Free Firewalk by Anne Logston Page A

disturbed by the idea that she did not even know what vows she made. But she couldn’t refuse, so did the meaning of the vows truly matter?
    Kayli was surprised to feel Randon’s hand trembling in hers; glancing sideways, she saw that his lips were white and tight.
    Why, Endra was right, Kayli thought suddenly. He is as frightened as I. She wanted to squeeze his hand reassuringly, but did not; if he shared Terralt’s pride, her acknowledgment of his fear might humiliate him.
    The Agrondish ceremony, unlike the Bregondish one, involved an exchange of tokens; after their vows, Randon slipped a bracelet of gold and silver twined together over her wrist and handed her another thicker bracelet, which she then slid over his hand. Likely the twined silver and gold symbolized the joining of man and woman. Was she silver or gold?
    At last the long, strange ceremony was over, and Lord Calder closed his heavy book and took out the scroll which seemed to contain the Bregondish ritual.
    “This business of the knife—” Lord Calder said hesitantly. “Lady Kayli, you have it?”
    Kayli drew her thari in its sheath through the slit in her skirt and handed it to the priest, hilt first
    “The blade has been cleaned and consecrated by fire,” she said, “and blessed by the High Priestess of the Order of Inner Flame. As Randon has no thari, mine alone will suffice.”
    “Very well,” Lord Calder said. “Then I’ll begin.”
    Kayli gently pulled at Randon’s hand.
    “You must face me, not the priest,” she told him. “We speak our vows to each other.”
    “I hope I remember what to say,” Randon murmured. “Terralt read the words to me at least a dozen times, but—well, I’ll do my best.”
    Kayli had seen many weddings in her years at the temple, as a temple wedding was thought to bring good fortune. The familiar phrases were comforting, although Kayli thought privately that Brother Santee’s knowledge of Agrondish was somewhat lacking when he had translated the ceremony for Lord Calder.
    At last, Lord Calder said, “By the authority left by High Lord Terendal, I give you, Randon, to Kayli as High Lord to High Lady, as husband to wife, as lover to lover, as man to woman, to be joined before Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire and before the witnesses gathered here. Is such a joining your intention?”
    Randon met Kayli’s eyes squarely.
    “It is my will and the desire of my heart.”
    Brother Santee spoke weakly from his litter.
    “On behalf of High Priestess Brisi of the Temple of Inner Flame, I give Kayli, Dedicate of the Order, permission to wed.”
    “By the authority of your Order,” Lord Calder said, “I give you, Kayli, to Randon as High Lady to High Lord, as wife to husband, as lover to lover, as woman to man, to be joined before Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire and before the witnesses gathered here. Is such a joining your intention?”
    Kayli took a deep breath.
    “It is my will and the desire of my heart,” she said. Not for love, but for my country, my people, it is my will.
    “Then I bind you by blood and blade.” Lord Calder drew the thari from its sheath and handed it to Kayli.
    Kayli held up her left hand and placed the sharp edge of the thari against her palm.
    “By my vows and by my blade, I am of one blood with you,” she said. “With this vow you are my family, my home, my lands, my country, my temple.” She thought of Kairi and her voice shook slightly. She pulled the blade downward, making a shallow cut in her palm so that the blood welled forth.
    Randon bit his lip and took the thari, holding it against his palm as Kayli had done.
    “By my vows and by my blade, I am of one blood with you,” he said, his voice stumbling a little. “With this vow you are my family, my home, my lands, and my country.” He did not say “my temple,” of course, as he had no Order. He cut into his palm, and Kayli winced as she saw how deeply he’d cut.
    Kayli placed her cut hand palm to palm with Randon’s;