Erisial abruptly sat on the sofa across from him and said, “What are you talking about? He is only a journeyman, a failed life mage.”
Rezkin shook his head. “Do you really think I would come with so little strength behind me? It is true that Journeyman Wesson failed as a life mage. That is because he is a battle mage—one with a natural affinity for destructive magic, and he is three times more powerful than Serunius, perhaps more.”
“You lie,” Serunius said as he strode across the room to hover behind Erisial.
Rezkin looked to the queen and said, “Do I?”
She did not answer but reached up to clutch her consort’s hand as she stared at him in disbelief.
He said, “It was Wesson who stood before King Privoth with me and fended off a dozen purifiers without so much as casting a spell. If you anger him, he could probably level this whole palace.”
Rezkin did not actually know how much damage Wesson could do, so he was not lying. It could very well be that the journeyman was capable of such a thing, although it was unlikely.
Erisial suddenly laughed, and then she laughed some more. “I called him a puny puppy.”
Rezkin donned a sober expression and nodded knowingly. “Yes, you are lucky he has an unflappable resolve. Someone less equable might have set your head on fire.”
“How did you come across such a powerful mage,” Serunius said with skepticism, “and how did you convince him to serve you?”
“I offered to kill his donkey,” Rezkin said. At their blank expressions, he said, “That is another story. Let us be done with this. I do not wish to spend any more time in Lon Lerésh than is necessary.”
Erisial smoothed the ribbon-like strips of her dress and said, “As much as I would like to make this quick, our laws do not make claiming a husband easy. We must remain intimate the entire night. You are not permitted to leave these quarters until dawn. The evening meal will be served here. It is against my wishes, but Serunius has insisted on serving as witness. Vielda will be the second. I do not care for her much, but she is a councilor and a truthseeker, so she can certify that we have met the requirements.”
“Requirements?” Rezkin said. He had never heard that there were any requirements beyond consummation.
“Yes, it is not necessary when claiming a consort; but, for a marriage, both participants must achieve maximum pleasure. Without it, the bond cannot form, and the marriage will not be recognized.”
“Bond? You said nothing of a bond.”
She waved her hand in the air as if it was nothing and said, “I have always thought it a metaphorical bond. I have not met many who took a husband. Serunius is concerned that a bond forms, in truth, between mages who are married. He thinks the ceremony in which we participated was a kind of spell and that the consummation and subsequent climax activates it. You are not a mage, though, so perhaps it is not important.”
“Yes, perhaps,” he drawled. Enduring a marriage that would not be recognized outside of Lon Lerésh was one thing, but he was not prepared to be magically bonded to the woman in any way.
Erisial said, “Do you wish to have witnesses present?”
Rezkin had no desire to be present, much less have witnesses, but this was one situation in which he was sure to need backup. This kind of scenario had been a terrible lesson during his training, and now he was expected to revisit that lesson with possible hostiles in the room. He suddenly wished Kai were there—or any of the strikers. He might even accept Farson, only because he knew Farson had no love for the Leréshi. As a royal guard, Yserria would be his next choice, but he did not think she would appreciate being present for this. Besides that, the other occupants of the room were mages, Serunius a battle mage. Either through some nefarious plot or simply out of jealousy, he might attack while Rezkin was distracted by his duties. He needed Wesson. The journeyman was not going to like this assignment, but at least if a magical bond did form, Wesson could witness the event and perhaps design a spell to counteract it.
“Journeyman Wesson will stand as witness.”
Chapter 12
Wesson opened the door to the suite, and Rezkin followed him into the sitting room, heading straight for the bathing chamber.
After wandering over to the sofa to lay down for a few minutes, Wesson noticed that it was already occupied. Celise’s head popped up as he peered down at her.
“Oh, you are here!” she said. “This is so great honor. My consort taken to be witness of queen’s marry night. I am sad you are not here, but is good for house.”
Wesson squinted as he tried to figure out her words. He was too tired to interpret poorly spoken Ashaiian at that moment.
He rubbed his tired eyes and said, “Why are you here, Celise?”
She smiled. “You are my consort.”
He sighed heavily. “I understand that you claimed me, but why are you here? Why did you not go back to wherever you live and sleep in your own bed?”
Her smile slipped as she worked through his words.
Finally, she said, “You are not in my bed. I come here for you, but you are in queen’s bed.”
“No!” he blurted and then lowered his voice. “No, I mean. I was not in the queen’s bed.”
She thought about her words again and said, “You are in queen’s bedchamber?”
He ran a hand over his tired face and said, “Yes, that is true.”
He sunk into a high-backed chair and was just dozing off when one of the other doors swung open to emit Reaylin.
“You’re back! How was it? What happened?” she said as she rushed over and knelt beside his chair.
Wesson groaned. “I do not want to talk about it.
Ever. I want to leave Lon Lerésh and pretend none of this ever happened.”
“No, Wess! You have to tell me something,” she said as she tugged at his arm.
Just then, Rezkin strode out of the bathing chamber wearing nothing but a drying cloth wrapped about his waist. His chest and back bore scratch and bite marks that reminded Wesson of the horrors he had witnessed all, night, long.
Rezkin closed his door behind him, and Reaylin turned back to Wesson with a questioning gaze.
He waved a hand toward Rezkin’s door in frustration and said, “Was that not enough? Please, Reaylin. I am tired. We are leaving in an hour. Let me rest.”
Celise popped up from the couch and said, “I go put things in bags and trunk.”
Wesson was suddenly more alert than he had been for the past six hours. “What? Why?”
Celise looked back at him as she opened the door.
“We leave. I take the clothes.”
“What, no! You are staying here. Leréshi claims are not recognized outside of Lon Lerésh. You can stay here and claim a dozen men, and I am leaving.”
She shook her head and smiled. “My Wesson.” She came over to kneel at his other side and said, “I have finish all training for lessons in love making. I am very good. You will like. I will teach you. You are my consort. I leave with you.”
Then, she got up and left without a backward glance.
Once she was gone, Reaylin punched Wesson in the arm. “Hey, Wess, you got yourself a girlfriend.”
“Do you think I can convince Rezkin to leave a bit early? Maybe before she comes back?”
Reaylin said, “Come on. She’s cute, and it sounds like she really wants to make you happy.” This last she said with a wink.
“I know. I am sure she is great, but I want someone else.”
Reaylin nodded. “I heard, but you also said she is probably already married. Might as well move on.”