Ethon (The Other Worlds Series Book 2) (42 page)

Olinia stood there silently for a moment, watching the life drain from Dagon’s open eyes. She was vaguely aware of Will putting his arm around her. Then, softly, she said, “Goodbye, uncle.”

23

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It amazed Will what had been accomplished in just three months. The Eves had really outdone themselves for their future queen. The last time Will had stood on the front steps of Avyrithe Castle, it had been a depressing, dilapidated mess – a reminder of its troubled past and almost two decades of sorrow. What he saw today, though, was a complete transformation.

All the vines had been pruned and the weeds removed. The paths were mended and walls patched. Shattered windows were replaced and crisp new flags in the colors of Caprith with the Balnorrean Knot stitched into their middles flapped from every tower. The castle had been rebuilt both inside and out. It was now fit to be the home of Caprith’s new sovereigns.

“You still sure you want to do this?” Dallyn asked in Eveon.

Will turned and found Dallyn and Olinia’s brothers joining him on the steps. Zedgry grunted. “Why? Did you come up with an exit strategy?”

“As if he’d want to bail now,” Legann retorted.

His use of Ethon slang made Will smile as he answered back in Eveon. “With this kind of turnout, I don’t think I’d be allowed to leave even if I wanted to.” He tossed a quick glance out at the crowd below them.

Legann chuckled. “Yeah, crazy how just one little skirmish could change the powers of the Other Worlds so much.”

Faint notes of music drifted up to Will and his companions, causing them to silently shift into their positions. The music was the signal that they were about to start. Will smoothed out the front of his silver tunic and clasped his hands behind his back as Dallyn and the brothers did the same behind him. He then gazed out toward the castle’s gate, finding himself suddenly anxious.

In front of him, two rows of chairs, divided down the middle by a royal blue carpet that led up to the stairs, were filled with familiar faces. Behind them, hundreds of Capriths dressed in their finest attire, stood chatting with anticipation. Will wasn’t the only one to have noticed the music.

Will fought the urge to straighten his tunic again by distracting himself with the faces of those in the white chairs. In the very front, by the aisle, Archelda and Yrond sat smiling. Within the next week or so, Olinia’s grandparents were to make their first trip to their former world of Balinorre in generations. Following Dagon’s death, Zedgry led a vatte or so of Eves into the Vrenyx and rather peacefully reclaimed Balinorre. There was talk in Yrond’s Council of rebuilding the once great city that Will’s great-grandmother single-handedly destroyed, but Yrond and Archelda wished to revisit the world before making any final decisions.

Beside Yrond and Archelda, Fuladrik and his daughter were conversing with Denon, Sadree, and Dallyn’s wife. On the opposite side of the aisle from Archelda, Archrin rested next to General Voiel. Tiara would be joining them later on, but she wouldn’t be taking a seat. Will smiled slightly to himself. Archrin and Tiara would be having a formal wedding in Drivian within the month, but it was more for show than anything else. They’d been secretly married for months now, since the night of her coronation. Tiara hadn’t wanted to go into another fight as merely engaged, so they’d eloped. After the official wedding, Archrin would be crowned king of his home world. Even though it was a position Archrin had never intended for himself, Will knew he would serve his people justly. Archrin was a good man.

Next to Voiel, Caiden was holding her husband’s hand, looking very content. Treveri, on the other hand, appeared very uncomfortable and out of place. Poor man. Once again, Olinia had forced him out of his comfort zone. Will had once asked Caiden if she ever felt the same hum with Treveri that he did with Olinia. She did. It was apparently part of giving one’s Heart away. Will would feel the pull toward Olinia for the rest of his life.

Behind the Silver Heart were the Ethons. For the first time in the history of the Other Worlds, there were now official ambassadors from Ethon – Porter, Hillary, her mother, and Trenton Alridge. Even though the four of them would continue to reside in Ethon, they would be invited for significant Other Worlder events, such as today. When Will’s gaze landed on his great-grandfather, they locked eyes for a moment.

Trenton was beaming, but Will doubted it was just because of him. This was Trenton’s first time back to the Other Worlds since leaving them with Tyra. By the look on his face, Will could see there was a lot of history behind that smile.

Across the aisle from the Ethons, Lillie was perched amid several other royals and dignitaries Will didn’t know. Her presence was another point of significance. High Royalty had not associated with the Velvitors since Talik took the throne, shortly before Balinorre fell. Having the Velvitor Queen, along with the successor to the Kendrens, amid them was impressive. In her own way, Olinia had reunited the breeds of the Other Worlds, which meant she’d unified her realm once more.

There were other faces, though, that Will wished were there, like his family. Their memory still gave him pain, and it probably always would. Returning to his childhood home with Olinia a little over a month ago had helped to settle some of his emotions, though. He couldn’t have revisited it without Olinia. She’d kept him calm while there – acting as the balm to his wounds.

Olinia’s own parents were missing, as well. They would have been so proud of their daughter, and sons for that matter. Dagon’s death may not have fully united the Other Worlds by itself, but to Olinia and her brothers, it had brought peace and justice to their parents’ deaths.

Sazx Tharrne was another face that should have been here. Even though he’d made a play on Olinia during Will’s absence, he’d also died trying to save her from Dagon. Will would always be indebted to Sazx’s loyalty and courage. His death had given Will just enough time to get to Olinia before Dagon was able to kill her.

The music was almost deafening now. It was only a matter of minutes until Olinia and Tiara would arrive. From behind him, though, Will managed to hear Legann snicker. “Olinia can’t do anything quietly, can she?”

“You do realize that’s our world’s traditional celebration march, right?” Zedgry shot back.

“Doesn’t mean it needs to scare off small children,” Legann countered.

Will chuckled. He was going to miss having Legann around. After all this, he would be going back to Ethon with Trenton and the others. He actually wanted to go back to his school. He said it was because he thought it a good idea to learn more about Ethon culture now that the Other Worlds would be more connected through the ambassadors. Will knew better though. It was because of one of the ambassadors in particular. Legann had taken a fancy to Hillary and wanted to go back to Ethon to see more of her.

Legann wouldn’t be the only one going off to study. In the next few weeks, Zedgry would be taking an extended trip to Andin. The Fraers offered him a chance to stay with them, just as his father had. Zedgry would be under the tutelage of Isylyt and Emrys for a couple turns. Even though Olinia wasn’t really a fan of being away from her brother again, she’d encouraged him to accept the Fraers’ offer. Her brief time in Andin had taught her there was so much to learn about the Other Worlds and the realm of Time.

A giant cheer went up through the courtyard as Olinia and Tiara’s silver-plated open carriage was sighted. Will turned his attention to the gate, his heartbeat quickening. The crowd stepped back, splitting in half, as they made way for the procession. The parade that had already twisted through the capital city of Avyrithe was finally at its end. The first of the musicians streamed through the gate and into the clearing the crowd had opened. Then, the carriage entered, drawn by three white Eveon horses.

Will smiled as he glimpsed Olinia, seated beside Tiara. Both women wore simple, floor-length gowns of satin with a single cord of silver at their waists. Olinia’s entire dress was silver, as was traditional, and had a silver circlet around her head. Tiara’s gown was the same royal blue of High Royalty that Dallyn and Olinia’s brothers wore.

The carriage came to stop next to the blue carpet, and Olinia stood, followed by Tiara. Servants leaped to open the carriage door and hand their princess out. As Olinia descended the steps to the carpet, Archelda got to her feet and extended her hand into the aisle. The music came to a halt, as did the noise of the crowd. The sudden silence left Will’s ears ringing slightly.

Olinia stepped lightly down the aisle with Tiara right behind her. When she neared the front, she took Archelda’s hand. Together, they walked up the stairs to Will, while Tiara moved opposite of Dallyn and Olinia’s brothers. Before Archelda left Olinia to stand beside Will, she kissed her forehead and whispered so that only Olinia and Will could hear, “You were born for this.”

Once Archelda had returned to her chair, Will bowed to Olinia, kissed her hand, and led her forward to the front doors of the castle. The doors opened and Leader Blann walked out, holding a clear glass ball the size of a basketball – the Emerrith Ball. Olinia had asked Yrond to perform the ceremony, but apparently the wedding and coronation of High Royalty required a Fraer Leader. Fortunately, Leader Blann had volunteered.

“Welcome, Olinia Reien, High Princess, heir to Caprith, Evedon, and the Other Worlds.” Blann grinned. “And welcome, Will Patten of Ethon, heir to the Key.”

Will bowed, and Olinia curtsied. Then, Blann asked, “Are you prepared to claim your throne of Caprith and seal yourselves together upon the Emerrith Ball?”

“Yes!” Will and Olinia called out in unison.

The Emerrith Ball was an Eveon wedding tradition. Supposedly, when both Will and Olinia laid their hands on the sphere, it would glow so long as one loved the other. Even though Will had no doubt that the Ball would glow, he was anxious to be forced into the center of attention this way. He wasn’t necessarily fond of being under the scrutiny of so many people.

Blann extended the Emerrith. “Then, I join you as one. Take the Emerrith.”

Together, Will and Olinia reached for the Ball. As soon as Blann released his hold, the Emerrith lit up, streaming out a pale blue light. Will and Olinia raised it up above their heads, as far as she could reach. Olinia grinned, and Will found himself doing the same. It was all so surreal.

Witnessing weddings in Ethon was nothing like experiencing his own in the Other Worlds. Yet, he couldn’t have been happier. Olinia was perfect. He loved her more than his own life, and he had proven that on several occasions. If he could help it, he never wanted to spend another minute away from her ever again.

“Good people of Caprith!” Blann shouted, but Will barely noticed his voice. “I give you your Queen and King!”

The tumult in the courtyard could have been heard across the universe, but, to Will, it sounded far away as he and Olinia returned the Emerrith Ball to Blann. Olinia turned to him and traced his right eyebrow with her finger. “I’d like to say you’ve reached your faerytale ending, complete with faery, but I don’t feel like we’re really at any sort of ending.”

He chuckled, placing his hands on her hips. “I seriously doubt we’ve seen the last of our adventures.”

“Then, what now, Will Patten, King of Caprith?” She couldn’t contain her smile again as her hands slid behind his neck and her fingers twined through the hair on the back of his head.

“You tell me, my queen,” he replied. “I told you before, I go where you go.”

With that, he lowered his head and tasted the lips of his new wife. As long as Will had Olinia, there wasn’t an obstacle imaginable he couldn’t face. For once, Will’s future held no uncertainty or internal pain. Just Olinia.

M.L. Greye
was raised in Riverside, California, but currently lives in Texas with her husband and children. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.A. degree in American Studies and a minor in Communications.  
Ethon
is her second young adult novel, sequel to
The Other Worlds
.

www.mlgreye.com