Page 47 of Fate of Echoes and Embers (Heirs of Elydor #3)

MAREK

It seemed like all of Hawthorne Manor was at the small chapel. Its priest stood at the door, prepared to escort us inside. There were about to be more than a few disappointed villagers since most would be left on the doorstep for the ceremony.

“Can we exchange vows here?” I asked him.

The dour man was exactly as Issa had described. He peered up at me as if I were less than deserving of the woman we waited for. In fact, he’d told me as much when we met three days past.

“Lady Isolde… and a Thalassari sailor.”

I had hushed the man before Issa could hear him, and thankfully, he held his tongue.

“That would be highly unusual,” he said now, clearly annoyed.

My charm didn’t seem to work on him, so I appealed to Adren, who stood beside me.

“Do you not think the people of Hawthorne would like to bear witness to their lady’s marriage?” I asked, using the human term. “My lord,” I added.

Adren’s scowl every time I said it made me wish to repeat the moniker more often.

“I believe,” he said, despite my needling, “Lady Isolde would like that very much.”

Father Dour Face frowned but didn’t strike down the idea.

In the days since we arrived, he was one of a very few that I hadn’t taken to at Hawthorne.

As Issa met with everyone from the manor staff to Hawthorne’s villagers, introducing them to Adren, I had also been busy.

After sending a messenger to Aetheria that we no longer needed them to research as the recovery had been successful, I traveled to Valewood Bay’s port after learning that Cassandra had been instrumental in alerting the people of Hawthorne Manor of Draven’s intentions.

Sir Warren had relocated nearly all of the women and children within the castle grounds to the village, although a few, including the healer, had refused to leave.

Unfortunately, my sister was no longer there, having left for Thalassaria a sennight earlier.

Now, the day before we would leave Issa’s home for our new one, Tidechaser waiting for us at port, we would make it official. Last eve, we talked well into the night about Issa’s mortality, one problem we could not easily solve, as well as others that were more easily addressed with time and trust.

“She’s coming.”

Whispers reached us, even though I could not see her from where I stood. Climbing up a step, just below the priest, I craned my neck to peer above the crowd. Eventually, the chatter became gasps and for a moment, I thought something was wrong.

And then I saw her.

Issa wore a Thalassari gown that shimmered like the ocean at dawn.

Iridescent silk shifted between shades of deep sapphire and seafoam green with every movement.

Delicate strands of gold thread, resembling waves, were embroidered across the bodice and cascaded down the flowing skirt.

Pearls and tiny opalescent beads adorned Issa’s neckline and cuffs, reflecting light like droplets of seawater.

A circlet of pearl and coral wrapped around her head, Issa’s hair flowing freely beneath it.

At the center of the headpiece, my mother’s pearl.

Adren must have returned the pearl to her, but the gown? It was not possible Issa could have had it made. That gown was designed and created by a master Thalassari seamstress, some of its materials not readily available in Estmere.

After what seemed like forever, Issa finally reached me. I held out my hand, hardly able to speak.

“I’ve never seen a sight more magnificent in all my days, sereia.”

“And you look equally as handsome, captain.”

“Where—”

“Ahem.”

Resisting an eye roll, I capitulated to the priest, who explained that we would hold the ceremony on the chapel’s steps for all to see even though the idea obviously displeased him. Adren really would have to find Hawthorne a new priest.

He made it short, at least, Issa and I exchanging vows and making the children at our feet giggle when I kissed Issa at the end—without permission from the priest. It was only as we made our way back to the keep for the banquet when we slipped away momentarily from the crowd that Issa finally solved the mystery.

“It was in the satchel Nerys gave me, along with some other clothing more appropriate for a Thalassari than a human.”

“Nerys,” I repeated. “She knew.”

“Knew. Suspected. Hoped. I am not certain. But I am grateful. It is a beautiful gown.”

“Not as beautiful as the woman wearing it.” My eyes traveled to her headdress. “Adren?”

“Aye. He gave it to me, with your message. You did not expect to survive the Depths.”

I thought back to that day and was unsure how to answer.

“Expecting failure is never advisable but I knew the odds were against me.”

“I will take it off after today so you can have it.”

“No,” I said immediately. “It is yours. A token of my love and thanks for the sacrifice you were willing to make that day and the one you make in leaving your home. Searching for answers about my mother’s death led me to you, so I will never regret it, but I too must stop living in the past. You are my present and my future.

” I smiled. “And my wife, as you humans call it.”

“Husband, partner… the name is less important than the commitment and love I have for you. Wherever the sea takes us, I will be by your side for the adventure.”

“Our fate was sealed the first day I rode through these gates. If only I had known it then.”

“We know it now, and that is all that matters.”

Our fate, our future, was just beginning.