Summoner 19, page 29
part #19 of Summoner Series
“Aww,” the metallogue mock-pouted, and Mur mimicked his facial expression perfectly.
“What’s something more low-key we could do instead?” I wondered.
“Yeah, we need something more suited to the things Braden enjoys doing,” Gawain replied as his emerald eyes stared up at the ceiling.
“We could always just take him out to a tavern,” Almasy suggested. “Drink a few beers, enjoy some good music.”
“That sounds simple enough,” I agreed with the earth mage.
“Yeah, but is that too boring? Varleth wondered. “Taverns are always the safe bet, but do we want to do something safe, or something memorable?”
“Well, maybe we could at least begin the night with something simple, and round it out with something memorable,” I proposed to the group. “I have no idea what that means…”
“We could give him a gift?” Mur proposed in thickly-accented Mistral. “In Moose Clan, we give the groom a gift before his mating night, like a weapon, or something he can use to protect his new wife and family in battle.”
“That’s actually not a bad idea,” I pondered. “I don’t think we’ll be able to get a sword last minute, but I think I know somewhere we can find something else…”
That night, after we’d gone gift hunting and finalized our plans, we kidnapped Braden from his room and took him out to our usual haunt, a tavern called the Retching Goblin. Common amongst Academy students and faculty, the tavern was really nothing more than a dingy shed with a distressed and tilted sign, but the place was homey in a way that was difficult to describe. It was the kind of place where people danced, drank, and occasionally got into fights, but it was a familiar space we all loved.
“Hey, man, are you sure this is where you’d like to spend you last night as a free man?” Almasy wondered as he peered around the crowded tavern. “We could always take you somewhere a little seedier if you’d prefer that.”
“I don’t see it as being a ‘free man,’” Braden chuckled as we located our favorite table. “I wouldn’t be rushing to get married if I didn’t want it, so a night out at one of our favorite places is more than enough for me.”
“In that case, I’ll go fetch us a round,” Varleth declared. “Orenn, would you care to join me?”
“Let’s do it,” Orenn decided.
“I’ll come, too,” Mur chimed in as he hopped out of his seat. Even after we’d returned from the Shadowscape, the moose shapeshifter was still enamored with the adept mage and followed him around wherever he could.
Orenn didn’t seem to mind, though. He treated the boy like he was a little brother, and I appreciated the camaraderie between the pair. I was also glad Mur had such a positive role model to guide him.
“So, buddy, you feeling good about everything?” I inquired as I patted Braden on the back. “Not having any doubts, are you?”
“I’m perfectly fine.” Braden shrugged. “No doubts, though I am a little nervous. Of course, that’s really nothing new.”
My former roommate had been a slightly timid and quiet guy when I first met him, but as time progressed, he seemed to really step out of his comfort zone. I credited the change to our time out in the field, but I knew a big part of his change had been Mati’s doing. The banisher seemed to bring out the best in him, and I knew Braden would only get more confident and assured with time.
“You’re going to be just fine,” I insisted. “Besides, it’s me you have to worry about.”
“You’re going to do well, Gryff,” Braden laughed at me. “I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t think you could handle it.”
“I really don’t think there’s anything Gryff couldn’t handle at this point,” Almasy remarked with a raised eyebrow and a wink in my direction.
“What’d we miss?” Orenn asked as he, Mur, and Varleth returned with a round of ale for the table.
“Just Almasy complimenting my greatness.” I shrugged as I accepted a pint from Varleth.
“Oh, so nothing new,” Orenn quipped, and after the mages and shapeshifter handed out the ale, they reclaimed their seats with the rest of us.
Once everyone was settled in, I reached into my pocket, retrieved a small wrapped package from my jacket, and then held it out to Braden.
“What’s this?” Braden frowned as he accepted the present. He toyed with it and tilted his head to the side as he examined the simple wrapping paper.
Meanwhile, the rest of us exchanged excited looks at each other.
“I know this is all pretty low-key, so we wanted to get you something special,” I answered, and then I inclined my head toward the gift. “Go ahead and open it.”
“You guys didn’t have to get me anything,” he insisted, but after he was given a round of narrowed eyes, he let out a chuckle. “Okay, okay, I’ll open it.”
The summoner carefully unwrapped the package gently, as if he was afraid he would break it, and once the paper fell to the table, the contents were revealed.
It was a crystal, triangular, medium-sized, and so clear, it almost appeared like it was carved from ice.
“Holy shit,” Braden muttered as he admired the multi-faced gem in awe. “Is this--”
“It’s a chimera,” I explained, and my former roommate’s eyes nearly fell out of his head. “She’s an ice variety, so she’s on the rarer side.”
“Where did you even find it?” Braden wondered. “Chimeras aren’t exactly a common monster.”
My large-framed friend was correct in that statement. Chimeras were a pretty rare monster, and not only that, they were Grade B. They were cousins of the gryphon, odd creatures that were a combination of lion, dragon, and goat, and they were always inexplicably female. I’d never seen the ice variation of the monster, but if the structure of the crystal was any indication, she was going to be awesome looking.
“We scored it from a traveling merchant passing through Varle,” I explained. “It was his only one, so we all pooled some money together to get it for you.”
“Oh, you guys shouldn’t have done that,” Braden sighed. “It’s way too extravagant--”
“No, no, no, we definitely should have,” Gawain insisted with a small smile.
“It was Mur’s idea,” I pointed out. “It’s a Moose Clan tradition to give a weapon to the groom. For protecting your home and whatnot. We figured this would be better for you than a sword.”
“Thanks, guys.” Braden smiled. “This was a very thoughtful gift.”
“You deserve it,” I reiterated. “And besides, I’m going to need you to be as equipped as possible for the next crazy mission we go on.”
“Oh, Maker, I don’t even want to think about that tonight,” Braden chuckled as he placed the new essence crystal into his pouch. “I think we’ve got plenty of excitement to tide us over until the next battle.”
“Cheers to that,” Gawain murmured, and the fire mage raised his glass.
“Nah, let’s do this right.” Varleth shook his head at our golden-haired friend, and then he raised his own glass. “A proper toast is in order. To Braden and his lady love. May you both have the happiest of marriages.”
“To Braden!” I chimed in with a raise of my own glass.
“To Braden!” the rest of my friends cheered, and we all clinked pint glasses.
The rest of the night was spent drinking, laughing, and generally having a great time. We didn’t get drunk enough to be sick, but certainly enough to have a grand time together. As the evening settled down, I found myself sitting alone beside Braden. Our friends were off somewhere in the tavern, and it was the first time we’d had together since the night began.
“I’m getting married tomorrow,” Braden remarked, and his gray eyes sparkled as the words left his lips. “Never thought I’d finally make it, but tomorrow, I get to marry the greatest woman in the world. I’m truly the luckiest man ever.”
“I’m so happy for you, man,” I replied, and then I gave him an earnest smile. It was true. I was beyond excited for my best friend to finally tie the knot and one day start a family of his own.
As we sat there and sipped in the dregs of our ales, my mind wandered over to my own family. Ashla’s pregnancy, and the births of Daphne and Olivir had really started putting things into perspective for me. I was ready to commit myself to being the best husband and father I could be to my wives and children. Things had been insanely busy since my return from the Shadowscape, and I longed for a period of calmness. I wanted a chance to focus on my classes, my women, and my children, but there were other things that needed to be dealt with before that could happen.
Once we got past the wedding and my health was fully restored, I would hunt down Hunnah and Quilla, and I would end this war once and for all.
Chapter Fourteen
The morning of the wedding raced by like a blur, as if time had been enhanced by a pair of speed slugs, and I struggled to keep pace as the hours flew by.
I rose as early as I could and took the time to shower and comb my hair properly. If I was going to stand up in front of all of those people and officiate a ceremony, I needed to look and smell my absolute best.
I rehearsed the ceremony script inside my head as I washed my face, and the act of reciting the words to the mirror made them feel less stiff. While a lot of the ceremony contained traditional wording, I wanted the ceremony to feel earnest and natural, and that was going to be difficult if I recited everything in a wooden tone.
Once my longish hair was slicked back properly, I headed downstairs and changed into my wedding attire.
Braden had requested I wear black slacks with a matching black jacket, so my women had taken me shopping and managed to find a suit that met the criteria. The pants were made of a soft yet thick obsidian-colored material that was comfortable enough to keep me warm, but also prevent me from overheating as I stood in front of a crowd. The shirt was a pale, creamy ivory, and as I carefully buttoned up the garment, I continued to rehearse my lines. By this point, I had everything memorized, but a few more practice sessions couldn’t hurt. I finished off the ensemble with the jacket, a crisp black tie, and a pair of dressy shoes.
After a few more minutes of preparation, I decided I was as ready as I was ever going to be, and I made my way to the back yard to check on the progress. The house was mostly silent as I ran down the stairs, so I figured my women were all either getting ready, or they were outside overseeing the final decorations.
When I stepped out the back door and into the vaguely warm early winter’s day, my jaw nearly plummeted to the ground.
“Holy shit,” I muttered.
The backyard was like something out of a fairytale, from the strings of lights that were hung across the trees, all the way down to the glowing white rose petals that dusted the ground like a layer of floral snow. The whole space was perfumed by the scented blooms, and I inhaled the sweet aroma in delight as I continued to take in the impressively decorated yard.
A small row of tables adorned with food and drink had been set up at the far end of the yard, and in the center table sat a three-tiered cake swathed in pearl-white frosting and dark-red roses. Just to the left of the food area was a space for guests to sit and mingle with one another, and each of the round tables were outfitted with gold place settings.
Finally, I spotted my domain, the place where the magic was going to happen. A walkway parted the four rows of white chairs, and at the end of the aisle stood an arch made of lights and vinery, with white and dark red roses sprinkled throughout it.
“Wow,” I remarked as I peered around the space. “They all really outdid themselves.”
“We did alright, I suppose,” I heard a voice behind me, and I turned around to see Erin had snuck up on me.
The beautiful mimic’s orange hair had been twisted into a stylish updo fastened by gemstone barrettes, and her makeup had been applied with a careful hand. She was clad in a dark-green bell-sleeved dress with a long skirt that flared out at her hips. The bottom of the skirt was embellished with intricate lace details that resembled vinery, and the neckline came to a slightly low but tasteful V Erin looked like a flower goddess come to life, and I couldn’t help but admire her ethereal beauty.
“Wow, Erin, you look phenomenal,” I noted as I drank her in. “Seriously, that dress is amazing.”
“Thanks, Gryff.” Erin smiled at me. “I’m glad you like it, cause you’re going to be seeing a lot of it.”
“What do you mean by that?” I wondered, and the gorgeous pilot gestured behind me. I turned around in confusion, and my jaw nearly dropped as I took in the sight of the rest of my lovers.
Each of my women wore the exact same ensemble as Erin, and despite their range in coloring, height, and body type, each of them looked downright stunning. The dress seemed to bring out and amplify their best features, and once again, I was reminded that I was the luckiest man in the realm.
“Wowwww,” I breathed as I drank in the sight. “This is not what I expected. You all look great.”
“Thanks, Gryff,” my women giggled in unison, and then they all cracked up at each other.
“But, wait, aren’t matching dresses a bridesmaid thing?” I frowned. “Not that I’m complaining, but I thought they weren’t doing a wedding party.”
“They weren’t, but we had the dresses already from when Mati and Braden first planned the wedding,” Nia explained. “We were going to pick out new dresses for the occasion, but Mati really loved these ones.”
I didn’t blame the banisher. Her taste was excellent, and each of my women looked exceedingly lovely in their dresses.
“How’s the bride doing?” I wondered.
“She’s perfectly fine.” Arwyn shrugged, and my eyes were drawn into her painted dark-red lips. “Though I think she’s ready to skip ahead to the reception part.”
“That’s the best part of weddings anyways.” I grinned as I remembered the dramatic but exciting reception that followed mine and Nia’s wedding. That particular affair had ended with a blowup between Freya and Nia’s aunts, but I was certain this wedding wasn’t going to be half as dramatic.
“No, the best part is getting to go to bed after.” Layla waggled her eyebrows. Her rest period the other day seemed to have helped her disposition, and she looked just as spritely as ever.
“We’re going to have to get this all cleaned up later,” I reminded the petite mage.
“That’s where you’re wrong, my dear Gryffie.” Layla stuck her tongue out at me. “We’ve hired a clean up crew, so we won’t be doing shit.”
“Really?” I asked, and then I looked at Nia.
“With how much we’ve put into this, we decided to say fuck it and have someone else clean it up,” the elementalist explained, and her no-nonsense attitude made me want to laugh. Nia always carried herself so elegantly, but I loved these moments when she gave in and acted like the rest of us heathens. “Is that okay with you?”
“More than okay,” I replied. “I haven’t put half as much effort into this as you all have, and I’m beat, so I can only imagine how tired you are.”
“It’s been a labor of love.” Cyra shrugged. “Both literally and figuratively.”
“Oh, I think we’re going to be starting soon,” Arwyn realized as she looked around. Guests had started to file in, and as they took their seats on either side of the aisle, sweat began to break out on my forehead. “Relax, Gryff, you’ve got this under control, and you’re going to be fantastic.”
“Thanks, Arwyn,” I said.
“Arwyn is right,” Freya chimed in as she crossed over to me. She straightened out my tie and then peered up at me with her doe-like golden-brown eyes. “You will be wonderful, my mate. Braden and Mati are so lucky that they will be united by your words.”
“Thanks, my love.” I smiled at my hawk wife. “You always know just what to say to make me feel better.”
“It is my wifely duty,” she insisted. “I will always be here to encourage you.”
She gave me a soft kiss that slightly smudged her lipstick, but the shapeshifter didn’t seem to mind when I pointed it out.
“I will fix it.” Freya shrugged. “It was worth the smudge.”
After the gorgeous blonde gave me a wink, she followed after the rest of my women to make the final preparations. I made my way over to a table to find a napkin to wipe my lips with, and as I did, I nearly plowed over Mur.
“Sorry!” I apologized to the moose shapeshifter, but the boy didn’t seem to care.
“It’s okay,” he replied in the language of the Clans. “Wow, Gryff, this sure looks nice. Your family did a wonderful job.”
“Thank you,” I said in an appreciative tone. “I can’t take any of the credit, but my women did a great job, didn’t they?”
“I hope I can find a woman of my own one day,” Mur remarked in a thoughtful but quiet voice. “I see you and your wives, and Braden with his, and it makes me feel a little jealous. I’d like to find someone as wonderful one day.”
“It’ll happen for you,” I insisted, and I placed a hand on the shapeshifter’s shoulder. “Trust me, Mur. You’re a brave and awesome guy, and any woman would be lucky to have you. And who knows, maybe once Headmaster Sleet gets you enrolled into classes, you’ll meet a nice mage.”
“Do you think a mage would want to date a moose?” Mur wondered. “I never thought I would date someone who wasn’t in Moose Clan, but now that I have met human women, I would not be opposed.”
“I married Freya, and she’s a shapeshifter,” I pointed out, and that fact seemed to soothe the boy. Then I spied a hand waving off in the distance.
“Gryff!” Varleth called out. “Mister Flint requires your presence!”
“Coming!” I replied to the banisher, and then I looked back at Mur. “Duty calls. I’ll see you at the reception, okay?”
“Okay.” Mur smiled. “Good luck, Gryff. Not that you need it.”
“Oh, I need it,” I contradicted the shapeshifter. “So, thank you, Mur.”
I squeezed his shoulder and then crossed over to Varleth. The gypsy led me over to where Braden was camped out, and as we crossed over to him, I expected the groom to look nervous, but Braden was anything but.
