"The Archbishop will not like this. He will not like this at all.”

Ellysetta cleared her throat. "Perhaps, Father, you should introduce us to the Archbishop. The sooner we're done, the sooner the cathedral can return to normal.”

The priest ran a hand through his hair, leaving the thick waves of gold-streaked brown in disarray. "Yes, well, I suppose you're right, Ellie. Follow me.”

Ringed by her quintet, Ellysetta followed Father Celinor and her mother down the nave towards the large, ornate altar, towering alabaster luminary, and dual pulpits at the center of the cathedral. Behind the altar, a large wedge-shaped portion of the cathedral was reserved for seating clergy and choir, and several doors led to clerical offices and ceremonial chambers.

As they neared the altar, one of the doors opened and a stocky older man emerged. He wore the spotless, ankle- length white tunic and sleeveless, gold-trimmed blue robes of a Church of Light Archbishop. A scowl rode low on his brow.

"Celinor, I distinctly saw Fey warriors weaving magic outside my window”

"Greatfather, Mistress Baristani and her mother have arrived. The Fey escorting her would not remove their weapons without weaving magic around the Isle of Grace.”

Bel bowed to the Archbishop. "The weaves are shields of protection, to ensure the safety of the Feyreisa, which you would not permit Fey steel to do," he explained.

If anything, Bel's comment only made the Archbishop's scowl deepen. "I do not approve. Rest assured, as soon as this meeting is over, I will request an audience with the king. I will not have cursed Fey magic stand between this church and the faithful.”

Ellie bit her lip. For years now the Church had been growing less and less tolerant of magic in all its forms, a direct result of the sharp increase in the numbers of northern priests moving into positions of power in the Church's hierarchy. But until now, she'd never heard any priest in Celieria City— let alone the city's most senior cleric—openly condemn Fey magic as cursed. As the king himself wielded Fey magic, such a statement bordered on treason.

Bel executed a stiff bow. His eyes had gone flat and cold. "As you will, Excellency. But not even King Dorian can prevent the Fey from protecting our queen”

"Yes, well … er …" Father Celinor rubbed his hands together briskly. "Let's get on with the introductions, shall we?" He coughed and cleared his throat. "Ellysetta, Madam Baristani, it's my honor to introduce you both to His Excellency, Greatfather Tivrest, Archbishop of Celieria. Greatfather, this is Mistress Ellysetta Baristani, the Tairen Soul's betrothed, and her mother, Madam Lauriana Baristani, wife of master woodcarver, Sol Baristani. As I mentioned to you earlier, their family has been in my West End congregation since I first assumed my appointment there ten years ago.”

"Greatfather." Ellysetta and Lauriana sank into deep curtseys.

"Madam Baristani, Mistress Baristani." The Archbishop laid a hand on each of their heads and murmured a blessing, then extended a loosely clenched fist for them to kiss the ring of office on his right thumb. When they straightened, he graced them both with a tight smile. "Well, Mistress Baristani, for the last two days you've caused quite a stir in the city, and I see the commotion is going to continue.”

"So it seems, Greatfather," Ellie murmured.

"Hmph" The Archbishop straightened his robes. "First things first. The Bride's Blessing. The king has already informed me of your need for urgency. Though I emphatically do not approve of subverting Church protocol for personal whim, precedence does exist for … accelerating some of our lengthier ceremonies. It is not the preferred choice—the longer the devotions, the stronger the bond—but it can be done. I have agreed to perform the seven-day version of the Blessing. Six days of devotion, followed by the Blessing on the seventh day.”

"If you need more time, Greatfather, you must say so," Lauriana urged. "I would never forgive myself if any rush on our part weakened the effects of the Blessing.”

The Archbishop missed the silent plea shining in Lauriana's eyes. "I wouldn't worry too much, Madam Baristani. Seven is a godly number, full of protection and strength." He turned to Ellysetta. "Who will stand as your Honoria, Mistress Baristani?" Every bride was accompanied at the Blessing by her mother and her Honoria, a married female relative or friend, who served as her attendant and guide in the purification ceremony.

"Oh, no question there, Greatfather," Lauriana answered before Ellysetta could speak. "Selianne Pyerson. Ever since childhood, she and Ellie have been close as two feathers on the same wing.”

Ellie's eyes rounded. "Oh, urn, Mama, I don't know if she can" She flicked a glance back towards Bel and the others and lowered her voice. "She's a bit … intimidated … by the Fey.”

"Aren't we all," Mama muttered under her breath. Then a bit louder, "I'll send a boy round with a note later today. I'm sure she'll be honored to stand by you.”

Ellie opened her mouth to protest again, then saw Bel watching. If she continued to protest, she'd just call undue attention to Selianne. She swallowed the objection quickly and forced a smile. "There's no one else in the world I'd rather have. We always vowed that whoever married first would serve as the other's Honoria.”

"Excellent," the Archbishop said. "I'll need all three of you to meet me here at twelve bells on Kingsday for the initial consecration. You will continue to come at the same time every day until the six devotions are complete. On the seventh day, you will be ready for the Bright Bell. Please arrange to arrive no later than eleven bells, so you can begin the Bright Bell precisely at half eleven, when the Great Sun is approaching its zenith and the powers of the Solarus are at their height. If you are even a single chime late, the ceremony will have to be postponed for another day. Do you understand?”