From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [215]
“What you did to bring back the light… I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“There is no one like Arman, Grenny.” Achan told her then of how he had found Sparrow at the gates of Shamayim, of the glorious pull of that place, of meeting Câan in Mitspah. Of his choice to serve Arman above all things.
“Please, Achan. If you won’t marry me, take me as your servant. I can work in a kitchen. Let my child grow up in the castle where he’ll be safe and provided for. I can’t go back. The people in Carmine disdain me. And no one I know lives in Sitna anymore. Please, have mercy.”
“Harnu plans to return to Sitna.”
She snorted. “Harnu…”
“Harnu also asked me for my blessing.”
“To marry me?” She rolled her eyes. “That man.”
“I wonder if we have both misjudged him.”
Her mouth gaped. “Achan, you can’t be serious.”
“If he were any other man, how would you interpret his actions since Riga’s death? I’m told he maintains your cottage. And that he left his duty to his father to assist you and Sparrow on a foolish crusade. He risked his life for you both. He also fought in my army and earned a promotion.”
“Write a song about him, then, why don’t you?”
“Don’t let your childhood prejudices taint who he’s become. I beg you, consider his offer. I want to know that you are being taken care of. I’ll move your family, Harnu’s, the smithy, and your entire cottage to Armonguard, if need be.”
“I thought no man could save me?”
“That’s not what I meant. Promise me you will think about Harnu?”
Gren twisted her lips into a reluctant smile. “I will think about it. But I promise nothing more.”
42
A lot went into planning a wedding—even more so for planning a joint coronation. Achan allowed himself to be dragged along by Prince Oren, Sir Caleb, Sir Eagan, and Duchess Amal, agreeing to whatever they liked best.
Red velvet would be best? Very well.
Achan’s officers should carry an organza canopy? Fine.
The garden would make a lovely place to be wed? The garden it would be.
Achan simply wanted to be married. But Sir Eagan informed him that Duchess Amal had selected a date for the wedding that was still two weeks away. Achan desired no grand party. When he asked why he must wait two weeks, Sir Eagan said it had something to do with Lady Averella’s being a woman. Then Achan was sorry he’d asked.
He saw Sparrow only at mealtimes in the great hall. The duchess had her daughter on a strict schedule that involved bizarre beauty treatments, diets, and baths. Achan found this a waste of time. No amount of bathing in rose petals could improve perfection. Besides, he’d seen her reposed in trousers and an orange tunic—and liked her then.
Prince Oren took him to where the royal jewels were kept, in a locked, secret room off the king’s chamber. Here Achan marveled over crowns, swords and shields, rings, brooches, and more types of jewelry than he ever imagined existed. After spending hours looking over everything, Prince Oren suggested he choose something to send to Lady Averella as a gift. Something she could wear in the wedding. So Achan chose one of his mother’s crowns, and Sir Caleb had it sent.
Achan would have rather taken the crown to her himself.
One other task occupied his free time. He had grown up believing a man had one responsibility to complete before he could marry: he had to build a home, a place for his bride to live, a place to build a family.
Since Achan now owned Castle Armonguard, he didn’t need to build a home, so he poured all his efforts into remodeling the king’s chambers and the adjoining solar.
The two weeks flew by.
The night before his wedding Achan lay awake tossing and turning in his bed. Then at last a sudden calm came over him. He sat up and looked to the door. “Sir Eagan?”
But it was Sparrow’s voice that filled his mind. My father taught me his little trick. Lay back, and I shall help you sleep.
Achan obeyed, but Sparrow’s attentions, no matter how calming, would never help him sleep. What are you—?
Shh. I have a song for you.
A song?
Pity on my heart from the day I first saw you.