Now there were teams of mages working together to display their arts. Apparently, the Mage’s Guild acted to coordinate all of it, otherwise it would have been chaos.
Warna relaxed in her chair, glad to know that it was in other hands. With the final feast done, she could relax and enjoy, without worrying about the details. The Festival had been a delight, but it had also been hard work. She glanced at Ersal, sitting with Janella, both looking just as relieved.
She settled back as a single bright red light soared into the sky, and exploded in a million sparks. Followed in quick succession by all the other colors of the rainbow. Warna flinched at the blasts, startled by the sounds. A glance at Verice showed there was nothing to fear.
Roses bloomed on intertwining vines, filled with buzzing bees and dragonflies that danced around the flowers. The roses faded, leaving the dragonflies to dance in the night, their jewel-colored wings glowing against the dark sky.
Warna clapped when one of the huge creatures floated down to hover over the balcony, then dissolved in a shower of gold and red sparks. She raised her hand to catch one. It faded even as it touched her skin.
The sky seemed to roll, and suddenly streams of horses galloped over wide plains of grass, their manes and tails flowing behind them. Warna caught her breath at the beauty of it all. Without thinking, she reached out her hand to Verice.
He took it in his, his hand warm under her fingers.
She looked at him, tears in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He tilted his head, raised one of those lovely arched eyebrows.
“For all this,” she said, knowing he probably wouldn’t understand what she really meant. “For the Festival. For everything.”
A shadow crossed his face for just a moment, then he leaned over, still holding her hand. “You might not thank me when we have to start cleaning up after it all.”
Warna’s laughter bubbled out
Verice ignored thecrowd around them as he claimed Warna’s lips in a kiss that left them both breathless.
Warna blushed, settling back to watch the sky, still keeping his hand in hers.
She’d sounded so definite, thanking him, as if their time together had ended. Verice settled back as well, but he kept stealing glances at Warna. She was entranced by the display, and her face reflected her pure pleasure at the sights and sounds.
It was too soon. She should enjoy the results of all her efforts. Besides it would take weeks before the regular routines were restored, and the castle and keep set right after all this celebrating.
“What are those?” Warna breathed. “Dragons?”
The sky above was filled was filled with aerial combat, with airons diving and swooping down on their foes.
“No, those aren’t dragons,” Verice explained. “They’re wyverns.”
The scene flickered and changed, with tiny boats with white sails and a giant sea monster, tentacles flying and smashing into the sea, just barely missing the valiant boats.
The spectacle continued on, to the pleasure of the entire company, until at last the bells of the church began to peal midnight.
With that, the display once again erupted in explosions of light and magic, sending tiny shards of diamond bright lights floating down to the ground as the Festival counted down to its end.
Verice rose as the last of the colors faded, keeping a tight hold on Warna’s hand. They bid farewell to their guests. Warna glanced at him, smiling a smile that was for him alone.
She knew well his intent.
He tried to remain the gracious host as he saw his company out. Courtesy was, of course, important. Still, he tried to make sure his guests kept moving.
The night was not yet over. He and Warna still had their own magic to make.
“Just how muchcooking oil did the kitchens use?” Warna asked.
Ersal unrolled the accounting and placed it before her. “See for yourself, Lady.”
“Ersal, I don’t doubt your figures,” Warna sighed. “But one would think the entire staff bathed in it, given those amounts.” She pulled over the list of the supplies they were restocking. “Can the merchants provide so much to us?”
“We’ll order extra each week,” Ersal said. “Over time, we’ll have enough.”
