Sado wiped the sweat from his brow as he left yet another training session with Solution, bruised, battered, cut in multiple places, and humbled yet again. Unlike most times however, Solution followed him. "You were quiet, barely a groan of pain, let alone any screams."

"You're complaining, My Lady?" The fallen Prince asked rhetorically while they walked down the hall together.

"More or less." Solution folded her hands behind her head as they walked and looked at him out of the corner of her eye, "You're just not your usual self, slave, I wanted to make sure you're not going to do anything stupid that will cost me my practice dummy."

"Stupid like attack the Prince that is marrying the woman I'm in love with?" Sado asked rhetorically.

"Yes, stupid like that." Solution commented unabashedly.

"No… no nothing like that. I'm not as stupid as I used to be. There was a time when I would have challenged him to a duel, or made some grandiose public spectacle of myself… but I know better now. She made her choice. I can't change that. I'm bound to her service until death, sale, or gifting of me is made." Sado replied with heavy resignation in his voice.

"I see, so what's on your mind then, eh?" Solution asked with the faintest hint of a smirk.

"It will sound stupid." Sado replied with a sideways glance at her.

"So what? You're only a little less dumb than you used to be, go ahead, slave, speak your mind. What am I going to do that I haven't already done?" Solution asked, a grim smile on her beautiful sharp featured face that fairly begged him to make some suggestions.

Sado chose not to take the bait, and instead answered the question as if it were serious, "She's being married in the faith of the Starwatchers, but that isn't hers, and I wanted to… to honor her somehow, for all her warriors to honor her union with the Prince. I've not been eavesdropping of course, but I have been escorting Kaiji and Priceless on some of their ventures to the palace to discuss some of the fine points of the wedding, and there's nothing of my mistress's homeland in it. The only indication that the temples tolerate her faith at all is that she is wearing a modified dress that makes room for a belt to hold her knife."

"I see." Solution pursed her lips and stopped dead in her tracks. "The faith of the Black Book is being disregarded then, is it? I didn't know."

Sado stopped as well. "Yes, my lady. This is unacceptable, she's compromised enough to fit in. This is a sacred occasion, and she's been given nothing by the temples but an almost mocking nod to her personal security. I want… I was thinking… there has to be something that can be done."

"Of course there is, there is always a choice, as long as you can live with the results." Solution grabbed Sado by his shoulders and forced him to face her and meet her eyes. "Are you willing to bleed for her?"

Sado looked with puzzled eyes at the beautiful monster.

"Will you give up blood and pain to give her the respect she's due for the wedding?" Solution demanded with gritted teeth.

"For the woman who saves my people? Absolutely." Sado did not even flinch when he answered.

"You'll have to bear the blame, all of it, and it will be a bloody retribution from the temple, I promise you." Solution commented and looked away, her hands dropped, "Better to do nothing, after all, why would you want to endure a lash for your owner? She turned you down, she's enslaved thousands of you… why should you do anything for her?"

"Because…" Sado argued with a savage glower on his face, "She bled for us, took risks for us… because she's the ruler I should have been, and because even if she doesn't show it, the lack of respect for her ways at her own wedding, I know it gets to her. If I can do something… then I'll bear the whip for it."

"Good answer, slave, good answer." Solution chuckled, "Alright, I'll tell you about one of her religion's traditions that date back to the year of the founding. It specifically applies to marriage. And it is something you and your soldiers can do. Just don't inform them that you're not being given permission, and accept responsibility for it afterward. Then only you will bear the blame."

"I'm listening, My Lady." Sado answered and wiped some blood away from his face that trickled down from a cut on his forehead.

The next few hours were swift ones as Sado learned how weddings were performed. , Solution, to his surprise, seemed rather enthusiastic about its depiction, and at the end, promised him…

"You don't have to worry about your Mistress, I'll explain that you're doing some maneuvers on the grounds to make up for a deficiency, chances are she won't look closely if it comes from me."

Sado went down to his knees and prostrated himself with his bloody forehead touching the stone. "Thank you, Lady Solution. I am truly grateful."

"Don't worry about it, I get to watch you get whipped later in the public square for blasphemy or heresy, so that's going to be fun for me." She giggled while Sado got back to his feet.

"Fair trade." Sado answered abruptly, and they went their different ways.

Sado gathered the Breakers together and explained his intent. The sun was high and the sky was blue when he addressed them all, the early day was warm without being overly hot. Standing before them on the green grass, Sado was reminded of the early days before everything had gone wrong, in front of his thousands of seemingly invincible warriors. The way he addressed them with the pride of his position, certain that he could bend all of Mict'aratz to his will.

'What a fool that Sado was… maybe still is. But if I'm a fool, I'll be a fool for the right reasons!' He admonished himself and stated his case.

"The mistress marries a worthy Prince, and gives us back our homes, gives us back our swords, gives us back our shields and our sacred reputations. She gives us back our families and our precious sacred city! She gives up her coin and her blood and risks her very life for the smallest of our ranks… now it is time for us to give her something in return…"

When he finished speaking, they were quickly on board, and engaged in a constant round of marching and practice, turning every moment of the day toward one single intent, and before the first day ended, Sado was as proud of his people as he'd ever been before or after a battle.

"What's going on out on the lawn?" Nua asked while she filled out yet another expense report offering alcohol to the entirety of Pas'en.

"Nothing." Solution said while looking out of the great glass window. "Just some maneuvers."

"But everybody is supposed to be on leave, just minimal manning for the time being…" Nua frowned and set her quill down.

"They're doing this by choice, student. Trust me, sit down and don't worry about it." Solution ordered, and Nua, who had begun to rise, slowly sat back down in her seat.

"Very well, Teacher, very well." Nua's ears twitched with some mild annoyance, but she resumed her work as if the commands beyond her walls were not there at all.

The next few days passed like that, and Nua's curiosity continued to grow, each time to be put off by her Teacher in no uncertain terms, until the day of the wedding.

Nua stood in her room that morning in the predawn hours, far and away from the outlandish and 'loud' outfits usually worn in Pas'en, today she wore a simple garb of white, a dress that flowed around her ankles, with black star shapes woven into. Kaiji was at her back, tugging tight on the corset to make the naturally slender elf, moreso.

"You are beautiful, mistress." Priceless said as she secured the last strap on Nua's white shoes.

"Thank you, Priceless." Nua replied, though without much enthusiasm.

"My Lady… are you alright?" Priceless asked from her position on her knees in front of the Duchessa.

"Yes… this is just part of what it means to be a noble, but it isn't how I ever thought I'd marry when I was younger. I like Rasgen, good man, good Prince, good sense of humor, he's a good match and our union will secure both our cities." Nua rolled her eyes, "I'm just being a romantic idiot."

"No… I understand." Kaiji said from behind her while her fingers flew to bind the laces of the corset and secure it, then closing the back of the dress, she began to put the hooks into place that kept it tight against Nua's body. "Who wouldn't prefer there to be some love involved? Anyone who ever has been, knows that wish."

Nua gave a regretful sigh. "Right. The negotiations for this whole thing were tedious too, I was lucky to get 'this' much out of the damn priests." Nua groused as Priceless began to slip the white belt around the front of the dress and buckle it into place. "Good thing the handle is made out of bone so it blends in fairly well or I might not have."

Kaiji had her doubts about her mistress's assertion, but the priests and their rituals were not likely haggled over, and so she let the comment pass and took up a small hand mirror, which she carried around to the front of her lady to hold up for her..

"At least it's done, my lady. The Prince is downstairs at the front, ready for you to go in the carriage with him. Priceless and I will follow in your own, and wait until the ceremony is over… as we're…" Kaiji lifted her chin and touched the bronze collar, "We're not welcome as guests, only the attending servants. But we will be ready to follow you straight back to the palace when you're done, and attend to all your needs thereafter."

"Good." Nua said brusquely and nodded in favor of how she looked. "The white gloves were a sensible addition, I'll credit the priests for that, nobody wants to look at my left one as it is." Nua gave a self deprecating smile, only for Priceless and Kaiji to surprise her by each taking one of her hands in their own, and kissing the palms there with a slow, deep, and abiding affection.

"We will never think that way, at least." Kaiji declared with ferocity on her face, "If they do, damn them to their stars and let them never come back."

Priceless didn't speak, but rather nuzzled the left hand affectionately, blinking back tears while she shook her head.

It was only with some reluctance that Nua withdrew her hands from them and closed them together in front of herself, "Let's go." She ordered, and they took position behind her at either side, and made their way to the front entrance of the estate.

Nua's blonde hair hung loose behind her, the streak of black woven tight within stood out as much as it ever did, and then some, given the largely white garment she wore.

Rasgen, true to Kaiji's information, stood waiting for her at the entrance in conversation with Diana, her hands, contrary to her usual seductive behavior, did not come close to touching the arm or hands of the Prince. And though her silvery laughter showed her amusement at something he said, she was keeping a respectful distance from the groom.

Rasgen was the first to see Nua emerge, and he bowed to his lady as she descended the stairs, his own outfit was more aptly describable as a military garb, though dark and bedecked with woven white stars. Nua immediately noticed how much more practical it was than her own, and she kept her sense of humor about it rather than express annoyance.

"You look handsome, Rasgen. Like a proper Prince out of a fable or adventure novel." She winked at him and extended her right hand, he closed his fingers around hers, brought her hand up, and kissed the back of it.

"And you're as beautiful as ever, even if you are not dressed how you usually are." He winked, and she managed a mild chuckle as she looked herself over.

"No, I suppose I'm not. Shall we go? I'm sure you'd like to get the ceremony out of the way before the heat of the day begins." Nua commented, only for him to take her arm when it was offered and laugh while they headed for the door.

"The wedding night is always more interesting to grooms, I'll have you know." His bark of laughter caught her off guard before she shared in it.

"I'm not sure if I should roll my eyes and say 'Humans!' or 'Men!' or 'Boys!' or if there's even any difference in this case." Nua tapped his arm pleasantly as they reached the carriage, and Nua allowed him to politely offer needless help in order to get in, before he joined her himself.

"None really." He admitted when the door shut and the carriage began to move.

They made amiable conversation as the city passed by outside of their carriage windows. M, most of the city was heavily drunk still, but even had it not been, Pas'en's soldiers had clearly been busy ensuring that absolutely nothing marred the path of the procession all the way outside.

Great white open canopies were everywhere for the abundant guests, nobles and delegates from several of the nearest of the great and minor city-states had come with their retinue. Nominally they were there to show respect to the unification of houses, but the truth was not lost on either the Duchessa Aiwenor or Prince Rasgen.

"What games we play…" Rasgen said when he looked out the window.

"Rasgen?" Nua asked, cocking her head slightly.

"Nothing. Some of the people here, I grew up with. A lot of young nobles came to Pas'en for their education, a consequence of being the most powerful city in the area… some of them were my friends, we played games, read books, took lessons together... We hunted dangerous beasts, made promises of friendship forever… and now here we are. They're not here for me out of a desire to share ashare in a special occasion with their dear friend. They're here for their houses and their interests… and when one of them marries if I should attend, I'll be no different."

He gave Nua a crooked smile, "It's silly, but it makes me a little sad. A, all that was genuine, died with our childhoods, and what remains areis games of war and politics. My best friend is a slave, and I do nothing. He was a good friend to many of them, but I'll bet you not one of them will ask how he is. Lod- Tir… Tir is assumed to be dead, only your inner circle and myself know differently. None of them would believe her innocent, and none of them cared enough to find out. Nobody has even asked about the murder of Ulmin's family except to ask when we'll auction his estates."

"Bitter, I suppose. But that is how things are." Nua answered and reached out to put her hand over his, "At least I like you. So we might not be in love like you and Sobella, or you and Lodira… but we won't be unhappy at least."

"That actually makes me feel good about this. But I do sometimes envy the common people's marriages over this kind of distinction." Rasgen turned his hand over and squeezed the one Nua placed on top of his own. "We'll make this work though."

"Yes, we will. And on that note, Rasgen, it looks like we're about to come to a halt." Nua said and sat back, straightening up in her seat while Rasgen did the same.

Sado watched from an upper window indoors as the procession began to move, all the way out of the grounds of the estate, and as it was followed by carriage after carriage. When the last rolled past out of view, he left his place there, clutching the horn in hand, and ventured out onto the open grounds. He blew it only once, sending out a long call for assembly, the slave warriors of Komestra's hopeful, the Breakers who marched behind their mistress into battle, left their quarters in droves.

They streamed through the doors like a dam had burst and rushed over the grass as if charging out into another battle and formed themselves into battle ready ranks.

"Right… Face!" Sado shouted as soon as they were in their positions. As one organism, they pivoted and stomped their heavy feet on the grass. "Forward… March!" Sado shouted the order and thousands of feet moved in perfect unity. Command after command was given as if it were a parade, and the armed and armored men and women of the fallen city made their way onto the stone.

The pace was slow and steady, with fierce visages looking out beneath countless helmets, giving a long look over themselves to the civilian population of the city that helped to bring them down.

In the distance, loud music and celebration could be heard beyond the walls. Sado remained unconcerned. 'Pasenians do love their parties, one of their better features, really.' Sado thought to himself as heartache tore him open like the claws of a beast.

The marching unit generated many a curious look, and admittedly some concern, but with the pennants of Aiwenor risen high and caught by the wind, along with their slow and steady march, they gave off a more 'ceremonial' air that let people move about their business in comfort.

The wedding, being public knowledge, clearly helped as city soldiers assumed they had missed some vital piece of information and blocked the open roads to allow the unit to march on. By the time they reached the gate, it was already opening for them to exit.

The music was dying when Sado marched them out beneath the arch within the wall, and true to expectation there was every indication of a tremendous celebration. Brightly dressed musicians, dancers, and banners were scattered about. "One… two… three…" Sado counted off the various houses that he recognized. The House of Yan was no surprise. The House of Valoisin, was. 'Probably because of Ulmin's death, looking to get in with the Prince and find some way to get access to those lands now that Tir's status was lost.' It was the logical conclusion, and most of the other city states that sent representatives likely had similar motivations.

The warmth of the day was just beginning, and the breeze felt comfortable on Sado's face, he breathed the crisp air that existed beyond the walls of a city that frankly, had many a smelly district, and savored it.

The crowd of countless figures had ceased their individual activity and gathered together to settle their focus on the central event. Starwatcher priests were chanting their invocations, though just what those were, were drowned out by the sound of marching at Sado's back.

Even from there however, he could feel those beautiful blue eyes, feel her confusion. 'It should have been me down there… I would love you as he never could… but this… this is all I can do…' Sado's heart pounded like the drum that picked up behind him to guide the feet on their final march.

Command after command went out, until the double rank of thousands formed a horseshoe shape around the outward facing area of the wedding.

"Halt!" He shouted when they came to their final position, and the drums carried his command. Giving a sound double stomping of their feet, his warriors obeyed.

Sado left his place at the head, and marched himself to the outermost segment of the horseshoe ranks.

Beyond, the wedding resumed and the murmurs of concern died down, 'She, or perhaps Lady Solution, informed them. The priests are probably furious.' Sado mused, and savored their impotent anger as they could hardly stop the wedding at this point, not with so many delegates on hand and having all but completed it.

Nua felt her heart race at the grandiose gesture she was witnessing unfold, as they were completing their horseshoe shape, she bit her lip. "Sado… you sonofabitch… thank you." She blinked her eyes to keep back tears, prompting Rasgen to lean forward to speak with her.

"Nua… what…?" He asked and left the words hanging.

She shook her head vigorously and patted his hand with hers. "A fragment of home, how a community or joined families choose to honor a marriage, don't worry. My slaves, my warriors, are honoring us all."

The calm of the couple settled the rest, and murmurs died down, the priest was shifting uncomfortably on his feet, and though the white veil hid his face, it did nothing to disguise his hissed tone.

"Did you plan this…?" The priest demanded, and Nua shook her head.

"I had no idea, this must have been Sado's intention. I know, he'll be subject to temple punishment for what he's doing, but he knows that as well, and he's willing to bear it. So go on." Nua commanded.

The priest, settled by the prospect of punishment, straightened up to finish.

"And so in the sight of all, these houses are forever joined, may the destiny of the stars be a kind one on their line, with many children and children to them, for ten thousand years!" The priest intoned with his arms out overhead, "Send word to the stars!" He ordered, and a small bronze bowl holding the hand written well wishes of all their guests, had a spark struck over it. The papers immediately burst into flame, and an archer dipped the tip of an arrow into the flame that licked the air, catching the pitch soaked tip alight. He then raised his bow up, aimed it at the sky, and loosed his arrow to carry the hopes of and for the couple, up to the distant sky.

The thunderous voices of the thousands of slave warriors split the silent moment like a hammer did a melon, "Let none challenge their union!" Sado shouted.

And his unit answered, "Unless they wish to shed blood!" And swords swept from sheaths while halberds slapped down into ready palms, the backs of the slave warriors of Aiwenor put the assembly at their backs in a perfect martial display as if there really were the possibility of an attack.

Rasgen glanced back to see what others saw, and the perfect horseshoe formation with weapons out and bodies stiff like statues, was almost chilling to behold.

"They're impressive." Rasgen admitted.

"Yes. Yes, they are." Nua said with more than a little pride in her voice. "Now, they will protect this city as much as they protect their own. Right now, I have a battalion, in three months, I will have a division, in one year, I will have an army, and that means 'we' have an army… husband." Nua whispered to him, and when the arrow fell to the ground again, he brought his lips to hers, and they met in a kiss that further shattered more than one already broken heart.

'You said you'd bear the whip… but this is worse…' Sado cursed himself for a fool, but showed nothing of the pain on his face, though his heart raced and every instinct in his body told him to charge the wedding and bring it to a stop even if he charged alone… 'She made her choice…' He reminded himself, and held the formation steady all through the flight of the arrow, all the way to its striking of the soft ground nearby… and to the moment of the kiss of the royal couple when Nua let Rasgen take her in his arms.

It was only through the greatest of discipline that he showed nothing of the hurting, aching pit in his gut as his heart seemed to drop out of its resting place and into his stomach.

But that moment passed, the kiss broke… and it ended Sado's duty as he knew it, his 'gift' over, he began the task of taking them back to the estate, where he himself would await punishment from a faith no longer his own.

The next few hours were heady ones, with alcohol of the finest quality flowing, nobles clasping hands, the royal couple going about and greeting the envoys of great cities, speaking of a future that Nua had already quietly planned out, rendering their own plans moot in her mind.

When all was said and done, and delegates that had gotten themselves well and truly drunk began to make their way back to carriages that would take them into the city for sleeping or whoring or sleeping with whores, or simply to more drinking, or some combination of all of those, the priest approached the couple.

"While I don't wish to disrupt this… I must ask that the one be sent to the temple as soon as possible for judgement… such a disruption is unprecedented." The old priest said in hushed tones that said he could still barely believe it happened.

"I know…" Nua rubbed her forehead, "That has to be Sado…"

"It is, student of mine, it is." Solution said as she approached with a smug grin, "The brave fool said he was willing to bear punishment to give you something of your home and faith at your wedding. I wasn't sure if he'd have the balls to do it but… he did." Solution giggled and turned to the priest who stared at the blonde beauty, his surprise hidden by the veil.

"Listen, priest, I'm going to bring him to you myself for a public flogging… but that one is one of my favorite playthings now, so you're not going to kill him. He's not allowed to die until I've crushed all the possible sense and reason there is, into his pig ignorant skull. You can beat him to within a finger width of his life, but not any further, is that fair?" Solution rubbed her hands together and licked her lips in a sultry, ravenous fashion.

The priest could only nod with mute disbelief at the overt sadism, "Ah, yes… yes, of course… t-today or tomorrow?" He stammered.

"There's no time like the present." Solution gave a twisted smile and looked at her student, "Not to worry, I'll look after him, and I'll tell him it was your orders that I do so."

"Thank you… he did that for my sake, so I'd rather he not suffer too much, even if it was a stupid… stupid thing to do. What an absurd risk to take…" Nua rolled her eyes and brought up her right hand to rub them in dismay.

"Student, you of all people are in no position to critique him for stupid risks for silly reasons." Solution gave a twisted laugh and a maniacal smile that had Nua trade a look with Rasgen, and then send it back to Solution herself.

"What does that mean, Teacher?" Nua furrowed her brow as she asked the question.

Solution put her arms behind her head, raised her foot and spun about, walking away she simply answered, "Oh nothing, nothing. You two have fun with each other, go busy yourself making an heir, I've got some fun times ahead for myself."

She was gone after that, without another word, leaving Nua and Rasgen standing confused behind her.