Repentance smiled at her father. He sat up even straighter and thrust his chest out a little farther.
Skoch sat on the other side of her father. When he'd heard that the king was freeing the slaves, he'd smiled and said, "There you are m-m-my Lady. Hot Springs, with its gift of dragon breath, has melted the icy towers of Harthill."
And he was right.
He looked friendless as he sat waiting for the ceremony to begin and Repentance reminded herself that she needed to introduce him to her brothers. His young students had left with their mother to stay with her parents in Norbank. All except Tigen. He wanted to stay with the king, and the king wanted him to stay. His mother had put up no fight. Repentance was torn about that. She was happy that Tigen would remain at the palace but so sad that he had such parents. How could they care so little? How could mothers give up their little boys without a fight?
Tigen seemed to have no mixed emotions in the matter. He sat in front of Skoch, a look of pure joy on his face. He'd been a little jealous when Repentance had told him she meant to button Sober. He'd thought she might wait for him to grow up. She explained that she couldn't button him because, though she loved him, she knew Providence had much more important work for him. She was sure there were other ladies in the kingdom in need of saving, and Tigen, being so brave and so good, was just the boy for the job. He wouldn't be ready to settle down with a button mate for a long while yet, she figured. It was a sacrifice, but she was willing to let him go for the good of the kingdom. She told Tigen all of that, and then she gave him a serving of fruit fluff filling, and by the time he was done licking his bowl he'd accepted the idea of her buttoning Sober. If it couldn't be him, Sober was the next best choice, after all.
The king, next to Tigen, nodded at her, conveying a measure of love in that small gesture. Tears filled her eyes. Had anyone told her six months earlier that she would love the overlord King Fawlin, she would have scoffed. And, yet, here she was.
The drumming began—
And stopped before Sober came out.
Provocation entered the room from the back, whisked over to the king and whispered in his ear.
He nodded.
Provocation stopped to talk to the Atwaters. They both stood and followed her out.
Repentance shot a quizzical look at the king.
He grinned.
Grinned? She'd never seen him grin before.
She mouthed the word, "What?" at him.
He stood and approached her. "Just wait. I have found—I have the best button present for you."
Her parents came back into the room, tears streaming down her mother's face.
Behind them came two boys, maybe twelve or thirteen. A little younger than Shamed.
She put her hand to her mouth. Twelve or thirteen! It was all she could do to keep from jumping up to hug them. The ceremony was about to start, though, and that was a good thing, because the boys looked overwhelmed and uncomfortable as it was.
Everyone settled back into their seats, her parents flanked by four boys.
The drums started up again and Sober came through the door behind her. Repentance saw him through a fog of happy tears. He limped—he always would—and he was leaning on a cane as he danced with his scarf, and yet he managed to look graceful. Repentance brushed her tears away and looked into his eyes thinking she might see some sorrow left over from the things he'd suffered. She found nothing but joy.
He winked at her, and she grabbed the scarf and let him pull her up.
Looking into his eyes she repeated her vows as she buttoned his scarf to her blouse.
With my heart I'll love you,
With my hands I'll serve you,
By your side, I'll abide, forever and always.
Sober hooked his cane into his trousers pocket to free his hands, and he buttoned himself to her.
With my heart, I'll hold you,
With my arms, enfold you,
Beside you, I'll guide you, for now and for always.
And then he kissed her.
She could hear cheering and hooting and hollering, but it all sounded strangely far away. Sober broke the kiss and whispered in her ear. "How soon are we allowed to leave these revelers and have some time alone?"
They were going to Mistress Merricc's farm for the Button Night. There, a small cabin stood at the end of a lake. Not a swampy lake. Not a freezing lake. A warm, clear lake where ducks and loons raised their families and otters played all the day. Repentance had never seen it, but Sober had told her about it and it sounded like the perfect place to spend a Button Night. It sounded like the perfect place to start a family.
She shivered at that thought. She'd have babies.
"Are you cold?" he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hobbled toward the crowd of well-wishers.
She put an arm around his waist. "After that kiss? How could I be cold?"
Moonlight filtered into the cabin through the gauzy curtains at the window. Repentance listened to the night sounds—frogs singing love songs in the lake, an owl sounding
