Ezaara was filled with wonder. How had she gone from being an ignorant girl from Lush Valley, to this?
“By being yourself, having courage and working hard,” Zaarusha said. “Well done.”
Lars blew a horn until the crowd quieted, then cleared his throat. “Master Roberto has requested the hand of Ezaara, honored Rider of Queen Zaarusha, to be his lifelong mate and lover, the mother of his littlings and his companion forever. Are there any objections to this marriage?”
A catcall broke out from the folk, “She’s far too pretty for him.”
“Thank you, Kierion,” said Lars dryly. “Anyone else?” Silence. “Then I request Ezaara and Roberto’s families upon the stage.”
Marlies, Hans, and Tomaaz came upstairs to Ezaara’s side. Adelina joined Roberto.
Ezaara had rehearsed this with Lars and her parents, but now it was actually happening. She stepped forward with her hand upon her heart. It was thrumming so wildly, she could feel it against her palm. She faced Adelina, raising her voice. “I pledge to love and cherish your brother Roberto to the end of my days and beyond, sacrificing my life for his, if necessary.”
Adelina inclined her head, lip trembling. “May your love soar upon dragon wings.”
They embraced, Adelina’s body shaking as Ezaara held her tight. Ezaara whispered, “It’s all right, Adelina, you’re not losing your brother, you’re gaining a sister.”
§
Roberto placed his fist upon his heart and faced Hans and Marlies. “I pledge to love and cherish your beautiful daughter Ezaara, to the end of my days and beyond, sacrificing my life for hers, if necessary. I also pledge to be a good and loving father, always tender and compassionate to our littlings.”
Hans raised an eyebrow at Roberto’s added words about fatherhood. “May your love soar upon dragon wings.”
Marlies squeezed his hand, saying, “I know your love will soar upon dragon wings. I believe it already does.”
“You’ll make a fantastic father,” Ezaara melded.
He hoped so. The only decent role model he’d had was his mother.
Hans gave Roberto a bear hug, holding on to him. “Welcome to our family.”
Family—he and Adelina had been alone for so long.
§
Roberto held Ezaara’s hand in his, his thumb tracing tiny circles on the back of her hand, making her skin tingle.
Adelina took two green ribbons from her pocket, passing one to Hans and Marlies. She smiled at Ezaara. “These are the ribbons from your first flight.”
“Fitting,” Roberto said. “Those ribbons bound us together.”
He’d offered his life for her, bleeding on the orange Robandi sands.
Her parents and Adelina tied the ribbons around their joined hands. The crowd waited with bated breath.
Heart soaring like a dragon taking flight, Ezaara gazed at Roberto. “I vow to love you, cherish you, and help you to grow and become the best you can be. I will support you and Erob and our littlings in this life and forever once we pass beyond, into the land of departed dragons. I vow to be one with you.”
Fire seared in Roberto’s eyes. “I will always love you, protect you and hold you precious above everything else in the world. I pledge my life to you, our family, Erob and Zaarusha, and promise to serve you and love you for the rest of my days and beyond. I hope my best will be good enough. I, too, vow to be one with you.”
“You’re good enough. Perfect for me.”
He tilted his head and grinned. “You don’t mind me kissing you in front of all these people?”
“I’d mind if you didn’t.” Gods, please.
He tilted his head and, with his free hand, cupped her cheek, stroking her skin with his thumb. “I love you, Ezaara.”
“And I love you.” She placed her hand at the back of his neck, and gently pulled his mouth to hers.
Roberto’s lips were warm, soft, and, gods, so delicious.
The roar of the crowd was deafening, but Ezaara didn’t care. She kissed the man she loved, wrapped in the warm shimmering strands of their joint sathir.
Nearby, Lars blew a horn. The clapping subsided.
“We’ll finish this later,” Roberto melded.
“I hope so.”
He laughed, his face open and carefree. “I know so.”
Lars’ voice boomed through the cavern. “We, the Council of the Twelve Dragon Masters, stand today as witnesses to the hand-fasting vows of Roberto of Naobia, son of Amato and Lucia, and Ezaara of Lush Valley, daughter of Hans and Marlies. We hope that dragon fire may keep their love glowing through the years.” Lars grinned. “And I personally thank them for their service to Dragons’ Realm.”
“Master Lars.” A sweet voice floated to the stage. At the front of the crowd, a littling girl with red curls stretched her hand up.
“Do you have a question?” Lars asked her.
“I have three,” the littling said.
“Don’t worry, Master Lars,” the girl’s mother said, blushing. “It’s really all right.”
Lars crouched down at the edge of the stage, addressing the girl. “Please ask.”
“Can I have a pretty dress like Ezaara’s?”
There was a smattering of laughter as Lars responded. “Yes, you may. Master Hendrik will get one of his tailors to make you one.” Behind him, Master Hendrik nodded. “What’s your next question?”
“Will I be as pretty as Ezaara one day?”
Lars smiled. “I believe you already are. What’s your last question?”
“Me, pretty? Thank you, Master Lars. Ma, did you hear that?” she squealed.
Lars smiled. “Your last question?”
“It’s about Anakisha’s prophecy. Someone said it wasn’t filled. What does that mean?”
Ezaara groaned. “Oh, not this. Will it never go away?”
“No, it won’t,” Zaarusha melded.
“Ah, a good question. One Master Roberto was going to address tonight,” Master Lars said, gesturing Roberto forward.
With their hands bound, Ezaara had no choice but to go with
