Mapmaker, p.24
Mapmaker, page 24
“No, Natty,” Tessa said softly. “She said something about me, it was overheard. Not by me, but by one of my friends.”
Natty sighed. “I guess she was jealous of you, even though I don’t know that I ever gave her reason to be.”
“I didn’t think you did,” Tessa replied.
“She essentially said that you deserve me if you would even take me. It was kind of a bitter parting jab. She said that we deserve each other.”
Tessa smiled warmly. “Nathaniel Clark, she was right about that. We do deserve each other, and I promise I will always do and be my best with you, together.”
Natty kissed her on the head. “Together. You know how my family is big on watchwords and mottos, you know like ‘Family first. Family first always.’ And ‘no lies, no fibs, no secrets’?” She nodded. “Our watchword, our motto, will always be ‘Together.’” He fingered the band on his wrist. “Now, I have a question for you?” His eyes sparkled as he looked at Tessa and her beautiful gown. “How in the worlds did you know that you and I were going to hit it off, best friend?”
“Two things, Natty. First, I prayed about what I should do after Silva left. Prayed hard, because as I said, I was always attracted to you even if I tried not to show it. Second, I went to the one person who knows you better than anybody, even your mother.”
Natty smiled. “Fiona.”
Tessa nodded. “Your sister, with all her Deep Magic, is also a very sensible and wise person. She prayed with me, and she was the one who told me that if you started praying with me, it would confirm what I wanted in a relationship. Then, when Captain Moen was dying, you took my hand, and you prayed with me.” A tear ran down her cheek; Natty wiped it away. “The ring. You said it was never meant for Silva.” He shook his head.
“I think when you were talking to Fi, I must’ve been talking to Berian, and he gave me some very sage advice. In the future, Berian and I are close friends, despite our former age difference. He was almost as much a mentor to me as Uncle Joe or my father. Everything I know about horses I learned from Berian. But anyhow, he told me that sometimes the best things in your life are right there when you’re not looking for them. By coincidence, you walked by the window of the den at Juncture house right at that point, and he just looked at me and smiled that knowing smile of his. Then he asked me if I wanted him to make a special ring for a special redheaded young lady, and I said yes. Yeah, if things had progressed with Silva, I would’ve had him make one for her, but they didn’t. This ring is, was, and always will be just for you.”
“Can we go back down to your cabin? I’m a little chilly.”
“You’re not trying to get into worlds of trouble, are you?” He grinned.
“So, what if I am? You’re the man that I love and I’m going to marry, and that’s all there is to that. I just want to talk some more, plan some more, and hold you some more. Can we do that?”
“We can do that. Besides, we still have the dessert to eat if you don’t throw it at me.”
She shoved him playfully. “Then you’ll just have to get to it first!” She started running across the deck.
“Hey, be careful running in that dress, or it’s likely to fall off of you,” he teased her as he chased her.
“And that would be so bad, why?” She continued down the stairs ahead of him. When she reached the door to Nathaniel’s cabin, she realized that in running, she had, as Sinead so subtly put it, “displayed a bit more than her enthusiasm.” She started to pull the dress back into place, but not before Natty reached the bottom of the stairs and got an eyeful. Despite her innate Drohanan disregard for modesty, she properly aligned the garment as he came up to her. “I hope you like what you saw, Commander, because that’s all you’re going to see until our wedding night.” She grabbed him by the shirt, pulled him close and planted a long, hard kiss on his lips. “I think I’m going to run back to my cabin and put on something, shall we say, warmer?”
“As much as I liked what I saw, Sub-Commander, that’s probably a very good idea. Otherwise, you and I would likely end up in that worlds of trouble we were talking about. You are coming back, aren’t you?”
“This is our engagement night, Natty. Together, remember?”
“I’ll be waiting, don’t bother knocking this time. It’s going to be your cabin too in just a very short time. I won’t touch the dessert until you get back.”
Tessa started to turn, then looked back at Nathaniel. “You said something earlier that I wondered about.”
“What was that?”
“You said that I was the most beautiful woman you had ever known inside and out.” Nathaniel smiled in response. “You are Iolena Yaleria’s son, the most beautiful woman in the Nine Worlds, and your sister, Fiona, is virtually identical to her mother. You meant after them, right?”
Natty shook his head. “I know who I am, and I know who my mother and my sister, actually sisters are, because all four of them are extremely beautiful as are their daughters. I meant exactly what I said. Tess, I love my mom, my sisters, and you know how close I am to Fiona, but to me, you will always be the most beautiful.” He held his finger and thumb up, very slightly parted. “Maybe just a little bit more beautiful than my mother.” She batted him playfully with her hand. “Careful there, or your dress may fall off again,” he ribbed.
She toyed with the strap on her shoulder. “If there weren’t other people on the airship, I would drop it right here and now, just to see how you react.”
“There you go again, testing me.” he grinned. She stood on tiptoes and kissed him, then went down the hall toward her new cabin on the other side of Kip and Enesneth’s. She reached the door and looked back to make sure that he was still watching her. She glanced around, smiled provocatively and then tugged on the shoulder strap. The dress fell to the floor. She stooped, picked it up, and vanished into her room.
Chapter twenty-eight
Wedding Plans
“Tessa,” Lona looked across the breakfast table at her sister-friend the following morning. Tessa looked up. “Are you mad at me?”
“Why would I be mad at you, Lona?”
“About what I said the other morning. I really didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to know where you were. Now, you’ve moved out of our room and I’m lonely. I’m sorry if I said something that made you that mad. I don’t want us to be mad at each other.”
Tessa sighed. “I’m not mad at you, Lona. In fact, after last night I don’t think I could be mad at anyone today.” She slid her left hand, which had been under the table, across so Lona could see the ring. “It’s official, Lona. We’re getting married as soon as we get both of our parents’ blessing.”
“You are? We’re going to Eldaria?”
“We are, and we are. At the heart of it all, Lona, I’m a Drohanan girl, and I want to be married at Lordabove Cathedral in Danedryl by the Jai Pastora.”
“Did you already move into Natty’s cabin?” Lona asked hesitantly, and quickly added, “I’m not trying to be judgmental. I just want to know how I can help you get ready for the wedding. We’re still Best Forever Friends, aren’t we?”
“Oh, course we are. You’re still my sister-friend, and,” Tessa and Lona’s matching bright blue eyes met. “I still want you to be my Maid of Honor, if you still want to be.”
“Really?!” Lona almost spilled her cup of coffee. “I thought maybe you would ask Sinead or Enesneth. But then, I thought you were mad at me.”
“I’ll be honest with you, Lona Yaleria. I was quite mad. You had crossed an invisible line between best friend and busybody. No, I have not moved into his cabin yet. We’ll do that right before we get married. I just needed some space. Your grandmother made a very special dress for me to wear last night.”
“I know,” Lona said softly. “I saw you take it off,” she paused, “in the hallway.”
“You did?” Tessa blushed. “I looked around and I didn’t see anybody. Where were you hiding?”
“Behind Uncle Nathaniel.” Seeing Tessa’s puzzled look, she continued, “Remember, I was the Officer of the Day, and one of the duties is to check all the halls and cabins. I came down the rear deck stairs shortly after the two of you did, just in time to witness your grand unveiling. That was a beautiful dress that Nana made for you. I’ll have to remember it when I find the right man.”
Tessa chuckled. “That shouldn’t be a problem, Pumpkin. She also made dresses just like that for Fiona, Alistronia, and herself. I think that when you are of the marrying age, you’re going to be at least as tall as Sinead and Glynis, and you already have a figure most twenty-year-old Drohanan girls would be envious of. I think you will fill out a dress like that really nicely by then.”
“I hope so. I remember from Tia Ali’s wedding that Drohanan women wear sky-blue wedding dresses, right?” Tessa nodded. “You know that I like to draw people and clothing. Can I design a couple of dresses for you, and if you like one of them we can take it to Nana to see what she thinks?”
“Lona, really? You would do that for me?”
“You’re my best friend other than Abby. Or, just like her.”
Tessa held up her hand. “Lony, I understand. You remember how Alistronia’s wedding gown was enticing? That is another Drohanan tradition. Suggestive, but not too revealing.”
“Like the dress you were wearing last night, I mean until you weren’t.”
“No,” Tessa conceded. “Not quite that revealing. You can ask your sister what I mean by that.”
“You know, I was in Eldaria once before, long time ago,” Sage told Nathaniel as he piloted the Starduster over the Plains of Eldar. “It was back when Menta Kai was a bounty hunter I got a lead, or a tip that she and her partner were pursuing a fugitive into Beorith. It’s one of those things that she has a hard time remembering, even under Confession.”
“Who was her partner if not you?” Nathaniel questioned.
“Evidently, Arianna. There are like four or five related-unrelated strands to that thread,” Sage began to explain. “Ari remembers part of it, Kai remembers a little of it, Jai Pastora Kitlaen’s mother, the Light of Eldaria has a much different take on it, and her bodyguard, for lack of a better term, Revelt Klar had something to do with it. Each one of them tells a different story, but for whatever reason, whatever happened caused Menta Kai to blank it from her memory. So much so, that she didn’t remember Arianna when they became reacquainted at Gewellyn City after the appearance of Connor and Iolena.” Sage laughed slightly. “Excuse me, your parents. You want me to take it in, or do you want to?”
“You’re doing fine, Sage. Just because I’m the commander doesn’t mean I need to drive the airship all the time. I have a wedding to get ready for, remember?”
“Who’s going to be your best man if Snee can’t make it?”
“Are you volunteering?” Natty asked with a grin.
“I would if you want me to,” Sage replied hesitantly. “But isn’t Kipling your best friend?”
“I think everyone on board has become kind of best friends over the time we’ve been together. That may be one of the things that cause Silva to leave. I don’t think she felt part of the team.”
“Forgive my saying so, Natty,” Sage glanced at him, “but she never really tried to be part of the team. She didn’t socialize much, even with the other women.”
“I don’t think this time was what she expected it to be. If it’s okay with you, the less said about that, the better.” Sage nodded. Nathaniel pointed to the approaching wall of Danedryl. “If you want me to take over for you, just let me know but I’d like to see you bring it in yourself. Avoid the wall of the castle, okay?” Sage nodded. “About the Best Man. I have somebody I would like to ask here in Drohana. Can I get back to you about it?”
“No problem. I’m willing if you want me to.”
A small crowd gathered to await the arrival of the Starduster outside of Danedryl. Lord Richard and Lordess Kitlaen and their two small children, Claire and Rilitar had been accompanied by the recently arrived Connor, Iolena, and Menta Kai, Tessa’s parents Tavis and Carolon Chart, and her younger brother, Petey, as well as a contingent of Mountain Troopers and curious bystanders who wanted to see the airship that was co-commanded by the redheaded girl from their town.
“Commander,” Thea Shire approached Nathaniel. “I wanted to ask you something before we set down. Sir, would you and the Sub-Commander be willing to wait until everyone else is off the ship before you come down the stairway?”
“I’m usually the last one off the ship anyhow, Lieutenant. May I ask why?”
“Sir, you and the Sub-Commander are here to get married. The crew would like to recognize that if we may.”
“Understood,” Natty replied. “It isn’t necessary but thank you. Tessa and I will await your signal.”
“Actually, sir, the signal will come from Major Ciliren. Thank you, Sir.”
“What’s going on?” Tessa asked as she came up beside Natty. “Oh good,” she continued seeing her parents on the ground as the airship descended. “Mama and Papa are here, and your parents too.” She turned to Natty. “What you think they will want me to call them?”
Nathaniel shrugged. “Lochlain calls them Mom and Dad, like Shannon. Berian calls them Mum and Da, like Fi. Abrallan calls them by their given names, and Sage still addresses them by title, though that may change. Why don’t you just ask my mother, she’s pretty open about those things. As for what’s going on, I guess we are getting a sendoff from the crew. We’re supposed to wait until Cil gives us some sort of signal.”
“Okay,” Tessa hesitated. “That’s nice, but it’s not necessary.”
“That’s what I told them, but it is a Navy tradition.”
“Who’s going to stay on board for security?”
“Senter, Pipia, Orlal, and Wwyn agreed to take the first twelve-hour watch, probably so they can engage in a rousing game of Krakara Cutthroat Poker. After that, they’ll rotate until the wedding. Kara said they’ll arrange for some Mountain Troopers to cover so everyone can be there.”
The Starduster had been tied close enough to the ground that a short staircase had been lowered instead of the gangway ramp. Ciliren stood on one side of the steps and Lianeth on the other, both in full medical corps dress white uniforms. Next to them, Enesneth in her blue naval aviator uniform, Senter, Kipling, and everyone else in line in their respective uniforms, with Lona and Sage on opposite sides of the lane that had been created, dressed nicely, with Lona wearing her crown.
“Commander, Sub-Commander,” Ciliren invited. The two of them moved toward the steps and as they did, the three officers, two engineers, Sage, and Lona holding her Heartsword, drew sabers and held them in an arc over the couple. They walked down the aisle, hand-in-hand and each person as they passed gave their congratulations or best wishes. At the end of the line, Nathaniel turned around, Tessa at his side.
“Here’s your chance, Nin Mel,” he whispered. “In your best command voice, tell them “order arms,” then “at ease.’”
Tessa grinned up at her fiancé, cleared her throat, and commanded, “Order arms!” The sabers and swords were lowered. “At ease! And thank you all,” she added. The crew erupted in applause for their commanding officers. Natty held up his hands and everyone grew quiet.
“Thank you for this, our friends. You probably won’t see much of us for the next couple of days, but we look forward to seeing all of you at the wedding. Thank you, Kara, for setting up substitutes to watch our Starduster. We hope to talk with all of you there. Crew, dismissed!”
“Hooyah!” The crew shouted in unison.
Nathaniel and Tessa turned to face their families. “Mama, Papa, Petey, this is Natty, Nathaniel Yalerius-Clark, the man I love. Natty, this is my mother Carolon, my father Tavis, and my little brother Petey.”
“Peter, Tessa,” Peter corrected her.
“Excuse me, Peter.” Nathaniel hugged Tessa’s mother, and shook hands with Tavis and Peter.
“Can the two of you join us for dinner tonight, so we can get to know Nathaniel a little better,” Carolon asked. Tessa looked at Nathaniel, who glanced over his shoulder at his own parents. Iolena nodded.
“We would be happy to do that, Ma’am.”
“Oh, you are so formal. You can call me Carolon or Mother, whichever you would like.”
“Thank you, Carolon. Have you met my parents?”
“Of course,” Tavis replied. “Lord Connor and Lady Menta Kai are two of my best customers right now. Lady Iolena has been in the shop a time or two also. It’s very nice to see you again my ladies, Lord Connor, Lord Richard, and Jai Pastora.” He recognized Richard and Kitlaen who had come forward with Connor and Iolena.
“Obviously, Mom and Dad, Kailee, I don’t need to introduce Tessa to you, but I would like for you to meet her as my betrothed.”
“Welcome to the family, Tessa,” Iolena embraced her future daughter-in-law. “I understand that my granddaughter has some wedding gowns designed. I look forward to looking at them with you.”
“Thank you, my Lady,” Iolena put her finger on Tessa’s lips. “Amil, Mother, or Mom. No more of that Lady talk from you, Melin er. You’re family now.”
“Same thing as she said,” Connor hugged Tessa. “Adda, or Dad. You can call me Father when you’re mad at me, like Menta Kai, Fiona, Shannon, and Alenia do.” He winked at her.
She turned to Menta Kai who swept her into one of her worlds’ famous epic hugs. “I am so happy for you. You two are going to be such an amazing couple. I can’t wait to hear your stories.”
“If you two can stand to be split up for a few hours before dinner,” Iolena teased, “I’m sure that Tessa has a lot to talk about with her parents, as do you, Nathaniel.”
Natty smiled. “Of course, Mom. Mother knows best, Tess.” He hugged and kissed her as the families entered back into Danedryl.
“He seems like a very nice young man, Tessa,” her mother commented as they walked back to their home above the map shop. “Are you happy? Are you sure this is what you want?” Tessa stopped and looked at her mother.
