Chapter 52

A wedding like no other…

“What are we to expect tomorrow, Megal?” Francos and Tony were having a quick midday meal break from discussions about what might be traded with Port. Francos had been surprised how badly some of the haciendas needed more food and other basic supplies. There was much that could be traded if it could be arranged.

“Ser Garza found some books on the theology of marriage from centuries ago. He said the blessing was between the couple, not by the church. That was a surprise to him, and he decided it is best for us also.”

“So, it is to be arranged between the couple, not by the parents? What about close genetics?” Tony was alarmed. Because their groups had been small when they came to Higgins, care had to be taken not to marry a close relative. “Utopia has rules similar to ours on genetic closeness.”

“It is for the ceremony only. We still will have to be careful about who is related. The church will not give the blessing on the joining. The couple will promise to each other. I like it much better than meeting a woman for the first time under a veil and having the priest tell you here is your wife.”

Megal had dreaded the marriage ceremony and knew that many of his female cousins did also. The idea of not really knowing who this person was, but realizing you had to spend most of your life with them, was unpleasant. Even the separation because of the harem system did not mitigate the unfamiliarity.

“The families will gather, then I will enter with the Poh and my cousin Tomas as my witness. Sarita will enter from the other side with Mandy Doe as her witness. We will say some vows that Ser Garza has adapted from old liturgies. He will ask the blessing of the Three in One on us and it will be over. I think Sera Marta and Sera Catherine have planned a dinner and celebration.”

“Much nicer than the last wedding we had,” Francos said. Megal’s brother’s wedding still haunted him. The consequences of the deaths still resonated with him.

***

A small crowd of both the runaways and townspeople had gathered outside the cathedral, as word had spread that there would be a wedding that morning. Many hoped the families would provide a meal to celebrate. Francos had invited all the Council Houses and included the wives, much to the consternation of the men. He had decided it was time to set a public example. Gossip had spread about who attended the betrothal.

“This is not like my wedding, Megal,” Tomas Bethal said. He was one of Megal’s favorite cousins. He had been married the previous year and Megal had stood as witness for him at the ceremony back on the hacienda.

“Ser Garza has written a new liturgy to encourage consent and show how our women need not be damaged,” Megal said. He and Tomas had discussed how happy Tomas was that his wife was fully able to help him with the work on the hacienda.

“It is about time,” Tomas said. “My wife and my sisters have made some major changes in how we handle the egg birds, and the number of eggs has gone up.”

The acolyte assisting the Poh hissed at them to be quiet and follow the Poh like they had rehearsed. They emerged from behind the altar and walked around to the front of the cathedral. Megal was surprised at the number of people. He knew they had invited all the Council Houses, but the number of women who came was much more than he expected. He took in the scent of the many small blooming trees decorating the railing that ran around just below the vaulted roof. Megal found it odd the trees were up along the roof walk, instead of down where they could be seen and smelled by the congregation.

As Tomas, Megal, and the Poh took their places, Sarita and Mandy walked slowly out of the other side, led by an acolyte to join them. Sarita was not veiled; she walked proudly, smiling at Megal. A murmur of comment swept through the crowd. She and Mandy were not wearing the long robes usually worn for weddings, but full pants and the tabards of their families. Mandy and Sarita had designed and embroidered an emblem for Port, since Sarita was wearing her Kearney crest. They took their place next to the Poh, who could not keep from smiling at the young people. No solemn faces today.

“Today, we as a community gather to witness the joining of two young people in the sacrament of matrimony. Long ago, on Terra this ceremony was held primarily as a blessing by the couple on each other, but also to receive the blessing of the community. It was a joyful celebration of—” The Poh cried out as he fell backwards with a crossbow bolt in his shoulder. Others in the crowd screamed as the bolts flew from near the roof, striking many in the crowd. The small trees had concealed archers. At least a dozen had fired and were reloading. Megal saw a bolt lodge in Sarita’s hair. He cried out, grabbed her, and whirled toward a safe place.

Rita caught her older sister Josie as she cried out. The bolt had struck her in her head, just above her ear. Rita’s healing senses showed her there was no hope for Josie, but it also identified that the bolts were poisoned.

She broadcast a thought message with directions to counter the poison to the others. “Healers, the bolts are poisoned. Quick, it can be countered before it kills them.”

Francos and Tony were closest to her, and both were hit. The poison was beginning to affect them. Rita knew it from Utopia. It was the venom of the death viper. It stopped the heart and lungs but was reversible if you began soon enough. Many of the women were healers and began were working as fast as they could, but it was obvious that some of the victims were beyond help. Church officials and Francos’ guards rushed to capture the archers, but most had fled before they could be arrested.

Carlos was frantically checking who was alive and who still needed help. “Where is Megal? Has anyone seen him?” His other grandson Tomas had also been hit. One of his sisters worked frantically to save him. The city guard and the Overlord’s guard were pushing back the crowd as healers from the central hospital rushed in to care for the wounded.

“I saw him disappear,” the Poh called from where a healer was working on his wound. “I do not believe what I saw, but I saw it. He grabbed Sarita and turned as if to run. Then they were gone.”