The Crystal Keeper BoxSet by Laurisa White Reyes

Author:Laurisa White Reyes [Reyes, Laurisa White]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947394957
Publisher: Skyrocket Press
Published: 2019-01-06T07:00:00+00:00

16

The weather had taken a turn. A little late in the season, but the air was finally blowing colder, heralding winter. Jayson hoped they’d have enough time to harvest and the wheat once it grew.

He stood on the porch of the big house, hands clasping the railing. He loved how the wind swayed through wheat fields, a sea of gold shifting and dancing like the surface of the sea. So, he looked forward to glimpsing the first green sprouts in a few days’ time.

In the northern corner of the farm, several dozen men were busy on one of the ditches. He would call them in soon. They needed a few hours of daylight to set up for the ceremony, which was to begin at sundown. After that, there would be music and dancing well into the night.

He could smell the delicious scent of the pigs roasting on spits behind the cabins and the sweet fragrance of freshly baked cakes and pies, enough to feed an army of guests, and that’s what they would have, surely. Every Guardian and his family would be on hand tonight, every man, woman and child who had come to him for protection from the Vatéz.

“It’s hard to believe the day has arrived,” said Teak, joining Jayson on the porch and lighting his pipe. Smoke bloomed from it and dissipated into the air. “Dianis won’t let me anywhere near her. Claims it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”

“So it is,” replied Jayson. He recalled his own wedding, a secretive and rushed affair with only the minister on hand as witness. But that hadn’t mattered. He and Ivanore were so deeply in love they wouldn’t have cared if they were the only souls in all the world.

“Some of the men are out back setting up the tables. I’ll go give them a hand,” said Jayson.

“I’ll come too,” said Teak.

Jayson paused. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

“I have time. No point in donning my wedding robe until just before. Besides, I think I should put this nervous energy to good use somehow.”

“You’ll have need of it later, my friend.” Jayson laughed as he patted Teak’s shoulder. Together they left the porch and made their way toward the cabins where dozens of Guardians were busy making preparations. Jayson was wrangled into setting up a canopy over the serving tables while Teak brought out chairs from families’ homes and set them up in rows.

They had never had a wedding on Ashlin. This would be a first and hopefully not the last. When Jayson had taken over the farm after Captain Dawes’ death, he had wondered how he would run it. Dawes had used indentured servants, men who owed him years of their lives due to financial debt. They were little more than slaves, unhappy and resentful—and not to be trusted. Jayson had decided to avoid using any man’s labor against his will, but he didn’t have enough money to hire a full contingent of farmers.

So, when Gerard asked

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