74 A Show 2 (2/2)
Her father nodded in approval, tapping his lips in thought as he murmured under his breath. An old habit her mother spent years trying to correct. According to her, Grand Dukes shouldn't let their thoughts be captured so easily. Not that he changed in any way despite the constant nagging. ”The lightning sword is House Morales. Strangely apt how the Lord of Storms comes from a House with such an insignia. One would think their ancestors were prophetic. Those must be Dragon Lord banners. Imposing. Huh… your aunt's broken eye is being carried by some old Mage over there. Never thought I'd see that. Almost missed it because of all this light.” With a hand shading his eyes, her father leaned forwards to observe the glowing gift carts streaming over the hill. ”Now that is enough to make even Botek drool.”
”He spent a lot of time selecting gifts.”
”You seem to know a great deal of his affairs despite only meeting a few weeks ago.” Her father turned to give her a short, knowing grin, an armoured finger tapping his nose suggestively.
Elya ignored her father's teasing tone and waved at the gigantic Inichi Yesaul as he guided his horse to a stop a hundred paces from their lines. The burly figure swung his banner energetically while the procession streamed in behind him, Banner cavalry hopping from their galloping steeds to run alongside them until they stopped in formation. A dull boom thundered across the sky and the Thunder Lancers arrived like shooting stars, crashing into the earth in an explosion of lighting which forced Elya to blink rapidly and turn away. [Niki uses lightning far too much.]
”Thunder Lancers.” An awed whisper came from behind her and Elya focused on the two lines of Lancers kneeling in deep pits to either side of Nikolai's path. Unlike the pitch black armour she remembered from Galicia the Thunder Lancers glowed with indescribable majesty. Struck by curiosity she tried to find Chen, the only Lancer she actually knew, but with their visors shut they all looked the same.
In a final burst of Magic the War Mages and Etenani arrived behind the Lancers their staves driven deep into the earth and glowing with frightening power. Streams of power flickered around them, each Mage emanating flares of the various elements in a strange rhythmic cadence.
”Such Imperial favour.” Her father scratched at his cheek in thought as he gazed at the Magical forces arrayed before him.
Elya shrugged. ”The Son of Heaven likes him.”
Silence descended, the drums trailing off while the convoy turned towards Nikolai.
He floated towards them slowly, riding a turbulent storm cloud twisting at his feet. Pinpricks of light appeared before them as he arrived beside the Mages, rapidly expanding into a staircase. He descended with a measured pace, accompanied by the jagged lightning halo revolving behind him. A crown of Magic formed over his brow, and on cue the Mages behind him summoned their own, ancient runes twisting like flames around their heads. Nezgrom flashed with iridescent light and Elya swallowed at her fiancee's overwhelming display. This was a true demonstration of Magic.
Her father urged his charger forwards, reins clenched tightly in his fist.
Ignoring the move, Nikolai glanced towards her, a slight smile playing across his lips and Elya found herself grinning back. [I didn't know he had such a flair for the dramatic.] With practiced ease Nikolai knelt before her father and placed Nezgrom to the side while Jarek held the sword he carried with its hilt pointing at her father.
”Grand Duke Suzdal!” Nikolai's magically enhanced voice echoed across the plains. ”I Count Nikolai Morales of Volhiniya, heir-apparent of House Morales, Defender of the Empire, Master War Mage of the Emperor, bestowed by the Imperial Mage Council the title of Lord of Storms do hereby arrive in honour and glory. By our most ancient traditions I humbly requestthe hand of your daughter Dame Elya Suzdal the Dragonslayer, Lady of the western lakes, Knight-Captain of the Order of Chernigov in marriage.”
With a deep breath her father reached down to clasp the hilt Jarek offered for a brief moment before sliding from his horse to help Nikolai to his feet. Cheers exploded around them and Elya sagged in place, relieved the ceremony was over without any problems. After everything that happened around them a part of her had been worried something would appear to interfere. Nikolai whispered something to her father before fixing her with a triumphant gaze.
'I Win.' He mouthed.
[Alright. Now he has to be punished.]