The Mist and the Lightning. Part 19

He carefully pulled Nik’s half-blood marks out of his lip, took out the black beaded ring, and removed the rings sticking out of his nostrils, leaving only one ring in one nostril. He fastened a chain to it, and attached the other end to an earring in Nik’s ear. The wide chain lay in an arc. Sinking down, it covered the corner of Nik’s lips, and Kors, moving it slightly to the side with his hand, bent down and gently kissed Nik on the lips. Then he pulled away. Leaving his hold on the chain, he let go of it, and it lay again on Nik’s lips. Kors stroked his cheek affectionately and raised his small mirror to his face.

“Have a look. Do you like it?”

Nik looked at his reflection.

“Yes. It is beautiful,” he raised his such bewitching bright eyes to Kors, “thank you,” Nik hesitated, as if he was waiting for something, and then finally said: “and the second one?”

“No,” Kors smiled, “one is enough. Isn’t it too heavy? Are you comfortable?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me, will you wear it for me?”

“Yeah,” Nik replied.

“And you won’t take it off without my permission?”

“I’ll wear it as long as you want,” Nik answered obediently.

And Kors, in a passionate impulse, leaned towards him, rising on his knees and hanging over him, squeezing his temples in his palms, throwing back his face and greedily biting into his lips. Nik returned his kisses, and Kors calmed down a little, began to kiss him more tenderly. He suddenly heard music in the distance. The melody flowed slowly overflowing, and a beautiful female voice sang a prayer song to the God of the Upper World, repeating the words of gratitude and praising him.

Praise God! May God’s light be with us! Praise God!

Kors slowly pulled away from Nik.

“Am I going crazy? I kiss you and hear an angel!”

Nik listened.

“I think it’s Lila,” he said, but not very confidently. “I don’t understand music very well, sorry.”

“Lila? Is that the actress, Tol’s wife? But what is she doing here?!”

Nik laughed and slapped his forehead lightly with an open palm, so that the chain on his face swayed:

“I have completely forgotten, today is the wedding! Shrad marries Anya.” He laughed again. “Shall we goto the wedding?”

“Let’s go,” Kors said.

In a small beautiful grove not far from the estate of Prince Arel, near a clear river that ran to waterfalls, a solemn marriage of Shrad and Anya was arranged. A lot of guests came to the wedding. Here were the black mercenaries of Zagpeace Gezaria, and he himself. There were also Daniel Crassus with his cadets, and Prince Ariel Riel with his noble knights, and Tol’s warriors from the Lower City, and many unclean ones, and residents of the nearby town, and just peasants from the Estate of Prince Arel and the surrounding area.

Seamus was a witness on the groom’s side, and Lila was on the bride’s side. Tol led the bride to the Altar. People and unclean ones lined up on both sides of the path with bouquets of flowers and bowls of grain in their hands. Kors looked at such an important and concentrated Tol, who, with a proud look, slowly and solemnly led Anya by the arm, dressed today in a feminine white dress, and involuntarily recalled how he had also led his beloved daughter Karina to Lis. Tears filled his eyes as he overwhelmed him. Damn, I think I’ve gotten too sentimental with age, Kors thought. Trying to control himself, he began to blink rapidly so that tears would not flow from his eyes and none of those standing nearby would notice his weakness. However, he was worried in vain — everyone looked at the bride and groom, and many also wept with emotion.

Tol led Anya to the Altar of the Four Elements, on which fire burned in all four directions of the world, incense smoked and bowls with water, salt and offerings stood. He handed over the bride to the groom. The priest connected the hands of the newlyweds with a ribbon embroidered with magical symbols. Shrad and Anya swore allegiance to each other until death do them part.