Chapter 2 the Wedding Took Place Three Days Later. In

Chapter 2 The wedding took place three days later. Inaccordance with Monaghan tradition it washeld by moonlight atop a nearby hill. Hierm,though stunned by Rinala's revelation, wasdetermined to do what he believed was theright thing. Horgris' enthusiasm at having amember of "The Six", as he called it, hadrubbed off on many of his clansmen. Hierm wasnow a popular member of the community,never without a companion or a mug of ale. Hewandered the camp daze by drink and surprisein equal measure.Shanis worried about what would happen toHierm. He was about to become a husband andan expectant father, married to a youngwoman from another country and culture.Honesty compelled her to admit that she ratherenjoyed the thought of Mistress Faun beingintroduced to her new daughter by marriage. The mental picture of Hierm bringing the youngclanswoman into the van Derin home made herlaugh. She was also grateful that the weddinghad somwhat distracted Horgris from hersituation. He had not entirely left her alone, buthe had for the most part left her to make hermind up. She assumed that once the weddingwas over she would have to make her decision.Larris sidled up to her as they joined thecrowd of Monaghan circled around the crest of the hill. He had surprised her by not pressingher further. She knw he wanted her to go backto Galdora. Over the past few days she hadgradually come to the disconcerting realization

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that if it was her Larris wanted, and not just theSilver Serpent, she would go with him. In anyevent she was much too proud to say anythingto him."Does the moon look brighter to you?" heasked, staring up at the round, silver orb. "Atfirst I thought it was my imagination, but I'venoticed it for several days now. It's brighterand seems closer. Or perhaps the air is clearer.I don't know, what do you think?" He scratchedhis head and continued to gaze at the sky in amanner unbecoming of a royal in Shanis'estimation."I don't know," Shanis said. "Truthfully, Ihaven't thought of much besides myself andthat ice forsaken sword. When that isn't on mymind I've been busy trying to talk Hierm out of this wedding." She felt Larris lay his hand onher shoulder, and tried to force a smile. "Isuppose it does seem brighter, now that youmention it," she said, glancing up. And he wasright. The moon did look different. Larger,brighter, more real. Strange."Does it bother you so much?" Larris asked."Hierm's marriage?" He turned to stare at herin that way he had of seeming to delve into herthoughts. She was finding it less annoying thanshe once had. Her verbal jousts with Larriswere a fresh return to normalcy, an opportunityto forget about the sudden, drastic change inher life. "Or is it the entire concept of marriageto which you are opposed? The mighty warriorgirl needs no man, and such.""Oaf!" she snapped, elbowing him in thestomach. " What bothers me is that my friend

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Keeper of the Mistsis about to marry a girl he's known for threedays.""Plus one evening," Larris added, grinningwickedly. He took a step back as if to avoidanother elbow. "Just joking. I can understandyour concern, but I admire that he is willing tostand behind his convictions. There's preciouslittle honor among the nobility, I fear. All thecourt intrigue, the manipulation, the gamesthat are played in the name of power. I find abit of old-fashioned morality refreshing, if youwant to know the truth.""Give me sword any day," she said. "There'sno deceit in that. Just two people and twoblades." It was perhaps the most absurdsounding thing she had ever said. It soundedlike something Master Yurg would say, orperhaps a storyteller. She hoped Larris wouldlet it pass."No deceit in swords?" Larris rubbed his chinand frowned in an exaggerated look of thoughtfulness. "Though you are probablycorrect in the main, I think I still might beinclined to disagree.""So would Hierm," she said, thinking of Pedric Karst and the tournament they had notfinished. She wondered what had become of Karst. The last time she had seen him, he waswith Lerryn's party, and she had beenconvinced they were after her. But there hadbeen no repeat encounter, thank the gods.Most likely Karst was now studying at thePrince's Academy, preparing to be an officer inthe Galdoran army. A shame. She would haveloved to cross swords with him. Such an