Chapter 35
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I think surviving being the topic of a town-wide meeting is character growth of the highest order.
My hands are sweaty. My stomach’s rioting. All the nerves in my body have gathered together to threaten a strike. I fear they’re bound to unionize soon if I don’t quit overworking them.
Standing outside the tavern door at the time Ines appointed for nearly the entire town to meet and help me with my top secret mission of marrying Samson, I find I am in over my head.
Public speaking was never a strength.
In school, I almost failed any project that sent me to stand in front of everyone and make a fool of myself.
I’m positive I only passed any of those classes because when I’m nervous, I ramble, and when I ramble, I ramble facts.
My teacher could not suggest I hadn’t extensively studied the subject with a dedication that bordered on clinical.
Problem.
Big, big problem.
This public speaking gig?
It’s about Samson.
And you would not believe how much I know about Samson.
I am insane.
Because of my video game expertise, I know favorite foods he hasn’t even experienced yet.
If I don’t throw up in the next thirty minutes, I’m counting tonight as a resounding win.
With that single, truly simple goal in mind, I latch my shaking hand around the doorknob and ease my way into the rustic tavern hall. Mercifully, chatter does not cease. Eyes do not fly to me. Everyone proceeds as though I’ve not entered the building.
It does wonderful things for my heart as I slip my way toward Ines, Aurelia, and Chrysa, who are at one of the five round tables scattered in the room. They’re speaking animatedly, with sweeping hand motions and sparkling eyes.
Upon seeing me, Ines smiles and kicks a chair out for me, but she doesn’t stop talking.
“Logically, the wedding should be in Finel Spring. It’s gonna take some time to construct a boat, see what the island looks like, then plan a ceremony on it.
The soonest we could be ready is this Winter, but who’s heard of a Winter wedding? ”
“Are we sure we can’t have the wedding in town? Tomorrow?” Aurelia beams.
Ines’s fist hits the table. “Citrus wants an island wedding. Citrus gets an island wedding.”
My flesh heats. “U-um.”
The three women look at me, and it takes great effort not to swallow my own tongue.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I murmur. “It’s just that I still need to find a diamond in the mine and have it cut for Samson’s circlet, and I don’t know what everything will cost, and—” I’m rambling.
Already. It’s started so soon. I bite my tongue before I start spouting any more nonsense.
Chrysa smiles, toying with one of her curls. “Pyro can cut it once you have it. He dabbles in that kind of thing since it alters casting when you’re gifted.”
“It must be pretty hard to find a diamond…” Aurelia’s lips dip into a slight pout. “How long do you think it will take.”
“Well…” Samson and I have been in the Cosmic Mines off and on for two and a half weeks.
And I have found one. “If we only had the technology, it’s not impossible to make a diamond, it just involves exposing chunks of carbon to the same conditions that form diamond organically—extreme heat and pressure—but—” I’m yammering again.
My throat constricts, and I bear the unique sensation of being crunched into a diamond.
Ines hums, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. “I didn’t invite Slate to this party. Do we need to petition his assistance?” Her fingernail swirls to reference me. “That all sounds like a Slate contraption kinda thing.”
I laugh, awkwardly—AKA the only laughter I am capable of. “Uh. No. That’s okay.” There are already a ton of people here. Willing to help me. Marry Samson. I’m so embarrassed I could cry. “I’ll find one the normal way eventually. We have time. How long does it take to build a boat?”
“I dunno. I’ve never built a boat before.” Ines rocks onto the back legs of her chair and calls across the room. “Gabbro!”
“Yah?” the man grins over a mug of something warm. “How ken I help ye, Nes?”
“How long’s it gonna take to build Lau a boat?”
“I’m getting a boat?” Laumon blurts from another table, on his feet, hands plastered to the surface, eyes shining. “Really?”
“Yep. It’s part of the master plan,” Ines confirms. “We want an island wedding.”
“A boat large enough to transport the town?” Laumon’s usual, calm disposition just got a hit of drugs. He is vibrating.
“Tha’s a decent-size boat,” Gabbro murmurs. “I’ve never built a boat before.”
Laumon, very OOC for a secondary mineral in basalt, blurts, “I know how to build a boat. I’ve studied building boats. I can build a boat. I just need the materials and the help. It’s a lot of heavy lifting.”
Pyro laughs from the same table as Laumon. “I’ll help. Sounds like fun.”
Ines snaps her fingers. “I need a time estimate, people!”
“Two weeks!” Laumon says. “Three at the most.”
Ines nods, turning back to our table as new conversation—a boat!
an island wedding? who cares? I get a boat!
—takes over the rest of the room. Puffing a breath, Ines drops her chair back down onto all four legs.
“Three weeks sets us in late Autumn at the soonest. Will you have a diamond by then? Do you want an Autumn wedding? On an island? With the wind?”
I get the sensation that Ines does not want an Autumn wedding, on an island, with the wind. Problem is… I tangle my fingers in my jean skirt beneath the table and bite my lip. “I…want a Winter wedding. On an island. …in the snow.”
“In the snow?” Ines snaps.
“Oh, that’s beautiful!” Aurelia exhales, floating. “A crystalline wedding.”
“We won’t have to worry about the cake sweating!” Chrysa chirps.
“We could have a bonfire reception and host the wedding in the evening!” Aurelia gasps.
They clasp hands. “Sunset wedding!”
A sunset wedding…surrounded by snow…with the crackle of a bonfire beginning to roar.
Sighing, Ines plops her chin into her palm. “Great, you’ve entranced her with the idea. No escaping the bitter cold now. I’ll get on adding a shawl to my design, but you’re lucky wedding dresses are warm to begin with. Lazul!”
I jump.
The lord himself jumps before gracefully rising from the table with Gabbro and gliding to ours. Clearly, he’s too decent and proper to shout across the room. “Yes?”
“Is this Winter too soon for the paperwork you need to submit to go through?”
His gaze drifts as he brushes a knuckle over his lips. “Well…I may have to submit it as soon as this week…but I can make it work.”
This…week?
I do not know if I’ll have a diamond in the next few days unless I convince Samson that, oh you know, I need to go to the mines every day. Dawn to dusk. I’ve tasted richities, and I need more. Don’t give me that look. No, you can’t blame this on my astigmatism.
Wait. Even after I get the diamond, I’ll need to have it cut along with the other four gemstones I want to adorn Samson’s circlet with. All of that is going to take time.
I stammer, “I don’t know if I’ll have everything ready to…to propose this week?”
Lazul’s blue eyes find me and blink, innocence radiating from them. “What does that matter?”
Maybe I’m confused. Heat fills my cheeks. “Uh. Doesn’t Samson need to accept my proposal before you do paperwork stuff?”
He laughs. And Ines laughs. And Aurelia and Chrysa giggle.
“Samson may not be entirely fond of me, but that doesn’t mean I think poorly of him. The Ridge has flourished more deeply with his care, just as it has with yours. You won’t catch me believing him to bear the same mental facilities he often thrusts upon my character.”
I think that’s fancy lord speak for I don’t think he’s an idiot even if he thinks I’m one. Which translates further into you two are getting married because to not marry you would be stupid.
It is a sentiment I appreciate, really.
I just in no way have that kind of faith in myself.
And here I thought I’d be the insane one spouting nonsense tonight.
Warmly, Lazul smiles. “I cannot think of a more perfect union. You and Samson are two of the kindest, most hard-working people I know. There are very few communities like ours these days that cling to the values of ages past, when magic flowed more freely and people cared more openly about one another. I am honored to approve this relationship and bind you together for the future.” A twinkle glistens in the lord’s eye.
“After all…Gem Ridge does not let just anyone within its sanctuary.”
I stare at him. I blink. “I’m sorry. What?”
Ines snorts while Aurelia explains, “Don’t you think it’s odd that not more people travel here? We survive solely on our own independence and Mimet’s efforts. Gem Ridge is invite-only, and it’s certainly not any of us who can extend the invitation.”
“But…Samson. When you met and he got injured, you brought him here.”
Aurelia covers her lips with her hand and shakes her head. “He was unconscious. We were closer to the city. Austin and I would have taken him there and begged help from any medic we could find. Nature itself didn’t give us a choice. One step toward the city, and we were at Peri’s door.”
“And…you never told him?” My mind feels like soup attempting to wrap itself around this new lore drop. “But…you’re telling me?”
“Well…it’s not exactly a secret.” Aurelia’s attention slips toward Lazul.
The man clears his throat. “What? You can’t be blaming me that the man remains oblivious.”
“Lord Lazul told him,” Aurelia says. “Ever the skeptic, Samson assumed it was an outrageous sale tactic in getting him to stay.”
“He narrowed his eyes at me before he rolled them and asked how much I wanted for the farm. Before I could tell him I wasn’t charging, he shoved a bag of money at me, said it was all he had, and slammed the door in my face.”
My mouth opens, but I close it. This…is world-changing information.
This means I’m here for a reason that surpasses my understanding.
This means that when Lazul gave me a shack house and land, it’s because I wasn’t a person in need who was meant to stay in the guest room of anyone who had the space so shortly after the storm; he was setting me up to stay.
Because he knew the fact I was here at all meant I’d been chosen to be a part of this community.
He knew I belonged here.
I…belong…here.
“I…” It feels like I could evaporate into thin air at a moment’s notice. “I don’t know what to say.”
Lazul chuckles. “This world is full of wonders; some you’ve uncovered in your short time here already. Sometimes, I think maybe people forget that, so—sometimes—something sends a reminder.”
Aurelia wraps her arms around me in the least awkward side hug I’ve ever been subjected to.
Perhaps since it’s the only side hug I’ve ever been subjected to.
“We’re all blessed and gifted in different ways.
Sometimes, a person is the blessing itself.
Samson gave Austin and I our lives when we met.
So, to me, he’s more gifted than anyone.
” Pulling away, she beams. “Whether the world at large realizes it or not, whether you’ve some specific skill that taps into the magic all around or not, it’s all of us.
The real magic…is all of us. And, since you’re here, it’s you. ”
Yep.
That’ll do it.
My throat closes as the tears I’ve been fighting spill free, choking me.
Aurelia’s arms circle again as Ines’s join. “Oh, lovely,” she murmurs. “It’s okay.”
“I’m sorry,” I croak. “This is so beautiful that it’s caused my astigmatism to act up, but we’ve gotten off topic?
Even though the topic is also kind of embarrassing, at least it didn’t make me cry?
I just don’t know how comfortable I am with confirming to a government of some kind that Samson and I are getting married before Samson, uh, tells me that he wants to? ”
Laughing once more, Lazul smiles blindingly bright. “Don’t worry about it.”
I do truly wish that people would stop telling me not to worry about things, especially after implying that they like having me around.
It’s very confusing behavior, given that I am little more than a human-shaped knot of worries.
Heart in my throat, I try valiantly again, “I— I just don’t know if it’s morally acceptable for everyone to be assuming something so important about Samson? ”
Aurelia snuggles. “Shh. We love Sammy. We would never do anything to hurt him. Trust us.”
And now they’re attacking my trust issues, personally? While hugging me?
I’ve never met this flavor of abuse before.
I do not rightly know what to do with it.
So I say, “O-okay…if you’re sure it’s all right…”
“Yup!” the four of them respond, in chilling unison.
And that’s that.
The second I get the circlet prepped, all that’s left for me to do is propose.