There was no chapel in Emfer dedicated only to the goddess Naida. There was a small temple here to honor Haleon. There were statues of the main deities around the temple. Naida was a demanding goddess, as she needed a source of water. This problem was solved here with a small well at which the locals customarily exchanged marriage vows. Setia and Tendred decided to stick to local tradition and did not build a special temple for their own needs. Their decision was met with the approval of the residents and the old priest.
Setia, dressed in the colors of Emfer, stood motionless next to a statue of Naida depicted as a young woman with her arms outstretched as if to greet or hug someone. Tendred slowly and solemnly approached her, offering her his hand. On the small table next to the statue of Naida, there was already a jug full of water drawn from the well and two goblets. Tendred was concerned, she could see it on his face. She herself felt some discomfort. She is going to lie by taking a false oath.
"Naida, bless this marriage and love - the priest's voice was loud and resonant
"I will cut off my hand if these two love each other." Aktis whispered in her companion's ear. She stood in the front row and closely watched every move of the young couple. However she wasn't the only one following every step of the young couple closely, Jefre took a convenient position and stared greedily at Setia. He was pleased, the original exceeded even his imagination. He smiled slightly to himself, then his eyes moved to the familiar silhouette of Aktis. He knew that look, he would soon be tasked with getting rid of Tendred's young wife.
The young couple, shrouded in smoke from fragrant herbs burned by the priest, bowed before the image of the deity, then together they circled the well and were blessed again. The ceremony was finally over. Smiling, Setia and Tendred, together with the rest of the procession, set off back to the castle. Moros handed them each a purse, and now the young couple scattered small coins among the crowd for good luck. The inhabitants of Emfer cheered and flowers were thrown on the road in front of the royal couple. Amidst the general noise and joy of those gathered, they reached the castle. As soon as they entered the corridor the smell of food hit their noses. The audience hall could barely accommodate the invited guests. At the main table sat Aktis with Barandis, as well as a few other nobles who were friends with Tendred. The richest merchants and craftsmen in the city were also invited to celebrate with their ruler.
The feast was tiring for Setia, everyone was nice and smiling, wishing them health, love and lots of offspring. At this last mention, some murmured and smiled rather less kindly. Duchess Setia was forced to keep up good appearances and a smiling face all the time. She had been doing this for so long that she felt like that stupid smile would be permanently stuck to her face.
"So how do you feel as the Duchess of Emfer." Tendred whispered in her ear
"Fantastic. - she answered truthfully - Do you regret it?"
After a moment of silence, Tendred leaned over his wife and said only a short, "No." He added immediately." It was the only right decision I have made in a long time. Here's to a new beginning. He raised his glass towards her.
"To a new beginning." She repeated the toast.
"When shall we talk to the guys from Fenigrid?" Setia gave a sign to Timor that she didn't want any more wine.
"Tomorrow morning, let them rejoice with us today, unaware of the development of our plans." Tendred looked pleased. Setia thought for a moment that he wouldn't make a bad husband. Nice, cultured and well-groomed, which couldn't be said about many men, he probably won't impose himself on her in the alcove. Perhaps he would welcome a possible offspring? No matter who his father was, who knows? She was amused by her own thoughts. Together with her husband, she made another toast to their future.
***
The harvest season is over. There was a chill in the air forerunning the approaching cold. Standing on a hoarding attached to the defensive wall of Kanror, Gorsep watched his breath escape in the form of a misty cloud into the sky. He liked the mornings and the sight of the fog slowly covering the trees and bushes. He needed these moments of solitude to be able to concentrate better on the tasks of the day.
Ruling Kanror was not beyond his abilities, but it was not easy either. He was met with silent resistance everywhere. People did not protest or start riots in the streets. Everything took place in the greatest silence. The inhabitants of Kanror obediently followed his orders, but he had to take care of every, even the smallest thing. If he didn't commission something, it was done half-heartedly or on purpose in a way that infuriated him. He ordered the removal of the debris. The debris was removed and transported past the main entrance gate. He had the wooden hoarding on which it now stood repaired. It turned out that the workers did not work for a week because there was a shortage of wood. Because the king didn't say they should order it, they only repaired it, as long as the supply lasted. So they repaired everything they could, but the holes remained. There were plenty of such irritating situations. As if the entire principality had colluded against the new government. He was suffering from a lack of money and recently a new problem appeared - a poor harvest.
All the local landowners complained about the crop failure. They justified the delays with the need to look for new people to work after the war with the Equerds, where all the youth died. They were deceiving him, he knew it, initially he was looking for a way to fight the invisible enemy, but he realized that he had to act by deception.