Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (50 page)

“The Cradle of the Orb?” Karma asked.

“There is an island, little more than a rock, far into the ocean,” Worrow explained.  “Guarding the rock is a being known as Karaken.”

“Is it a demon?” Karma asked.

“No, it is not demon, nor is it of Rathira,” Worrow replied.  “Karaken was brought to Rathira by the last Vatra.  In exchange for the right to dwell in the mighty Kytherian Sea, Karaken agreed to guard the Cradle of the Orb until the Maiden of the Moon, the Techu and the Vatra returned for it.”

“Are you saying this Karaken is intelligent?” Karma asked.

“Yes,” Worrow replied.  “Karaken promised to leave the Sirelina in peace, and has ever kept its promise.  But it does not hesitate to destroy any who approach the Cradle of the Orb during it’s time of rising.”

“Time of rising?” Zakiel asked.

“The Cradle of the Orb resides at the bottom of the sea,” Worrow explained.  “It rises only twice a year, for ten days at a time.  In fact, you have only three more days before it sinks to the depths for another six months.”

“That explains why everyone’s been telling us to hurry,” Karma said.

“Yes, it does,” Zakiel agreed.  “What does this Karaken look like?”

“It is too large to describe,” Worrow said.  “It has eight and twenty arms, lined with claws, and a head larger than this house.”

“Okay, that’s big,” Karma muttered.  “How do we get to this Cradle of the Orb?”

“I know only that the three of you must enter a small boat,” Worrow said.  “From there, it is up to the Maiden of the Moon.”

“What am I to do?” Kapia asked.  “Do you know?”

“I am not certain,” he said slowly.  “But I believe that once you are on the water, your affinity with the orb will draw you to it.  I do not know if the Vatra must use his magic, or if the Techu must use the Ti-Ank.  I am sorry, I have given all I know.”

“We thank you, Worrow, for all that you and your people have done, for us, personally, and for Rathira,” Zakiel said, bowing to the man.  “We shall begin our journey at first light tomorrow.”

“No,” Worrow said sharply, holding up one hand.  “You must not go until your bond is complete.  If you do, the danger to you both is too great.”

Zakiel and Karma looked at each other, then Worrow.  Zakiel smiled and shrugged.  “I’ve no objection to that,” he said.  “We will perform the ceremony this day and complete our bond.”

“You’re not even going to ask me what I think about it?” Karma asked, arching a brow at him.

Zakiel flushed.  “I am sorry,
valia
,” he said.  “I only...I mean, I thought...,” he paused and swallowed hard.  “Have you changed your mind?”

Karma looked at the other people around the table, then decided to hell with it.  She didn’t care about what anyone else heard. 

“Zakiel, I love you, and you have said that you love me.  I will not marry for any other reason.  Not for safety, not to save my life.  Only for love.”

“Nor will I,
valia
,” Zakiel said with a smile.

“I must also warn you that, for me, marriage is a forever thing,” she continued.  “If I do or say something that you don’t like, it will be too late for you to rethink marrying an off-worlder.”

Zakiel’s brows rose in surprise.  “Are there people for whom marriage is not forever?”

“Yes,” Karma replied.  “I am not one of them.”

“Nor am I,” Zakiel replied, unable to understand how marriage could not be forever.  Perhaps what he thought of as marriage was different than what other people did.  But now was not the time to wonder about that.  

“Karma, I have no idea why I said the things I said to you that day.  I have no idea why I was even angry.  In truth, I was glad that you stopped me when you did.  I promise that I will never regret you, I will never regret us.  Please believe me.”

“I believe you, Zakiel,” she said.  “I just wanted to be clear.”

Zakiel nodded, then cleared his throat.  “Karma Baraka, Lady Techu, will you please consent to make me the happiest man on all of Rathira, as well as in the Thousand Worlds, by agreeing to become my wife?”

Karma smiled, her eyes shining.  “I would be most honored, Prince Zakiel, to join my life to yours for all time.”

Zakiel’s heart skipped a beat, and then he smiled so widely that Karma saw a hint of a dimple in his left cheek to match the one on the right.  “Thank you,
valia
,” he said softly before leaning over to press his lips to hers.  “I promise I will never give you cause to regret your decision.”

They were interrupted by a polite cough and turned to look at the people around them, all of whom were grinning at them.  Karma blushed, but Zakiel didn’t care.  She would be his wife.  Nothing else mattered.

“We shall be wed this day, then,” Karma announced. 

“There is one problem,” Worrow said. 

“What is that?” Zakiel asked.

“Who will perform the ceremony for you?”

“I was hoping that you could do it,” Zakiel replied.  “Is that not possible?”

“I am
Zamon
, the physical and spiritual healer of the Sirelina,” Worrow explained.  “But I am not
Zamori
, a spiritual leader.  I am not qualified to perform the ceremony of marriage.”

“Will your Zamori do it?” Karma asked.

“I am sorry, Lady Techu,” he said.  “Our Zamori is not here.  She has traveled to another village of Sirelina and will not return for many days yet.”

“We cannot wait that long,” Karma said.  “We must claim the Moon Orb before it sinks back into the ocean.”

“We will have to take the risk of doing this without closing our bond,” Zakiel said reluctantly.  “We have no choice.”

 “In that case, perhaps you will not object to some assistance from me,”
Cadusar Zabeth said, appearing above the table, her white hair drifting around her.

“Greetings, Cadusar Zabeth,” Karma said in surprise.  “That is a most thoughtful offer, but I must ask Zakiel.”

Zabeth bowed her head regally in acquiescence.

“Let me guess,” Zakiel said with a grin.  “Cadusar Zabeth has offered to perform the marriage for us.”

“Yes,” Karma replied.  “Do you think it would be binding?”

“If you use the Ti-Ank so that everyone can both see and hear her, it will not only be binding, but in many ways, appropriate,” Zakiel said with a sly grin.  “If anyone objects, don’t forget, I am the Prince.  I can order them to accept it.”

Karma laughed as she turned back to Zabeth. 

“We are most honored by your offer, Cadusar Zabeth,” she said.  “Should we do it now, or could you rejoin us this evening?”

“This evening will be fine,”
Zabeth replied, smiling as she faded away.

“She will return this evening,” Karma said.  “This is happening very fast.”

“It cannot be fast enough for me,” Zakiel said.  “I know it will not be fancy, but don’t forget, my father will certainly wish us to have a more formal ceremony when we return to Ka-Teru.”

Karma smiled.  “I do not need fancy, Zakiel, I need only you.”

“Excuse me,” Kapia said with barely restrained excitement, “but did you two just find a way to get married tonight?”

“Yes,” Karma replied, turning to face the people around them that she had forgotten in her happiness.  “Cadusar Zabeth of the Chya will appear to conduct the ceremony for us this evening.  I will use the Ti-Ank so that all can see and hear her.”

Kapia squealed with happiness, causing all eyes to turn to her, which made her blush.

“Sorry,” she said, lowering her voice.  “I am so happy for you and Zakiel, and I must admit, myself as well.  I cannot wait to have you as my sister.”

“As I will love having you as my sister,” Karma replied warmly. 

“We invite the Sirelina to join us this evening to help us celebrate our wedding,” Zakiel said to Worrow.

“On behalf of all the Sirelina, we accept,” Worrow said with a happy smile.  “We would be most honored if you will allow us to prepare a wedding feast in your honor.”

“That is most generous,” Zakiel replied.  “Thank you.”

“Come, Sister,” Karma said, taking Kapia’s hand.  “I need your help to plan a wedding that will take place in a few hours using only what we have with us.”

“This will be fun,” Kapia said.  “We must first inform Lashi and Caral.  Without them, we have no hope of success.”

“Agreed,” Karma said.  She paused and turned back to look at Zakiel, who was watching her with a grin.  She blew him a kiss, then turned and hurried out of the house and toward camp with Kapia on one side, and Nikura on the other.

While neither Lashi nor Caral dared to squeal aloud as Kapia had, their delight at the news was obvious.  Within moments, all four women were busily planning a wedding. 

***

Just before sunset, Karma stood in the tent she shared with Kapia and looked down at herself, hardly able to credit that such a beautiful outfit was not only on her body, but that it was hers.  When she had expressed happiness that Lashi had been able to wash some clothing just a day earlier, so there should at least be something clean for her to wear, Lashi had looked almost insulted.  It turned out that, since Lady Techu was a most important personage, Lashi had naturally brought along a formal outfit for her.  After all, one never knew when a formal event might come up.

Lashi and Caral spent the afternoon making alterations to the outfit, their tiny silver needles flying so fast they were hard to see.  Karma wanted to help, but she’d never sewn a stitch in her life and knew that she would only slow them down.

The sleeveless vest had been converted into a veil, and embroidered with signs and symbols for happiness, fertility, harmony and love, as required for proper wedding attire.  The skirt and top were decorated at waist, hem and neck with tiny pearlescent beads sewn into a delicate, star pattern that Karma loved, reminding her of a garment a friend had once made for her.  Once the stars were finished, Lashi had wanted to add a larger, more elaborate pattern of stars to the front of the skirt, insisting that exaggerated decoration was traditional.  Karma put her foot down on that idea.  She didn’t need or want further embellishment.  It suited her taste perfectly just as it was.  Lashi gave in with a tiny smile of approval that Karma pretended not to see. 

Lashi then expressed her disappointment that the fabric was not bright red, which was the most appropriate color for a wedding.  She apologized profusely for that, insisting that she should have been more prepared for any possibility which arose.  However, once Karma put the outfit on, even Lashi had to admit that the dark burgundy suited Karma’s coloring very well, and the beading matched the silver stars in her soft gray eyes. 

The veil was attached to the back of her head, covering her hair, which Lashi had brushed to a lustrous shine and left hanging free down her back as a sign of her rank.  Kapia had loaned her a set of pearl earrings that matched the beading on her outfit, and Caral, who had a very deft and light hand with cosmetics, had worked her magic to even out Karma’s skin tone, though the glow on her face came from within rather than the powder pot.  She carefully lined Karma’s eyes with kohl, emphasizing them even further, and, at Kapia’s orders, offered Karma a wide range of expensive perfumes for her to select from.  Karma thanked Kapia, but chose to dab on her own lavender scent instead.  A pair of soft, silver sandals completed her outfit. 

Karma was pleased with the way she looked, the people around her, and the modest, but heartfelt preparations for her wedding.  She didn’t have bushels of imported exotic flowers, or a three hundred carat diamond tiara, or a twenty foot silk train, or five thousand guests, as her eldest sister had on her wedding day, but she was glad for it.  She had disliked the ostentation when it was her sister’s wedding.  She would have hated it for herself.  Besides, she had one thing that her sister hadn’t had, and that was a man who truly loved her, and who she loved in return.  Nothing else mattered.

“Are you ready?” Kapia asked, her eyes dancing with happiness and excitement.

“I am very ready,” Karma replied, reaching for the Ti-Ank.

“Karma, Bredon has asked that you do him the honor of allowing him to escort you into the circle,” Kapia said.  “Would you mind?  I know he is not close family, but he will be one day.”

“I would be both grateful and honored,” Karma said.  “Will there be someone with Zakiel?”

“Yes, he has asked Sir Garundel to stand with him,” Kapia said, stepping back as she, Caral and Lashi gave Karma one last critical look.

“You are perfect,” Kapia announced.  “Let’s not keep my brother waiting any longer or he may come to get you.”

***

Zakiel stood outside of a large circle made up of Knights, Hunters and the highest ranking Sirelina, including Worrow, with Garundel beside him, anxiously awaiting his bride.  He wore his finest red dress kilt with gold trim, a new black vest, golden sandals and his golden torc and gold bracers.  Garundel held a velvet box that Zakiel had carried with him since his mother’s passing.  Never had he believed he would want to give the contents to his own bride, but now he could think of nothing he wanted to give Karma more.