'If the younger Soth is anything like his father,' he said in a hoarse, yet powerful voice, 'there won't be a lack of children for want of trying.' He laughed then, a wheezing cackle that caused everyone to stop and look in the direction of the old knight.
Everyone, including Soth.
The mention of his father hit Soth like a cold slap in the face. He stood up, his wide piercing eyes and dark scowl causing everyone in the room to fall silent.
'Leave the room!' Soth said harshly.
Dag Kurrold looked at Soth, a stunned and apologetic look on his bearded face. 'I'm sorry,' he said. 'I meant no-' 'No, it's not you,' Soth said, his voice much softer, as if he'd reconsidered the harsh tone of his earlier words. In fact he was now almost as apologetic as the elder knight had been. 'It's just that I've suddenly been overcome by the whole day. I'm afraid I'm going to need my rest if I'm going to be a presentable bridegroom at tomorrow's ceremony Please, if everyone could leave now…'
'The lord of the keep needs his rest,' declared Wersten Kern. 'There are many other rooms in the keep we can move the festivities to.'
The knights slowly began to rise, many of them taking their tankards with them, some even carrying barrels.
Indeed, the party would be continuing in scattered parts of the keep well into the night.
'Good night, my lord.'
'Good night, sir.'
'Night, Lord Soth' Each of the knights said farewell, then quickly left the dining hall. Dag Kurrold was one of the last to leave, his face long and troubled.
'I'm sorry for ruining the merriment,' said the elder knight.
'Not to worry,' said Soth, slapping a hand on the older man's back. 'You can rest easy tonight. It was not your words which troubled me.'
Dag smiled. 'All right, then. Good night.'
The hall was soon empty.
Except for Soth.
Except for Caradoc.
Together, knight and steward filled their tankards then sat down at the table, facing each other.
'To the glory of the noble Soth clan,' Caradoc said, raising his tankard.
Letting out a sigh, Soth raised his tankard as well. 'Yes,' he said. 'To an unblemished future, for generations to come.'
They clanked tankards, the sound of which echoed hollowly off the cold stone walls.
Chapter 2
The sun had risen several hours Ago but was still barely visible over the eastern horizon as the sky over Dargaard Keep was gray and full of thick, dark clouds. Obviously these were not the best weather conditions under which to celebrate a wedding. But as the dark clouds continued to gather and roll across the sky, threatening a downpour at any moment, a kind of reverse optimism began to infect the wedding's guests until they were all of the opinion that a stormy wedding day could only bode well for the bright future of the marriage.
So, content in the knowledge that the wedding ceremony would go on, rain or shine, the squires and footmen worked quickly to assemble the benches which would seat the more than one hundred invited guests on the grounds just outside Dargaard Keep. The decision to move the day's festivities outside had been made not only to accommodate the large number of guests, but also to allow everyone who wanted to witness the spectacle a chance to do so.
Those without official invitations would find a spot for themselves on the hills and knolls surrounding the makeshift chapel that had been built on the grounds. In fact, some had already secured a place for themselves on the grassy slopes near the altar even though the wedding itself wouldn't begin for several hours yet. All this, simply for the sake of catching a close-up glimpse of the regal Lord Soth and his resplendent bride-to-be, Korinne Gladria.
Conducting such an early vigil for something as simple as a good vantage point might have seemed a bit excessive for some, but certainly not to those native to Solamnia who looked upon a marriage between the houses of Soth and Gladria as nothing less than a royal wedding.
Which in many ways it was.
Korinne Gladria was the daughter of Lord Reynard Gladria, one of the most highly regarded and respected noblemen of Palanthas, not to mention a distant cousin to the High Clerist himself. And Soth, although the son of a humble clerk, was also a distinguished Knight of Solamnia and member of the Order of the Rose. And, while all the Knights of Solamnia could lay claim to royal blood, the Order of the Rose was open to only those of the 'purest' blood, making it the order of royalty within the Knights of Solamnia.
And so, as the last few benches were set into place, the grassy lands surrounding the altar slowly began to fill up with footmen, maids and commoners from Dargaard Keep, as well as the many farmers who tended the fertile farmlands of Knightlund.
Overhead, there was a slight shift in the clouds, allowing the sun to peek through the curtain of gray for the first time that morning.
'Please don't worry. Mother. He's a wonderful man,' said Korinne
Gladria, as her bridesmaids attended to her long, flowing white gown.
Lady Leyla Gladria looked into her daughter's eyes and smiled. 'I have no doubt that he is, dear Korinne.'
'Then why do I have the feeling that you are still uneasy on a day which is supposed to be one of the happiest of my life?'
Leyla took a breath and exhaled slowly. 'I just wish you were marrying someone more like-' 'More like Father,' Korinne said. 'Oh, Mother.'
'Your father might not have been heralded as a valiant and courageous hero, but he was still a very distinguished politician and diplomat, not to mention a good husband and father. There was nothing he liked more than to be at home with his family. Nothing in the world made him more happy.' She shook her head. 'Soth is a warrior, perhaps even a great warrior. But that is his life. He craves adventure, lives for the battle. When I think of the violence he's been a party to…'
'All in the name of justice and freedom.'
Leyla paused. 'My dear, sweet, innocent girl. Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it under the guise of doing good.'
Korinne looked at her mother curiously. 'Whose fine words are those?'
'It's a preface to one of the volumes by Vinas Solamnus, volume seven I believe. It is a warning to those who foolishly believe that all warriors who fight on the side of good can do no wrong.'
'Soth is a good man. And he will be a good father, too.' Leyla sighed.
Obviously this was a topic that had been discussed many times before, each time ending with the same result. 'I just want you to be happy,' she said, giving her daughter a hug.
'I will be. Mother,' said Korinne, returning the hug warmly. 'I will be.'
'Do you. Lord Loren Soth, take Korinne Gladria, to be your wife, to love her with a pure heart, and honor her as you would the Oath and the
Measure?' asked Lord Cyril Mordren. The elderly knight was flanked by two silver and-white robed Priests of Paladine who had conducted the more mundane aspects of the ceremony before relinquishing duties to Lord Mordren, the High Clerist of the Knights of Solamnia.
Soth turned to his bride and held his breath lest her beauty take it away. She was absolutely stunning in her long white gown, which was highlighted by swirling sky blue accents that followed the contours of her shapely form like a second skin. Under her veil, her red hair hung down past her waist in thick, full curls. Her green eyes looked
