Aria reached into the cascade of her hair and came down with a faint sparkle that clinked into Dennis’ gauntlet. Then she put both arms around his neck and kissed him.
“Oh!” Dennis said, backing as though she wore armor and he only gauze. “Oh,” and he turned, striding to the sea’s edge. Rakastava was stone silent, but waves kicked and spattered like the echoes of its thrashing.
A low spot on the stone floor had collected a puddle, shallow and still. Chester crouched beside it, holding Dennis’ helmet; and beyond him, silhouetting his egg-shaped body, was the faint rectangle on the mirroring water. They stepped through together without leaving even a splash in the cavern behind them.
Dennis sat on the mud and dried bones of Malbawn’s hut, his head bent and his elbows resting on his knees. He knew he’d have to stand up for Chester to finish stripping off the armor, but for now…
He licked his lips and tasted blood.
“She risked her life, Chester,” he said. “I had armor and my sword, but she had nothing at all when she closed with Rakastava.”
“That is so, Dennis,” the robot agreed as catches snicked and loosened beneath his touch. Dennis realized how warm the right vambrace still remained when it came away and cool air bathed his forearm again.
He stood up. When Chester had lifted clear the cuisses that guarded his thighs, Dennis reached into his side pocket and brought out the other bits of jewelry to join the earring in his palm. Looking at them and not his companion, the youth said, “Chester, I think I love her.”
“Oh, aye,” Chester agreed as he loosened the greaves. “And will love her forever, Dennis; for that was the spell of Cariad, was it not? And you tasted her blood on your lips, to seal the spell.”
Dennis licked his lips again. Only the salty memory remained.
“Whatever,” he said. But love remained also.
CHAPTER 51
The assembly hall was vibrant with banners and the boisterous enthusiasm of the citizens of Rakastava. Dennis had not been sure the city would survive the death of its ancient ruler, but the tables arranged themselves with food and beverages just as before.
Dalquin nudged Dennis and pointed to Gannon as the champion stood up at the royal table. “Truly a great hero,” the guardsman murmured. “To tell the truth, lad—Gannon has a fine figure, but I wouldn’t have thought he had that in him. Rose to the occasion, you might say.”
“Oh, the true Gannon must be a surprise to many,” Dennis said in what the citizen thought was agreement.
Dennis had expected to be nervous. Instead he felt loose and dangerous, much as he had done the morning he swaggered into the hut of Mother Grimes. Something was going to happen. He wasn’t sure what; but he was sure that he’d be in the middle of it.
And that it was better than standing by, leaving events to others.
The cheers that greeted Gannon’s rise died away. King Conall still had a doubtful expression as he looked up at the champion.
Aria’s upper lip was swollen and slightly cut. The injury made an odd background to her sardonic smile.
The princess wasn’t staring at her folded hands this evening. Her gaze wandered across the hall; to the serpent heads on the table; and occasionally to the King’s Champion, standing beside her.
When she looked up at Gannon, her smile grew broader.
“Fellow citizens!” Gannon cried. “I have slain the monster!”
The assembly cheered, as though their cheers in the past two days had been only practice for the real victory. Dennis noted a few furtive glances toward the center of the hall. Some of the citizens wondered whether this celebration, too, might not be premature.
The doubters were wrong. This time, Rakastava was really dead.
“King Conall,” Gannon continued, looking down at his titular monarch, “I claim your daughter as my bride tonight!”
Aria stood up, unsummoned. She lifted her hair away from her shoulders with both hands, displaying her lack of earrings.
“Father,” she said in a clear voice, “I gave my crystal ring and earrings to the hero who slew Rakastava. Gannon, will you return the jewels to me now?”