Page 23 of A Layperry's Hope
I nod my head. “That makes sense. Glad he can talk to someone since you know, I’m just a filthy human.”
“Shut up,” Miles says, hip checking me.
“Shut up!”
I look up at Druim, unable to keep myself from chuckling. “Oh, you’re a sponge aren’t you. It would be terrible if I taught you some curse words, wouldn’t it?”
“Don’t you dare,” Miles grits out through clenched teeth, doing his best not to laugh. “I swear, Timalah will be so upset if we accidentally teach him the F word.”
“But Miles,” I say with a fake whine. “Think about how funny it would be.”
“Itisfunny when kids say stuff like that but alas, we’ll have to wait for it to happen naturally.”
“You used to be fun.”
Miles looks over at me, shaking his head. “You used to be a raging asshole.”
“Dada? Dada? Dada?”
Miles’ grin drops as he looks up as best as he can at his son. “Yes, Druim?”
“Ash hole?”
I can’t stop laughing as we make our way into town, walking towards the town square. I look over at my friend, remembering the day he ran here and dove into the underbelly of the city. TheLayperryhave a tradition where a person fights their waythrough the maze below and if they make it out and find their mate, they were destined to be together.
It’s always rubbed me the wrong way. Today, all of that changes.
Ghenie and Timalah are already up on the stage, their heads close together as they speak. My heart does a funny little flip at the sight of Ghenie. He’s wearing his long, platinum hair in two braids that meet in the middle and run down his back at the center. His pale skin shines in the sun. He looks like he’s glowing.
“I didn’t realize how bad you had it until right now.”
I look over at my best friend and roll my eyes. “Whatever. Like you’re one to talk.”
“I’m just saying. You should see your smile right now. You practically have hearts in your eyes.”
“I do not. Love is not in the air. Gross.”
“You can’t fool me!”
“Maybe if you were looking at your mate instead of me you’d see the way Timalah is trying to wave at you.”
“What?” Miles quickly turns around, his face morphing into a grin as he waves up at Timalah.
Now that I’m not being scrutinized, I wave up at Ghenie. He nods his head at me, raising his hand. He always looks so dignified. In the past, that always pissed me off. It made me feel like I was beneath him. Now, I still feel beneath but more like I’m on my knees for him. Now, I know he has to rise above, to keep himself distanced from everyone as is his station as leader. Now I see the whole picture instead of getting stuck on the hurt inside my own chest and allowing that to color everyone around me.
“Hello everyone,” Ghenie calls out, his voice ringing out through the square for everyone to hear. “Thank you for coming. I have a very important announcement I would like you allto hear. This is something I do not announce lightly. It is something I have spoken to the Ancestors about and with my closest counsel. Today I announce a change.”
I hold my breath, listening.
“Today is the start of a new age filled with new traditions. No longer will thematuroustrialoccur. Instead, the underbelly of our great city will determine the fate of those destined to join our warriors. If you feel called, you will be called to prove yourself. To prove your worth, your bravery, and your skills. The underbelly will be your final stage before being declared a warrior!”
There are murmurs and a few cheers at the news. For the most part, everyone seems to be on board with what’s been announced though there are still a few confused voices in the crowd.
“I will no longer be preparing matches unless you wish my council. It will be your choice,” Ghenie continues. “Instead, you will come to me when you feel ready. You and your mate, your one true partner, yourmatronwill come to me and we will talk things through. When everyone is ready, we will have a public declaration in front of friends, family, and our Ancestors to declare your match made. It will be a time for celebrations and promises, to pledge yourself to your mate.”
A wedding. Instead of physical combat and dangerous encounters, theLayperrypeople will have weddings. My head is spinning with this new information.
I have never subscribed to the idea of proving yourself to your partner like the old tradition held but a wedding or a handfasting ceremony? I think I could handle that, especially for Ghenie. He deserves to celebrate with his people.
