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lightly. Sera found it slightly unnerving when her twin moved without making a sound. “I need the calm to inspire my own mind to find tranquility. Asura, what can I do? I am going to be married to a man I did not ask to be betrothed to” her voice had rose in pitch as the fear started to rise in her body. Asura sat down on the stone bench and reached out, squeezing her sister’s hand. “It is rare that one gets to choose who they get to marry. You know this is so. The protectors of the stones are not usually allowed to get married and live the typical life. You know that Talos and I are very much in love, but there will be no family for us” her voice was steady and soothing hiding her own emotions. “You will get to have the things that are forbidden to all of us” she reached up and tapped under her sister’s chin with her fingertips lightly. Asura had grown to become wise and gentle, removing any doubt of her fate. Sera’s instincts were to yell, and object to her circumstances, but her sister’s words sobered her up. The sadness on Asura’s face filled her with guilt. “Don’t worry. I have met him before and he is quite heroic and handsome” she told her other half reassuringly. It wasn’t until this truth was spoken that she knew she was being foolish. Sera stood up and forced herself to smile, though deep inside she had misgivings. Grabbing her sister’s hand she led her into the coolness of the manor house. They walked along until the sound of raised voices causes both of them to stop in their tracks. The yelling voices came from the open doorway before them. The two women would recognize the indignantly angry voice of Calus who didn’t seem able to control his raging emotions. The second voice was quiet and tired. The argument seemed to be one sided since Amerus spoke only a few words amidst the young man’s torrent of shouts.
    “How could you do this, old man?! Marrying her off to that boar of a man. He might be higher rank then myself but he swoops in like a thief in the night to take the one thing that means more to me than anything.” There was a moment of silence and the elderly man gave a pained sigh. Calus’s tone was the height of disrespect in his fury. Amerus raised one of his hands in a motion of pause unseen by the twins. “I did what was requested of me, Calus and nothing more. Dominic is in his right to ask for the hand of any woman. He has the blessing of the king and I could do very little.” Sera knew that it wasn’t her place to interrupt the conversation, and what she was doing now was unorthodox. “You are her guardian, you are the guardian of all of us.” Calus tried to argue the weariness and sadness was rolling through him. There was a silence that permeated the hallway and the room the conversation was taking place. There was finality to its nothingness. Sera knew that even with her feelings toward Calus that it had no bearing in the reality they lived in. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but downing it was the only choice she had. A chapter of her life was over and the next uncertain moment would be written out on the ever moving wind.
     
    3. The Embers
     
    The wedding took place in the early morning the dampness clinging to everything. The high temple to the deity of the land called the Great Builder. The bells rang outside, its timber reigniting through the country side.  The high sprawling tower was built in the high point of the Northern Territory built by King Alther when he was crowned king. The church was filled with upper nobles, knights, and the guardians.  King Damon was sitting in the front aisle with his men at his side. It was common knowledge that King Damon and Dominic have been close since the knight had gone up in the ranks under his rule. There were rumors and speculation about how close they are and what things have been hidden after one of their nights of revelry. Naturally these were dismissed as amusing stories and nothing more.  The king