Marshal Burtram held out a small velvetpillow, and Russal set the ring on it. Sybil held a similar pillow.It already held a dull ring. It appeared wooden, plain, thin growthrings varying in hue providing the only embellishment.
The seal overhead moved, and a soft crankingsound offered a subtle accompaniment to the light rustling ofgarments and the piping. The seal slid with each quiet clank into arecess in the high ceiling.
The sunlight, no longer obstructed by theleaded glass, streamed in, a golden ring of light dossing them. Abreeze, tentative at first, flowed in through the opening. The airstirred around them, gaining strength, the curls at her cheeks andneck brushing her skin.
Lord Laurents spoke, firm and projecting.“May Kavin be pleased.”
Russal and the citizens of Kavin repeatedafter him, and Kambry added her voice to the pronouncement, justable to get a whisper out.
“Exchange the Kavin rings of your covenant,”Lord Laurents said.
Russal retrieved her ring, and she took theone Sybil held out. The smooth wood warmed her fingers, and a senseof glee seeped into her skin as if Kavin thrilled at her touch.
Russal slid the king’s ring onto herthumb.
It settled against her skin, one with heragain. Kambry looked at him. Why was he still giving her the king’sring?
He tugged at her hand and nodded at thewooden ring she held.
With an uncertain nod, she slid it onto histhumb. Hers glowed purple, his green.
Russal squeezed her hand and turned to faceBurty, Lord Laurents, and Sybil.
Lord Laurents raised his arms to the hole inthe distant ceiling. “May Kavin be pleased.”
Voices around them rose to repeat the phrase,Russal and Kambry joining in. Paddlyrun citizens raised the volumeas they repeated the phrase three times following Laurents’lead.
Russal turned in place, releasing her hand.When she faced him, he wrapped his left hand around her right, therings touching as their thumbs crossed. A thrill ran through her,and a breeze raced about them like a column rising into theceiling.
Her dress and hair stirred, and she felttugged as if she might rise with it. The air stilled, and shelooked at Russal.
“Kavin is pleased,” Russal announced. Hesmiled at her and nodded.
Kambry licked her lips and raised her gaze tolook out at the solemn crowd. Their faces held expectantexpressions, bodies leaning forward. “Kavin is pleased.” Her voicecarried through the room. She couldn’t help a grin that took overher face.
The solemn crowd of Kavin broke into yells,hands clapping, some individuals cupping their hands around theirmouths and calling out great hoots and shouts of joy. Paddlyruncitizens joined in, and Kambry realized there were many fromKonright as well. They gave tentative calls compared to the peopleof Kavin but added to the celebration.
The pipe sounded three pips, and silencereturned.
Behind her, Lord Laurents said, “Hear theproclamation.”
Marshal Burtram’s voice rang out. “KingRussal of Kavin, monarch of Greater Kavin Wood, protector andsupporter of Kavin people, son of King Risler of Kavin, son ofQueen Mya of Kavin, approved by Kavin Wood.”
Lord Laurents led them in another chorus,Paddlyrun and Konright as loud and celebratory as any Kavincitizen.
The pipe sounded its three calls, and silencefilled the chamber again.
Kambry searched out her parents, finding themflanked by Stahn and Tia at the edge of the purple runner, andseveral council members from Konright stood close. Dad met hereyes, his back straight, eyes moist and his mouth in a broad smile.He gazed at Mom beside him. Kambry and Dad had talked about whatwould come next. Delighted with her decision, he waited to see howMom would react, his gaze shifting to catch Kambry’s eye and givingaway his excitement.
Sybil called out, “Queen Kambry do Runiya ofPaddlyrun, monarch of Greater Kavin Wood, protector and supporterof Kavin people, do Councilman Brode of House Kon, do Artisan Meesyof House Runiya, approved by Kavin Wood.”
“May Kavin be pleased, may Kavin be pleased,may Kavin be pleased!” rang out from the crowd.
Kambry kept her eyes on her parents.
Mom had been smiling, dampness below herintent eyes, but slowly her expression shifted, first to confusion,then slowly to comprehension and surprise, mouthing the words thatrose around her. She gazed at Dad and his smile reassured her. Momhad always stood tall, but somehow she gained a greater resolve toher stance.
Kambry could have kept do Brode or taken doKon, but though it had never been discussed, she was just as freeto claim House Runiya. Stahn would declare House Kon when he wed,but now House Runiya claimed a queen, just as she had claimedit.
The ceremony’s simplicity had required littleinput from her or Russal, but she had given the proclamation agreat deal of thought. What name would she take officially? Eachtime she had thought about it, her mother’s house had seemed tocall to her.
Mom’s radiant face gazed at her.
Mom had never expressed any disappointmentthat her house had not come into the discussion each time the ageof recognition entered the discussion, but it had been House Runiyathat had encouraged the binding that formed her parents’ marriage.Master Muntrac was from House Runiya. It was a small house, withfew members, but all were artisans. Kambry may be a queen, but inher heart she was an artisan and now a ruler. Combining Kavin andRuniya was the right thing to do.
Mom and Dad gripped hands. As Russal andKambry passed them, they mouthed, “May Kavin be pleased.”
As the last yells rang out, Russal guidedKambry down the purple runner to the main doors at the end. Thetension behind her, Kambry enjoyed looking side to side forfamiliar faces between the guards spread along the aisle. Her jawmuscles pulled her smile wide, and with each face she saw, itseemed to widen.
Subjects of Kavin filled the two quadrants onher right, and the quadrant closest to the main doors on her left.Behind her on the left, Paddlyrun and Konright visitors.
Her gaze flowed back and forth, searchingamong each section for friends and family.
The elderly artisan Joslia stood at thecorner of the second quadrant, her gaze narrowed. Another womanwho could deceive me. Kambry watched her, and the artisan’sunkindly expression followed them. Just as they came up beside her,she reached past Kambry, her crooked fingers touching Russal’s arm.As if struggling to loosen an expression long held, her
