Fai's investiture might have been held on short notice, but that didn't mean there were no celebrations. Ashura had declared the night and day of Fai's elevation a holiday for all, not just the magical folk.

After the ceremony, they rode back to the castle. Fai rode on his favorite mount alongside Ashura. Kendappa and the rest of the royal family followed. Behind them were the court wizards, then the rest of the mages. On the way, they passed through Luval Town. The local people had seen the sky-display of magelights over the forest and had begun celebrating in their usual way: raucously. Bonfires were lit, with large spits of meat roasting. Wine and ale flowed like water. The townsfolk waved and cheered as the king and the mages passed through. Many lifted a toast to Fai, and Fai waved back enthusiastically.

Back at Luval Castle, a great feast had been prepared. All mages who had attended the ceremony were invited to this royal feast, no matter their rank, their power, or their birth status. Only the Völur declined. As was their custom, the mysterious, holy priestesses had departed into the depths of the forest as soon as the ceremony had concluded. The rest of the magicians enthusiastically joined their king in the Great Hall to feast in honor of their new Wizard of Wizards. For many, this would be the only opportunity they would get in their whole lives to dine at a royal castle and in such exalted company. And, as mage-folk did not tend to suffer from an excess of self-deprecation or modesty, they all took advantage of the occasion.

As a result, the Great Hall was brimming with mages and courtiers. The court was still large, its non-permanent members not having yet left Luval to overwinter on their own estates, as was the usual practice for most of them. Many of the nobility in residence had, in fact, been preparing to depart before the first storms of deep winter arrived, but had delayed their goodbyes in order to celebrate Fai's elevation to Wizard of Wizards.

At the high table, Fai sat on Ashura's right, in the seat of greatest honor—although that was where he usually sat in any case, unless there was some visiting dignitary to humor. Ashura noticed with mingled sadness and amusement that Fai's face was freshly scrubbed, and not a trace of the tiny mark of blood remained. Kendappa, the rest of the royal family, and the most important nobles and wizards made up the rest of the retinue on the dais.

It was a merry company. Everyone was in high spirits, and honestly happy for Fai. They laughed and teased Fai gently about his awful new responsibilities to Ashura, who mock-scowled at the lighthearted jibes, given that, while they were complimentary to Fai, they were implied insults to him. Kendappa jeered at him and pointed out that he deserved no better, and recounted a couple of childhood follies he had indulged in which would not have been tolerated in anyone but the crown prince. Ashura grinned and admitted that Fai was, in general, better behaved than he had ever been, and far more deserving of high honors. To which Kendappa retorted that nothing had changed and that those things were still very much the case.

To everyone's amusement, at that point Fai stood up and defended his foster father. "That's not true," he proclaimed indignantly. "King Ashura is the best and wisest king ever, and dignified and mature, too. You should be nicer to him!"

"Of course, Lord Wizard," Kendappa said demurely, amidst strangled laughter from her dinner partners. "Everyone knows I always defer to His Majesty's grace and wisdom." She nodded solemnly to her royal cousin. "I offer my most humble apologies to Your Majesty for my uncharacteristic impudence."

"Uncharacteristic?" Ashura mouthed silently, and Kendappa practically twinkled at him. Ashura kept his expression placid, though his eyes danced. He stated with utmost formality, "I accept your apology, Lady Kendappa." To Fai, he added, "Thank you, Lord Wizard. You are already fulfilling your new duties impeccably."

"Okay." Satisfied that he had routed the enemy, Fai gave a sharp nod and sat back down. He pursed his lips, looking curiously intent. "So that'll be my job, then."

"Your job?" Ashura queried, wondering what the apparent non sequitur meant.

"As Royal Wizard," Fai explained. "I'm your defender."

Oh, that was just so cute. Ashura felt a doting smile coming on and suppressed it, suspecting that Fai might take it amiss. Gravely, he said, "So be it. The duties for that position are fluid, and defined differently for each person who holds the office. I accept your admirable and honorable decision."

Fai preened like a peacock.

The royal cooks had outdone themselves, and had even worked during their precious free time to make Fai's celebratory feast special and memorable. While all the castle servants adored Fai, the cooks in particular had practically adopted him, and he often spent time in the kitchens learning their arts. They had prepared many of his favorite dishes, all with beautiful detail. Many were gilded with real gold, seasoned with rare and exotic spices, and painted with edible dyes in glorious colors and images.

Throughout each course, the cooks and servants brought out a wide variety of rich foods: sauces, stews, pies both sweet and savory, soups, salads, roasted meats, fish, and egg dishes, all of which they presented with great flourish. No one, highborn or low, would go unsatisfied from this feast.

The dishes at the high table were particularly varied and flamboyant: Roast venison trimmed with gold foil and served with lingonberry compote, rabbit pies seasoned with cinnamon and mace, white fish in wine and peppercorns, pickled sea bird eggs, a goose stuffed with a chicken, stuffed with a pigeon, stuffed with a sparrow. The wine flowed freely from gold and silver pitchers, and for the children there were a number of fruit juices.

Fai loved sweets, and the cooks had created many treats especially for him. There were custards, little cakes, pastries fried in oil, a variety of fruits, and many other tasty dainties. Completing each course were large subtleties, those elaborate food and sugar sculptures that were partly dessert, partly works of art, and partly showmanship. One in particular portrayed a serious young wizard with yellow hair and a tall, golden staff. Ashura smiled at that one. Someone familiar with the pre-ceremony preparations had faithfully related to the pastry chefs every detail of Fai's costly investiture attire, right down to the patterns on his cloak and the colors of the jewels he had worn. Probably it had been Kendappa who had supervised that construction, as she had coordinated Fai's wardrobe for the occasion. The magnificent confection was not the work of an hour; it must have taken the pastry chefs days, and their care reflected their affection for Fai.

Fai was overwhelmed by the likeness. Ashura gave him a pouch of gold coins, which he distributed to each of the cooks while stumbling over his thanks for their skill and thoughtfulness. The cooks beamed at him.

Musicians played, and, even with the limited time constraints, Kendappa had managed to engage a number of special performers. Between each course jugglers, acrobats, singers, and actors entertained the assembled company of mages and nobility.

The feast went on for hours, well into the night. Partway through, Ashura excused Fai to go off with Virender and Mielu, who were both close to him in age, and play some games. All the children had been on their best behavior, but it was unfair to expect that to continue for too long. Ashura sent their caretakers along with them, with instructions to put them all to bed soon.

Kendappa remarked softly to him, "Not many D-titled wizards run off to play, especially not during official royal functions."

Ashura replied just as quietly into her ear, so as not to be overheard by any but her, "Maybe they'd be more tolerable if they did."

Kendappa couldn't help laughing. When Suhail, who was sitting near her, asked her what had amused her so, she merely related an old and not-terribly-funny joke. The dignified, D-titled wizard smiled uncertainly and commented with benign political decorum that her sense of humor was quite interesting this evening.

Naturally enough, that sent her into peals of laughter, and Ashura was forced to turn away to hide his own snickers.

The next day, a special court was convened in the throne room, during which Ashura announced Fai's magical elevation and created him Royal Wizard. That affair was held before the full court, with the Council of Nobles, the court wizards, the royal family, and other aristocrats both magical and mundane in attendance. It was a typical award ceremony, during which Fai swore a few more oaths, and Ashura presented him with the legal documents and insignia of the office. It concluded much like the earlier, mock ceremony in the Silvalfar Forest, back when Ashura had first informed Fai that he would receive the D title, only this time without either the hugs or the tears.

Another feast followed, and the rest of the week was filled with all manner of celebrations and special fairs throughout Seresu. Fai's portrait, announcements of his elevation, and notices praising his power, his virtue, and his philanthropy had been posted with great fanfare in all the public places. There were decorations and performances in town squares, and the alehouses and eateries did brisk business. At Luval there were more feasts, parties with music and dancing, demonstrations of magic and arms, and every other kind of celebratory activity that Ashura and Kendappa could manage.

By the end of the week, everyone in the country blessed Fai's name. Not one person, not even the grumpiest, most curmudgeonly old hermit-mage in the most remote and backward corner of the kingdom, would hear a word against Fai, nor utter any disparaging remarks that Fai was too young for his ascension to the highest magical honor in the land.