Erec had the entire household leave the city before the combat trial. In case of anything going wrong he did not want all of Agace’s new hangers-on implicated. Erec also had to admit that with some more training they could all become competent. Being surrounded by people who were at least trying to better themselves was less annoying than the usual casual incompetence most people exhibited.

He had been riding with Agace for almost an hour now. The woman kept fiddling with Erec’s stirrups and armour. The armour of course only appeared to be a rusty mess. Erec thought he probably could have still beaten the fool Antoine in nothing but a loincloth, but better to be prepared for the worst eventuality. He had made this set of Plate as an example to show Tristand, the one-eyed armour smith, a few more advanced techniques. Including how to use mana to reenforce steel and at the same time make it appear old. It was no great challenge for The Imperial, newly crowned king of Stormbreaker’s criminal network, to acquire some mana to use. It had been amusing to watch Antoine try futilely to smash the helmet.

Erec had forgotten to obtain permission from the King to keep this horse. Seeing as the King had just received a fortune however Erec doubted, he would mind the loss of one old mare. She was a fine animal if a little past her prime. Erec doubted she would make it all the way north, however.

Agace could not hold her curiosity any longer, “where are we going?” she asked. Her eyes were glowing with curiosity.

“To our wedding,” Erec grunted in reply.

Agace pouted, “can’t you say that with a bit more excitement? You get to marry this beautiful goddess and you are not even happy about it.”She pointed at her own face as she said this.

Erec huffed, “marry unwilling you mean. If you had let me, find another man for you maybe that chap would be ecstatic. Besides don’t you think goddess is overstating your beauty just a bit.”

Agace waved her. Hand dismissively, “they all only wanted my father’s money. Besides clearly you are the best man around so why would I settle for anyone else.”

Erec rolled his eyes. She was probably right in her estimation of him as far as competence went. He knew how to be the best husband there could be. Knowing and desiring to execute were two different things.

Before they could continue their banter, they crested a low hill and came to the village Erec had been aiming for. They had been riding along the river for some time and the river traffic had been quite so far. It was afternoon now and the sun was setting to the west. Perched on top of another low hill on the west bank of the river was a small town. The town was unusually full of people and Erec could make out the pickets of Grioux’s lancers neatly arrayed on the west edge of the village green.

Erec spurred his horse into a gallop to cover the last mile to the town. Agace squealed in delight when she saw that the village was being decorated with white followers and lanterns for a wedding.

She turned in the saddle and swatted at Erec’s armoured chest, “you had me thinking that our wedding would be in some rude mud hut with only Jacques as a witness.”

As she turned back Erec caught himself in a small smile. He shook his head; it was not that he wanted to please Agace. Weddings should just be done properly.

He pulled the mare to the side of the only inn in the village and Jacques Giroux saluted before offering Agace a hand down. Agace was then bustled by her handmaiden into the inn to put on her wedding dress.

Jacques tied Erec’s mare to the horse post out front before made a report, “the village is secure my lord.”

Erec gave the man a stern look, “I am not your lord Giroux. I am merely your employer.”

Giroux saluted again fist to heart and said, “as you say my lord.”

Giving up Erec strode into the inn. Jacques followed behind him remaining a step behind Erec’s right shoulder, as subordinates did in the military of the Empire. Erec first checked the kitchens to see if the wedding feast was being prepared to his specifications.

He spoke to Jacques over his shoulder as he made minor adjustments of the seasoning of various sauces, “and are the scouts posted?”

“Yes, my lord, we have two men watching the road from the south and the road from the west,” said Giroux.

“Very good,” said Eerc with a nod, “I doubt they will be on us before tomorrow morning. Roche is angry but he would not risk sending men after us until tomorrow. He cannot risk the King figuring out that all of those mercenaries are on his payroll.”

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Erec turned to Giroux and gave a salute of his own, “very well captain I will see you at the ceremony.”

Erec left to find his own rooms. Inside he found Hope’s Edge propped against the bed. There was also a drawn bath and formal wedding garb. Erec stripped off the armour and then started to wash with in the bath. He scooped a double handful of hot water over his head and sighed. He was really getting married. Erec stroked the scars that were on his chest and lamented that he had only been in this world for two months. He still was no sure who he really was. Everything just seemed to be happening too quickly.

Hearing the bell for four o’ clock Erec exited the tub and dried himself off. He had made his wedding suit himself. Erec had chosen not to opt for the more traditional Nevaresian wedding dress which called for loud colours and frills. His own sui consisted of a white shirt, black trousers, and a black coat. It had an almost military cut. Erec did allow some colour into the outfit by working stylised patterns of silver into the coat. He had also purchased some silver which he had worked into small Kraken cufflinks.

Over this he strapped an ornamental sword belt with Hope’s Edge attached at his left hip. Finally prepared Erec breathed out slowly and looked at himself in the mirror. It was a cheap thing of polished copper. His image came out distorted, but he was still surprised to see the man staring back at him.

He had filled out in the last two months, no longer that malnourished wretch from the Cerf-volant. He looked in command now. A young man born to authority. If he did not know any better, he would think himself a lord in truth.

A knock at the door reminded Erec that it was time. Erec stepped out to find a beaming Jacques outside his door. He gave the man a warning look to prevent any unwanted exclamations of ‘my lord’. Erec strode down the stairs and out of the inn to the village green. A small podium had been placed with the sun behind it to display the couple as they exchanged rings.

That was one local custom that Erec had been happy to adopt. It oddly resonated with him, perhaps it was something from his previous life. Below the podium chairs and tables were set out for a grand feast. The food would only be brought out after the ceremony. The guests were already seated and rose as Erec exited the inn. They began to clap and woot as Erec made his way to the podium. Most were Lancer’s or the other misfits that Erec had brought with him from Stormbreaker.

Erec made his way up the stairs of the platform and raised his hand for silence. Erec as well as everyone else looked to the inn’s door to watch for Agace. Erec felt oddly nervous. His heart started to beat a little faster and then almost stopped when he saw Agace walk out.

She was dress as Erec knew she would be in a white dress. Knowing had not prepared him however, for just how stunning she looked. She was crowned with a wreath of red flowers and holding the train if her dress above the ground.

The crowd’s cheers seemed to fade away into the background as Agace moved to stand with Erec. There were no priests at a nevaresian wedding. It was thought that the couple could best speak for themselves. As the crowd fell silent Agace started her vows. They were only the traditional mandatory vows, but Erec barely heard them he was so entranced.

He responded in turn and drew out the wedding rings from his topcoat pocket. They were simple bands of silver, but Erec had worked them with patterns of black and blue mana. The rings would forever communicate the other person’s condition and position to the other. They could also be used to communicate through the aether. Erec had not done it out of any sense of romance but rather because it seemed appropriate when crafting the best wedding bands.

Erec slipped a ring onto Agace’s left hand and allowed her to slip the other on to his. Then before he could react Agace kissed Erec deeply. Erec was frozen in shock when Agace pulled back and winked at him. Shaking off his reverie Erec felt the sounds of the world reassert themselves.

The crowd had gone wild and where now banging on the tables. A band started to play and Agace dragged Erec to the dance area. Which was just a section of grass in the middle of the green. What followed was a few hours of dancing drinking and feasting.

When the sun finally went down people started to call for the couple to perform their wedding feats.

Erec had forgotten about this. It was traditional at weddings for the new husband and wife to perform some kind of joint feat. It could be a practiced formal dance, a duet or even juggling. Erec looked to Agace questioningly. He was not sure what she could do. Agace hiccupped and set down her cup. She had already had a lot of wine and Erec began to worry that she would embarrass herself.

Then he caught himself again why would he worry about this woman. She did not really mean anything to him. Before he could think more on that subject Agace cleared her throat and began to sing. Her voice was soft, yet it carried across the whole village. She sang a song of loss and hope in a language few there probably knew but one that Erec knew to be the long dead language of Southern Isles.

The isles language had been lost after the Tulan Empire conquered the isles and put most of its indigenous population to the sword.

Erec knew the song too. It was a love ballad that was well known among the islanders a thousand years ago. When Agace reached his point to join in Erec naturally took the male part of the duet. It was a long song, but all of the guests were quiet as the newly weds sang. Their voices almost seemed magical and a few of the hardened mercenaries were even brought to tears.

Erec looked into Agace’s knowing eyes as they finished the song and almost became lost in the knowing blue. At the sound of a horse galloping into town Erec broke away from the gaze.

One of Giroux’s men was rode in panting to report, “we have spotted two companies leaving Stormbreaker by the north road my lord.” Erec acknowledged the man with a salute. Indicating that the man should have some of the feast.

Turning back to Agace Erec said to her wryly, “this my dear is the cost of your request. I must go prepare the ground for a battle in the morning against double our number.”

Agace smirked and replied, “I have full confidence in my husband.” She then whirled and went to dance by herself to a merry dancing tune that the band started up.