Page 129 of Suffer No Fools
"He's been promoted to guard-consort," Stan said. He stood close enough that Tovey could feel him at his back, but not close enough for physical support.
He didn't need it. Cenric threw his arms around Tovey's neck and hugged him so tight it made his ribs creak. "Missed you."
"Aye." That was the only word he could squeeze out of his too-tight throat. He squinted his eyes shut and forced himself to think of anything else. The moment passed, thanks to Stan making him laugh with silly jokes in his head. Then, they were on their way to the palace.
Once again, Hugo rode with Oton in his private carriage, but the guards' coach wasn't as packed as last time. Hannah sneaked in as the door closed and squeezed in between Tovey and the wall.
"Him?" Their harsh whisper was loud enough that everyone in the coach could hear them, even the sovereign's guards. "I remind you of him?"
"Aye." Tovey motioned for his brother to switch places with him, putting him next to Hannah for a side-by-side comparison. "Cenric, meet Hannah, our storm caller."
"Oh, we've met," he said.
Hannah snorted. "You never told me your name."
"Didn't think you'd want it after you ran me through with that dagger."
"You tried to steal my pint," they said. "Nobody steals my pint."
"It wasn't stealing," Cenric insisted. "I would have bought you another. That's how I introduce myself to new people."
"It's a wonder you're still alive." Hannah glared at Tovey. "Figures, you'd be related to him."
"That's a mean thing to say to your favorite pirate." Tovey glanced apologetically at Stan, who shrugged it off like heexpected as much. Tovey's heart ached for him. Stan expected to be ignored or disliked, but he'd always been Tovey's favorite.
"You were my favorite," Hannah said, "until I met your family."
"Hold on just a minute," both Tovey and his brother said, and their parents laughed.
"Our parents are wonderful people," Tovey said. He introduced them, and Hannah shook their hands.
"The sovereign was nice enough to invite us to the palace," his mom said. "It would be a pleasure to dine with you, Hannah."
They bowed their head to hide their blush. "The pleasure is all mine. Thank you."
"Look at you, being polite." Tovey wished he was sitting by them again, so he could elbow them in the ribs.
"Insufferable," they said, though they sneaked another glance at Cenric. For his part, Cenric was pointedly ignoring them, a sure sign he liked them.
This trip to Glamiere was going to be far more productive than Tovey had first thought.
#
Stan
"I can't believe you blackmailed your brother into walking Hannah down the aisle." Stan chuckled at his own lie. Tovey was more than capable of devious acts, but this one made him laugh. "We weren't even going to have attendants, and now we've got half our crew standing up with us, and both Vadim and Klaus walking Hugo down the aisle."
"It's Hannah's fault," Tovey said. "They told Hugo about groomsfolk, and now our entire family is in the wedding."
"Not quite," Stan reminded him. Their full extended families would be at the wedding, but only Cenric, Hannah, Efren, Olivia, Vadim, and Klaus would stand up with them.
Stan looked himself over in the full-length mirror the servants had hauled into the small room off the courtyard where the ceremony would take place. They'd prepared the courtyard for the ceremony, filling it with chairs for the visiting dignitaries. Sovereign Oton themself would sit in the front row with Tovey's parents and their crew, with the second row filled by their guards.
He and Tovey both looked fabulous in the suits Gulde had made for them. He was certain Hugo would look just as wonderful, though they wouldn't see him until it was time for him to walk down the aisle.
Hugo rushed into the room and slammed the door behind him, casting an earth weave to block it completely. Stan noticed how well his matching suit fit his fine ass before he flinched away.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. "It's bad luck—"
