Page 186 of North Queen
“Yes,” he said, giving a small smile. “As are you.Salara.”
She drew her hand back to the design across the top of his chest.
“It’s called a khlavik,” he said. “The mark of salar.”
She traced the patterned bands circling down his arm, admiring the intricate detail. “What do these mean?”
“Histories of our people, duties, my purpose,” he said.
She brushed a bare space on his left chest. “There’s nothing here.”
“It’s not finished.” He was quiet for a moment. “I’d saved it for Mercia’s defeat, but instead it will be the story of you becoming my salara. I haven’t gotten it yet because I was waiting for the right time. I wanted you to be there.”
“To get the marking?”
He nodded.
This was important to him, she knew. And what was important to her was that he was letting her in. It was more than just his words now, more than just his touch. He was building her into his story, giving her a piece of him.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” she asked. “I mean, maybe you should think about it more.” She tilted her head slightly as the corner of her mouth turned up. “It doesn’t come off.”
He chuckled as he rolled to his side. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since you agreed to wed me in Aviron.” His eyes shone brightly in the light of the morning. “Will you come with me, Salara?”
“I’ll come,” she said softly.
He smiled.
“What will it look like?” Norah asked as they walked past the gardens and toward a large temple. It had been two days since he’d told her he wanted to write their story in ink, and that was where they were headed now.
“I don’t know. We go to Salta Tau, and the Gift will show her the story and give her the image for my body.”
“Salta Tau?”
“Mastera of the ink.” He stopped and took her hand. “This is very special. It’s a ceremony, a long one. Soren will be there, and my mother.”
She nodded. She could tolerate the lord commander for a time, so long as she didn’t have to speak to him. Or look at him. Or acknowledge his presence.
They reached the temple, and he led her through a series of halls back to a large open chamber. As he’d said, Salara-Mae was there, as was the lord commander. They stood on opposite sides of the chamber from each other. In the center of the room stood an old woman. She wore a simple, light linen gown, with her long white hair pulled back into a thick braid behind her.
The woman bowed. “Salar. Salara.”
“Salta Tau,” Mikael greeted back, bowing his head.
Watching him, Norah did the same.
The old woman spoke in the Kharavian tongue, but Mikael answered so that Norah could understand. “I come for the story of my salara,” he said.
Salta Tau rolled her lips together with a bob of her head and held out her hands. Mikael took one and then took Norah’s. Then he nodded for Norah to take the other.
Norah reached out, taking Salta Tau’s hand and completing the circle.
Salta Tau closed her eyes and spoke what sounded like a spell into the air. She rocked slightly, forward and back, forward and back, with her eyes closed as she silently mouthed the words over and over.
Norah glanced at Mikael, but he only watched the old woman intently.
Salta Tau stopped. “I see,” she said, her eyes still closed. She dropped their hands, but Mikael still held on to Norah’s.
“Battle. Blade. Blood. Crown.” The old woman spoke in the Northern tongue now, her accent thick and choppy.
