The gathering room looked gorgeous with cascades of red roses and wild indigo flowers adorning each tapestry and stone bench. On the podium stood Justum wearing a white robe, and Nurlan and Junayd in a copy of their soldiers' uniforms in crimson. Amid them in the center, Devrim, wearing a royal blue cape, white and gold tunic and blue and gold trousers, waited for his bride. As Aurora strode down the aisle, the Fates attending the ceremony stood.
Aurora held tightly to Zan's arm as she walked down the aisle. It all seemed surreal, and she hoped it was not just a fantastic dream. The scent of the bouquet in her arms, which matched those flowers on the wall, comforted her that this was real. When they reached the marriage altar, Devrim descended the platform to meet them. His face was one of pure wonder as he beheld his bride. Zan took the Empress's hand and gave it to the eager young man.
"Devrim," Zan said sternly to catch the boy's attention. His face was grim and forbidding. "Take care of her." He held on to the girl's hand. "And love her." There was a threat in his words: be good to her or else.
"I will," Devrim agreed without hesitation. Zan's face lightened and he kissed Aurora on the cheek before releasing her to her groom.
"I think you made a wise choice, Your Majesty," the guardian whispered. Aurora blushed. She knew he was right.
Zan joined Hanna and Gandr on a nearby bench. Gandr, affected by the humans he was still connected to, was shedding tears of joy. Meanwhile, the pair of lovers turned to view their maid and first man. Walking down the aisle, Brinn and Alvar matched beautifully, and the Empress could not help but wonder how all the outfits had been so carefully orchestrated. Alvar's face was beaming like the sun, and Brinn looked pleased as well. "It is not too late to get married too," Alvar whispered to his partner, stroking her arm.
Brinn looked at him sidelong and spoke through her smile. "No. Just enjoy the beautiful elf on your arm before I punch you."
They came to bride and groom and bowed. Brinn gave Devrim the bride's ring and Alvar gave Aurora a gold ring for the groom with a wink. The four linked hands and mounted the platform, after which the maid and first man stepped aside. The Empress gave Brinn her bouquet, which was the cue for Justum to begin.
The Fate read the marriage rites, sprinkling in his own additions as he went. "Devrim, do you promise not to keep score during a disagreement?" Justum asked toward the end of the vows.
"I promise," Devrim said, but gave the Fate a confused look.
"Good, because she will always win anyway." Justum answered. The Fates all looked startled, and the couple looked at him blankly. "It was a joke," Justum said helplessly. "Junayd said it was customary to add some levity."
Junayd took a step away from Nurlan as he tried to elbow the miscreant, the former nearly falling off the platform as he moved. The bride and groom exchanged rings happily unaware of the foolishness of the soldiers.
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Next they walked to the marriage table. Each fed the other a piece of oiled bread to symbolize their new life. Taking a lit candle from the three-armed candelabra, the bride and groom together lit the third wick in the center before blowing out their own lights: their lives were now one. Finally Brinn and Alvar took a cord from the table and tied Aurora's and Devrim's wrists together.
"What has been joined, let no one separate," Justum announced. "You may kiss the bride."
Devrim did not need the invitation. With his free arm, he embraced and kissed an overjoyed Aurora. Zan whooped loudly, and even the Fates, who had been little better than statues, clapped and wished them well. As the couple exited the gathering room to head to the honeymoon suite, they removed the cord that bound them. Reaching the room, Devrim swept up the Empress off her feet and carried her across the threshold.
"Now, beautiful wife, how does it feel to be married?" Devrim kissed the woman gently on her nose.
"My husband, it feels like we have been married for years," Aurora teased.
Devrim had a wolfish grin. Her playful banter only encouraged him. "Ah, but now it is legal, and you know that comes with certain perks."
"Getting to kiss me whenever you want?" The Empress feigned innocence.
Devrim laid her on the soft cushions. "Something like that…"
——————
Cafer met with the diminishing ranks of the Council in their meeting room late at night. He was angry. The councilman had already thrown a cup at one of the poor servants who had brought him the wrong drink. Now he was pacing up and down the length of the room.
"Why have Anna and Ezer not returned?" He asked for the hundredth time. "The entourage arrived hours ago. And where is Birger?"
"I believe he went out looking for them," Councilman Meder offered. The other seven men quickly agreed. In fact, none of them knew the red-headed man had gone out looking for them on a mission: to warn Anna and Ezer of danger.
Birger had gone to see Cafer in his office earlier that afternoon when the Empress's entourage had arrived without Anna and Ezer. He wanted to know what the Chief thought about their behavior. Birger had an inkling that the two wanted one more romantic afternoon together before returning to palace life, but maybe Cafer knew more.
As he waited for the Chief, Birger's eyes glanced across at the papers stacked on the desk. One pile included plans for the Empress's funeral. Being curious, the red-haired man slid quietly around the desk and rifled through the documents. Most of them were innocent enough: decorations for the hall, speeches, and names of the pall bearers for the casket. Casket? They had no body. But perhaps he was going to simply use the closed casket as a decoy. Birger scanned the page and suddenly his heart stopped.
Among all the mentions of Aurora, Cafer had written the wrong name on drawing of the casket. In neat letters the name ANNA was scrawled on the lid. Birger gasped. He recalled Cafer saying not to worry about a body for the funeral. Now he knew why. If Anna was an adequate substitute for the Empress on her world tour, she would also be easily passable lifeless in a coffin.
"He is going to murder Anna," Birger whispered. There was no doubt in his mind that this was true. Zan had been framed—he was sure of it—and now Anna and Ezer were in danger. Cafer needed to be stopped.
Moments later the Chief walked in staring at a paper in his hand. "A servant said you wanted to see me?" Cafer asked without looking up. When no response came, he looked and realized he was alone in his office. "Hm..." the Chief noticed his papers were out of place. He looked at the top sheet and his eyes narrowed. "This could be a problem."
After the future Emperor had gone to bed that evening, Cafer had called the Council together. He needed to know who was on his side. Pacing the floor and gauging the terrified reactions of the other councilmen, it seemed clear that none of them knew anything. "We need to find Anna, Ezer and Birger. Any of them could have run into trouble." He said in a more gentle tone.
"Will it change the plans for tomorrow if they aren't found?" Councilman Meder asked.
Cafer's anger rekindled. "Of course not! The announcement of Aurora's death has been delayed long enough. Young Alaron is prepared and we will go forward with the proclamation tomorrow afternoon."
"But if someone sees Anna in the streets and confuses her for the Empress, won't that be a problem? Maybe we should delay…"
"No!" the Chief shouted. "We will find that self-important girl tonight and drag her back by her hair if we have to." He called in a servant from outside. "Call out the Blue Guard. I will be there shortly." Looking back at the rest of the Council, his voice became menacing. "As usual, I will take care of this mess. Be ready for tomorrow. Do not disappoint the future Emperor...or me."