Alistern snorted, “The carriage is waiting. Let us get to the temple.”
Filing out, they climbed into a formal carriage bedecked in red and black, which prompted Alburet to ask a question. “What’s with the color scheme?”
“Red and black are the colors of the Dark Lord,” Stewart replied. “It is proper that we pay homage to the Dark Lord by using his colors for the wedding. The ceremony is taking place in the temple, so the priest offered us the use of the carriages for the night.”
Alburet pondered how religious most of them seemed to be, as he himself had never been a real god fearing man. Then again, here the gods were real, having walked amongst the populace. It was possible they showed themselves from time to time even now. Brushing off the thoughts, he wondered instead how the day would unfold. “So, what’s the plan for the wedding?”
Alistern answered him, “It’ll be a good couple of hours before the women show. Once they do, ya will be taken to the altar to await Stacia. She be walked to the altar by a paladin of the Dark Lord. Ya will need to select your bride out of the group the Paladin leads. The priest will ask the ritual questions and provided nay one objects, ya will be married. Once the ceremony is done ya will walk her down the aisle, out the door and to the carriage which will take ya back to the inn. A bit after tha’ the reception at the inn will begin.”
Kind of like a normal wedding, Alburet thought as he nodded, “Thank you.”
“While ye be waitin’ ye be greetin’ any who wish to give ye well wishes,” Grimgar added. “There be a spot set up already.”
“Not sure who’ll want to speak to me, but okay,” Alburet replied as the carriage came to a stop.
Alburet got out of the carriage, and took a minute to look over the temple. It was constructed of black stone shot through with red streaks. A small overhang above the front door was supported by two pillars which were carved to resemble destroyers. Above the overhang sat a handful of statues of imps, leaning over the edge as if watching the entrance. As they approached the door, Alburet made out the bas-relief carvings of succubi to either side of the door. The door itself was of black wood banded with blackened steel. “This place has a very dark look, doesn’t it?”
“Aye, it be his way,” Grimgar replied as the carriage pulled away from the front of the temple. Pushing the door open, Grimgar greeted the old man standing just inside, “He be here, Tevon. Alburet, this is Tevon Darksoul, the high priest of the Dark Lord in Stormguard.”
Alburet took in the vestments that were done in the same colors as the rest of the building. He gave Tevon a formal bow, “It is an honor, sir, to be married in this temple.”
“Polite, aren’t you?” Tevon replied a light bass voice, sound odd coming out of the slightly bent, highly wrinkled body of the priest. “We have the place of greeting ready for you, Alburet Two-souled. Are you ready to begin?”
“As ready as I am likely to be, sir,” Alburet replied. At Tevon’s signal, the doors were pushed wide open and secured with black chains.
“Just right over here,” Tevon led Alburet to where a small table had been set up just inside the doors. A book lay open, for people to sign as they arrived. “One of the acolytes will bring a drink along in a moment. If you need more, use this bell. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a few more things to see to before the ceremony.” Tevon excused himself with a half bow.
Alburet asked the others, “What are you three going to be doing?”
“Ushering,” Stewart replied as a carriage could be heard pulling up outside, “And so it begins.”
Alburet stood next to the small table, waiting as an elderly woman came through the door. Her white hair offset the black dress and red shawl she wore. Her wrinkled face was dominated a hatchet like nose. She gave him a friendly smile as she approached the table. “Ya must be the groom. I be Stella Rivenblood, Alistern’s grandmama. It be good to meet the man who be marryin’ me first great grandchild.”
Taking her hand gently, Alburet covered it with his other hand as he bent as if to kiss it. “I am honored to meet her eldest family. Without you, I would never have been able to able to reach the happiness I find today.”
A kindly cackle came from her thin frame, “Well-spoken lad, ya are. I wish ya the best of luck, all the women of our line be a mite headstrong.” She gave him a smile as she signed the guest book, then Alistern guided her into the temple towards one of the pews.
Alburet watched them go, then turned his attention to the interior of the temple. The same dark stone made up the floor and interior walls. The rows of pews were made of the same dark wood as the door, while black steel chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, aglow with candles enough to illuminate the interior. The altar at the front of the room was just a slab of the same stone, but with more red running through it. Behind the altar where a religious icon would normally be hung there was instead a large tapestry.
The tapestry displayed a large room made of the same stone as the temple. Pillars sculpted like succubi held up a vaulted ceiling. Each of the carved stone succubi had her hands raised, grasping dark chains that dangled to their uncovered chests. At the closest pillar an elf was shackled, her face turned in profile as she looked back over her naked shoulder at a succubus who was holding a bloody cat of nine tails. The look of despair was easy to see on the elf’s face, as was the look of rapture on the face of the succubus who was flogging her. In the back of the room a throne sat shrouded in darkness. The figure of a man seated on the throne was just discernable, as if he were watching the spectacle before him.
Brow raised as he took in the scene, Alburet wondered that it would hold so much importance in a temple. “It grabs you and makes you wonder, doesn’t it?” a calm voice asked, pulling Alburet’s attention away from the tapestry. A non-descript man stood there in black robes, looking at Alburet with mild curiosity. “I should introduce myself, I’m called Victor Veins. I’ve seen you numerous times in the room under the inn. I’m the trainer for those who follow the path of reanimating the dead.”
“Ah, the head Necromancer of the city,” Alburet replied, shaking the man’s hand with a firm grasp. “I am sorry that I don’t recall having seen you.”
“It’s something I’m used to,” Victor replied with an enigmatic smile as he signed the guest book.
“Useful if you need to slip away, I’m sure,” Alburet chuckled.
“Exactly. Well, happy day to you and to the misses when she shows for the ceremony,” Victor excused himself as Grimgar stepped over to lead him to a seat.
For the next hour Alburet greeted various people who knew the Crowley family, welcoming them to the temple. As the first hour came to a close, the first surprise guest showed up as Captain Roberto walked in. In his dress uniform, Roberto greeted Alburet with a smile. “I heard this morning from one of my men that there was going to be a wedding today. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by to see it.”
Smiling broadly, Alburet shook Roberto’s hand, “Captain, it is a pleasure to have you here. You should stop by the reception later tonight, I’ve been told that all are welcome.”
“Yes, Wilbur mentioned that as well. I think a number of men might be swinging by since food and drink were mentioned,” Roberto gave a small laugh. “I did spot another person I was surprised to see just outside. I’m sure he’ll be in soon. Have a good day, Alburet. I look forward to talking to you later.” Roberto signed the book, nodding to Alistern, who with a quick glance at Alburet, led the Captain to a spot in the pews.
“It appears to be my turn,” Ioaniss said, pulling Alburet’s attention to him. “I didn’t want to miss this day, either. A two-souled marrying a non-two-souled, who knows what might come of this. I am also looking forward to the money dance at the reception,” Ioaniss winked as he signed the book before being led off by Grimgar to a seat.