Free Abuse of Power (Rise of the Mages 1) by Brian W. Foster Page A

different tack. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”
    Red colored her cheeks, and he grinned. All he needed was Benj and the tender. Auggie scanned all he could see of the town. Still no sign. What the blast was taking so long?
    His hand brushed his pocket, and he felt a slight bulge. The rings. He pulled them out, palmed the smaller of the gold bands, and shoved the other two at Alaina. “Here, I bought these.”
    She looked at him with a curious expression but didn’t speak. With nothing to do but wait, Auggie paced. A cloud of dust grew on the horizon.
    Emar.
    Blast it! Time grew short. They had to get the ceremony done before the guardsmen arrived. Again, Auggie scanned the surroundings. Should he go after Benj?
    More minutes passed. Auggie wore a path around the arch. Finally, Benj appeared from an alley with an octogenarian hitched to his elbow. Benj stepped, and the stooped man followed, rebalancing himself after each footfall.
    Auggie ran his hands through his hair.
    At the edge of the street, the tender held Benj back until every cart and horse and passerby traveled out of sight. With agonizing slowness, the old man placed his foot tentatively. Benj hopped forward, and the man shuffled ahead another inch. They continued in that manner until reaching the grass.
    The dust cloud had disappeared behind a tree line, so Auggie had no idea how much time they had. He eyed the anchored columns supporting the wedding arch and wondered if moving it would be quicker than waiting.
    Alaina rubbed his arm. “It’ll be okay. Relax.”
    Even through the thick leather of his sleeve, her touch sent shivers through him. He really couldn’t wait to get her alone.
    Auggie’s eyes went to the road into town. Black-liveried men would appear at any moment. They had to get the ceremony done.
    Her hand moved to his back, where she made circular movements with her fingernails. The motion sent chills through him, and he sighed.
    “If it’s meant to be, it will be,” she said.
    “If it’s not meant to be, I’ll make it be.”
    She smiled, the first time he’d truly seen her face light up. His heart leapt, and he waited, only fidgeting slightly, until the tender and Benj finally made it to the center of the square. They arranged themselves facing the tender, who stood under the arch, with Benj beside Auggie and the sealer beside Alaina.
    The tender addressed the mayor in the back. “As the representative of the power of law over the union of man and woman, do you give your permission for this marriage?”
    A cloud of dust rose above the road just outside of town. Emar would be there in minutes.
    The mayor spoke in a loud voice. “Duly elected by the people of East Shadehalm, serving by the grace of his lordship Duke Asher of Vierna and in deference to his laws and those laws of the kingdom of Bermau under the auspicious rule of King—”
    Auggie spun. “Blast it, man! We don’t have time for this. Just say, ‘Yes’.”
    The mayor looked stricken. “Uh, ah. I suppose …Very well. Yes. I approve the union of these two fine—”
    Auggie cut off his words with a glare.
    The tender nodded. “The state having given sanction to the binds of matrimony, the Holy One must give his blessing. Let us pray.”
    Auggie bowed his head and closed his eyes. For a minute, no one said a word. Another minute. Two. Five. He reopened them.
    Clouds floated by, and the tender sought guidance. Bees played among flowers, and the tender sought guidance. The catcher’s men galloped closer and closer, and the tender sought guidance.
    Was the old man ever going to say anything? Auggie was going to be as white-haired as him before the nuptials were complete. Finally, the “amen” came, but it was almost too late. Thundering hooves echoed off the town’s buildings. Emar would arrive way too soon.
    The old man opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he appeared to lose focus. He looked around