Hidden Magic Ch. 11

I spent the last of my coin on the meal preparations. To my surprise Carlinns had sent a missive to Tomass' aunt and she sent over a gentleman's man to aid Tomass, and the traditional wedding robes required.

She was an odd woman, the countess, not terribly respected but not vilified. A woman of strong opinion and often arrogance. Must be a family trait, I thought.

I instructed the man sent to wait on Tomass to guard him well and Hawls agreed to set a magical ward on his window. All of us thought he would bolt.

Dinner was a trial. Tomass glared into his plate while Hawls and I compared the politics of our respective councils and discussed my mother. It seemed she had met another council member, the main source of her research.

After dinner while Tomass freshened up under the watchful eye of his man and my maid was frantically cleaning and apologizing, Hawls pulled me aside for a private word, blushing deeply.

"My lady, I have no wish to be impertinent, but your young man...he had an amazing store of magic this afternoon, more than an old man like can keep up with. You have not...sullied, that is to ay, dallied with- er, ah-"

I clasped his hands. "Rest assured, Tomass comes to me pure, as honor stupidly dictates."

He sighed, visibly relaxing. "Do you know from your mother, what means we have to build magic?"

"That I do, you need not explain."

He blushed anew but nodded. We sat and I poured three drinks. My staff was going mad with preparations and buying. Invited guests included the countess, Carlinns, and the High Council as well as two local women who had fought under me in the war, and Hawls. Ten in all but still it would need to be a grand dinner and cook was most excited.

My buttress was giving my measurements to a seamstress who would work through the night to create a grand gown befitting my station. I cared little for clothes but this would surely be a public spectacle, and anyone could come to the courthouse for the ceremony.

The maid told us Hawls' chamber was ready just as Tomass joined us. Hawls made a show of puffing up, clapping him on the back with congratulations. Tomass looked like a man awaiting his own funeral. I had to smile over that, for I had plans to change his mind.

"Now, this evening I shall sit with you both and make sure that nothing untoward happens," he said this with great meaning at Tomass who blushed deeply and studied the plush carpet.

"Shall we play a game of chess, Tomass? Hawls may challenge the winner."

"That sounds excellent," Hawls said as Tomass nodded.

I got out the board and set it up by the cool fireplace. The season was warming and the windows were cranked open to allow in a slight breeze, though the heavy smell from factories uptown was not overly pleasant.

Tomass had a fine mind. I found myself straining to anticipate his moves as Hawls made small talk with us both. After nearly an hour he neatly beat me and looked to me nervously for my reaction.

"Well done. I yield my seat to Hawls if you will reset the board."

He frowned. "You did not lose a purpose, did you?"

"No Tomass, you beat me fair and square."

He smiled slightly and reset the board. While they played I went over my ledgers again and hoped the order for the ore would be solid, and that indeed an order for grain had been placed as well.

I paused every now and again to watch Tomass work. How quickly he had gone from an eager sorcerer for hire to a partner in a dangerous quest to a lover and now my betrothed. I had known him such a short time but in that time I felt reborn.

Tomass laughed at something Hawls said, his face transformed to utter beauty. He was smart, gracious, thoughtful, and would make a very good husband. My body warmed at thoughts of the wedding night when I would finally have what I craved.

Hawls turned to me and frowned as if reading my thoughts. I raised my eyebrow at him and he turned back.

I did not know the limits to the powers of a sorcerer so I guessed that meant there would be no passion between Tomass and that night.

When the time came to retire I did stop him for a light kiss. He responded fully and I had to break away before we got carried away.

"Tomorrow," was all I said, and laughed at his blush as he climbed the stairs behind Hawls.

I went to bed smiling.

***

Sleep was difficult. I dreamt of battle, of seeing friends die, the stench of death and the clash of swords. I dreamt of the scavengers of both sides picking over the dead as we chased them off.

I woke several times in a sweat. Twice I heard Hawls yelling at Tomass to return to his bed and it made me smile.

He was nervous. I knew well enough to know he was confused but titillated by the thought that indeed he would be wed to a woman who could help elevate his gender. No, what he was nervous about was the thought that we would be wed, and he would enjoy it.

And he would. I would have him screaming my name in the night and by my side in the day. I would enjoy having a husband, I thought, but I would delight in having Tomass.

With that thought I fell asleep once more and did not dream again.

***

The day was magnificent. The air seemed cleaner and it was balmy. After breakfast alone, the men dined in their rooms as was customary, a runner from the bank came to let know that the order from the mine had come through early as a wedding gift, and was a fortune. A contract had been struck with a neighbor of my country estate, the Duchess M'Carlo, and she had secured a full year's worth of ore for her plant to the north. One customer made shipping easy, and the deposit was secure.

I sent my driver out to obtain a wedding gift for Tomass, something Hawls had mentioned in the evening before. I gave my employees large drafts as gifts for all their hard work.

I wrote down notes for Carlinns to spread around my accounts, and also orders to send some to the bank branch closest to my estate. That evening I would wed Tomass, the next day I would meet with my managers, and then we would set out for my country estate.

Notes of congratulations poured in all afternoon, many from my childhood friends but most from the friends of my mother still alive.

The paper announced the wedding in detail, what little they had. Mostly Tomass' line and then a long, detailed history of my military career. It read more like a eulogy than a wedding announcement. Still, there was note of my rather-regretful-now remarks in my youth about eschewing marriage.

I smiled at that and when my business was done, took the maid to my room and began to bathe. Down the hall I heard sullen arguments as I bathed completely, scrubbed clean head to toe.

There came crashing sounds and then Hawls' voice trying to soothe Tomass that all would be well. Tomass' reply was to the effect that an old, single sorcerer had no clue what marriage was like, and Tomass wished he'd get himself a suitor.

I dressed in the gown. It was lilac, nearly the same shade as my eyes, and was covered in small, cultured pearls on the full skirt. The back laced up as did the sleeves to it, symbolizing a gift that I was supposed to be for my husband. His clothes would also be laced this way.

My maid arranged my hair in a complicated set of curls threaded with purple ribbon, one of my house's colors. Soft slippers of red and a scarlet sash across my body. Blood red and amethyst purple were my colors.

My medals were pinned to the sash along with an ornate jeweled pin of my family crest. Lastly my sword-in-scabbard was tied around my waist. When done I thought I looked ridiculous and laughed into the mirror but the maid insisted I was beautiful.

I left first in my own coach. Hawls and Tomass awaited the countess, standing in for his family, to escort them to the courthouse.

When I arrived, it was a madhouse. Armed guards had to escort me in and it seemed every single member of nobility had turned out.

I shook hands, made promises of visitations, and warmly greeted the women I had specifically invited. Thankfully there was no sight of Serinne or her evil sorcerer.

The High Council was seated in the foyer. The crush was so large no room would hold us, so I was to wed in the lobby. I nodded to them all just as Hawls arrived and footwomen carried in a larger chair.

"You look beautiful my dear," Hawls said by way of greeting.

"Your charge? Is he in the building?"

"Threatening to run, but the Countess has him firmly in hand."

"Ladies and gentleman," a herald began and we turned. "Her royal highness..."

Shock rolled over me. The queen was to be present at my wedding?

She strolled in looking beautiful and we all dropped to our knees. She was a vision in red of youth and strong beauty, and she smiled and winked at me as she sat.

We came up and she simply said, "Proceed."

Hawls nervously cleared his throat and stood in front of the seated High Council. Everyone quieted and then a door on the opposite side opened.

The countess led, Tomass trailing behind her. He wore a gold robe, the color of her house, over black slacks, with a blue sash around his clothes. His hair was smoothed back and clubbed into a ponytail, and he had been shaved clean.

Impossibly he was even more handsome than before, and his youth showed. His eyes were full of fire, but underneath it were nerves. He was afraid his life would crumble, was afraid of the judgment of all these gathered women and their men, and he was afraid of me.

I longed to comfort him but only time would.

The countess and I bowed to one another she presented him to me. "Tomass of the house of Belforr!"

"The house of Cassaman thanks you for the gift of your nephew," I replied clearly, and a smattering of applause broke out.

Hawls quieted everyone, and all obeyed, eager to hear their first wedding ceremony performed by a man.

It was beautiful. Under the guise of speaking of the age-old belief in a goddess and her consort he spoke eloquently on the equality of men and women. Were he to say so outright most of those gathered would be scandalized, but with the poetry of old tales most smiled and nodded along, even the queen herself.

At long last it came my turn to make my vows. "I, Earless Minnotte Furlan du Cassaman, do solemnly swear to accept you freely into my house, to give you the protection of my name and the extension of my honor. I swear to remain faithful and to share with you all I have to give, and to care for you all my days. Do you accept me and my vows?"

Tomass stared at me, dazed. I smiled and whispered "Here's where you say 'I do.'"

The people closest to us laughed.

"I do," he grumbled.

We all waited and Hawls sighed. "Your vows, Tomass."

"I Tomass of the house of Belforr do solemnly swear to come to your house pure, as is my honorable duty. I promise to...obey you, honor you, remain faithful, and...grant you many...heirs. Do you accept me into your house?"

"I do!"

Hawls pronounced us to cheers and I kissed him soundly. Not a kiss of true passion, he was far too nervous for it, but it was sweet and satisfying.

I had a husband, and he could not look more glum.