“Yeah,” Corentin mused, completely unbothered by her tone. “The woods are special to Mom. She married Dad there. I think getting married under this though,” he gestured to the sky above them, “is pretty special too. It’s going to be a wonderfulhandfasting. Normally I’m the one performing the ritual... it’ll be different being on the other side tomorrow night.”
Ari smiled. “I would never have put you and Stella together. I hope you don’t mind me saying that.”
She glanced over at Corentin briefly, who was grinning.
“No? That’s funny. She suits me, I think.”
“You seem happy together,” Ari remarked. “Really happy.”
“We are happy.” He paused, and she could feel his eyes upon her. “You know, I would put you and Tom together. You complement each other. No wonder the volcano erupted. The old ones wanted you together.”
Ari glanced at him again. “You believe that?”
Corentin relaxed back in his seat. “They say there are seven gifts to Druidry. You know what the last one is?”
Ari shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m not at all clued up where esoteric Druidry is concerned.”
Corentin laughed. “It’s magic.”
For a moment, Ari felt the air still in her lungs. A memory tugged at her. For a moment, she was in Keflavík Airport, looking down at Tom.
“Give me a chance,” he replies softly. “Just give me a chance, and I’ll show you magic is real.”
Bringing herself back to reality, Ari cleared her throat. “Magic?”
Corentin nodded. “The magic of being alive. The magic of our journey. The magic of wisdom and inspiration. The magic of healing.”
Ari made no reply, keeping her eyes ahead.
Now, Corentin cleared his throat. “Stella and I... our handfasting tomorrow... the ceremony... you know it’s all just for show, right? It’ll make Mom happy, but Stella and I made our commitment to each other months ago.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. We exchanged tokens.”
Ari glanced at him again. “Tokens?”
She felt rather than saw Corentin smile. “When we moved in together, she gave me a pendant that belonged to her mother. I gave her a brooch that belonged to Mom. We carry them with us everywhere.”
“Like wedding rings?”
“Yes, I suppose so. But these items were chosen by Stella and me. They mean something to us, and in our minds, we’re already... I guess married is the word you’d use. You know something? Before you say I do, the love and commitment should be there.”
“That’s sweet,” Ari replied.
“Isn’t it? You know something else? My brother, every day for the past nine years, has carried something of yours in his pocket.”
Ari felt herself go red. “Corentin—”
“A card,” Corentin continued. “Tom calls it the fool, but the Rouen card maker who painted him would’ve called him the page. Who is this page in service to, I’ve always wondered.”
“Look, I don’t think—”
“A queen, if I had to bet,” Corentin went on. “And I think you’re his queen, Ari. I really do. For all his faults, Tom loves you.”
Ari made no reply, and she heard Corentin sigh again.
“Don’t listen to me though, if you don’t want to. I’m just a fool in love who wants to spread a little magic around. Sharing my joy, if you will.”
