One month later
There’s a knock on the door.
My hands pause with my shirt half fastened. I can’t help hoping that it’s Marian, but I also know Dezzy would strangle her, and then me, if we saw each other now.
Rufus slips inside as I open the door. ‘I got it!’ He holds up papers in his one hand. ‘My contacts sent the list of what they can round up.’ Immediately, his hungry gaze sweeps Agatha’s room, which I’ve mostly packed up except her worktable of tools and supplies.
‘None of that’s for sale,’ I say, and return to buttoning my shirt. ‘Dezzy’s claimed it all for the school.’ To teach the sciences. Not bomb-making. At least, I hope.
‘Oh, I know that,’ he says, like he wasn’t mentally cataloguing everything. He thrusts his papers at me. ‘Anyway, the Lower Beaver Trading Post said they can find about fifty yards of copper pipes to run along the wood-stove chimneys. So it looks like we will have hot water this winter and –’
‘Rufus,’ I say, cutting him off. ‘I’m not talking about projects today.’
‘Okay.’ He shrugs, then brings on a smile that has my guard rising. ‘It’s my son’s wedding day. Let’s start the celebration.’
Son. My stomach roils. For weeks now he’s been taking the wear-the-crown-until-it-fits approach to our relationship, which is going about as awkwardly as expected.
We may share the same eyes and height, but very little else.
He wants to be trusted. I’d bet our budding chance at old-world electricity that depending on him is a mistake.
Although, he has proven me wrong on a few things now, especially with his trader relationships. I wouldn’t have half the pieces I’ve acquired from the old world for the extra water tower and well projects without him.
Rufus presses his lips together and attempts to look reflective. Or maybe he’s going for sentimental. ‘You look good,’ he mutters.
I’m saved by another knock on the door, and Levi, Samuel and Tristan file in.
I smile. ‘You guys all loaded up?’
‘Mostly,’ Tristan says. ‘Delivered the grain to the barns and packed the coal in the trailers to take back. But we still have to reload our food and water before heading out.’
‘We’re not leaving too early, though, right?’ asks Levi. ‘Because it’s going to be a late night, tonight. A proper party.’ He looks genuinely concerned.
‘Yeah, no need to rush off,’ I say. ‘You could always stay another day.’
‘Right,’ Tristan drawls. ‘Because you’ll be available to hang out.’
I smirk. ‘Who said anything about hanging out?’
‘No.’ Sam flops down on the chair in front of the long desk and it cracks. Loudly. We all freeze. When it doesn’t splinter into pieces, he continues, ‘I told the rest of the team we’ll leave at sunrise. With the trailers, it’ll take at least a week to get home.’
Tristan’s face turns stricken. ‘In that case, we’re definitely leaving at first light.’
Levi groans. ‘Why didn’t you just bring Isa–’
The door opens with a flourish, revealing Dezzy in a yellow dress. ‘Ryland and … oh my.’ Her hand flies to her chest and she giggles. ‘So many handsome soldiers.’
Samuel grins so hard I almost see his teeth – interesting.
‘It is time to go,’ she announces.
‘Really?’ I glance out the window at the position of the sun. ‘I thought we had –’
Dezzy’s amusement drops like a lead hammer. ‘It is time to go! Being early means being on time.’ She claps her hands twice, and all five of us move like she just pulled a weapon.
Lanterns hang everywhere, glowing brightly even though it’s not quite dark. It looks no different from a New Moon celebration, except tonight there’s also a path of lanterns forming an aisle.
Every resident except the guards protecting the perimeter of Notting is at the Dresden Circle.
Tristan and I secure our horses and approach the crowd as the musicians play soft music.
I point at Little John and give him a thumbs-up. ‘Nice shoes.’ They’re more of a handsewn leather slipper and possibly a little too big for him. Samuel whipped them up last night after being outraged at finding the boy still barefoot.
Little John smiles proudly, showing off his front tooth that’s starting to grow in, then also points out his shirt and shorts, which look like he only played in a barn, not spent years living in one.
It’s amazing how removing a few rules, like taxing people into oblivion, can transform trade for a community and improve lives.
Clara pulls her son into a hug. ‘He says they slow him down when he runs, but he’ll wear them for the wedding.’
‘Because I’m the best man,’ Little John pipes up. ‘Again.’
‘Nice try, kid.’ Samuel huffs as he strolls up, crossing his beefy arms. ‘I’m the best man.’
‘What?’ Little John’s face falls, and he buries his head in his mother’s skirt.
‘Hey, kid!’ Samuel says in a tone that’s anything but kid-friendly. ‘I was only joking. It’s fine. You’re the best man.’
Clara picks Little John up and tries to console him by whispering in his ear.
‘You want a …’ Samuel glances around looking a little distressed. ‘A shoulder ride or something?’
Little John pops his head up and wipes his eyes. ‘No, but I’ll take your knife.’
Sam’s eyes narrow, but before he can reply, Brother Thomas interrupts us, nodding towards the road. ‘It’s time for everyone to take their places.’
The crowd quiets as Little John, who’s wearing his newly acquired weapon’s strap like a necklace, walks with me and Brother Thomas to the front. The music changes and a new song starts. Then the people begin to sing in unison.
I brush a hand over my hair. Take a deep breath, vibrating with anticipation. I’ve only been apart from Marian for a day, but there’s a sharp ache in my chest from how much I miss her.
Marian appears at the end of the aisle on her horse, white dress flowing behind her, a ring of flowers in her half-pinned-up hair. Everyone else disappears. My throat instantly goes thick as I take her in – she’s so beautiful.
The singing grows louder as Marian, and Dezzy behind her, step down from their mounts. They hook elbows and walk together through the lantern-lit path. Marian’s face lights up when she sees me.
I go to her, taking her from Dezzy. She touches my face, eyes soft as her finger wipes away a tear on my cheek.
‘You’re not ugly,’ Little John blurts out. ‘He’s not crying because of that.’
Marian laughs, along with most of the crowd.
‘He’s right,’ I say as I take her hands. ‘You’re stunning.’
‘This day has been a long time coming,’ Brother Thomas begins. ‘It’s a celebration. Marriage –’
Marian bites her lips and her eyes dance as Brother Thomas begins with the same words he spoke in his little hut at our first go at this.
The poems and his thoughts on love don’t go on for long, and soon he transitions into something heavier.
‘At Ryland and Marian’s request,’ he says, ‘we honour and remember Agatha today.’ My head lowers, respectfully. Marian squeezes my hands tighter.
‘We also remember that this freedom we now enjoy came at a cost, one that Agatha and others paid for with their lives. There will always be those who wish to take advantage of us. Control us. Imprison us so they can gain power, just like the Commander did. And we will not forget the sacrifice and bravery of those – including the two people getting married today – who stand against tyranny. Who fight to have a better way of life.’
I watch as Marian’s eyes crinkle in a fresh wave of grief. I feel it too, but in a different way.
Every thread of the connection tying Agatha and me together is gone. But I’ll always carry a mix of sadness and gratefulness for the sacrifice she made in an impossible situation. Through her, I got to experience the wonder of the connection.
And because of her, I get to live.
When Brother Thomas finishes, I nudge Little John. ‘It’s time, buddy.’ I stuck the rings in his pocket seconds before Marian arrived, but that doesn’t stop the stab of fear when he blinks up at me with a blank face.
To the amusement of the crowd, Little John empties his pockets, pulling out sticks, rocks and a dead beetle that he tells everyone is named Todd.
He hands Todd to Samuel, which sets the crowd tittering.
Levi’s laughing so hard he looks like he’s choking.
Finally, with a flourish, Little John reveals the two rings in the palm of his hand.
Marian stares, amazed. ‘Where did those come from?’
We’d agreed to finish our exchange of necklaces, but she’s already wearing the one I gave her, along with her own. I squeeze her hand. ‘Let’s just say I came back to Notting prepared.’
I slide the ring on to her finger and speak my vows to her a second time, proud and thankful that despite all that happened with Agatha, they remain unbroken.
To Agatha, the words ‘I do’ were an acceptance of a forced marriage.
But in Brother Thomas’s hut, I vowed to protect Marian and give her my heart, and I’ve loved her beyond anything I thought possible ever since.
Marian takes off the necklace she wanted to give me and places it around my neck. I can’t take my eyes off her as she finally speaks her vows to me. Emotion chokes her voice on the last line, and she repeats herself, saying it again, louder. ‘All the days of my life.’
I immediately kiss her, and the crowd erupts in applause.
Marian smiles against my lips.
But then it’s like I’ve been dropped into a vat of deep, cold water. Pressure builds in my head. Expands in my ears. My ribs feel too small to contain my lungs – and that’s just the start of it as all hellfire breaks loose.