Calis had the good grace to smile. “Speaking of whom, when is Arutha due?”
“Any time now,” answered James. “I think I may send him down to Stardock to run things a while.” His smile turned rueful. “And my grandsons are coming with him.”
Calis nodded. “Jimmy and Dash must be men now.”
“So they think,” said James. Turning to Nicholas, he said, “You have no idea what you’ve missed by never getting married.”
Nicholas said, “I’m not too old now. Amos married my grandmother when he was nearly seventy.”
“Well, you’ll miss the joy of children if you wait that long,” answered James as he moved toward the door. Then he made a sour face. “As I think of Jimmy and Dash, you might not.”
As they left the conference hall, James turned to Calis and said, “Like others before me, I’m not all that pleased that this magical lady friend of yours has so many secrets, but as she’s proven a worthy ally over the years, I’ll say nothing more than ‘Be careful.’”
Calis nodded, lost in his own thoughts as James and Nicholas returned to speaking of families and children.
Roo looked around and Erik laughed. “You look as if you’re ready to run.”
In low tones, Roo said, “Truth to tell, I’ve felt that way since the minute I proposed.”
Erik tried to look understanding, but he couldn’t hide his amusement Roo said, “You wait. One of these days you’ll propose to that whore—”
“Wait a minute,” began Erik, his good humor vanishing.
“Wait, wait,” said Roo. “I’m sorry. I’m just not sure this is such a good idea.”
Looking around the temple, where Karli and Roo were about to be married, Erik whispered, “It’s a little late for that.”
Karli was entering the temple from a side door, as brides were required to do by the followers of Sung the White. At her side was Katherine, the girl de Loungville had captured and turned to the Prince’s service. Karli had no friends to speak of, and it wouldn’t have been proper for Mary, the maid, to serve as her companion. So Erik, as Roo’s companion, had asked the serving girl to substitute. To his surprise, the girl had said she would.
“Well, here we go,” said Roo, and he turned to march down the center aisle, Erik at his side.
The only witnesses were Luis and some of the other workers from the office, and Jadow and those soldiers who had served with Roo in Calis’s company. They watched as the priest, obviously bored by the fifth or sixth such ceremony of the day, hurried through the rites.
Roo vowed to care for Karli and be true to her, and she the same, and suddenly the priest was saying that the White Goddess was pleased and they could now leave. Erik gave the priest the votive offering required for such a ceremony, and the wedding party was ushered outside by harried-looking acolytes.
Roo and Karli were escorted to a carnage hired for the occasion, while the others made their way on foot or horseback to the Grindle house. As the carriage made its way through the streets, Roo turned to see Karli with eyes downcast, staring at her hands.
“What’s wrong?” asked Roo. “Aren’t you happy?”
Karl looked at him and her gaze struck him like a blow. Suddenly he knew there was anger and resentment behind the girl’s bland fa?ade. But her voice was calm and her tone almost apologetic as she asked, “Are you?”
Roo forced a smile. “Of course, my love. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Karli looked out the window. “You looked positively terrified walking down the aisle.”
Roo tried to make light of it. “It’s the normal reaction.” When she turned to look at him, he quickly added, “So I’ve been told. It’s the ceremony and the . . . rest.”
They traveled in silence as they made their way slowly through the city. Roo studied the passing cityscape, watching the changing buildings, the throng of citizens, traders, and travelers, as they moved through Krondor at a stately pace until they reached the Grindle house. Erik and the others were waiting as the carriage pulled up.
As Roo’s companion, Erik opened the door, and Katherine moved to help Karli from the carriage. The girl might be a stranger, but she took her part of bride’s companion seriously.
Inside, the cook had prepared a tremendous repast, and the best wine from the cellar had been uncorked. Roo awkwardly let Karli move through the entrance before him, despite the tradition that said a husband should lead his wife through the door. It was, after all, her home. When she was inside, she said, “I’ll see to the kitchen.”
Roo put a restraining hand upon her. “Let Mary. You will never serve again in this house.”
Karl studied his face a moment, then a faint smile appeared on her lips. Roo turned and said, “Mary!”