Chapter 24: Drink That, Again

Elora walked into the Ember Hall for the second time on her own feet, in a gown she had chosen herself.

It was dark green, with long sleeves to cover the fading marks of the irons, and nobody had carried her train.

The same black hall was lit by the same tall candles, and the same horns and fur collars lined the aisle.

This time the faces turned to follow her smiled.

Mirelle walked beside her in red velvet, with a gold circlet she had borrowed from the Empress.

"Please tell me you remember the vows," she whispered.

"I wrote them."

"I know you wrote them. I'm asking if you remember them."

"I have them on a card."

"You have a card."

"It's in my sleeve."

At the end of the aisle, two men waited in black and gold.

Aurek's horns shone, and his ice-grey eyes did not leave Elora once.

Dacian was grinning, and Mirelle made a small sound in her throat.

"He looks happy," she said.

"He looks like a man who thinks he won something."

"He did."

"So did I," said Elora.

The old Empress stood on the platform in her iron crown.

She spoke the ancient words slowly.

When she came to the question of whether the brides came freely, she stopped and looked at them.

She waited for the answer this time.

"Yes," said Elora.

"Yes," said Mirelle.

Her voice carried to the back of the hall.

Nobody in the room said anything else about it.

The feast was loud.

Priestesses from the temple served the tables with their lamps lit again, and the long benches rang with laughter.