Moving up to the door with a grace that would put Vallerian to shame, her Father slowly pushed it open. Craning her neck to get a look, Celeste tried to make out what was happening down the corridor.

Three guards stood, barring the way for what looked like… Celeste’s breath caught. The Ga’Na? What was she doing here?

Before she could think, Celeste had pushed past her Father and rushed down the corridor to her friend. Two guards stood with crossed glaives while the third held her by the wrist. Despite being almost as tall and nearly a head wider than the Fershya guard, the Ga’Na was quite old and Celeste feared she’d be injured by accident. “You will unhand her this instant.” She commanded, striding over to the Faith Militiamen. The two with crossed glaives turned to her. then shot one another confused looks.

“Your Radiance, this Korek woman is refusing to listen.” The one grasping her by the wrist called out.

“Disrespectful whelplings.” The Ga’Na grunted in Korek’ta.

“Stand down Faith Militia.” Her Father called form behind her. “I presume this is the… Ga’Na woman that Gardinal spoke of in his report?” The bishop asked, Celeste nodded then rushed over to help the Ga’Na as she cradled her wrist. From a quick glance, it appeared sprained. Celeste let a small amount of light seep into the older woman’s deep crimson skin, and then smiled at her.

“Ga’Na, the Mother gifts me with your presence.” Celeste greeted her in Korek’ta. “This is my father, The Bishop of Life Shelezan.” Celeste used the word for father that meant ‘older male who has raised me’ not blood father. Turning to her father, she switched to speaking Sherya. “Father, this is the Ga’Na, one of the leaders of the Terminian Korek.” The Ga’Na smiled warmly.

“And a gift to be welcomed in turn.” She responded, then in broken Terminian added. “I meet you well, Bishop Father.” Then, she exposed her neck to the bishop. Celeste smiled and stifled a giggle.

“Why are you here?” Celeste asked, using the words that meant unexpected surprise, but also nervousness. “Is everything alright? Are Rekiak and Thelyra safe?” Celeste looked the woman up and down, she didn’t seem to be in any distress. Still, even just seeing the older Mercy’s kind face brought Celeste a budding of joy.

“They are fine Mora Ga’Na, do not worry.” The Ga’Na responded. “In fact, I have come with joyous tidings.” The word for joyous she used was strong, a word for a pronouncement of great excitement and love. “They are to be wed my child, in a matter of days actually.”

Celeste held the woman’s hands and felt tears of joy begin to form in her eyes. Rekiak and Thelyra were going to be wedded properly? What a wonderful blessing! “I… I hope it is not presumptuous if I ask to attend, Ga’Na.” Celeste raised her head, and proffered her neck in subservience.

The Ga’Na threw her head back in a deep belly laugh. “Presumptuous? Silly Mora Ga’Na, I have come to ask you to wed them!” The Ga’Na smiled warmly, rubbing a tear from her eye. Celeste felt herself freeze. She had come to ask her to…

“Unfortunately, as I had told your early messengers, Her Radiance is far too busy to be attending a wedding anytime soon.” Her Father spoke, walking over. Celeste furrowed her brow and looked at the Bishop. He had spoken, in Korek’ta.

“You can speak Korek’ta?” Celeste asked in shock. “How did I not know this?”

“I am over two hundred years old Prophetess.” Her Father mused. “There is a great many things I can do that you are not aware of.”

Celeste shook her head, this revelation would be something to mull over later. For now, she would not miss this wedding for anything. “It would be my honor to attend in such an important fashion.” Celeste responded, shooting her Father a sharp look.

“Your Radiance. In light of what we just spoke on I think it would be prudent if…”

“Father, I will not be kept from this joyous occasion in which I have been asked to play the role of the First Mother.” Celeste knew little of the Korek wedding traditions, but she knew in the Terminian ones there were two who wedded the couple, a priest of Seratos to represent the Father, and a priest of Ethinia to represent the Mother. So that the couple would be joined before the eyes of the blessed Pantheon itself.

The Bishop set his jaw, but relented once more. “So be it, but I will be attending as well then. And you shall be assigned a full retinue of honor guards.” He commanded, and the tone of his voice proved that he would not budge on this.

“I can accept this, Sherya Ga’Se.” The Ga’Na spoke, and Celeste giggled a bit at the misunderstanding. It seemed the Ga’Na’s fast knowledge did not extend to the ways of Terminians. Still, Celeste beamed. A wedding was coming, and an order to form. Celeste finally had something to look forward to again.