“I would like to dance with both Rose and you”, Ayla told Wren, smiled at him and followed her new cousin over to the flower girl. Provided that Faith’s daughter agreed, they would dance a group dance afterwards, just like people had done during the Mummer’s Ball.
~~~
A very light smile was visible on Ebony Venora’s face when Hart bowed to her. She appreciated the young man’s good manners. A moment later, when he asked her if she would like to dance, she raised an eyebrow slightly before she inclined her head and took his hand.
The former Duchess of Venora was in her seventies now, but she still moved with a certain grace. She was not a warm and gentle woman, and she had once been known as a staunch traditionalist, but she listened to her grandson with genuine interest when he talked about his life now.
When he told her about his life with the biqaj and his mother, she asked him where his family were now. She wanted to know more about them, provided that he was willing to tell her.
Upon hearing that his birth mother was none other than Edasha, she raised an eyebrow once more. Had she not been teleported from her home to Vri’s domain of Bellinos and just attended an Immortal’s wedding, her reaction would have been far more extreme.
As it was, she was gradually getting used to the involvement of the Immortals in her family’s life though, although she couldn’t help but wonder how her son had managed to attract Edasha’s attention. There was also another thing that she could not help but be curious about.
“Does Edasha play a part in your life now?” she wanted to know, in a polite tone of voice.
When Hart admitted that he would like to know about her, Ebony answered. She told him that she had been Duchess for more than half her life. She told him about her husband Karl, once of the House of Warrick, and about Noah who she described as being kind and having a good heart.
Her tone of voice was calm, and she was disciplined most of the time, but there was one moment when a brief, pained expression was visible on her face. She had not always been meant to rule. She had only become Venora’s heir after her brother Wolsingham had died during a knight’s tourney.
She did not reveal how exactly he had died.
When Hart said that he was sorry about the loss of Venora, she inclined her head and thanked him. The loss of her home had very obviously affected her, but she appreciated the opportunity to tell Hart about it, nevertheless. She told him about the beauty of Sabaissant, how the arts had played such a big part there, and about the roses.
“I wish you could have seen Venora”, she finally said.
“Perhaps”, she remarked in an uncharacteristically thoughtful tone of voice. “It will be possible to eventually rebuild what was lost, if not in Rynmere, then somewhere else.”
~~~
Tristan who was still standing near Faith, smiled as he saw his grandmother and his brother dance. He would, he decided, ask her if she wanted to come with Ayla and him, to Melrath and Rharne. He didn’t want to let his grandmother go again. He didn’t want to send her back to a place where she was alone, and where people were likely still suffering.
He loved her and couldn’t do that to her.
There was another thing that caught his attention as well though. His eyes widened when Ymiden appeared, and he quickly bowed, but he did not do anything else. He simply listened, as the conversation about Alistair and his possible pardon was none of his business.
When Vri said that his bride and he would retire, he bowed to them. His grandmother curtsied, and even Ayla attempted to do so. He was infinitely happy for the Immortal and his bride. They would be able to spend eternity together now, and they would never have to be alone again.
Speaking of being alone …
“I would appreciate it if you came with Ayla and me, for however long you like”, he said to his grandmother. “Rynmere may be lost, but House Venora itself will live on somewhere else, and so will the memories of what used to be. There are still places in this world where there are peace and hope. You’ll be surrounded by people that love you”, he finished and looked at the former Duchess of Venora expectantly.
Ebony inclined her head. When the time came, she would ask not to be returned to Rynmere. She would accompany her grandson and her great-granddaughter to wherever they lived now instead and spend time with them.
~~~
A very light smile was visible on Ebony Venora’s face when Hart bowed to her. She appreciated the young man’s good manners. A moment later, when he asked her if she would like to dance, she raised an eyebrow slightly before she inclined her head and took his hand.
The former Duchess of Venora was in her seventies now, but she still moved with a certain grace. She was not a warm and gentle woman, and she had once been known as a staunch traditionalist, but she listened to her grandson with genuine interest when he talked about his life now.
When he told her about his life with the biqaj and his mother, she asked him where his family were now. She wanted to know more about them, provided that he was willing to tell her.
Upon hearing that his birth mother was none other than Edasha, she raised an eyebrow once more. Had she not been teleported from her home to Vri’s domain of Bellinos and just attended an Immortal’s wedding, her reaction would have been far more extreme.
As it was, she was gradually getting used to the involvement of the Immortals in her family’s life though, although she couldn’t help but wonder how her son had managed to attract Edasha’s attention. There was also another thing that she could not help but be curious about.
“Does Edasha play a part in your life now?” she wanted to know, in a polite tone of voice.
When Hart admitted that he would like to know about her, Ebony answered. She told him that she had been Duchess for more than half her life. She told him about her husband Karl, once of the House of Warrick, and about Noah who she described as being kind and having a good heart.
Her tone of voice was calm, and she was disciplined most of the time, but there was one moment when a brief, pained expression was visible on her face. She had not always been meant to rule. She had only become Venora’s heir after her brother Wolsingham had died during a knight’s tourney.
She did not reveal how exactly he had died.
When Hart said that he was sorry about the loss of Venora, she inclined her head and thanked him. The loss of her home had very obviously affected her, but she appreciated the opportunity to tell Hart about it, nevertheless. She told him about the beauty of Sabaissant, how the arts had played such a big part there, and about the roses.
“I wish you could have seen Venora”, she finally said.
“Perhaps”, she remarked in an uncharacteristically thoughtful tone of voice. “It will be possible to eventually rebuild what was lost, if not in Rynmere, then somewhere else.”
~~~
Tristan who was still standing near Faith, smiled as he saw his grandmother and his brother dance. He would, he decided, ask her if she wanted to come with Ayla and him, to Melrath and Rharne. He didn’t want to let his grandmother go again. He didn’t want to send her back to a place where she was alone, and where people were likely still suffering.
He loved her and couldn’t do that to her.
There was another thing that caught his attention as well though. His eyes widened when Ymiden appeared, and he quickly bowed, but he did not do anything else. He simply listened, as the conversation about Alistair and his possible pardon was none of his business.
When Vri said that his bride and he would retire, he bowed to them. His grandmother curtsied, and even Ayla attempted to do so. He was infinitely happy for the Immortal and his bride. They would be able to spend eternity together now, and they would never have to be alone again.
Speaking of being alone …
“I would appreciate it if you came with Ayla and me, for however long you like”, he said to his grandmother. “Rynmere may be lost, but House Venora itself will live on somewhere else, and so will the memories of what used to be. There are still places in this world where there are peace and hope. You’ll be surrounded by people that love you”, he finished and looked at the former Duchess of Venora expectantly.
Ebony inclined her head. When the time came, she would ask not to be returned to Rynmere. She would accompany her grandson and her great-granddaughter to wherever they lived now instead and spend time with them.
Also, you gain the next two powers of Ymiden's mark.