Page 142 of Shadow Queen
Adrian came quickly to the commander’s call. “Yes, my lord,” he said when he reached them.
“Go get your doe, get ready.”
“What?” Adrian asked.
The commander snorted his frustration at all the questions. “You’re getting married.”
Adrian looked at Norah with the same shocked expression that she was sure she’d had only moments before. Then he looked back at Soren. “I don’t understand. What about her father? He denied me—”
“I’ve managed it,” the commander told him.
“How?” Adrian breathed.
“You needn’t worry about that. Go see to your preparations.”
Adrian grinned, almost in tears. He rushed forward and hugged Soren, catching the commander by surprise. Soren stood stiffly, his wince giving away his distaste for affection. Norah bit her lip to hold back her own emotion. Then Adrian hugged Norah and ran off to find Sevina.
She looked at Soren incredulously. “What did you say to her father to make him change his mind?”
Irritation rippled over his brow. “Am I not a persuasive man?”
Norah smiled.
The wedding was relatively small, but beautifully arranged, given that it was done in two days’ time. A surprising number of soldiers attended. Norah hadn’t realized all the friendships Adrian had formed, especially among the Kharavian army.
Serene and Vitalia had hung strings of flowers from a private hall in the castle, and Calla braided winter blossoms into Sevina’s hair. The girl was beautiful, and she beamed at Adrian as he ceremoniously looped the silk ribbon around her waist and tied it.
Norah remembered her own wedding as she watched. She slipped her hand into Mikael’s, squeezing it tightly. Was he feeling nostalgic too?
He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Do you remember when you pulled out your own ribbon at our wedding?” he whispered. “Of course I already knew I wanted to marry you, obviously, since I was in the middle of doing so. But that is when I doubly knew.”
She smiled.
After the ceremony, they hosted a dinner in the dining hall, and laughter rippled through the air. Norah’s heart was full. Everything was perfect.
She walked around the mingling guests, and found Aman Arvedi, Sevina’s father.
He bowed his head as she approached. “Salara,” he greeted.
“Lord Aman,” she greeted back. “This marriage has made Adrian extremely happy. He’s going to be a wonderful husband. He loves your daughter. Very much.”
Aman nodded, obligingly.
“May I ask, what made you change your mind? I know Adrian asked for her hand prior.”
“A Provision Promise by the lord commander is not one to be refused,” he said.
What?Norah’s mouth fell open. “The lord commander made the Provision Promise for Adrian?”
He nodded. “Not just the payment, but he endorsed the Northman under his own seal, in his own name. It’s an honorable marriage now.”
Norah gaped across the hall at Soren, who stood near the wall begrudgingly watching the evening’s festivities, with a chalice of wine in his hand and a slight scowl on his face.
“Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening,” Norah said as she gave Aman a parting nod.
He bowed. “Thank you, Salara.”
Norah made her way to the commander. He didn’t look at her as she stepped beside him.
