Empire of Ashes

Chapter XIX - Wedded and Bedded

I followed on Amber. The rest of the column moved off just minutes later. Several riders cantered up and down the line, distributing a hastily cooked breakfast. The small loaf of bread I was given had been fried on stones over an open fire. Most of them were burnt, but still very edible. I scoffed mine down happily, then watched Melia discard hers when she thought no one was looking. One of these days ... I would beat some sense into that girl's head.

It wasn't a long ride after that. We were only making up the distance the army had covered in our absence. Packing up and the supply wagons had slowed them down to a crawling pace, and consequently they had only covered seven leagues in two days. On rested horses and without luggage, we could traverse that comfortably in half a day.

By lunchtime, the gleam of sunlight on metal gave away the long line of troops who marched through a valley. We dug in our heels and cantered straight for the head of the procession, where the commanders would be riding. Along the way, the fifty men who had come to Duskos broke off to re-join their respective companies.

Once we were in sight of the army, a ragged cheer went up. Everyone recognised Temris. I still needed to find out why they all loved him so much. Normally, a warlord who knelt to the Anglians would be murdered by his own men, not adored by them.

We eventually found Anlai at the very front, riding a grey gelding who was as close to Nightmare's equal as I had ever seen. And as Fendur said, it was like nothing had happened between the two cousins. They greeted each other with matching grins and some good-natured thumping. Their horses weren't quite so keen on each other. It was obvious Nightmare was boss of the herd, and the grey pestered his way to a sharp kick. Fendur himself also managed to get in a greeting, while I sulked on my horse. Anlai was still a prick, even if he could be a nice prick.

"This is Melia," Temris introduced her when he was done exchanging news.

The girl herself looked deathly pale, although I could see a spark of excitement in her eyes when she first beheld her future husband. She couldn't exactly curtsey from horseback, but she gave it a very good try. Sure enough, I saw Anlai's grin grow wider. So they liked the look of each other, even if love at first sight was out of reach.

An awkward silence descended over the group. Neither of them seemed to know what to say to each other. I imagined hello would be a good place to start. Eventually, I gave in and intervened on Melia's behalf.

"If you're cruel to her in any way," I warned him. "I will hear about it."

Anlai gave me a bored stare. "Terrifying, Lyra."

"I mean it. Play nice." Hopefully, my threats would form the foundations of Melia's own defences. The sooner she learned how to stand up for herself, the better. However little I liked her, I liked him a lot less.

His eyes flashed. "Take your own advice."

"Cut it out, you two," Temris ordered. "We'll give the betrothed a chance to get to know each other. It will be four hours until we stop for the night and host the wedding."

He wanted to leave them alone together? Was he serious? It felt serious enough when he herded Amber off to one side. Unfortunately, my mare was far more afraid of Nightmare than of me, and she followed him.

"You ever been to a northern wedding, Lyra?" Fendur asked, grinning like a maniac.

"Well, no. It can't be much rowdier than a southern one. Everyone drinks themselves stupid." I shrugged. I had been to my uncle's wedding when I was very young, and I could still recall the stench of alcohol in the air.

"We will see. I hope you're feeling aggressive." Temris had acquired the same grin as his Iyrak. They knew something I didn't. What sort of wedding required aggression? It must be some sort of exaggeration.