Day 270 (248th) ((back in time to Day 238))

Day 270 (248th) back to ((238)):
A firm knock woke us. Lord Carmon entered with a handful of papers. His face and emotions showed his confusion.
"These have been arriving since dawn. It seems the Assassin Guild was keeping people away so my death would cause as little disruption as possible to the area. Now, all of these are clamoring to meet with me to discuss their future in Thantos. Also, Alice, your suitor wishes a face-to-face meeting with you."
As we dressed, we began scheduling meetings with the business people and when to meet Alice's suitor. There was no more word from those who had decided not to pursue her anymore. We took breakfast in the dining room from a much happier staff. After breakfast, we went with Lord Carmon to a conference room to begin receiving his guests. Those who we met were enthusiastic about their business ventures in Thantos.
Just before mid-day, a group arrived to receive the seeds and pollen for the blighted areas. One lady among them caught my attention. She was the same lady I saw in my vision. My sisters also noticed her. We said nothing to Carmon. When they met, I saw something strange. They clasped hands and their glows merged for a moment. For a few breaths, from their hands to nearly their shoulders, their energies became as one. They waved, pulsed, and flowed exactly the same. I had seen other couples with energies that were identical or nearly identical before, but I had not seen two strangers suddenly become as one. Even when they parted, those parts acted as one for many moments as they sat and discussed the seeds and pollen and how to get them to those in need.
This group was invited, by the staff, to have lunch with us. This lady, Julia, and Carmon spent most of lunch in private conversation. The rest of the group talked with us easily and told of the flood and the blight they, and we, hoped these gifts would aid.
We helped them load their wagon and get on their way after lunch. As we watched them leave, another group arrived. We detected mental chatter, which told us elves were among them. An ornate carriage pulled by beautiful horses that were definitely elf bred. Four guards rode similar horses in a square around the carriage. The guards stayed mounted as the occupants of the carriage exited. Two elderly-looking men stepped out first and stood at the carriage doorway. A woman of uncertain age exited next and approached us.
"I am the mediator for Lord Eyeshaw to meet Lady Alice of Thantos, who is to be betrothed to Lord Earshaw, to make sure she is a lady of good virtue and suitable to wed."
Lord Carmon stepped up to her and greeted her. He introduced himself and introduced Alice. A male voice sounded in our heads.
"I know you. I have dreamt of you. I have seen your face in pools and mirrors. You are real."
Out of the carriage stepped a man a bit taller than elvish men, but shorter than most human men. He looked at Alice and his mind voice became silent. Alice inhaled sharply. Her mind replayed dreams where she and he spent "days" in each other's company. They approached each other. Lord Earshaw took and kissed Alice's hand. Just like Carmon and Julia, their auras blended from their hands up their arms. Their blending, however, was much faster and, in the short time he held her hand, the effect went up to their heads and covered half of their torsos. When he released her hand, the change stayed on both of them well after we had entered the castle and got comfortable in a parlor.
"I have many questions my Lord Eyeshaw must know before he can permit this union," the mediator, Darlene, told us after we were arranged in the parlor.
"I have nothing to hide, madame. I will answer as truthfully as I can," Alice replied.
"I am glad to hear it. Now, can you lay out your heritage for me?" Darlene asked as she organized her papers.
Alice rattled off the names of her ancestors on both her father's and mother's sides. When she reached her elvish kin, both Darlene and Earshaw exchanged looks. Nothing mental passed between them, but an understanding was reached. Finally, Darlene stopped Alice, informing her that she had sufficient records on that topic. Taking another sheet, she looked around at us.
"How much will these ladies influence your role as Lady of this region?"
"I hope to be able to call upon any and all of them in times of need and converse with them socially. But, I doubt, they will be a deciding factor on all of my decisions as Lady. My husband and my father will always be my first council."
Darlene copied Alice's words and shifted the stack again.
"Do you seek a human style of rule or an elvish style?"
Alice thought before replying, "I hope to take what I have learned of both and use the best of each to make Thantos grow and prosper while remaining healthy and strong."
"What elvish style have you experienced?"
"Several," Alice replied, and she began ticking them off, "The Brimgrove elves, the cloister in Aldoahrn, the cities of Scarnac and Orda, and Crialas Pagoue."
Again, Darlene and Earshaw exchanged looks. This time, quick streams of mental chatter crossed between them. There were some phrases I did not understand, but they both seemed to know those places well. Remembering that, as of this point in time, the portal was still damaged and its taint widespread, we could see how they would be uneasy with some of those as examples of elvish rule. They reached some sort of agreement. Darlene shifted her papers again.
"I hate to ask this, but can you prove your virginity?" Darlene asked, blushing a bit.
Earshaw also blushed.
"I can answer that," Lord Carmon interjected, "To bring me the message that her return to Thantos was delayed, a large male unicorn strode through the city to my door and told myself and others, 'The virgin-lady Alice and her virgin sisters are attending important concerns in Crialas. They promise to return as soon as possible.' "
Darlene scribbled his words upon her sheet. Lord Carmon offered to get the others who had heard the unicorn, but was told it was not necessary. Darlene pulled the last paper and placed it before her and Alice.
"This is the betrothal agreement. Upon Alice's eighteenth birthday, arrangements will begin for the marriage of Lady Alice of Thantos to Lord Earshaw of Marlask. As Thantos is the larger of the two areas, Marlask will become Thantos property, but still retain the name for the city. This is Alice's agreement to court no other man, to keep herself pure of another man's affections, and to inform Lord Earshaw should another catch her heart."
Darlene handed the sheet to Alice. She and Lord Carmon read it over and approved. They both signed it.
"Lord Eyeshaw will be, upon receipt of these questions and your agreement, send you his and Lord Earshaw's agreements to do likewise for you until you are wed."
"We greatly appreciate this, madame," Alice told her, bowing slightly.
Earshaw rose and knelt in front of Alice. Speaking aloud for the first time since arriving, he presented Alice with a small box.
"This ring has been passed through my family for centuries. It is replaced by the marriage ring at the wedding. I have no doubt my father will sign the betrothal agreement, which is why I give it to you now."
Alice opened the box and gasped. Gretta winced as its song was released from within. Set went around to look at the "treasure".
"She wears that? How? It is a shiny rock."
"Under the rock is a ring that holds the rock."
"Is Alice mated?"
"It is a promise to be mated. They want Alice to be more mature and older before they officially mate."
"Like Mara and Gavin?"
"Some of the details will be different, but, yes, it is like that."
Alice slid the ring on and Set sniffed it. Darlene and Earshaw watched Set warily. Once satisfied, Set returned to my side, which made our guests relax.
"It smells old but clean. No one has worn it for a long time. They must have kept it with other treasure. I smell other things on it."
"His sense of smell is that strong?" Darlene asked.
We all snapped our heads toward her.
"Ma'am? What do you mean?" Lord Carmon asked.
"Sir," I answered, "elves can hear Set's mental voice. Set was inspecting the ring by scent. He could smell the other items stored in the same place as the ring. So, yes, Lady Darlene, his sense of smell is that strong. As he ages, it will only strengthen. My teacher, Falcon, can actually smell bloodlines and tell relatives by smell alone."
Darlene slowly nodded. Earshaw returned to his seat. Carmon was puzzling over all of this information. He began looking at Darlene with critical eyes. Perceptive Darlene noticed his critical looks, but did not acknowledge them. With a casual flip, she moved her hair and revealed a very elvish ear. Carmon noticed. His posture and emotions indicated his displeasure.
He could hold his tongue no longer,"Why are elves interested in my daughter? Are there no elves he can wed?"
Darlene and Earshaw bristled. This was a sore subject, that I could tell. Darlene started to speak, but Earshaw stopped her. He stood to face Carmon.
"Lord Carmon, I do not know what experience you have with elves. Some tribes, families, are less lenient than humans. My father chose to incur their wrath for the love of my mother. Her father accepted their union of true love. That made him Lord of Marlask. As half-elf, I age faster than pure elves. Other elves my age are still young children. Alice, as she reported, has elvish blood. That, in my father's eyes, made her worthy of pursuit. Her bonding with her sword and, as we see, this grand bird, only made her more worthy. We did not feel threatened by her status as a Sword Sister. Also," looking at Alice, "she has been in my dreams for years. On those dreams alone, I have rejected five other ladies and never participated in High Summer. Does that satisfy you, my Lord?"
The two stood, eye-to-eye, facing off as the rest of us looked on. Carmon weighed his words. I watched his emotions shift chaotically. Slowly, everything reordered itself.
He gave a terse nod and muttered, "I need air".
With that, Carmon walked out of the room. Alice was torn between her father and her fiance. I fed her what I saw of his emotional state. She settled back into her seat.
"He needs time. He's been like that before. Even though I couldn't see his emotions before, I know this state."
We sat and talked. While Earshaw appeared about twenty years old, he confessed he was over thirty years of age. Darlene confessed to being over five hundred years old. They asked me about the connection between Earshaw and Alice. I told them about their energies merging and being similar after parting.
"If we held each other longer, they could be identical?" Alice asked, looking between me and him.
"For a time, yes, but your individual energies will come back the longer you are apart."
The pair looked at each other. They stood.
"Tell us when they are the same," Alice requested.
They clasped hands. The energies changed rapidly from their hands and raced over both of their bodies. As soon as it covered them completely, I told them.
"That was fast," Darlene gasped, "Have you seen this happen before?"
"Lord Carmon and Miss Julia had it happen, but not so fast. King Sarvicnal and Queen Elenvarna had nearly identical auras. King Droland and Queen Darla had completely different auras, but she is Faerie. Queen Mara's and King Gavin's were becoming similar, but he is half Faerie and they had demon troubles. These are but some couples, but they are the only ones you know."
Darlene and Earshaw nodded, understanding that others I could name would be meaningless to them. A staff woman interrupted, letting us know dinner was ready. We met Lord Carmon in the dining room. He had gotten his emotions under control and was able to be civil during the meal. Rooms were prepared for Darlene and Earshaw to spend the night. Alice did not want to part from him, but did at Dawn's urging. Set embarrassed her by suggesting that they share a room and mate tonight. That caused her to race to our room and hide in the privy until she could get over it and realize he was not saying it to be mean. We laughed about it as we settled in to sleep.