Chapter 54
Sunlight dazzled her eyes as Tanya walked through the doors and out into the courtyard. She hadn’t seen Orion all day. The cool, autumn breeze ruffled the leaves overhead and made her wrap her maroon cloak tightly around her arms. She had worn a new, ice blue dress to impress Orion. She now regretted wearing something with thin straps and a knee-length skirt. The breeze tickled her bare legs as she walked quickly through the courtyard, looking for her fiancé. Spotting Alex leaning against a large oak tree, she approached him. She knew that Alex wouldn’t let Orion out of his sight for long.
“Excuse me,” she said, shivering, “Do you know where Orion is?” Alex chuckled and pointed up at the branches above their heads. Tanya looked up, but didn’t see anything.
“He’s up there,” Alex said, reading her confused expression. “He’s been up there for almost an hour. I guess he missed climbing trees, too.” Tanya knew Alex was talking about the year Orion had spent in a wheel chair.
“Orion?” she called to the branches. Almost immediately, the upper branches began shaking, dropping most of their golden leaves, as a dark shape descended through the tree. Jumping the last few branches, Orion landed easily between Tanya and Alex, brushing off a few stray leaves from his black outfit. Since learning about his lunimorf heritage, he no longer cared that his skin was much lighter than everyone else’s, and had stopped trying to make himself look darker. “There you are,” she said softly, picking a leaf from Orion’s shoulder. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Why? I was just right here,” Orion joked. “Come on, let’s go for a walk.” They wandered through the courtyard, hand in hand, with Alex keeping his distance. Tanya, shivering, snuggled into Orion’s side. He put his arm around her. She couldn’t understand how he could be warm enough in such cold weather, but then again, he was wearing long sleeves, pants, and boots, whereas her arms and legs were exposed, and her small shoes didn’t provide any warmth.
“I was thinking,” Tanya began, “about what my mother said that night. You know, about you being Irdisae?” she looked up at Orion.
“Really?” Orion sighed, “I’m sorry, Tanya, but I just don’t believe it. I mean I can understand that with your culture, you would have legends and all, but I just can’t believe that I would be a part of that story.”
“But what about your ring? Why did it hurt Lee when he touched it?”
“It’s just a magic ring, Tanya. I could make the same thing. It doesn’t mean that it’s Irdisae’s old ring,” Orion replied.
“But it looks just like the ring my mother described,” she insisted, “And nobody can read the writing on the inside. You told me so.”
“It’s chicken scratch, Tanya, that’s all it is,” he stopped and looked at her. “You believe it, don’t you?” he asked, realizing why she brought it up, “You really believe that I’m Irdisae reincarnate, don’t you?” She nodded. He sighed. “Tanya, I don’t-,”
“It makes sense, Orion,” she interrupted, “Irdisae brought peace and ended a war. So will you, when you become king. Irdisae ruled both Olhoe and Lunspae. So will you, when you become king. Irdisae was given a ring, as a symbol of his authority. So were you.”
“Alright, Tanya,” he shook his head, “Alright. If it will make you happy, I’ll be Irdisae for you. But,” he held her chin and gazed into her eyes, “I don’t want you to start calling me Irdisae, okay? I like my name just fine.” He smiled at her and kissed her.
“So does this mean that I can start spreading the news?” Alex asked, walking up to them. Orion peered at him and rolled his eyes. Taking Tanya’s hand, Orion started walking again. “What? Was it something I said?” Alex asked as he followed the young couple.
“Never mind, Alex,” Orion said, “How about we go into the city for the harvest festival? I think it started yesterday.”
“Actually, that’s what I came looking for you for,” Tanya admitted, gazing excitedly into Orion’s good eye, “I saw the commotion from my parents’ window, and someone told me that it was the harvest festival. I missed it last year, so I wanted to go this year.”
“Sure thing, Tanya,” Orion smiled at his fiancé.