Faith of the Fallen

Warren held up his hands as if to ward the very notion. "No-no, of course not. It's just that. . it's just that it would be a bad time to be thinking about such things, is all…. But if they were going to lie low for the winter. ." Warren fussed with his sleeve. "That's all I meant …. If you thought they were going to wait until spring, or something.

" His voice trailed off.

"And if they were, then-?"

Warren stared at the ground while he twisted his robes at his stomach into a purple knot. "If you think they might decide to move this winter, then it wouldn't be right for me-for us-to be thinking about such things."

Zedd scratched his chin and changed his approach. "Let's say I believe the Order is going to sit tight for the winter. Then what might you do, in that case?"

Warren threw his hands up. "Zedd will you marry Verna and me?"

Zedd's brow went up as he drew back his head. "Bags, my boy, that's a mouthful to swallow first thing in the morning."

Warren took two big strides closer. "Will you Zedd? I mean, only if you really think the Order is going to sit down there in Anderith for the winter. If they are, then, well, then it would be, I mean, we might as well-"

"Do you love Verna, Warren?"

"Of course I do!"

"And does Verna love you?"

"Well, of course she does."

Zedd shrugged. "Then I'll marry the both of you."

"You will? Oh, Zedd, that would be wonderful." Warren turned, reaching one hand toward the tent's opening, lifting his other back toward Zedd.

"Wait. Wait there a moment."

"Well, I was about to flap my arms and fly to the moon, but if you want me to wait-"

Warren was already out the tent. Zedd heard muffled voices coming from outside. Warren came back in-right on Verna's heels.

Verna beamed from ear to ear, which Zedd found unsettling in its own way, being so unusual.

"Thank you for offering to marry us, Zedd. Thank you! Warren and I wanted you to do the ceremony. I told him you would do it, but Warren wanted to ask you and give you a chance to say no. I can't think of anything more meaningful than being wedded by the First Wizard."

Zedd thought she was a lovely woman. A little fussy about rules and such, at times, but well intentioned. She worked hard. She didn't shy from some of the things Zedd had asked of her. And, she obviously held Warren in warm regard, as well as respecting him.

"When?" Verna asked. "When do you think would be an appropriate time?"

Zedd screwed up his face. "Do you two think you can wait until I've had a proper breakfast?"

They both grinned.

"We were thinking more along the lines of an evening wedding," Verna said. "Maybe we could have a party, with music and dancing."

Warren gestured nonchalantly. "We were thinking something to make a pleasant break in all the training."

"A break? How much time do you two think you will be needing away from your duties-"

"Oh, no, Zedd!" Warren had gone as purple as his robes. "We didn't mean we would-I mean we would still be doing-we would only like-"

"We don't want any time away, Zedd," Verna put in, bringing Warren's bashful babbling to an end. "We just thought it would be a nice opportunity for everyone to have a well-earned party for an evening. We won't be leaving our posts."

Zedd put a bony arm around Verna's shoulders. "You two can have all the time away you want. We all understand. I'm happy for you both."

"That's great, Zedd," Warren said with a sigh. "We really-"

A red-faced officer burst into the tent without so much as announcing himself. "Wizard Zorander!"

Two Sisters charged in right behind him.

"Prelate!" Sister Philippa called.

"They're coming!" Sister Phoebe cried.

Both women were white-faced and looked to be on the verge of losing their breakfast. Sister Phoebe was trembling like a wet dog in winter. Zedd then saw that Sister Philippa's hair was singed on one side and the shoulder of her dress was blackened. She had been one of those on far watch for the enemy gifted.

Now Zedd knew what the whistling sound he thought he'd heard was. It was very distant screams.

Rolling up from the distance came the note of the secondary waypoint alarm horns. Zedd felt the faint tingle of magic woven through them, so he knew they were genuine. Outside the tent, the muted sounds of camp life rose into a din of activity. Weapons were being yanked from where they were stacked, fires hissed as they were dowsed, swords were being strapped on, others were being drawn, horses whinnied at the sudden racket.

Warren seized Sister Philippa's arm and started issuing orders. "Get the line coordinated. Don't let them be seen-keep behind the third ridge.

Set the trips close-we need to give the enemy confidence. Cavalry?"

The woman nodded.

"Coming in two wings," the officer put in. "But they aren't charging yet-they don't want to get out too far ahead of their foot soldiers."