Rion's heart soared with his gratitude that she was safe. His lips molded to hers and his tears wet her face. Kara wiped his cheeks with her thumb, and smiled against his mouth. "I want to say words I've never said before." He told her. 

She nodded encouragingly and he mouthed the words without saying them. So she mouthed them back. It was clear to read her lips when she said, "I love you." 

He spread his cloak and then eased her to the ground. He fingered her throat familiarly, looking for signs of her blade wound. Kara's hand joined his. I believe it is healed completely.

He peered into the darkness to see for himself, his hands feeling her skin meticulously. "You lost so much blood. It is why you are so weak."

Kara nodded, savoring the time spent, knowing everything was safe, and everything had changed. Do you remember when we once spoke about men's and women's roles?

About their values in each of our societies? Yes, of course. He held her to his chest, kissing the top of her head as he stroked her hair and ear and cheek.

I said then that I never intended to marry so that my loyalties would never be divided.

I recall those words.

Kara took a deep shuddering breath. Then here and now, Foeman, I am taking them back.

He leaned her back to look into her eyes which were dark pools in the dusky stillness. You take them back?

Yes. I have found someone I would be with above all other loyalties.

Rion's mouth opened in surprise. He dropped his hand to cover both of hers in her lap. "Kara...."

She nodded, her eyes sparkling intently.

"It isn't just because I saved you in the mountain."

She smiled softly and squeezed his hand, adjusting her rump more comfortably on his lap. There is that.

His indrawn breath was surprised.

I am grateful that you saved me inside the mountain. I would have died if you had not. But-- I have come to know you, and I feel...  Here her mind voice hesitated and his eyes rose to verify the thoughts he felt behind them.

"We already said the words." He agreed, letting his gaze fall to her hands entwined with his. "But for us to be perfectly honest, there must be an oath."

She was nodding quickly and her smile was tremulous.

"I agree." He bit his lip forcefully. "There must be a pledge."

In my culture...

"Yes, but we are now in my culture."

You led me to believe our cultures were compatible on this issue.

"I read that correctly, yes. But in my culture when a couple chooses to wed, they need witnesses. If they do not have them, their union could be challenged."

Kara stared over his head at the hillside and shrubbery behind him. Sounds of the nearby camp permeated their bower. In my culture, the King would give his permission, and a ceremony would be held, assuring witnesses--- yes.

He lifted her chin with two fingers. "I know of two..."

She shook her head in fear.

"Trust me, na'shilean."

I do, Rion. But right here, right now...

Rion's face had turned to the west. They were very close to where he had left Jayce and Terryn. Kara searched his features, the intent way he focused, and the tiny shard of awareness when he unconsciously used her strength as well. Her eyes closed.

When she opened them, unaware that she had actually fallen asleep, Rion was sitting straight up against a tree, his eyes peering intently at the path below them. Around the corner of the huge boulder he had found her on came two Quarso. Kara recognized them instantly and tried to scuttle off Rion, her instinct to run-- to hide.

He held her wrist carefully.

Terryn entered the tiny glade first, searching the darkness till his eyes met Rion's. "Brother..."

Rion blew out his breath sharply. "Kara has been healed by Korlon, but has chosen to come back to me. We have very little time, but we want you to witness our oaths. Will you?"

Jayce lost his footing, and Rion reached out to steady him, leaving Kara standing on her own, shaking violently.

Terryn licked his lips and then bit them in acceptance. "I have already given you my honor as a brother Quarso, Rion, to follow where you lead. If this is your choice, then so be it."

Neither former Quarso took a step closer to Kara, so Rion encircled her in his arms to hold her steady. He looked down at her. "Kara, these are my closest brothers. They will witness my oath to you."

She swallowed, eyeing the one who the last time she had seen him had called Rion traitor and tried to kill him. Then she looked Terryn over, recalling the feel of his blade against her throat. Rion followed the path her thoughts had taken and felt her struggle to trust him and overcome her fear. He ran a hand down her side and laced their fingers.

"There is so little time, na'shilean. Will you trust me?"

Kara bowed her face to the ground, feeling not just her fingers but her heartbeat entwined with his. I trust you.

"Kara's voice has been taken by the blade, brothers, and she is unable to speak with her lips. Please accept my mind link that you may hear both of our oaths spoken inside." He raised her hands to his lips and then held them between himself and her, looking straight into her eyes.

Kara had been watching Terryn and Jayce, memorizing their features now that daylight and shadow revealed them to her. Her shaking was subsiding, as she realized with everything in her that Rion would never allow anyone to hurt her again, if it was in his power to save her, he would. 

Terryn was staring at the ground, his cheeks infused with deep red. His tawny hair blew back from chiseled cheekbones and scruffy facial hair.

"Brother...." She ventured inside his mind, not knowing if she could project just to him or if that were considered rude to address people one wasn't acquainted with. But she wanted to try. "Please do not berate yourself. You were protecting Rion, and I understand that."

Terryn's blue eyes rose slowly, as he realized she had spoken just to him.

"I --- I am sorry for your pain and suffering." Now he stared at her intently, and she felt, rather than heard his inner dialogue, as he adjusted the preconceived ideas of what a relationship with a searcher girl would be like. He had considered her part of a race of evil usurpers. If she had sprouted horns and fangs he would not have been surprised.

Her eyes flicked to Rion's as she felt him inhale deeply, preparing to speak his oath. Rion spoke words Kara had never thought to hear. Words of fidelity, body and soul; words of promise and acceptance. His oath was all-encompassing; he had every intention of fulfilling it for as long as they both lived and even beyond if that were possible. He touched on their prior allegiances and denounced his--- pledging his complete allegiance to her and to their future.

Then his eyes gripped both of his brothers'. "I also pledge my allegiance to you, my brothers, and any who seek my help to free themselves from the tyranny of Quildor."

Terryn nodded. He brought his fist up to his chest and pounded it once, then kissed his curled fingers and pounded it again. Jayce stared hard at Rion and Kara and then slowly did the same. Kara's eyes found Rion's once more.

Inside his mind, she held her breath. "I give you my pledge, Rion Etrusia, that I will be faithful to our oath. I will serve you and your cause whatever it may be, knowing that you put our interests before all others. And know this-- I will never let you go. I will be yours and you will be mine. I will never let you go."

Without glancing away she heard the two fists pounding over the brother Quarso's hearts and she raised her lips with them as her witnesses to seal her oath with her kiss.

"Good has been accomplished here, Rion. Your bond will carry you far, I am sure. Terryn and I will leave you both now to return to our preparations. Rest assured your marriage has been dutifully witnessed and in our new life, if time permits, it will be recorded as is proper." Then Jayce whirled around and Terryn followed him back the way they had come.

"You chose a smarten time to bellow your oath, Rion, and with a foreign Searcher Girl... I can hardly stomach it, myself! The eve of war-- the eve of mutiny-- of--" Terryn waved his hand behind him in half-hearted disbelief, as Kara finally lifted her eyes to follow them.

They may be our witnesses, Rion, but they don't believe you've done the right thing. She fingered his chin as his eyes followed his brothers down the path.

"If they'd truly believed you'd bewitched me, or that I wasn't sincere, they'd not have left you here alive."

Kara swallowed hard. You meant what you said?

His expression was knowing. "You know I did. Every word."

Her smile was even more tremulous. You have no doubts?

"I have a lot of doubts, love, but none of them concerning you. You forget, we can feel each other's insides, there is no holding back." He lowered his lips to hers and then further, clasped her to him roughly, showing her the extremes he would go to prove his love.

*****