The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2
Chapter 137

Part 20

"Well said." Povon noted with a nod. "I was far older than you, and still considered myself to be very young, when I asked Somonik those same questions. He gave me almost exactly the same answers."

"Good to hear." Mark chuckled. "Since I learned that I'd be long-lived, I've been a bit troubled by the thought that I'd get to be very, very old. Some of the elders in Shinosa valley were tired of life and ready for death when they were only sixty-five or seventy years old. But now I'm sure that was only due to their steadily deteriorating health and the constant pain that comes with it, combined with living a very simple and predictable life in an isolated place with a small population. Not enough variety. And knowing that they were likely to die soon anyway.

"Now that we've beaten aging, I imagine humans will soon take on the attitudes of the other long-lived races. Humans less than a thousand years old will consider themselves to be young. And that still strikes me as very strange."

"You'll get used to it." Caria chuckled as she kissed Val's head and set her aside, then stood. "I must be going. Is there anything that you'd prefer for your wedding's decorations or catering?"

Alilia exchanged smiles with Mark and Talia before she stepped forward and hugged her mother. "No, just make it as nice as you can in the time you have, according to your own tastes. Cost is no object, so don't scrimp in the slightest. This will be a state wedding, reflecting the dignity and honor of Hilia, the High People, and The People of Life. We do want it to be tasteful, but impressive."

"Ah." Caria nodded. "What will you be wearing?"

"I hadn't considered it yet." Alilia admitted, and looked questioningly to her mates.

"Well we won't be wearing white this time, that's for sure!" Talia giggled. "We certainly aren't virgins anymore."

"Alilia, of all the clothes I've seen you wear, I liked you best in the outfit you wore to our first wedding." Mark grinned. "The raiment of a Battle Wizard of The People of Life, with the white silk blouse and the black pants and boots that all fit like paint, with a black cape over it. If you girls have no objections, I'd like you both to wear that. And it should show the elves here that we're becoming one of them." "Agreed, on the condition that you wear the same thing, including the skin-tight pants and shirt!" Alilia teased.

"Agreed, on the condition that I get to wear the underwear that Nemia gave me for our first wedding. They're handy for preventing a man from embarrassing himself with an obvious arousal." "Done!" Talia laughed.

"All right, so you'll be in black and white." Caria nodded with a smile, seeming a bit preoccupied with envisioning her preparations. "I'll contact you in a couple of hours to show you what I've come up with." "Contact us if you want." Alilia smiled as she gave her mother a farewell hug. "But don't show us. Surprise us with it tomorrow. And please, join Talia and I here for our preparations right after the meeting is over."

"Of course." Caria smiled as she gave a kiss on the cheek. After a quick round of hugs for everyone, she was gone.

"Who's going to conduct the ceremony?" Fire asked.

"That's a good question." Mark thoughtfully responded. "I'd like Yazadril or my Grandfather to do it, but they'll have their roles speaking for Talia and me already."

"Since it should be a well-loved and respected elder who's politically neutral, I suggest Quewanak." Six offered.

"That's good thinking." Mark nodded as he looked to Talia and Alilia for approval, and they gave it with smiles.

"That would be wonderful and unique." Alilia chuckled. "And I've truly come to care for the old gent during our time on Hiliani."

"I agree." Talia smiled. "Let's ask him."

"I would be honored." Quewanak stated with a grin as he suddenly appeared beside the table. "You will use the elven ceremony, I presume?"

"We will." Mark told him. "Modified for the three-way wedding, of course. Yazadril will speak for Talia and my grandfather will speak for me, as I've said. They're both very familiar with the life and love that we've shared on Hiliani, and can testify as to the power and permanence of our bond.

"Will you have your mother speak for you, Alilia?" he asked her.

"I think not." she smiled. "I'll speak for myself."

"Excellent." Quewanak declared, seeming quite enthusiastic about the project. "You can be sure I'll be fully prepared for my role. I think I'll go consult with Yazadril. He has performed more elven weddings than any other."

And the green dragon-god disappeared.

"Well, that takes care of that." Mark laughed. "And I'm needing some sleep. I'd like to spend the night here though. I really love it here, and I'm not ready to leave yet."

"We haven't slept for about twenty hours, so I'm not surprised that you're tired." Alilia smiled as she stood and Sent the tea cart back to the kitchens. "We have lots of rooms for all of us, you can each claim one of the guest rooms and consider it yours, as you should consider this your home in Heartwood. Just because we have other homes that we love doesn't make this any less our home."

"Thank you, but I think we'll be getting back to Serminak." Povon decided with a smile. We'll see you here before we go to the meeting?"

"Sure." Mark agreed. "That's what, about nine hours from now? Join us here forty minutes before the meeting, in case we want to review anything together before we go."

"Farewell for now then." Kragorram said with a wave, and the dragons Translocated out.

PART 21

They didn't need to review anything specific when they rejoined around the same table over breakfast, so they did a quick overall review of everything pertinent.

Almost everyone else attending the meeting was already in their places when Mark's party arrived. The attendance was limited to the rulers of the Alliance, their attendants, and their most senior commanders and administrators, as well as First Mauve and the others of the Triax who'd been at the beach at Hilia the day before. The gathering was therefore very much smaller than the last time they'd been here. Curiously, the room itself was also much smaller. Though the woods of The Hidden Nation and the aquatic area of the oceanic peoples were retained, the room was not so much bigger than it had been the first time they'd been here.

Somonik soon formally opened the meeting, only to introduce Amirgath and give way to him upon the stage.

"Upon the matter of gods ruling mortals;" he began without preamble, "We of The Pantheon of Kellaran have confirmed our position that no god of Kellaran should directly rule over mortals. To us, it is simply wrong, for purely emotional reasons that defy logic. We think that those mortals who will soon be joining us will feel the same way after their Ascension.

"But there is no way to enforce this edict within the laws of The Just Alliance, and we recognize that our upcoming conflict makes this a poor time to have a widespread political upheaval. In order to maintain the stability of the chain of command, we will not oppose those rulers who are about to become gods from retaining their rule until long-term stability returns to Kellaran.

"However, we do most insistently request that those persons give up their rule as soon as stability returns and an orderly transition of power can be arranged. We also most insistently request that any of you mortals who are about to Ascend and who are presently not rulers do not seek to become rulers after your Ascension. As I've said, we believe that you will share our opinion of it after you join us, but this is not guaranteed, since you will be becoming gods in an unprecedented manner.

"There is no legal reason why any god should not take part in the upcoming Tournament of Governors for the wartime command of Kellaran, but none of us who are presently gods have chosen to do so. We will operate the tournament with neutrality.

"We assume that Prince Mark will initiate The Great Ascension before the tournament, and we will not oppose any of the new gods from participating in the tournament if they so choose. We make this exception for the sole purpose of establishing the most capable command structure possible for the war with the demons. For the same reason, we may ask for command during the war if it seems absolutely necessary, but only then.00☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

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