Russal patted the gnarled hand and thankedher for the blessing and advice.
Kambry wondered which Kavin the old artisanreferred to. The people of Kavin or the magic of Kavin Wood?
They continued down the aisle.
“Do you know Artisan Joslia, Russal?”
He nodded and smiled at his subjects as theypassed. Some reached out to him, and he gripped their hands fondly.Kambry followed his lead, accepting congratulatory pats andsmiles.
“Everyone knows Artisan Joslia. She leads theartisan council and her advice is worth heeding. We must rememberour strength lies in Kavin as much as within ourselves, ourrelationships and position.”
She still didn’t know which Kavin she was toturn to. “Russal, where in Kavin is this strength?”
His head tipped in confusion.
“I mean, do I turn to the people of Kavin orthe magic of Kavin when I need help?”
“Both. Without each of them, there is nostrength.”
“But I still don’t understand.”
“Each situation calls for the strength itneeds. You will call for Kavin magic to support you, just as youdid when you faced Covey at the edge of Kavin Wood. But at anothertime, it will be the people of Kavin who can best serve our needs.I called to them when Covey’s supporters attacked.”
They were coming to the stout double doors.Guards stood in front of them, and they showed no sign of openingthem. Russal guided her into a turn to face the long stretch of thelined aisle that had seemed to lengthen behind them.
The populace of Kavin and its visitors wereall moving to the outer edges of the audience chamber, standingthree and four individuals deep along the walls.
Russal squeezed her hand. “We’ll have areceiving line first, and then we will dance for Kavin. Let’scontinue to the crossing of the aisles and stand to receive oursubjects.”
It was a long line, and Kambry was nearhoarse by the end. Even her family had to hurry along, stoppingonly for a moment to hug her before turning to take the green aisleback to their section.
When the last individual stepped away, thepipe sounded and then was joined by a deep drum along with a soundshe could not assign to any known instrument. It made her think ofleaves or wind, even the lapping of water at the edge of abank.
Russal said, “May I have this dance, mylove?”
“Is this another promise?”
“This is a vow.”
His soft words filled her with joy, lacedwith a loving timbre, his eyes only for her.
The music was instantly familiar. The dancethey had shared at the Grand Review. “Do the king and queen alwaysdance at Grand Reviews?”
Russal grinned. “I may have jumped the line alittle when I had you dance with me. But there were shoes, so itbecame a promise.”
He lifted a foot. “But today, no shoes.” Hisface grew solemn. “Will you accept my vow to always love you,Kambry do Runiya, Queen of Greater Kavin?”
“Every day. You don’t even have to dance withme.”
The last note before they must step into thedance sounded.
“You’ll still dance with me today,though?”
“Just try to stop me.”
Chapter Three
While their dance duringthe Grand Review had been tentative, Kambry’s steps always justbehind Russal’s, this time Kambry anticipated the changes. The coolstone of the audience chamber floor grounded her as Kavin’s magicflowed around her, providing a gentle prompt from a swirl of breezeat her shoulder, the heel of her foot or the small of her backwhenever Russal wasn’t there to guide her. Through it all, Russal’sloving blue eyes shone back at her. It was as if everyone in thehall had left. Only the dance filled Kambry and Russal.
She saw the beat of the music and themovements that accompanied it as a story. There were times Russalwas out of reach, almost in a dance of his own, she in a similartwirl of motion, and then they would reunite. For moments, she feltbereft. But the piping and its accompaniment would bring them backtogether.
A second pipe joined the first, a more maturesound, somehow deeper and more vibrant. Their future?
Russal guided her into the first quadrant,his brown aisle to their right, the central purple aisle in frontof them. They paused, and Kambry gazed into the Paddlyrun quadrant.Mom and Dad had joined the dance, their friends and family standingbehind them.
Her heart welled. She gazed up at Russal ashe guided her into a whirling rush and then a pause, facing eachother.
Tears slid in quiet lines down his face. Buthe was smiling as if he didn’t notice the tears. “If they had beenhere, my parents would join the dance, but your mom and dad agreedto take their place for today. It is the finest gift they couldgive me.”
“Oh, Russal.” To her right, Amily and Tomostepped into another empty quadrant, taking up the steps of thedance. The Laurents took the fourth.
Kavin seeped into her, so fully she thoughtshe would break open and lie like petals about the floor. Beforeher emotions could engulf her, Russal guided her through the stepsof the dance and a set of twirls that sent her dress fanning outbehind her.
“You told me we would dine after theceremony,” Kambry said when they came to a stop, their breathscoming fast and her legs enervated.
“It is a minor affair.”
She looked around at the crowd joining themon the dance floor at the instigation of a new melody. “This is nota simple gathering.”
“It is tradition to meet with the family fora meal before heading to the royal apartment.” His eyes gazed ather playfully. “Or did you want to skip dinner and race back to ourrooms?” Russal’s fingers slid along her waist, pulling her close.“We’re already barefoot.”
She ran her fingers along the shoulder of hisbrocade jerkin, hiding the trembling in her hands. Her toes curled.“Amily and Tomo are probably hungry.”
“And your parents, Stahn, Tia, Lord and LadyLaurent: they are our family. Related to us or not, each has playeda part.”
“When is this dinner?” She rested her hand atthe back of his neck, keeping her eyes focused on anything otherthan his face.
He slid a finger under her chin and pressedher to raise it until their
