Chapter 67. Wishes

he journey home in the warm sunshine of late summer filled Uriel with a sense of deep contentment, a sentiment that had evaded her for years.  She felt reborn and alive, her hand rarely separated from her beloved Morisedd’s clasp.  Rejoicing in him, she was seldom more than a few steps from his side.  They talked of past seldom now, and when they did, it seemed like a distant country whose shores they were loathe to visit.

“So what happens next?” he asked her one afternoon as they strode in the midst of the Crystal Palm shortly after leaving the troubled region of Unwaking Waters and moving north toward Cavalon.  While it was a relief to be away from the openly hostile towns and outposts of Kurzick lands, the endless tracks of the jade sea put Uriel in mind of the sad ruined landscape of Ascalon. 

“You get married,” Lemony interjected happily.  The little monk insisted upon walking now but was constantly being fussed over by Nandao.  Uriel smiled at her friend.

“Yes, but not in Cantha.  All of our friends and family are in Tyria,” Morisedd replied.

“What about our new Canthan friends?” Lemony demanded, scandalized.  Shikai giggled and the ritualist’s laughter caused several of the Crystal Palm retinue to chuckle.  It was true, they were becoming friends with the prestigious guild. 

“Don’t I have a say in this?” Uriel asked, grinning, “I think this is worth two weddings.  One here, and one in Tyria.”

“Ooooo,” Lemony mused, grinning widely, “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Two?” Morisedd coughed.  Uriel laughed.  He was not a big proponent of crowds and public spectacle.  If he had his way, they would exchange vows in a mud hut somewhere in Kryta.  She, on the other hand, planned to shout her joy from the rooftops on both continents. Uriel had been granted few things to celebrate over the last decade and she was not going to miss her chance now.

“So after we get married,” Morisedd grumbled, “twice, what do you want to do?”

Uriel smiled to herself, remembering the fantasies of her youth, the surreptitious plans the two of them had made while hiding from their masters in Nolani Academy.

“I want to build a guild,” she said simply, “and at its heart, a new academy named for Tasos, my old master.”

Morisedd frowned.

“Swyno would take us into Dunvael,” he murmured, “Making a guild… that is a lot of work.”

Uriel shrugged.

“It won’t happen over night, but it’s what I want to do.  And you did ask.”

“I’d come help,” said Lemony, “and I’m sure Nandao and Brigit would come.  See?  Five members already and you haven’t had to start recruiting yet.”

“But Swyno isn’t going to appreciate that,” Morisedd replied, “Two of his members just leaving on a whim and joining up with a new guild?  You swore fealty to Dunvael.  That’s rude.”

“Uriel’s guild could ally with Dunvael,” Lemony replied cheerfully, “We could still be together, sort of.”

“I rather like the idea,” said Nandao, “One guild that adores mud, the other with baths.”

“And something fancier than bushes and leaves to answer nature’s call,” Brigit laughed, “I mean, now that I’ve been in Cantha, I’m wondering how Tyrians ever crawled out of the muck to begin with.  You’d think plumbing would catch on.”

Nandao snorted in agreement.

“But where would we find the money?  For a guild, let alone an academy, you would need piles of gold.”

Nandao grinned.

“I can provide some funds.  Enough to get us started at least.  Not sure about the academy part.”

“The Crystal Palm would welcome an alliance with a Tyrian guild,” Shikai said, smiling sweetly, “I’m sure I can talk Zhou into it.  And we have always been generous with our allies.”

“How exciting!” Lemony squeaked.

“Yes!  This is fun,” Nandao announced happily, squeezing Lemony gently around the waist and nuzzling her playfully until she giggled.

“I guess I should stop protesting and throw my support behind it, then,” Morisedd said with a wry smile, “It seems you are quite the magician to get your wishes answered so readily.”

Uriel pressed into Morisedd’s side and embraced him tightly.

“If you were the only wish that came true for me, I would still count myself blessed.”

He grinned at her, pressing her head against his breast playfully to place a kiss upon her temple.

“So you know what I want,” she said into his shirt, “What about you?”

“A month off from travel,” he laughed, “Long nights alone with you.  And children.”

“I think we can manage that,” she grinned, “In fact, we could get to work on that right after the second wedding.”

“Two weddings?” he grumbled, “You’re serious?”

“Yes, completely serious.”