“By your leave, Your Majesty, if I could start the ceremony?” he requested.

Hell yes, he could start the ceremony.

For then it would be done.

And Farah would be his princess.

His wife.

His future.

One he was finally looking forward to.

With pleasure.

“Please do,” he bid.

Farah shifted, pressing closer to his side.

True locked his frame to support her weight.

The priest smiled in amusement, drew in breath, lifted his hands palms up.

And he began.

True kept his fingers curled around Farah’s the entire ceremony.

He was unsure he heard a word.

He smelled her perfume.

He felt her presence at his side with such acuteness, he knew he would not forget, standing right there with her pressed against him, not for the rest of his life.

But mostly, he didn’t hear the words to the ceremony because he was keen to have her pronounced his wife.

Not to mention, he was very ready for their wedding kiss.

80

The Plan Commences

Prince True

Temple to Wohden, Notting Thicket

WODELL

The first indication that something was wrong was when Prince Cassius’s lieutenant, Macrinus, made a stealthy exit for reasons unknown.

However, he was seen by a few people, a few fairies, some sprites and several gnomes catching sight of something at a side entrance to the temple.

Macrinus then left his seat silently, but with haste, and disappeared through there.

True, focused on his bride, focused on his future, focused on the fact that it was for once bright, missed this.

Completely.

Thus, he missed that the man Macrinus saw there was Nero, another of Cassius’s lieutenants. A man sent to Airen over a month ago to see to its defense against a probable revolt.

And missing it, he missed Nero was travel worn and his face was a mask of foreboding.

The second indication that something was wrong was when Cassius caught site of something at the entrance of the temple.

There was a quiet altercation happening there. A common woman with copper hair appeared determined to gain entry but was being held back by Dellish guards.

She fought like a warrior. However, her tact was as a warrior that didn’t wish to harm anybody.

And thus, six guards to one woman, she was losing.

Cassius’s eyes narrowed on it.

He then brought Elena’s attention to it.

She looked that way and her head jerked in surprise.

True missed this as well.

For it was only moments before Farah would be declared his wife.

And he was not going to miss that.

The final indication that something was wrong, True could not miss.

No one could.