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They enjoyed the company of friends and loved ones the whole day, talking and laughing, celebrating together with the Mud People. Kahlan did her best to try to ignore the way her low-cut blue wedding dress displayed her breasts. It was hard, with the way people kept coming up to her and telling her that she had fine breasts. Richard wanted to know what they were saying all the time. She thought it best to lie; she told him that they were saying that her dress was beautiful.
As the sun turned the sky golden, it was at last time.
Kahlan gripped Richard’s hand as if it was the only thing holding her on the ground. Richard had trouble keeping his eyes off her in her blue wedding dress. Every time he looked at her, a helpless smile took him.
Kahlan’s heart swelled with joy, seeing how much he liked the dress Weselan had made for her. She had for so long dreamed of wearing it, dreamed of this moment. She had hoped so often, with all her heart, that this day would come. She had feared so often that it never would. So many times, something had happened, delaying this moment. Now, it was happening.
Richard mimicked the Mud People’s words, not realizing that he was saying how fine he thought her breasts looked; he thought he was telling her how beautiful her dress looked. Everyone grinned with satisfaction when he spoke the words in their language, happy that he agreed with them. Kahlan could feel her face turning red.
Richard looked magnificent in his black and gold war wizard’s uniform. Every time Kahlan looked at him, a smile took her. She was marrying Richard. At last. Her knees trembled under the blue dress.
Cara, standing behind, gave her a reassuring touch. Weselan, at Kahlan’s side, beamed with pride. Savidlin stood to the far side of Richard, beaming just as much. Zedd and Ann stood behind. Zedd was eating something.
Kahlan silently prayed to the good spirits that, this time, nothing would go wrong, and that it would at last happen. She couldn’t help worrying that it would be taken from her, yet again.
The Bird Man straightened before them, clasping his hands. Behind him, the entire Mud People village spread out before the wedding party to hear the vows.
When all had fallen silent, the Bird Man began, and Kahlan’s fear began to melt away, to be replaced with joyous anticipation. As the Bird Man spoke, Chandalen, at his side, said the words in the language Richard and some of the others could understand.
“These two people have not been born Mud People, but they have proven themselves to be one of us, in their strength, and in their hearts. They have bound themselves to us, and us to them. They have been our friends, and our protectors. That they would wish to be wedded as Mud People proves their hearts.
“As members of our people, these two have chosen not only to be wedded before those of this world, but before the next, and in so doing, have called the spirits of our ancestors to be with us on this day to smile on this joining. We welcome our ancestors into our hearts to share our joy.”
Richard’s hand tightened around hers, and she realized that he was sharing her thoughts: it was real, at last, and it was as they both had always dreamed—except it was better than she could ever have imagined.
“Both of you are Mud People, and are bound not only by your words before your people, but by your own hearts. These are simple words, but in simple things, there is great power.”
He met Richard’s eyes.
“Richard, will you have this woman as your wife, and will you love and honor her in all ways for all time?”
“I will,” he said in a clear voice that rang out over the gathering.
The Bird Man looked into Kahlan’s eyes, and she had the most profound sense that he was speaking not only as a representative of his people, but for the spirits, too. She could almost hear their voices echoing in his.
“Kahlan, will you have this man as your husband, and will you love and honor him in all ways for all time?”
“I will,” she said, a clear chime matching Richard’s.
“Then before your people, and before the spirits, you are now wedded for all time.”
All the gathered people were dead silent, until Richard took her in his arms and kissed her, and then they went wild.
Kahlan hardly heard them.
It seemed a dream. A dream she had dreamed so often that it had finally come to life.
To be in Richard’s arms. To have him. To be his wife, and he her husband. For all time.
And then everyone was hugging them. Zedd and Ann. The Bird Man and the elders. Weselan and the other wives.
Cara, with tears in her eyes, hugged Kahlan. “Thank you both for wearing an Agiel at your wedding. Hally, Raina, and Denna are all watching because of that. Thank you for honoring the sacrifice of Mord-Sith.”
With a thumb, Kahlan wiped the tear from Cara’s cheek. “Thank you for braving the magic of the sliph to be with us, my sister.”
Everyone in the village crowded in to greet the new couple. Kahlan thought they might be crushed. People brought food and flowers, and sincere, simple offerings of every sort.
The celebration resumed around the wedding platform. Kahlan tried to talk to everyone, and to thank everyone, as did Richard, until, as Richard was asking some of Chandalen’s hunters about the battle that they had witnessed, his golden cloak billowed out.
There was no wind.
Richard straightened. His raptor gaze swept out over the heads of the people gathered before the wedding platform. He instinctively reached for his sword. It wasn’t there.
The crowd, in the back, fell silent. Zedd and Ann both stepped up beside Richard and Kahlan. Cara had her Agiel in her fist as she pushed between them to get in front. Richard gently pushed her behind.
The entire village fell silent, the people parting for two approaching figures. Some people grabbed their children and moved farther back as worried whispers rippled through the crowd.
As the two solitary figures, one tall and one short, came closer, Kahlan saw that it was Shota, and her companion, Samuel.
The witch woman, looking as stunning as ever, strode up onto the platform, her ageless almond eyes staying on Kahlan the whole time.
Shota took up Kahlan’s hand. She kissed Kahlan’s cheek.
“I have come to congratulate you, Mother Confessor, on your accomplishment, and on your marriage.”
Throwing caution to the winds, Kahlan hugged the witch woman. “Thank you for coming, Shota.”
Shota smiled, staring into Richard’s eyes as she ran a lacquered nail along his jaw. “Hard fought, Richard. Hard fought. And well earned.”
Kahlan turned to the silent gathering. She knew that the
Mud People feared the witch woman so much that they wouldn’t even speak her name. Kahlan could understand; she had felt nearly the same way herself.
“Shota has come to offer her best wishes to us on our wedding day. She has helped us in our struggle. She is a friend, and I hope you will welcome her to this celebration, for she deserves to be here, and I wish her to be here.”
Kahlan turned to Shota. “I told them that—”
Smiling, Shota held up a hand. “I know what you told them, Mother Confessor.”
The Bird Man stepped forward. “Welcome to our home, Shota.”
“Thank you, Bird Man. You have my word that we will bring no harm this day.”
Shota glanced to Zedd. “A truce, for a day.”
Zedd smiled a sly smile. “A truce.”
Samuel’s long arm reached up, grabbing for the Bird Man’s carved bone whistle he wore around his neck.
“Mine! Gimme!”
Shota thunked him on the head. “Samuel, behave yourself.”
The Bird Man smiled. He pulled the thong and whistle over his head and held it out to Samuel.
“A gift, for a friend to the Mud People.”
Samuel gently took the whistle. A grin split his face, showing his wickedly sharp teeth.
“Thank you, Bird Man.” Shota said.
Samuel blew the silent whistle. He seemed able to hear the sound, and was pleased by it. People began chuckling and talking again. Kahlan was relieved that vultures didn’t appear in response to the silent whistle. Fortunately, Samuel didn’t know how to call specific birds. Samuel grinned at his gift and hung it around his neck. He took up Shota’s hand again.
Shota’s arresting gaze took in Richard and Kahlan. In that moment, there was no one else there. The three of them were as good as alone, in that gaze.
“Do not think, either of you, that just because I congratulate you, I will forget my promise to you.”
Kahlan swallowed. “Shota—”
Shota’s eyes were both beautiful and frightening as she held up a silencing finger.
