Page 103 of The Seeker
“There are so many traditions we are ignoring,” she said in a rush. “I can’t even tell you how upset my mother and father are going to be. It’s not that I don’t want this mating. I do. But they won’t just be upset, they’ll be hurt. Mating celebrations in Udaipur…”
He grimaced. “Are elaborate?”
“So elaborate,” she whispered. “There are feasts and dances for days. Formal blessings that should be given to both of us. There are songs my mother has been preparing since my birth to sing over me before I bind myself to a mate. There are spells my father has written….”
“These are important to you.”
“No. Yes. But this mission is more important. I just don’t know how to make them understand that we have to—”
“Meera.” He gripped her hand. “We don’thaveto do anything. I was being high-handed earlier because I want this. But there is no disaster. Yes, we suspect Bozidar is making a move to New Orleans, but there is no imminent threat. His Grigori aren’t waiting at the outskirts of the city.”
“Do we know that?”
Rhys said nothing because they didn’t know. They were isolated on the mound. New Orleans might be crumbling from Grigori attack, but they would have no idea while they stayed with Ata.
“We need Ata’s magic,” Rhys said quietly.
“I know that. I need to record more of her language and culture. I’ll even concede we need her to teach us the angel-slaying spell, and she can’t do that unless we’re mated.”
“I don’t want you to give up your traditions,” Rhys said, his voice still quiet. “This is important to you. I can tell.”
“Are you saying we should go back to Havre Hélène, have our mating ceremony there, then try to come back here? I don’t think we’d be able to find our way back.”
“And if we leave, it’s unlikely she’ll cooperate in the future.”
“I think…” Her heart sank. “We have to be here. We just have to have a simple mating here and my parents will have to understand. They’ll be disappointed”—disappointed wasn’t the word for it—“but they will understand.”
“Because they understand duty.”
“Yes.”
“So we could do that.” Rhys leaned back on his hands, squinting into the setting sun. “Or… I can give you everything you want.”
“That’s not possible.” She smiled sadly. “But thank you, Rhys.”
“These traditions? They areformalmating ceremonies of your people?”
“Yes. I have attended many mating celebrations. When Anamitra was alive, it was our responsibility to preside over any festival in the fortress.”
In her mind’s eye, Meera could see the yellow path of chrysanthemum petals her sisters walked upon as they sang the Anthem of Uriel joined by the elder singers. She could see the crimson-painted banners of the Tomir flying from the fortress ramparts, scribed with spells of safety and prosperity for the new couple.
Meera said, “Both the Tomir and the singers of Udaipur have very elaborate traditions. If we were having our mating ceremony at the fortress, the preliminary dinners alone would take days.”
“Days?”
“Maybe it’s better we’re not doing all that. It can be taxing.” She’d seen the stress those ceremonies put on the mated couple. She’d never envied the fancy clothes or being the center of attention—she’d always been the center of attention—but the idea of entering mated life without her mother’s song or her father’s blessing hurt Meera’s heart.
“They’re formal events though.” Rhys’s face was a study in concentration. “If we were in Udaipur, would political leaders and elders come to the ceremony?”
“Without a doubt. When Anamitra and Firoz mated, even human kings attended the feast. They were lavished with gifts, speeches, toasts. Over two thousand singers and scribes were invited.”
Rhys was nodding. “Yes.Formallyinvited.”
“Yes, it’s all quite formal. I don’t understand why—”
“And I’m sure it would have been a huge insult for any of them to refuse, correct? For a leader or an elder to be invited to the mating feast of the heir of Anamitra and then not to show up…?”
“If they had a very good excuse, I’m sure— Oh.” Meera’s eyes went wide when she realized the devious direction Rhys’s thoughts had turned. “Oh, Rhys. No. That can’t be a good idea.”
