There are plenty of Callinthens in this city: a good proportion of pedestrians know exactly what’s going on. Applause and congratulations ring out as we walk, slow and tentative, but trusting our family and friends to lead us. I drink in the sounds of congratulation from complete strangers like the best drug as everyone shares in our joy. I can’t see them, but I can hear genuine happiness in their voices. Grimes’ hand starts to relax in mine. We turn a corner, our wedding party keeping us steady with hands on our shoulders.
“This is a sweet tradition,” Grimes says. “I didn’t realize Callinth had anything like this.”
He probably thought his enemy empire was all bizarre, martial traditions.
“Sorry,” he adds, like he just realized how his comment came out.
“I had no idea either,” Jagder says. “Maybe we should try to make it catch on in Rhennes.”
The procession lasts for about ten minutes, and then our blindfolds are ripped off, so suddenly I blink in the glare. We’re standing outside the restaurant where we’re having our wedding dinner. Our family and friends give us more hugs and kisses as if we’ve just run an impressive race rather than being led around at a snail’s pace.
As soon as we walk through the restaurant door, all eyes fly to us. Seeing our flower-laden clothes, the whole restaurant bursts into applause. Obal isbigon weddings. Grimes’ hand tenses again in mine. I know he’s thinking about his tattoo. I place myhand on the side of his neck, covering his prison tattoo while pulling him in for a kiss, acting like we’re giving the customers a show.
They cheer and I whisper in Grimes’ ear, “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Sometimes I can’t help it,” he says.
I hold him tighter. Both of us are still works-in-progress. Just because we’re married doesn’t mean that all of our insecurities are washed away. But the beauty is that now we don’t have to face them alone. I’ll be strong when Grimes can’t be, and he’ll be strong when I can’t. I stand back, keeping my hand on his neck like a caress, and by the time the wait staff have seated us, everyone’s attention has gone back to their own meals. We all sit down around a big, circular table. The waiter hurries off to bring wine.
“So how does it feel to be Lord Southland?” I ask Grimes as I spread a napkin over my lap.
He wrinkles his nose, like it’s just occurred to him. “I guess I am Lord Southland now, aren’t I?”
I nod. “According to Rhennian law.”
“I never thought I’d see the day that you join the aristocracy,” Jos says with a laugh.
“It’s very cool,” Beveen says, wide-eyed.
“I suppose it is,” Grimes says. “But to be honest? I don’t really feel like I deserve it.”
“It’s not as thoughIdid anything to deserve it, either,” I point out.
“Or me,” Jagder says cheerfully, with an intentionally dopey look that makes the little kids giggle.
“You should use the title,” I say. “I mean, if you want to. It could be useful. For example, for getting a bank loan for our boxing gym.”
“That’s true.” Grimes’ eyes light up.
I love watching hope spring into those dark eyes. Land and property here in Obal are much more expensive than in Galbrava. He’s been working in a bar, and we’ve been saving as much of his wages and mine as we possibly can. But with the rent on our apartment, saving up has been slow. A bank loan would help a lot. An application coming from two Lord Southlands might encourage them to dig a little deeper into their pockets.
“No business talk,” my mother says. “This is a joyous day.”
She’s right. I catch my breath as I process the thought: Grimes is my husband. Bonded by law, by desire, and by love. He’s mine.
I look around at the unlikely group, brought together by our love. A Galbravan prospector’s family, my mother who I thought I’d lost forever, Grimes’ best friend who he thought he’d lost forever, my best friend from home, and the sketchy but ultimately good-hearted judge who saved us. It’s a far cry from my noble, spoiled life back in Rhennes. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I can’t believe how full my life is now. I have meaning, purpose, and love. I can’t wait to help Grimes make his dreams come true, both in business and in bed together. He wants nothing more than to do the same for me.
He raises his glass and looks me straight in the eyes.
“To you, flower,” he says. “I love you more than words can say.”
“I love you, too.” I drop my voice so he has to lip-read the last word: it’s for him alone. “Boss.”
THE END
