval he wore around his neck.

“I swear to you, Torval, I have learned from my mistakes. I will be worthy of your trust.”

Skylan wanted to wear his own clothes at his wedding. His shirt and breeches had been taken from him and he had no idea what the Aquins had done with them. He tried to think of a way to ask that would not insult them. He gave a sudden, rueful grin.

“Not so long ago, I wouldn’t have given a damn if I insulted anyone,” he said to himself. “Garn would be proud of me.”

Skylan grew somber, thinking of his friend.

“I hope, Garn, that you are not angry with me for marrying Aylaen,” Skylan said. “When we meet in Torval’s Hall, we should meet as brothers. I could not bear to lose your friendship, not even for Aylaen’s love.”

A knock on the door startled him.

Skylan answered the door, half-expecting to find Garn there, for Skylan’s mind was centered on his friend. Instead he faced a male Aquin, an older man, with a grave expression, dark hair that was gray at the temples, and deep-set eyes. He was tall and muscular and wore a caftan of fine cloth, light blue in color, trimmed in deeper blue with pearl buttons set in gold.

“I am Tai,” he said, by way of introduction, “King of the Aquins. I come to bid you joy on the day of your wedding.”

Skylan was impressed. The king spoke with dignity; his bearing was regal. Skylan would be happy to stand beside Tai in a shield wall, if only he could get the image out of his head of this Aquin male carrying babies around in a pouch.

“I am Skylan Ivorson, son of Norgaard,” said Skylan. “Chief of Chiefs of the Vindrasi, which is similar to a king among our people.” He said this not to impress the man, but to let the Aquin king know they were on equal footing.

“Is there any way in which I can be of service to you?” King Tai asked.

This was the perfect opportunity to ask about his clothes. Skylan opened his mouth, and was interrupted by Acronis.

“I wish you joy on this day, Skylan,” said Acronis, smiling broadly. “If your marriage to Aylaen brings you half as much joy as my marriage brought to me, you will be a blessed man.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Skylan earnestly. “Any sign of young Farinn?”

Acronis shook his head. “He has not returned.”

King Tai heard this exchange with concern. “What has happened? Is the young man missing?”

Skylan explained, adding that they had not said anything yesterday, because they thought Farinn had gone off with a comely young warrior woman. He added that the Aquin warriors had promised to search for him.

King Tai smiled. “The young are ruled by their hearts. I will go ask the guards if there has been any word of him.”

King Tai stepped out of the room. Once he was gone, Skylan shut the door and seized hold of Acronis. Keeping an eye on the door, in case King Tai returned, Skylan said urgently, “You have to tell him. I don’t want to insult him, but I won’t be married in a dress!”

Acronis raised his eyebrows. Skylan jerked his thumb at the caftan lying on the bed.

“Ah, of course,” said Acronis.

“I am good with a sword,” said Skylan. “But when it comes to words, I’m likely to cut off my own hand.”

Acronis promised he would undertake the task.

King Tai’s return ended their conversation.

“The warriors have not found the young man,” King Tai said. “They went to Lover’s Cove, but there was no sign of him there. There is no need for concern yet,” he hastened to add.

“The two could be almost anywhere. If you knew the name of the young woman or something about her-”

Skylan shook his head. At the moment, he could not even describe her very well. He had been thinking only of Aylaen.

“The warriors will continue to search. Let us not worry,” said King Tai. “Nothing should mar the happiness of this day.”

Skylan decided the king was right. He could do nothing for Farinn now except to wait. And today he was to be married to the woman he had loved all his life. He nudged Acronis.

“Which brings me to broach a rather delicate subject, Your Majesty,” said Acronis. “I know nothing of the customs of your people-though I would be so pleased to learn about them, if ever you had time-”

Skylan nudged Acronis again, this time harder.

“As I was saying,” Acronis continued, “Skylan is to be wed this day and while he is respectful of your ways, it is natural that he would like to be wed according to the customs of his people. He would like to be wed in his own clothes, with his chain mail and helm-”

“They are on my ship,” said Skylan. “And a sword. I lost mine in the fight with the kraken, but you might find one on my ship. Aylaen told me that your queen has her sword in her possession.”

“Chain mail! Swords!” King Tai was astonished and displeased. He asked sternly, “Why do your people bring death to a wedding?”

“The sword doesn’t have anything to do with death,” said Skylan. “The sword means that I vow to take my wife under my protection, to guard her with my life. I place my ring on the tip of my sword and offer the ring to my bride. Aylaen places her ring on her sword and offers it to me, meaning that she vows to fight life’s battles at my side.”

“You people view life as a battle?” King Tai regarded Skylan with wonder.

“Life is hard for the Vindrasi, Your Majesty,” said Skylan proudly. “To die in battle with my hand on my sword’s hilt is the highest honor a man can attain. I will go to Torval’s Hall and there spend the afterlife in revels with my fellow heroes, both friend and foe, and with my beloved wife when she comes to join me.”

“Remaining alive to care for one’s family is the highest honor we Aquins can attain,” said King Tai. “To die peacefully in old age, surrounded by those we love, frees the soul to return to the sea from which we all come…”

Skylan considered this was only to be expected of people who lived among fish. Fortunately, he did not speak his thought aloud. Another thought had struck him.

“A ring! I’m talking about rings on swords and I don’t have a ring to give Aylaen.”

King Tai smiled. “Do not worry about the rings. I came to ask if you would accept these rings as gifts from Her Majesty and myself, and I have brought you this.”

Inside the box was the Vektan Torque and two rings. The wedding rings were made of ivory delicately carved to symbolize the threads of his wyrd and Aylaen’s twisted together. The rings flanked the Torque, one on either side.

“How appropriate,” Skylan murmured, pleased.

He left the rings in the box. They would be used in the wedding ceremony. He lifted the golden Torque, adorned with the spiritbone of one of the Five. He thought of all the Chiefs of his people who had worn it before him. He thought of the sacred trust that he was taking on himself, and he remembered with shame the first time he had put the Torque around his neck, claiming it for his own, when he had sworn to Torval he would give the position of Chief to his father.

Torval had punished him by taking the Torque away from him. Perhaps now the god was telling him that all was forgiven. He placed the Torque reverently around his neck.

Before, when he had worn the Torque, he had not noticed the weight. Now he felt the heaviness, not of the gold, but of his responsibility.

“I will try to be worthy, Torval,” Skylan said softly.

King Tai was discussing the wedding plans with Acronis. “We have arranged the ceremony for noon, if that is agreeable. Our Queen herself will perform the ceremony in the name of Akaria, the sea goddess.”

“If we could also pray to Torval-” Skylan began, then stopped when he saw Acronis’s brows shoot up.

“We know of Torval,” said King Tai politely. “We do not pray to him.”

He bowed to Skylan and walked out.

“Imagine,” said Skylan, shuddering. “Dying in bed so weak you cannot stand up and then spending your afterlife among fish. What a strange people. I cannot believe we worship the same gods.”

“The Aquins are peace-loving,” said Acronis with a smile. “They do not believe in war. In their entire history, which spans many centuries, no Aquin has ever killed another in battle.”

“A strange people,” Skylan repeated.

* * *

Skylan and Aylaen were wed in the shrine of the Sea Goddess Akaria. If they had been in their homeland, they would have been wed before the altar of Vindrash, the dragon goddess. The Vindrasi had always revered the Sea Goddess, however, for they were a seafaring people.

The shrine was located on its own small island that was surrounded by a shallow pool of sea water. The shrine was made of stone carved to resemble the two halves of a conch shell standing open, with the altar of the Sea Goddess in the center. The interior of the conch shells were lined with mother of pearl and shone with a rainbow radiance in the light of the noontime sun.

Aylaen wore the apron dress of her people, a new dress made of green wool embroidered with dragons, clasped at the shoulders by two golden dragon pins. Aylaen had been amazed when Queen Magali gave her the dress, wondering how the Aquin people had come by it, for there had been no time to make it.

“A gift from the Sea Goddess,” said Queen Magali. “To go with your sword.”

Skylan wore soft leather breeches and a leather tunic, gifts of the Sea Goddess, and his chain mail and his own sword, which the warriors had found lying near the Venjekar, both marvels to the Aquins. He also received another gift from the Sea Goddess. King Tai handed him a box of driftwood. When Skylan opened it, he laughed. Inside was a fish knife.

Acronis stood with Aylaen in place of a male relative. Skylan had been hoping to have Farinn by his side, but the young man had not yet returned. Wulfe did not attend the ceremony, either. Skylan was just as pleased. There was never any telling what the fae child might do or say. And so Skylan took his place alone in front of the altar.

He was standing there, waiting for Acronis to escort Aylaen, when he felt a presence by his side. Thinking Farinn had returned, Skylan turned to chide the young man. The words froze on his lips.

Garn stood next to him.

“My friend!” said Skylan, choked, his eyes dimming with tears.

“The two people I love best in this world are being wed,” said Garn. “You did not think I would let a little thing like death stop me from standing with you.”

Skylan and Aylaen spoke their simple vows of love and faithfulness, pledging them in the name of Torval and Vindrash and Akaria, the sea goddess. Skylan placed the ring on the tip of his sword and presented the ring to Aylaen. She took the ring, brought it to her lips, then slid it onto her finger. She drew her sword, the blessed sword of Vindrash, placed her ring on the tip of her sword, and presented the ring to Skylan. He took it, kissed it, and slipped the ring onto his finger.

Clasping hands, the two kissed each other decorously and then turned to face the King and Queen, who had been watching all this with amazement. They stared at them uncertainly, wondering what came next.

“And so we are wed,” said Skylan, seeing their confusion.

Queen Magali smiled and looked relieved. She and King Tai wished the couple joy. Acronis whispered some words to Skylan and embraced Aylaen.

“I wish for you all the happiness I would have wished for my own dear Chloe,” he said softly. “A father’s blessing on you, my dear, since your own father cannot be here.”

“In my homeland,” said Skylan, “we would now celebrate with games and a great feast.”

“In this, our people are alike,” said Queen Magali, smiling.

Skylan and Aylaen left the shrine and boarded a small barge decorated with shells and flowers. No one was there to pole the barge and they were wondering how they were to reach their destination when they were surrounded by young Aquins, men and women, who took hold of the barge and began to pull it through the water. There was much jostling and splashing. The barge rocked precariously and, of course, in the end tipped over, throwing Skylan and Aylaen into the water to the delight of the crowd.

Skylan, in his chain mail and his sword, immediately sank, causing even greater mirth. The Aquins rescued him and hauled him, coughing and spluttering, to the surface. The young people swam with him and Aylaen to the palace, laughing and jesting. Such was their jollity that Skylan, though he feared his chain mail was ruined forever, could not help but join in the merriment.

The wedding feast was given by Queen Magali and King Tai. Skylan and Aylaen entered the chamber hand in hand, both of them dazed by their happiness. There were no long wooden tables such as the Vindrasi used for their feasts. The Aquin women sat on mats or cushions on the floor. The men served them, bringing in large trays filled with seashells that bore vegetables and fruits and rice.

Aylaen, seated on a cushion beside the Queen, laughingly ordered Skylan to bring her food. Skylan thought of his homeland, where Aylaen would be serving him, and he thought he should be angry, but he found he liked serving Aylaen.

The men were not all that different, he discovered, for as they were filling the plates for their women, they made the same ribald jests, teased Skylan about his prowess, and shared some of their wine with him. The wine was made from bamboo and he found it atrocious, but he drank it, not wanting to insult anyone.

He was thinking of this night, dreaming of taking Aylaen into his arms, and wondering when they could slip away without offending their hosts. Aylaen sat laughing and talking with the Queen and her daughters and other female members of the court. Skylan had risen and was going over to speak to her, to persuade her to come to their wedding bed with him, when Commander Neda entered the room.

She went swiftly to the Queen, who rose to meet her. They exchanged a few words. The Queen looked grim, her lips tightened. She motioned for Aylaen to join them. Aylaen listened and then turned, crying out urgently, “Skylan!”

He dropped the food and shoved aside the men and hurried to her side.

“It’s Farinn,” Aylaen told him. “He’s been abducted. Aelon’s followers are holding him hostage. Oh, Skylan, they threaten to kill him!”