The Gardens of Athea were close to the South-East Gate, between the Upper-Class District and the Middle-Class District. Mostly those born into the high society went on long walks around the Gardens. Adults would sit on benches under the shades of the trees and watch the children play, while the young men invited young ladies on a boat trip around the lake in the middle of the Gardens.
Behind the lake, beds of flowers, and trees, a shrine dedicated to the Addanos, the Water God, was built. Mina has visited it more times than she could remember because she worshiped Addanos as well as Inoss. The shrine reminded Mina of her mother. Gypsies were free people who loved roaming the land from North to South and from West to East. While they did that, they kept a small statue of Addanos with them. Mina’s mother had one, and sometimes, she would tell stories of how the Water God made animals using the soil of Aylarra, just as Inoss did when he created the humans, Elves, Angels, mermaids, and others that were long gone or forgotten.
Three carriages stopped close to the Gardens of Athea. From one of the stepped out Jayden. He held his hand out and helped Mina get out of the carriage. As Mina stepped onto the street paved with stone, her left hand in Jayden’s right one, she knew there was no turning back. Not that Mina regretted saying yes, but she still knew so little about Jayden. But as she looked into his blue eyes, she saw something she hadn’t seen before—joy. Baron Jayden Ruxman, Commander of the Wolf Army, was happy to marry Mina. She didn’t expect it, not when she grew up hearing that no one would even want to take her as a wife. Rosalyn and Duke Tedric had told Mina day after day that she wasn’t beautiful. But Jayden had called her beautiful. Did he mean it, or did he say it just to upset Rosalyn?
Mina didn’t know. It did not matter anyway; in less than an hour, beautiful or not, she would be Jayden’s wife.
“Ready?” Jayden asked while his eyes searched hers.
Jayden’s face was close to hers, and for the first time since Mina met him, she truly looked at him. Jayden was the most handsome man she had ever seen. What she most liked about him were his eyes. A gold ring was on the inside of his irises.
Mina frowned. There was something familiar about his eyes. Where did she see them before? She thought for a few moments, but she couldn’t remember. “Yes,” Mina replied.
While Mina kept staring into Jayden’s eyes, Hugo came out of the carriage. He insisted on being in the same carriage as Jayden and Mina.
Jayden’s men arrived in the other two carriages.
Jayden looked at Hugo; a red ribbon was in the Duke’s hands. On the way from the house to the Gardens, they made a small stop, just enough for Jayden to purchase the ribbon for Mina. “After Mina becomes my wife, we will have a little feast back at the house. If you have the afternoon free, join us,” Jayden said to Hugo.
Hugo ran a hand through his hair. “I will have to return home after the wedding ceremony and talk to my father. Mina not having a dowry is a source of shame. Imagine what people would say when they find out.”
Mina turned to face Hugo at the same time Jayden replied. “Who is going to spread rumors about my wife? You? Your father? Besides, I have enough money to offer Mina and our future children everything they need.”
Aksel paid the coachmen. The carriages left, and he and the other men waited for Jayden, Mina, and Hugo to finish talking.
Hugo frowned. “I am sure the late Baron had little gold left, so I wonder what you did to become as rich as you say.”
Jayden stood proudly. “When I went to the war, I was just a scribe, but I fought and proved my worth. When the first Commander of the Wolf Army was killed in the battle, I was offered the position, and I accepted it. I faced the greatest Necromancer the Uslaya continent has seen in the last five hundred years and won. It was difficult to defeat him, but with the help of my men, I did so.” The Commander smiled wickedly. “I will let you know a little secret, Duke Hugo.” Jayden’s eyes turned golden for a heartbeat. “The Necromancer had stashed gold, jewelry, and other trinkets. So you see, Mina doesn’t need a dowry. Besides, this is a custom from the upper class, but those like me, born with nothing, do not expect or need a dowry from their wife.” Jayden lifted his hands. “We learn from an early age how to earn money to provide for our families.”
Hugo wanted to say something, but Mina was faster. “Even if Jayden has money, I still want to receive what my father left me. My uncle took not only the money but also my mother’s jewelry.”
“I will make sure you will receive your inheritance,” Hugo promised.
Andres took out a harmonica from a pocket. “I thought we came here to assist a wedding, not a conversation. At least I will have time to practice a little.”
Shaun rolled his eyes. “I would rather gag myself than listen to you play that awful thing!” he said, and Andres glared at him.
“Andres is right,” Jayden said. Andres sighed and put the harmonica back in the pocket. “We should go to the Water Mage, receive the blessing of Addanos, and we can talk more when we return home. Shaun, can you gag yourself after the wedding? It would be rather unpleasant to marry Mina while you do that.” Jayden looked at Shaun, and the other laughed.
Shaun smirked. “I shall see what I can do.”
Jayden offered his arm to Mina and placed her hand on the crook of his elbow.
It was around lunchtime, and the Gardens were mostly empty. A few older men from the upper class were seated on some benches, and when they saw Mina and Jayden, foul words came out of their mouths. From behind Mina, Jayden’s men growled. Hugo cursed under his breath.
Jayden tensed, and Mina gave him a little squeeze. “Don’t!”
“Mina, I don’t care if they say something about me, but I won’t allow people to talk badly about you!” Jayden said, his tone angry. Not at Mina, but for her.
“The same goes for us, Andarra!” Aksel said. “We won’t allow someone to treat you poorly!”
Mina didn’t know how to react. Normally, when men talked to her was to insult her, not to protect her. She mumbled a ‘thank you.’
“Why are you not bothered by what they say about you?” Jayden asked.
Mina smiled gently at Jayden. They kept walking. “When you hear the same things over and over again, you get so used to them that one day you wake up and realize you don’t care about what people say anymore. Or, you let them break you.”
Jayden didn’t return the smile. “What did you do? Stopped caring or broke?”
Mina looked at the trees. They were getting closer to the shrine. “For a long time, I did care,” Mina said. She looked at the hand she had on Jayden’s arm—her skin was darker than his. “I prayed to the Gods to change my skin and hair color, but it never happened.” Her eyes went to the trees. “I always wanted a family, and I hated myself. Hated what I was. But Hugo and my friend, Ivy, have been there for me. They believed in me when I didn’t.”
Jayden thought for a moment. “Then you stopped caring.”
Mina shook her head. “I became better at hiding my feelings.”
They walked in silence for a while. Mina kept her eyes on the little path that led them to the shrine. She felt a little nervous, but at the same time, happy. Jayden was a good man, and while there was no love between them, he kept his word true—he made her happy.
When the shrine came into view, Jayden bent his head and whispered to her, “I am sure this is not the wedding you envisioned, but I will make it up to you when we have Trials of the Land.”
“It is alright,” Mina said. “I am curious about these Trials; what do we have to do? What do I have to do?”
Jayden chuckled. “You, little lamb, will have to run and hide as fast as you can while I search for you. And when I find you, Mina,” he purred, putting his mouth on her ear, “I will do all kinds of wicked things to you!”
Mina swallowed. “What do you mean wicked things?”
Jayden said nothing as they stopped in front of the shrine. A young Water Mage was working in a herb garden next to the shrine. He was dressed in a light blue magical robe. On the cuff and the hem, ocean waves were embroidered. Around his neck, the Water Mage has a topaz—the stone of the Water God.
The Water Mage lifted his head and looked at Mina before his eyes drifted to Jayden. “Mina! So glad to see you! And you brought friends!” he smiled happily.
“Navin,” Mina said, letting go of Jayden and going to where the Water Mage stood, “I come to ask a favor of you.”
Navin looked at Jayden’s men. Then his eyes fell on the red ribbon Hugo was holding in his left hand. “What favor?” he asked suspiciously. Mina lifted her left hand and showed the bracelet to Navin. His eyebrows went up. “Last time I saw you was,” he thought for a moment, “ten days ago. Judging by that red ribbon and the bracelet, you are not here for the herbs the Fire Mages need, but to get married. In the last ten days, you not only found a man to love you, but you are marrying him today. Isn’t it a little too fast?”
Mina snorted. “Wasn’t you that told me your sister married your brother-in-law the moment they met?”
“Gods, no!” Navin said. “She fell on his cock the moment they met. She married him a few hours later while my father held a sword at his neck!”
Jayden’s men howled with laughter. Mina was embarrassed about the crude words the Water Mage used.
“I heard many things in our life, but never about a woman that fell on a dick!” Einar said.
Caesar wiped some tears away. “Did she trip? And why was he naked?”
Navin looked at Caesar. “Yeltane festival.”
Caesar appeared to smell the air, and Mina tilted her head to the side. “I see,” he said.
Jayden took out a folded parchment from his waistcoat and gave it to Navin. “The King gave Mina and me his blessing.”
The Water Mage studied the parchment for a minute. “Jayden Ruxman?” he asked. The Commander nodded. “If you have the King’s blessing, why do you want to get married so fast?” Navin asked.
Jayden clenched his teeth. “Because I don’t see the point of waiting!”
Navin shrugged. “Very well. Who are the witnesses?”
Jayden looked at his men. “Aksel, Herron?” Both of them nodded their approval.
“I will go inside the shrine and prepare what I need,” Navin said. “Jayden and the witnesses come with me.”
The Water Mage entered the shrine, and Jayden, Aksel, and Herron followed him.
Andres took out his harmonica and started playing while Shaun put his palms over his ears. The others chuckled.
Hugo went to Mina. “I wish you all the happiness in the world, Mina,” he said as he put the ribbon around her waist. “I hope the Commander will take really good care of you. May the Gods bless your union now and forever!” Hugo tied the ribbon and kissed Mina’s cheek. “Be happy, Mina!”
Minutes later, Hugo and Mina entered the shrine. The other men remained outside and watched the wedding.
A statue of Addanos was at the back of the shrine. The Water God was wearing a magic robe and had a staff in his left hand, while in his right hand, he had a balance. The staff had a sapphire on the top.
A little altar made from stone was in front of the statue.
Jayden was waiting for Mina next to the altar. As she entered, his eyes were on her. He didn’t look at anything else except Mina, his future wife.
Hugo took Mina to Jayden. “If you make her suffer, Commander Jayden, I will make you regret it!” He looked at Mina. “She is special!”
Jayden smiled. “Trust me, I know. And don’t worry, I will never make Mina sad!”
When Hugo nodded, Mina and Jayden looked at Navin. The Water Mage took out a little blue string from one of his robe’s many pockets. “Jayden already told me you are not soulmates; this string will represent your union as husband and wife. Jayden, take Mina’s left hand into yours.” Jayden interlaced his fingers with those of Mina, and Navin tied the string around their wrist. “Baron Jayden Ruxman, do you take Dutchess Minerva Castex as your wife and promise to protect, love, and cherish her all your days?”
Jayden looked into Mina’s eyes. “I do!”
Navin turned his attention to Mina. “Dutches Minerva Castex, do you accept Baron Jayden Ruxman as your husband and promise to love and obey him?”
“Yes!” Mina said.
Navin looked at Aksel and Herron. “Does Addanos approve of this union?”
The sapphire from the Addanos’s statue glowed, and a blue light fell on the joined hands of Mina and Jayden.
“Addanos sees and approves!” the witnesses said.
The Water Mage looked at the couple. “You may kiss the bride!”