“In the light of the Urspirit,” Kraed said. “I’ll keep this short and sweet.”
“That would be appreciated, Urpriest Kraed,” Galla said.
“All are one,” Kraed said. “From many comes one and to many go all. To be born is to die, and to be solitary is to be many. We sprout from the Urspirit like mushrooms in a forest, single creatures in a great expanse teeming with life. But beneath the soil, our roots grow deep, and all roots return back to the source of what we are, back to the Urspirit, our God outside of time and space.”
Kraed’s words echoed through the room. Cam looked away from his bride, out at the stalagmites and the lanterns, and wondered how the lord’s daughter felt about such a simple ceremony. She likely grew up imagining an enormous party, fanfare and shouting and dancing, imagining herself the center of attention. Instead, they stood in front of the Elders and Cam’s girlfriends and the cave itself, with nothing but the monolith and the Urspirit for witness.
He wished he could do better for Galla, but this was her choice.
He turned back to her, squeezed her hands. She smiled, squeezed his back.
“Rings,” Kraed said.
Cam reached into a pocket in his tunic and took out two simple golden bands. He held them out to Kraed, who accepted them.
“Camrus, do you swear before the Ur that you will take Galla into your home, share your hearth, and give her your life and your blood until you both return to the source?”
“I swear,” Cam said.
Kraed slipped a ring onto Cam’s finger.
“Galla, do you swear before the Ur, that you will enter into Camrus’s home, share your hearth, and give him your life and your blood until you both return to the source?”
“I swear,” Galla said, her voice barely a whisper.
Kraed slipped a ring onto Galla’s finger, then took her hand and joined it with Cam’s.
“Two become one,” Kraed intoned. “Husband and wife.”
The small crowd burst into applause as the simple, abbreviated ceremony ended. Cam stepped forward and ran a hand along Galla’s cheek before kissing her, slow and deep, tasting his new bride.
It was such a simple thing. A few words, a promise before the Elders, but the implications were much deeper than he could really understand.
He pulled back from the kiss, Galla blushing deep, and turned. The Elders came forward, and Cam walked down the steps holding Galla’s hand to meet them.
“Congratulations, young shaman,” Elder Frew said and smacked him on the shoulder with one big, meaty palm. “You made a fine choice with this one.”
“You had your choice, Elder Frew,” Galla said.
“Ah, young lady, you flatter me.” He chuckled, a low rumble.
Elder Maris and Elder Edwin came next, shaking his hand, kissing Galla on the cheek. Elder Dagan was last, and Cam saw the man hesitate, his eyes seemingly far away, before pulling Cam into a tight embrace.
“Are you sure about this?” Elder Dagan whispered.
Cam nodded once. “I’m sure.”
“Then together it is,” Dagan said.
Cam pulled back and left a hand lingering on his friend’s shoulder. Dagan grinned at him, fierce and intense. They’d been through so much in the past weeks, and Cam had only grown to respect the man more and more with each passing emergency. He knew he wouldn’t be standing there without Dagan, and moving forward he knew he’d need the man’s support more than ever.
Dagan turned and left with the other Elders as Cam’s girls came forward. They ignored him and swallowed Galla in a series of hugs, kisses, and laughter. Even Key joined in, and more than anything else, that brought an enormous smile to his face. He stood back and crossed his arms, looking at his girls surrounding his new wife, and he wondered how life could ever be better than that moment.
Kraed came down the steps and sat just next to Cam. The old man leaned back on his hands, still wearing his beat-up weathered old cloak. He extracted a small bone flask from one stitched inside pocket, pulled off the stopper, and took a sip before offering it to Cam.
Cam took it, drank some, and nearly coughed at the pure alcohol burn that grabbed at his throat. He handed it back and tried not to let Kraed see his eyes water.
“Well now, young Camrus,” Kraed sad. “You have a beautiful new bride, three beautiful girlfriends, and a lot of enemies.”
“Seems that way,” Cam said.
“But as many allies,” Kraed said. “If I were a betting man, I’d put all my money on you, you know.”
“You are a betting man, Kraed,” Cam said, giving the old priest a look.
Kraed laughed and sloshed back another hit of drink. “Fair enough,” he said. “Find me someone willing to take the odds then.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Cam moved to walk away, but Kraed leaned forward and caught his wrist.
“Easy now,” Kraed said, his voice soft enough to keep from echoing in the chamber. The girls gathered into a tight circle and laughter peeled out as Felin shot him a big, smirking grin.
“What’s wrong?” Cam asked.
“I hear things,” Kraed said. “When men come to pray. They don’t always do it in their heads, if you know what I mean.”
Cam turned his attention to the priest and narrowed his eyes. “What did you hear?”
“Rumors,” he said. “Hints and suggestions. People are angry that you’ve married Galla without her father’s permission. There’s an old guard here, you know. They won’t give up without a fight.”
“That’s the last thing we need,” Cam said. “I only want to take that army out into the field and win back our freedom.”
“It’s never that simple,” Kraed said. “Alliances within alliances. It’s always about power, young Cam. Those with it don’t want to give it up.
