The others were ahead of them and Aradella had to think about how to get through the labyrinth of halls to find the Sanction Room. Her heart was beating fast as she was afraid that any minute Queen Olina would leap out at them. She’d shout, “Arrest her! She killed my beloved friend Valona.” Aradella knew there would be no trial. There’d just be death.
But the halls were empty. Was even the Queen’s Guard getting ready for tomorrow?
“This way.” Aradella paused. “No, this way.”
Mekos pulled her into an alcove, their bodies pressed together, and kissed her. “Just two more days,” he whispered, his lips against hers. “You haven’t changed your mind?”
“Never.” She looked around. “If someone sees us—”
He kissed her again. “There are two women three hallways to the left, but no one else.” He cocked his head. “I just heard Kaley laugh. She’s very happy about something.” He stepped back and sniffed the air. “I smell food.” He held out his hand. “Shall we go see?”
She took his hand and they ran through three hallways then stopped at big double doors.
Mekos pulled one open and they stepped inside—then they stopped as they looked about in awe.
There were two wide rows of pretty chairs flanking a long white rug. At the end was a wooden arch covered in flowers of white, pink, and lavender. To the side was a long table covered in a white cloth and great pots of food. In the center was a cake.
Mekos and Aradella stared at the cake in open-mouthed astonishment. They’d never seen anything like it. It was a hill of round, terraced layers. Pink sugar roses ran in a spiral down the sides.
“What is all this for?” Aradella whispered.
Mekos shrugged. He had no idea.
7
A far door opened in the big, decorated room and in came Kaley, Tanek, and Sojee. Kaley looked like she’d been crying. “It’s perfect. It’s the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen. The cake, the decorations, it’s all...” Her eyes were so full of tears she couldn’t speak.
Tanek gathered her in his arms, and he looked very pleased with himself.
Sojee also had his shoulders back and his chest out. “There’s more,” he said.
Behind Aradella and Mekos, the big doors opened and they stepped to the side. In came a man. He was older, handsome, and he had on an unusual black suit that could only have come from Earth. He stopped and looked across the room at Tanek and Kaley, who were still holding each other.
Tanek was facing the man and when he saw him, he had an expression that Mekos rarely saw. It was of shock, of relief—and especially of love. It was the way Tanek looked at Mekos every time he pulled his son from one of his near-death escapades.
Tanek dropped his arms from Kaley, then took a step toward the man at the door. But after only one step, he began to soar. He moved quickly across the big room, his feet touching only air.
Wide-eyed, Mekos looked at the older man by the door. His face was a smile of welcome—and also of love. He seemed to know about soaring as he opened his arms wide.
Tanek enveloped the man and went up and up with him. Had they not been in a room, they might have reached the clouds.
“I remember,” Mekos heard his father say. “I remember it all. Fishing. The truck. The jars. The birds. I remember everything.”
Aradella saw that Mekos had tears on his face and she moved closer to him. “Who is he?”
“Someone my father loves,” he said.
This is true love, Aradella thought.To be glad when someone you love is given happiness.In her life, she’d seen little but jealousy.
They were just coming down when a woman entered. She was older, slim, with gray hair that curled about her head. “And me?” she asked softly.
Tanek turned to her, his face showing surprise, then pleasure. He put an arm around her waist and the three of them went upward. Not as high as with just two but they were far off the floor. They came down slowly.
“I had no idea that could be done,” Aradella said. “Lifting two people at once.”
“Me neither!” Mekos said. “Let’s find out who they are.” He stepped forward, Aradella close beside him.
“You’ve grown into a fine young man,” the woman said, her hand on Tanek’s shoulder in a motherly way.
