Page 145 of Silver & Smoke
‘Gods, when he was first assigned as your guard, you werelivid,’ Thea recalled cheerfully. ‘Kipp and I had a bet going as to how long it would take you to poison him.’
‘I did no such thing,’ Wren said with a laugh.
‘That’s not entirely true,’ Dessa interjected with a grin. ‘Didn’t you prick him with your poisoned hairpin when you snuck out one night?’
‘That hardly counts,’ Wren argued as Dessa wove flowers through her hair.
Thea snorted. ‘Whatever you say, sister.’
The tent rustled and Kipp’s head appeared. ‘Are you ladies ready? There’s a feast to be had!’
‘There’s a ceremony first,’ Dessa reminded him with a laugh.
‘Yes, andthenthere’s a feast, so let’s hurry things along!’
‘I hope you’re not rushing the bride, Kristopher,’ came Farissa’s voice from outside.
‘I would never,’ Kipp replied with a wink.
But Wren was ready.
When she emerged from the marquee and saw Torj standing before the cottage with Wilder at his side, her breath caught. The Bear Slayer was as magnificent as ever, his silver hair pulled back into a neat knot, a few unruly strands framing his face. He wore simple warrior’s garb, and his hammer was strapped across his shoulders as always.
They had promised to be themselves and nothing more at their ceremony, and, looking at him now, all Wren wanted was the man waiting for her at the end of the rose-lined aisle.
She herself wore a simple gown, her belt of potions still fitted around her waist, though she’d allowed Dessa to braid a few sprigs of lavender through her hair. She looped her arm through Kipp’s, her friend’s chest puffing out as he escorted her down the aisle. As Wren walked, she saw the faces of everyone she cared for: Thea, Dessa, Zavier, Cal, Farissa, Audra, Talemir, Darian, along with the new friends she’d made over the past few weeks of building the academy.
When she reached Torj, she released Kipp and kissed him on both cheeks, the strategist looking suddenly misty-eyed as he took his place as celebrant.
Torj took her hands in his and she stood to face him before all their friends.
‘Welcome, one and all,’ Kipp said, his voice ringing out across the small crowd. ‘We are here to celebrate one of the greatest triumphs I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing... Theofficialunion between the Queen of Delmira, Elwren Embervale, and the Bear Slayer Warsword of Thezmarr, Torj Elderbrock.’
When Wren met Torj’s gaze and he smiled, the silver bond shone between them for all to see.
The wedding feast was in full swing, and Wren’s cheeks ached from grinning. She couldn’t recall a time where she had been so happy. She stood barefoot on the grass, having kicked off heruncomfortable shoes the moment the ceremony ended. Torj was stealing glances at her from across the marquee, where he was speaking with Darian. Wren smiled at him from afar. The lightning-kissed, storm-blessed Bear Slayer was herhusband.Husband and soul-bonded, and no words had ever felt more perfect.
The dancing had begun, with Kipp and Graves at the heart of the festivities. A towering presence emerged at Wren’s side, and she looked up to find Vernich the Bloodletter watching with narrowed eyes as the Son of the Fox danced with his daughter.
‘I’m going to kill him,’ the Warsword growled.
But Wren put a hand on his arm. ‘I think Graves is more than capable of doing that herself if she wants to, don’t you?’
‘If he does so much as lay a finger on her...’ Vernich grunted, shaking his head. ‘Where’s the fire extract?’
Wren pointed to the bar.
‘Then that’s where I’ll be,’ the warrior muttered and stalked away.
Wren held in a laugh, but her attention was snatched away by Torj, who tensed beside her. She turned to face him and saw why.
An older woman had appeared at the entrance to the marquee.
She was not the frail, elderly figure Wren had expected. Grandmother Vara was straight-backed and tall, impressively so. She strode towards Torj with the confidence of a general in an army. Only when she reached him did her expression falter, her eyes lining with silver.
‘Hello, my boy,’ she said. ‘I’ve missed you.’
As Torj blinked at his grandmother and then took her in his arms in what looked like a crushing embrace, Wren found Kipp, who was on the outskirts of the dance floor now.
