The leaves barely rustled below and to my left. Ever so slowly, the foliage was pushed aside as something large crept through it. Mordon’s helm made hidden things visible for its wearer through some subtle magic, and I turned my head to see a render moving stealthily through the brush. Renders were very large animals, between twenty to twenty-five feet long from head to tail and weighing more than three thousand pounds. They were one of the deadliest hunters on our world because of their ability to duplicate the colors around them on their scaly hides, making them very hard to see. They had six large lower legs that they walked on and one pair of arms on an upturned torso. Those upper arms had very sharp, strong talons that they used to grab their prey and tear it apart.

  This was a big one, and it was single-mindedly focused on the ham I had hung from a rope in a small clearing nearby. I was hovering above the ground some thirty feet away by means of the flying magic I’d recently discovered. Truly, I loved this particular magic, as flying was something I’d dreamed of doing since I was a boy. I couldn’t do it anywhere near a populated area, for obvious reasons. One witness and me and my family could be turned over to the king’s justice. Even if the Executors aren’t an organization anymore, sorcery was still illegal in Mithram. Out here in the wilderness, however, I could indulge myself by flying around as much as I wanted.

  I gave the ham a little jiggle with a bit of telekinetic magic and waited for the render to walk into my trap. I had cleared an area surrounding the ham of all leaves so I wouldn’t set the forest on fire when I attacked. Renders were very focused ambush predators, and I was sure that this one would be no exception. Even so, I stayed very still while it advanced so sound created by my armor wouldn’t spook it.

  It entered the cleared area, and I readied myself mentally. Even with adamantine plate armor to protect me, there was a lot that could go wrong. When it was twenty feet from the ham and gathering itself to pounce, I focused my will and threw a bolt of lightning at it. The scales of its central back smoked where the lightning hit it and its limbs spasmed. It let out a very loud roar and flopped over onto its right side. I became visible as I concentrated on the killing magic, but it hadn’t seen me yet. I conjured a spear made of fire hovering by my right hand and mentally hurled it straight down into the beast’s side, burning a deep hole in its body. I followed that with another spear of fire with similar results. It thrashed around some, and as it stilled, I hit it with another one. It lay still, so I descended to stamp out some flames that sprayed from an impact and managed to set some loam ablaze. The forest was deeply shaded from the thick canopy above, so to see more clearly, I had to walk around the beast to make sure nothing was burning on the other side of it.

  Without warning, something smashed into my left side and knocked me sprawling ten feet away. I landed heavily on my side and struggled to right myself. The render groaned strangely as it lurched forward suddenly and slammed both of its upper limbs down on my cuirass, pinning me under its massive weight. Down came its open mouth, its fangs like large arrowheads, and clamped down on my helm. Fortunately, Mordon’s helm was made of adamantium as well, or this hunting trip would have ended much sooner than I would’ve liked.

  Its teeth couldn’t penetrate my helm, but it could definitely rip my head off without penetrating the armor. Not wanting to test the strength of my chin strap, I focused my will on the simplest spell I could cast from that prone position, a cone of fire, which I channeled straight into its gullet. It immediately pulled its head back, screeching in rage. It coughed, spraying something wet on my helm and onto my eyes and lips. I grimaced to keep whatever that was from going into my mouth and blasted it with a fist of concussive force hard enough to knock it over backwards. Thinking fast, I teleported myself to a thick limb above the render. I blinked and tried to get my balance, but still I almost fell. Fortunately, there was another branch close enough that I could grab and steady myself on my precarious perch.

  The render had regained its feet and cast its gaze this way and that, trying to find me, making strange coughing and growling sounds as it did so. I was equally surprised and impressed that it wasn’t dead with the grievous harm I had already done it. The render had three holes blasted into it, had been raked with lightning, and hit with bone jarring force. The others I’d slain had died with fewer wounds. Renders didn’t get to be this big without having to fight for it, I supposed. I focused my will and threw spear after fiery spear into the render until finally it lay dead. Then I made very certain this time, by burning its head completely to ash.

  “Smooth, Jeron,” I said to myself. “Really well executed. I almost needed Elle’s healing. Or a burial.”

  Then it hit me. Elle and Bran’s wedding! I’d forgotten all about it! Was this the right day? Yep. I’d stayed in the woods too long. I glanced at the ham, then at the sky to try to judge the hour of day, but the forest was too thick and I could barely see where the sun was, much less its exact position. Rather than take the ham and use it again, I left it hanging for the stroks and teleported to the rooftop of Stonekeep Castle. The position of the sun told me I may already be late, so I hurried. The golems watched me move as I stepped closer to the stone wall with the stone archway in it that led nowhere and activated the magic of the portal within. A soft, silvery light filled the portal, and it suddenly looked to open into a hazy but sunny meadow filled with blue flowers. When I stepped through the portal, the meadow snapped into focus. It was beautiful and peaceful, though it was also an illusion. The softly glowing portal closed behind me as I walked down the hallway heading towards another portal that took me to the suite of rooms I occupied on the lord’s level of the castle. When I got there, I activated the magic of the mithril bracelet I wore, and the armor I bore disappeared with a flash of lightning and a plain set of clothes appeared in its place.

  This definitely wasn’t the clothing I needed right now, so I quickly changed into a new set of clothes that I’d bought for today’s festivities. The dark blue pants and vest went very well with a fresh, white shirt and shiny black shoes. A belt with my favorite knife, the one Elric had made for me many years ago, and my belt pouch were all I needed. I kept my mithril bracelet on as I always did, of course. I’d learned the hard way that I should keep my arms available at all times. I ran a hand through my hair to make sure it wasn’t sticking up in some embarrassing way, then went to the desk and picked up the carefully wrapped box that contained my gift.

  Walking quickly to the throne room, I wondered briefly if Mira would be there. It was highly unlikely. Mira was living her own life now, one that didn’t include me. Pushing the golden doors open, I also pushed thoughts of Mira out of my head. I strode across the room quickly and sat in the Amber Throne, the light from its brilliant topaz facets radiating through the room. I focused my will on the magic of the throne, which would have been a lot easier had I been wearing Mordon’s helm, and summoned an image of my brother, Bran. He was wearing a set of fancy clothes much like mine except with green colors instead of the blue I favored. Bran was standing in a feast hall decorated with flowers and surrounded by the men of my family. A magistrate wearing their official black robes waited close by. Many of our neighbors had gathered here for the occasion and sat patiently in the many chairs lining the tables. I saw Captain Doornail sitting with the other former members of our talon. Hamot, Nalimea and Hituren Thickbeard had made the journey from Kurgh Rhamot, too, which made me smile. Even Whizzbang was there. Thankfully, I wasn’t too late. Knowing time was short, I moved the viewpoint of the magic to the outside of the hall and found an unobserved spot. After using the power of the throne to make a portal open to that place, I quickly got up from the throne and jogged through the open portal.

  I glanced back to make sure it closed after me, then jogged through the back door of the feast hall. I made my way over to where Bran stood with Dortham, Elric and Darek, trying to act casually as I considered how close I had come to missing this blessed event.

  “Cutting it a little close, there, son,” Dortham said.

  “Sorry about that,” I said. “I’m on time, though. I even remembered a gift.” I held up the cloth wrapped parcel for emphasis. Though they couldn’t see it, it was a cylindrical lamp that I had Whizzbang make out of mithril with a topaz as big as my thumb in the center. The topaz was enspelled to shed light permanently, and the cylindrical shades had shapes cut into it that allowed varying amounts of light to shine forth. It was very beautiful, if I was allowed to say so myself.

  “Well, you should have remembered to wash the blood off your face, you idiot,” Darek said.

  “Flyspecks!” I said. I moved closer to the group so people wouldn’t see, then I quickly used a simple, little cleaning spell on my face. I looked back up at the others. “Good?”

  “Yeah, you’re good,” Bran said. “And hey, thanks for being here. I know you’ve been distracting yourself since we last teamed up a few weeks ago, and I want you to know that it means a lot to me that you’re here.”

  I was shocked back into reality by the implications. “You shouldn’t have to say something like that to me, Bran. You’re my brother. I know I’ve been a little distant since Mira left, but I shouldn’t have been that distant. I’m really sorry.”

  “Ah, don’t worry about it,” Bran said, clapping me on the shoulder.

  “Yeah, where’ve you been, anyway?” Darek asked.

  “The lands surrounding Ithion,” I said.

  “What in the hells were you doing there?” Darek asked. “Ithion’s a wild place both inside and outside the city.”

  “I heard there were unusually large numbers of renders there that ate most of their sheep, so I decided to do something about it,” I said.

  “How do you even hear about these things?” Darek asked.

  I squirmed a little bit. “I maybe, possibly, could have overheard someone say that.”

  Bran looked me right in the eye. “You were spying on Mira, weren’t you?”

  “Yeah, I was. What of it?” I asked defensively. “I just wanted to make sure she was all right.”

  “Sure, you did,” Bran said. “Look, it’s not healthy to spy on people, you know. You’ve got to let her go.”

  “I have,” I said. “Really. I only looked in on her once a week or so, and she’s moved on. She has a new boyfriend now, and I haven’t looked in on her since finding that out. I just had to distract myself so I’m not dwelling on it, that’s all.”

  The others thought about that for a moment.

  “Well, at least you didn’t do anything… impulsive… to her boyfriend,” Elric said.

  “I’m not a monster,” I said defensively.

  “We know you’re not,” Bran said.

  “Did you think about it, at least?” Darek said with a smirk. “I would’ve.”

  “Yeah, I woulda smashed that guy like a bug,” Elric said, grinning, and slapped his fist into his meaty, open palm.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Believe me, it was tempting,” I said.

  “Best not to dwell on it, son,” Dortham said. “I think you’ve handled everything quite well, all things considered.”

  “Thanks. Enough about me and my loser lifestyle. This is your day, Bran.”

  “Uh, oh,” Dortham said, having finally looked to the entrance of the feast hall. “There’s the signal that Elle’s ready.”

  “There’s a signal?” Bran asked.

  “Your mother just looked into the front room and started crying her eyes out,” Dortham said. He began moving to the other side of the feast hall to perform his paternal duties.

  “I guess this is it,” Bran said, taking a deep breath.

  “Yeah, I wasn’t sure Elle was gonna show up for this,” I said, grinning.

  “You and me both,” Bran said seriously. Knowing Elle, it was very possible she’d run like a doe.

  Bran walked over to the center of the front side of the feast hall, taking his place by the magistrate. The guests all saw this and began taking their seats, my brothers and I included. Bran gave the thumbs up sign to a trio of musicians who got their instruments ready, and with a few beginning notes, a hush fell over the feast hall and they began playing a joyful melody. The guests all waited for the imminent arrival of the bride.

  Then there she was. Elle wore a perfectly white dress and had her long, blonde hair arranged into a series of curls intertwined with a tiara of white roses. Her dress had no sleeves, a high neckline, and draped all the way to the floor in a simple but elegant way. In that moment, she was without a doubt the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. She was breathtaking. Our guests actually gasped when they saw her. I glanced over to Bran, and it looked to me like someone hit him over the head with a quarterstaff. I used a tiny bit of telekinetic magic to gently force his mouth closed and keep him from swooning, and he composed himself quickly. I let the magic drift away when his posture firmed up. I don’t think any magic ever invented would have been able to remove his smile, though.

  Dortham offered Elle his arm as the three musicians ceased the filler music they’d been playing. Then they began the first notes of the traditional bridal march, and I couldn’t help but be envious of my brother. All right, if I were to be honest, I was very, very envious. Bran had been dealt a better hand by fate than I had by far. He was tall, handsome, and from outward appearances, he was a lot stronger than me. People liked him more than they liked me, too. These were things I’d thought about from time to time but never dwelled on before, but as Dortham, Nora and Elle walked calmly down the aisle to join Bran, I knew I’d trade everything I had to be him. Sure, I had physical strength that I hadn’t found the limits of yet. I had magical power that despots dreamed of having, and in the keep I’d found treasures that would make even the richest man drool. It was more wealth than I could ever spend. Having all that, I understood then that money and power were worthless if I didn’t have love. It’s people that make life worth living. True friends and good family are worth more than any amount of gold. I vowed then that I’d try to be less introverted and reclusive.

  Both Nora and Elle held one of Dortham’s arms, and the trio halted just before they reached Bran and the magistrate.

  “Who is it that gives this woman to be married this day?” the magistrate asked.

  “Dortham and Nora Smith have this honor,” Dortham said loudly.

  “Do you willingly give this woman to be wed?” the magistrate asked.

  “We do,” Dortham and Nora said together.

  “And who is it that gives this young man to be married this day?” the magistrate asked.

  “We’re doing that, too,” Dortham said. There was a collective chuckle at that very nontraditional response.

  “And do you willingly give this man to be wed?” the magistrate asked.

  “We do,” Dortham and Nora said.

  “Then you may join your betrothed,” the magistrate said to Elle, gesturing with one hand to Bran.

  Dortham and Nora sat down. Elle stepped forward, seeing nothing except Bran’s eyes. Bran reached forward and took both of her hands in his, facing her with the magistrate on his right-hand side.

  “We gather today to join this man and woman in matrimony. If there is any reason these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace,” the magistrate said. He paused for a few seconds as prescribed by law. “Very well, then. Do you, Bran Smith, take Elle Smithsdotr to be your lawful wife, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, all the days of your life?”

  “I do,” Bran said firmly.

  “And do you, Elle Smithsdotr, take this man to be your lawful husband, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, all the days of your life?”

  Those who knew Elle all held their breath.

  “I do,” Elle said.

  I sighed with relief, as did many others, I noticed. The mood of the gathering changed as people relaxed, and their smiles were no longer nervous ones. The magistrate removed two rings from a pocket on the front of his official robes of office and held them out between Bran and Elle.

  “These rings you have entrusted to me I now entrust to you. May they be an outward sign of the eternal nature of the promises you’ve just made.”

  Elle took Bran’s ring first and slid it onto his finger. Bran then did the same for Elle.

  “By the powers vested in me by King Korban Mithram the Fifth, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What is bound here today may never be parted. You may now kiss the bride.”

  Bran and Elle kissed. It was a long, tender kiss, full of meaning. A great cheer went up from all present as soon as it commenced. There was a smile on everyone’s face, even mine. The people of Stonekeep usually took oaths and wedding vows very seriously. My wedding and its abbreviated nature were very uncommon, as was the seemingly nonexistent brevity of it. I couldn’t help but feel like my life was in flames, but I decided I had to make the best of it. I made merry with everyone else that day and tried as hard as I could to keep from ruining Bran and Elle’s wedding day.

  It took more effort than I thought it would.

  -----

  In the days that followed, very little actually changed around the Smith house. Dortham and Nora still shared their room on the third floor and Darek and Bethan shared a room on the fourth floor. Their son Berond had a room to himself next to theirs currently, but with Bethan’s pregnancy that would change soon. Bran had already bought a new bed, one that was big enough for two, and I’d moved my stuff out of our old bedroom to make room. My old bed went into Berond’s room for his coming sibling. Elric and his growing family had moved into a house close by some time ago, but they came over daily. Nora usually taught the children as Elric worked his forge in the smithy below. Armor smithing was still the family business, and the Smith family was well known as the makers of the best armor in Stonekeep. Right now, Dortham, Elric and Darek were working their forges, Juleen was working at the bakery, and Nora and Samira had taken the children with them to the market.

  The wedding was two days ago, but Elle had not gone back to work for the Bakers yet. It was understood that newly married couples always had a week off unless military duty precluded that. Right now, she sat on one side of the sofa with Bran next to her in the center. I sat in an armchair opposite, taking it easy for once. The others knew what I’d been up to, so they left me alone. In days past, though, Dortham would have booted our backsides for sitting around like this. We had a very hard work ethic in this family, and Dortham would have to have been sick near to the point of death to not be working his forge. Elle was playing around with the Pirate King’s mithril cube, rotating the sides this way and that. It was still as shiny as the day it was created.

  “Be careful with that,” I said to Elle. “You remember what happens if you solve the side with the coins on it, right?”

  “Yes, I remember, thanks,” Elle said. She never took her eyes off the cube, and was rotating the sides this way and that, concentrating intently.

  “It looks like you may solve that side by accident soon, you know. He said the cube would deliver a nasty surprise to anyone who put all the coins on one side,” I persisted.

  “Concerned? You needn’t be,” Elle said, frowning. “The coin side will be the last one I solve.”

  “The last one? Hmmm. I don’t think I have the brains to figure it out.”

  “Got that right,” Bran said, grinning.

  I laughed lightly. “No shame in that. You don’t either. It’s just that Elle’s the only person I know of that can heal people. In the whole world. If you’re blasted by that cube, there’s no one that can heal you,” I said.

  Elle didn’t pause. “I’ve had a dream about being a shepherd and building sheep folds. This cube was in the dream, also. It sort of melted and reformed into a barn.” The sides whirled and twisted in what looked like random ways to me, but on closer inspection, it was getting closer to being solved. The pieces were starting to line up. “I had the thought that maybe the Pirate King didn’t tell us everything. Didn’t it seem odd to you that we didn’t find much money in the cube space?”

  “So disappointing,” I said.

  “You’re thinking that if you solve all six sides of the cube, a different portal will open up, aren’t you?” Bran asked.

  “Yeah,” Elle said, concentrating intently. “I accidentally solved two sides at the same time once, one of which was the coins. When it didn’t shock me to death, I thought that maybe the other side being solved with it disarmed the trap. If two sides combined to do nothing, then maybe all sides being solved together combine to do something really good.”

  “Huh. Well, don’t die,” I said.

  “I’ll be fine, thanks,” Elle said. “There was a series of moves in my dream, like a pattern or something, but I’m not remembering it perfectly. If I can remember that pattern, I can solve this. I know that I had to have a certain pattern of suns on one side, and solve that first, then solve it from the bottom up. It’s just hard to do.” A little time passed as she twisted the sides this way and that.

  “So, what’s next for you?” Bran asked me.

  “I still need to help the people of Ithion with their render problem,” I said. “Once I get that to a manageable level, I’ll make us a couple of shields out of adamantium.”

  “They would come in handy,” Bran said. “I was wondering why you haven’t done that before now.”

  “I was holding out hope that I could make another Reflector,” I said.

  “Now, that would be awesome.”

  “Yeah, but all my research has been fruitless so far. The smith has to know how to enchant the item as it’s being forged or it’s all for nothing. I’m not sure if adamantium can be reforged, either. It’s so rare that I don’t want to waste it.”

  “Good thought,” Bran said. “So, I guess you’ll make regular, old shields?”

  “Well, I can put an enchantment on them that lessens the shock of the blows the wearer takes but making the damage of those blows reflect back to their source is beyond me,” I said.

  “I can live with…” Bran said, but he was interrupted by a flash of golden light in the center of the common room as a bright portal sprang into being.

  “Got it!” Elle said, holding the cube triumphantly.

  I was on my feet in a fighting stance instantly. I relaxed after it didn’t explode or anything. Elle and Bran climbed off the sofa to stand there looking at the portal. It looked like a pool of radiant, molten gold floating in the air. The other portal had been gray in color and didn’t shine like this one did.

  “Well, ain’t that something?” Bran said.

  “That Pirate King was a devilishly tricky little blighter,” I said.

  “That he was,” Elle said. “Um. Would you like to go first, Jeron?”

  “Because I’m expendable?” I asked with an easy smile.

  “Because you’re really tough. And because you’re a blockhead,” Elle said.

  Laughing, I mentally activated the mithril bracelet I wore and in a flash of lightning I was arrayed in my armor. “I don’t see any dangerous enchantments through the helm,” I said.

  “That’s good,” Bran said. “Let’s armor up anyway. There could be a demon in there or something.” He activated the bracelet I had given him, and in a somewhat muted flash of golden light he was arrayed in his adamantine plate armor, shield in hand. He drew Vengeance and held it ready.

  Elle shifted into her adamantine chainmail just in case using her bracelet. She gestured to the portal. “After you.”

  I drew my mace and stepped through the portal, ready for anything. I needn’t have worried. I stepped aside so the others wouldn’t bump into me and had a look around as Bran and then Elle walked in. We were in a large, wood-paneled room that was walled with closed drawers. Everywhere I looked there were huge piles of coins. There were also low, Seeker sized tables here and there with many shiny things displayed on them scattered around the room amidst the piles of money.

  “I don’t see any harmful spells or hidden creatures or anything beyond the obvious,” I said.

  “That’s good,” Elle said as she looked around, taking it all in.

  “Guess we’re rich now,” Bran said rather unenthusiastically. Though he had never really wanted for anything, and though we had never really had many possessions, Bran didn’t care about things like wealth and power. He was a pretty humble guy.

  “Suppose so,” I said, matching his tone. I’d seen this sort of thing before, and I hadn’t told anyone. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to share, but because no one I knew needed it. Well, also because I felt like it didn’t belong to me.

  “This isn’t for us,” Elle said. “We didn’t find all this by accident. We were led here. I think we’re supposed to use this to build churches.”

  “That makes sense,” Bran said. “Sorry, buddy,” he said to me.

  “Bah. This isn’t the first treasure room I’ve stumbled upon,” I said.

  “What? You’ve been holding out on us?” Bran asked, surprised.

  “There’s a bunch of gold in the keep, isn’t there?” Elle surmised.

  “Yeah. Enough to sink the Unseen Blade,” I said. “I never considered it mine, so I never told anyone about it. I only used what I really needed for smithing and such.”

  “I was wondering where the gems came from,” Bran said.

  “Most people wouldn’t have shown such restraint. Or such good judgement,” Elle said with approval.

  “We’re Smiths,” I said. “Good judgement’s in our blood.”

  “Speaking of that, we’ll need to come up with a plan,” Bran said. “We can’t just walk around with gold falling out of our pockets.”

  “I may have something in mind,” Elle said happily.