"Everyone get back!" Ella screamed. The smell of fire was unmistakeable. She could hardly be heard above the din.
Everyone's eyes were on the couple, but Ella saw High Lord Rorelan stand up from his chair, an expression of alarm on his face.
The smell of burning grew stronger.
Ella thought furiously, wondering how she could force everyone away from the shrine. Her eyes rested on Miro's zenblade. She knew the activation sequences for Miro's sword. She'd made it herself.
Something terrible was going to happen.
Ella called the words that would call the zenblade to life, chanting, her voice rising in strength. Under the scabbard the activation rune would be lighting up, red lines travelling from one symbol to the next, colours changing, moving through the spectrum.
Amber had only moments ago exchanged Miro's flower with the sword. Ella was directly behind Amber, and the zenblade heard Ella's call. She didn't want to burn Miro's hands off, but she wanted to clear the area. Fast.
Miro cried out and dropped the zenblade as the scabbard melted away. An impossibly bright searing light shone from the sword. Then came the sound: Ella had chosen it to be the most disruptive sound the sword could produce. The deafening noise was terrible to hear.
Those in the distant crowd who thought it part of the show clapped their hands with delight, but many shook their heads and clapped their hands to their ears.
On the riverbank where the wedding was taking place, it was pandemonium.
The guests fled the area, chairs upturned and hands held to heads. Looking at the shrine, Ella saw smoke pouring out in a widening plume. Igniting flames made the danger unmistakeable.
Time slowed.
Bartolo grabbed Miro and pulled him away, activating his armoursilk and enfolding his friend in his arms as he did.
Rorelan lunged for Tomas and lifted the child in his arms.
Ella took Amber's arm and ran, tumbling them both into the walled pool of a fountain.
Behind them, the shrine exploded.
It was unlike anything Ella had ever experienced; the explosion was concussive and forceful, almost primal, like a volcano erupting.
Above it all, Amber's scream stayed with her.
"Tomas!"
4
FATHER Morten died instantly in the strange blast. His body was burnt beyond recognition, flesh charred and eyes ruined. The fleeing guests were saved, with a wide black circle scorched into the earth where the closest had once been seated.
Bartolo and Ella's swift actions led to both Miro and Amber escaping unharmed.
High Lord Rorelan, after taking Tomas in his arms, caught only the edge of the blast as he fled. His back was red and raw. Nestled as he was in Rorelan's embrace, Tomas was blessedly unscathed, although the backs of the child's little legs were mottled with crimson and purple.
Yet that was the end of the good news. Rorelan and Tomas were both vomiting blood, and white spots appeared on their fingernails. Investigators discovered a yellow residue on the scorched earth, and the same sickly colour surfaced on the wounds of both man and child.
Miro ordered the city of Sarostar locked down, with soldiers blocking the exits and patrolling the streets. But the messenger who had claimed to be from Evrin Evenstar was long gone, and with no rationale behind who stood to gain from such a deadly attack against the Empire, a plan of inquiry had yet to be formulated.
As the days passed, Miro considered refusing the guests permission to leave, but Rogan talked him out of it. The guests were a target as much as anyone else and suspicions were already growing between them. Some of the dignitaries pointed to the fact that the Veznans hadn't come to the wedding, while others whispered about the seating plan, marking out those who were conveniently placed far from the blast. Better that they go; Rogan's difficult task of keeping the Empire together was now made even more so.
After offering Miro and Amber their sympathies, the dignitaries left Sarostar in small groups and large contingents. Miro was forced to be polite and respectful, thanking them for their support and for travelling what for some had been a very long distance. Miro was surprised by the sincerity of Dain Barden Mensk of the Akari, while High Lord Tiesto of Halaran was one of the last to leave, but eventually even he was called back to his homeland by his responsibilities. Rogan Jarvish had so far stayed, and was a rock Miro could lean on, while Amelia's support of Amber was invaluable.
Initially relieved beyond imagining when Tomas escaped relatively unharmed, Amber was now distraught as her son's condition worsened. Her new husband consoled her, and neither cared that they were now officially married.