“And in even the darkest night,” Moranu’s voice rang out, blending with the last eternal toll of the bell, “I also give you light. Behold My crystalline moon.”
Salena barely twitched in his arms, but he sensed the bright streak of her magic. The clouds covering the moon rolled back, and once again the moon shone forth, pearlescent and achingly magical. The people gasped as one, then broke into wild cheers of delight, more cheers echoing distantly from the township below. As he watched, a torch on the tallest tower of Ordnung sprang into life, the flame leaping from one torch to the next, spiraling down in a cascade of light, spilling to illuminate the entire castle, then running down the roads leading away, to reach the township and outlying farms, and farther down the valley to the horizon.
“That was incredible.” He hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but the words escaped him. Somehow all his jaded cynicism had fallen away, and he felt renewed. With Salena in his arms, it was as if he was that youth again, unafraid of loving her, wanting nothing but to revel in the light after darkness.
“Yes,” she said, equally hushed. And when she turned in his arms, her eyes glistened with tears.
“Are you crying?” he asked, feeling so raw, so open that he almost understood.
“Not from sorrow.” She put her arms around him and leaned in to kiss him. “This was good.”
“This is good,” he corrected, and she smiled.
“Do you have a wish to offer the new year?” she asked.
“Already done.”
“Me too.” She looked so mysterious, so sensual and full of joy, that he wondered what her wish had been.
“What next?” he asked.
“Food,” she replied with a dazzling smile. “I’m starving. And this is a good opportunity to fill our plates, while everyone else is moongazing.”
She had a point, as the crowds lingered on the battlements, faces turned upward, pointing, their voices rising with laughter and awe. Some sang songs, arms looped together as they swayed. Others offered toasts to uproarious response. “And we already had our private showing,” he said, kissing her again.
“Our own private crystalline moon,” she agreed, returning for another kiss, her lips beyond sweet against his.
He realized in that moment that even the longest night would never be long enough.
~ 12 ~
Lena took Rhyian’s hand and tugged him along behind her, wending through the crowd fairly easily, since everyone else was focused on the moon and toasting each other, embracing and kissing. They made it inside and ran down the winding staircase like kids, laughing breathlessly. She felt like a girl again, lighter than she had in years. The halls of the castle were nearly deserted, as they almost never were, with even the servants outside. A few lone guards nodded to them, and occasional laughing couples and groups lingered in alcoves, enjoying their own private observances.
The long tables laden with food were theirs for the moment, and Lena loaded her plate with all her favorites, Rhyian following along and imitating most of her choices. When they reached the fountain pouring white-gold sparkling wine over an ice sculpture replica of Castle Ordnung, Rhyian winced. “I forgot the mjed upstairs,” he groaned.
“I’m sure it won’t go to waste,” she told him, feeling giddy from his company and the expenditure of so much magic. “Moranu knows, Jak made sure there’s plenty of the stuff.”
“That’s the truth. Say, where did the others get off to?”
“I don’t know. I never did find Gendra. Do you want to go look for them?”
“Honestly?” He handed her a glass flute of the sparkling wine and filled one for himself, clinking it against hers. “Right now I just want to be with you.”
She tipped up her mouth, and he accepted the invitation, kissing her with lingering tenderness. “That sounds good to me,” she whispered when their lips parted.
“Ha!” Zeph crowed. “I knew it. The crystalline moon wrought a miracle.”
Rhyian groaned and tipped his forehead against hers. “I hate her. I hate them all.”
She grinned at him, then turned to face Zeph. “What did you think?”
Zeph slipped deftly between Lena’s full flute and fuller plate, kissing her on each cheek. “It was brilliant. Extraordinary show. Everyone is agog. Even Jak thought so.”
“Why do you say ‘even Jak?’” Jak wanted to know, coming up behind Zeph with Stella, Gendra on Astar’s arm behind them.
“Because nothing impresses you,” Stella told him with a serious smile.
“That’s not true. I think you are scary impressive.”