“Have you gone over the ceremony with Gewey?”Kaylia asked Linis.
“I will tomorrow,” he replied. “I donot think the others are comfortable with the idea, so I thought itbest to wait a day or two.”
“You don't have to worry about that,” saidGewey with a mischievous grin. He told them about the remark he hadmade at Theopolou's house in front of his guards.
“You should not provoke them,” Linis warned.“Bellisia is one of Theopolou's main opponents, and they serveher.”
“It’s not like it's a secret that Kaylia andI are bonded,” Gewey argued. “Besides, they deserved it.I mean really. Akakios isn’t in favor of human-elf relations,but he still manages to act decently towards me. They have refused toeven address me properly.”
Linis couldn't help but smile. “It would have beenamusing to see them squirm. But still, they could be dangerous, andnow you are unarmed.”
“I may be unarmed,” said Gewey, “But,I am far from defenseless.”
“A fact we don't want them to know,” addedKaylia. “Some of them probably suspect you of being a half-man,and that's bad enough. But at least it explains your ability tochannel the powers of the earth. If you unleashed those powers uponthem, and were forced to defend yourself, we would be faced with awhole new set of problems.” She reached over and touchedGewey's arm, causing him to blush. “After we complete thebonding, there will nothing they can say or do.”
“Which brings a question,” said Linis. “Whoshall preside over the ceremony?”
“Theopolou would do it, if I asked,” repliedKaylia. “but I fear it would jeopardize his position among theothers. I was hoping you might do us the honor. As a seeker, it iswithin your right.”
Linis bowed his head. “I would be honored to doso. But, I still think you should speak to your uncle about this. Hehas done nothing to oppose your union with Gewey, though I am certainhe is not happy about it. In fact, he has pressed you to followthrough with it, if I am not mistaken.”
“You are right, of course,” said Kaylia. “Iwill speak to him tomorrow.”
“Do you think Theopolou is really in danger?”asked Gewey.
“I do,” answered Linis. “But from who,I cannot say.”
“Bellisia seems the most likely candidate,”said Gewey. “She all but threatened to have me killed.”
Linis furled his brow and shook his head. “I wouldnot be so quick to pass judgment on Lady Bellisia. Her hatred islimited to humans and well… the Gods. She opposes Theopolou, but itis hard for me to imagine her conspiring with humans for any reason.Even if it meant regaining our kingdoms and lands.”
“Who then?” asked Kaylia. “Certainlynot Lord Chiron. He has been as a brother to Theopolou since theywere children. Lord Aneili is the only other elder that wantedTheopolou called to judgment, but it's hard to imagine him doinganything so dishonest. The rest are Theopolou's allies.”
“Are they?” asked Linis, “I'm not sosure. You cannot be betrayed by your enemies, only your friends.”
“Are you sure there is a plot?” asked Gewey.
Linis shook his head. “You hit upon it, my friend.I suspect there is. I feel there is. But I do not know it. EverythingI have predicted would happen, and needed to happen, has happened.Theopolou is exposed, and you are unprotected… at least they thinkyou are.” Linis leaned in and whispered. “My seekers arenear, should we be attacked or should someone attempt to follow us.”
This comforted Gewey, and he could feel Kaylia's moodlift as well. “How long until we arrive?” he asked.
“Normally, it would take more than a week,”Linis replied with amusement. “But they seek to exhaust you bymaintaining a pace no human could endure for very long. At this ratewe will be there in five days, maybe less.”
Gewey smiled. “I'll try and look tired.”
“I will rejoin Theopolou,” said Kaylia. “Isuggest you use this time to prepare for our ceremony.” Sherose to her feet and walked off in the direction of the others.
“She's right,” said Linis. “You wouldnot wish to anger your unoremon your first day of bonding.”
“Unorem?” askedGewey.
Linis laughed. “Wife is how you would say it. Butpartner might be more accurate.”
Gewey blushed and whispered. “Unorem…”He looked up at Linis. “I hope I'm ready for this.”
“You're ready,” assured Linis. “And ifyou are not, then you soon will be. In fact, I envy you. It takescourage to enter into the bonding.To share that much of oneself is not a matter to be taken lightly,yet I cannot help but wonder what it would be like.”
“Do you have an… unorem?”asked Gewey.
“No,” Linis replied. “I loved once.But my life as a seeker kept me ever from her. In time she choseanother.”
“And now,” he asked. “Is thereanyone?”
Linis paused for a long moment. “There is someoneI desire. And I believe she desires me. But, I fear I will never havethe chance to find out.”
“Who is it?” Gewey pressed. “Tell me.”
Linis smiled dolefully. “It is not in our customto ask such questions.”
“I'm sorry,” said Gewey. “But it's notlike I would know her. The only elves I know are mostly here withus.”
“And what makes you think she is an elf?”asked Linis.
“You mean she's human?” exclaimed Gewey.Akakios and the other guards looked up for a second, then returned totheir meal.
“You must learn discretion,” Linis scolded.“I did not say she was human. I did not say anything.” Hesighed. “I will tell you. But you must keep this knowledge toyourself.”
“I swear.” Gewey leaned forward.
“Celandine,” said Linis.
“Dina?” Gewey laughed as quietly as he couldmanage.
“Is it in your custom to make sport of a friend’semotions?” he said.
Gewey calmed himself. “I'm sorry. Really. It'sjust unexpected. When did this happen?”
“I knew I felt something for her the moment wemet,” said Linis. “Though at the time I thought she wasfully human. Then, it was easy enough to dismiss. I would livehundreds of years, and she would grow old and die. I would not courther only to watch her slip away. But when I touched her hand for thefirst time and felt the elf blood coursing through her veins, itbecame clear to me that I could not simply ignore what I felt.”
“And you say she feels the same way?” askedGewey.
Linis shrugged. “I can tell she feels something.But what, I don't know. If we both live through this adventure, Iintend to find out.”
Gewey slapped him on the shoulder. “We'll livethrough this. And when we do, I just know it will work out for you.”
“Perhaps,” he said. “But that is aquestion only the future can answer. For now, we must concernourselves with more immediate issues.”
Linis spent the next few hours going over the ceremonywith Gewey, having him repeat it back to him over and over. OnceLinis was satisfied they had covered as much as they could, the twoof them lay down to sleep for what little time remained. Gewey couldfeel Kaylia through their bond and was tempted to reach out, butdecided not to risk trouble with the elders. He still wasn't sure ofthe extent of their abilities and didn't want to stir things up untilhe had to.
Chapter Twenty-Three
An hour before sunrise they were underway again. Linisspent the first few hours picking up where they had left off thenight before. The bonding ceremony wasn't very complex, but Linis hadmade it clear to Gewey that each part held great significance, and itwas very important to get it right.
“I have never seen the bonding performed,”he said. “And I don't really understand the bonding in the sameway that Theopolou would. But, as you are connected with Kaylia'sspirit already, I don't think it will be difficult for you.”