Walter held his hand out and Roy handed the piece of paper to him.
"Please examine him and confirm your report while I read this." Lord Walter told him.
Roy quickly nodded and moved into the cell and began examining Mike again.
Walter's eyes scanned over the words written down and then he looked up at Henry.
"Were you present until the Dr left last night Henry?" Lord Walter asked.
"He left and I was here with John for another five minutes maybe, if that." Henry nodded.
"So John, would you care to explain or change what you said to me?" Lord Walter looked at him.
"No sir." John said even as sweat started beading up on his forehead.
"Dr, could the imprint on Mike's cheek be the result of a blow but didn't leave a mark until after you left?" Walter asked as he looked into the cell.
"No, absolutely not my Lord. This blow happened moments before his death. I would surmise that the blow snapped his neck." Roy told him.
"So, either you left your post last night John, or you tried to steal his pinky ring he was wearing. He resisted and you struck him and killed him. Which is it?" Lord Walter asked.
Lord Walter stepped out of the jail with Henry shaking his head.
"I don't get it Henry, why do I keep having so many problems with Brightsong? If it isn't the governor it seems to be someone in the administration or constabulary." Walter asked quietly.
"Maybe we're cursed from all the Necromancers?" Henry asked.
Walter gave him a half smile.
"I am sorry my Lord. I feel like I failed you. Working with John as much as I do I never suspected he would do that." Henry told him.
"Fear not Henry, you serve your position, this town and me with honor and distinction. And at least this is settled. Make sure the word is put out so people know what happened. Have John brought up to the dungeon tomorrow. I'll take a week or two to make a judgment against him. I want to get my kids married and off on their honeymoon before dealing with him." Lord Walter stepped over and climbed up on Selase. "Let's go home girl." Walter told her.
Selase chirped and took off running before extending her wings and then flew up into the air.
"So the deputy thought Mike was out of it enough that he could steal his pinky ring? Was he so poor he needed money?" Paige asked incredulously as they all sat down for lunch.
"No, once he stood fully accused and knew that he was caught he confessed and pleaded for mercy. Apparently he's been a thief all his life and thought he'd try changing his life, but the temptation was too great last night." Walter sighed.
"Dad, I have a special request." Patty spoke up.
Walter smiled as he looked at her.
"If it is within my power, I shall grant it." Walter told her.
"If I understood correctly, as a Paladin of the wise Lady as well as Lord of these lands, you have the authority to marry couples. I'd really like for you to marry us." Patty told him as Ralph squeezed her hand.
Walter looked stunned for a moment but then stood up and walked over to her. Walter cupped her face in his hands as he kissed her forehead.
"It would be my honor to do so." Walter told her as a tear ran down his cheek.
"What do you wear to marry people?" Aine asked curiously, as she had never seen him marry anyone.
Walter smiled as he walked back to his seat and sat back down.
"Well that all depends on the bride. I can always wear my plate armor. Or I have several very nice suits in a few colors." Lord Walter told her.
"If by a few colors you mean a shade of blue, that is correct." Paige laughed.
"What can I say, I'm a simple man." Walter told her before they kissed.
"Man, don't you guys ever get tired of that?" Toby asked.
Everyone looked at Toby at once and he swallowed before Happy punched him in the stomach.
"Never mind." Toby gasped.
"Speaking of you getting married, why are you getting married so quickly? We should be making plans for a couple of months out." Veronica asked.
"We don't want a big or lavish wedding. Just something simple. We won't be able to take much with us so we don't want a lot of baggage." Patty told her as Ralph nodded.
"And we don't wish to burden the people on Father's lands." Ralph told her.
"So where are you going for your honeymoon? Surely you aren't going straight out to gather these people to take up North?" Veronica asked.
Ralph blushed.
"We're going to take our honeymoon first, in the same place Mom & Dad took theirs after their state wedding." Patty told her.
Ralph nodded.
"It seemed to bode well for our family. It only makes some sense to continue and turn it into a tradition." Ralph added.
"Well I suppose you can ask Selase if she wants to take you and spend the time there with you. She's almost the only way to get there. I don't know of anything happening that we'd have to get help from her." Walter nodded.
"Where are you going that you will need Selase to fly you there?" Veronica frowned.
"The forest shelf North of Aaron Springs. It is over one thousand feet below the mountain valley next to it and over three thousand feet above the plains below." Paige told her.
"Forest shelf? You mean like camping? You're going camping for your honeymoon?" Veronica asked in disbelief.
"Yes Mother, just because you took Dad to a swanky hotel in Los Angeles after you married doesn't mean everyone fancies that. Besides, Aaron Springs isn't that far away and Selase can always take them there for meals. And it is a much nicer time to spend it alone and loving your partner than dealing with trying to honeymoon in a city." Paige told her.
"But, you got plays and musicals. You got all kinds of entertainment and attractions." Veronica complained.
"Trust me…" Paige started but saw Walter & Ralph blushing and sighed. "Just know that all of that can't compete with the love you can experience with your partner when it is just the two of you." Paige winked.
"Speaking of which, your anniversary is less than a month away. Are you two going back?" Happy grinned.
Paige laughed.
"Don't we always?" Paige grinned.
"Wait, your anniversary is several months away." Veronica objected.
"No, Mom." Paige laughed. "That's the state wedding anniversary. Remember, I told you that Sir Cabe married us on the plain between those mountains on the way to Wheeler's Ridge. That's actually how we found our honeymoon spot."
"Oh, that's right. I don't know why I forget sometimes." Veronica sighed.
"How long has this been going on?" Toby asked as Allie nodded.
"Oh, about a year now, right dear?" Veronica asked Sir Frederick.
"About that, yes." Sir Frederick nodded.
"You should have told one of us." Toby complained pointing to Allie.
"Or even spoken to me." Walter's temple Mistress complained.
"What's to tell, I'm just getting older is all." Veronica shrugged.
"Maybe, but maybe not. You aren't a trained doctor nor a white Witch or even a Cleric. I want to see you first thing in the morning." Toby told her.
"I'm coming up to your apartment after dinner to check on you." Allie told her.
"Fine." Veronica complained as Paige laughed.
"Speaking of Aaron Springs, the governor sent word that he has several restaurants who have asked that you come to eat there while on your honeymoon." Walter told them.
"And while we got you all here, we might as well let you know. Selase informed us last month that I was pregnant and Allie confirmed it. We have another set of twins on the way." Paige said as she squeezed Walter's hand.
All of their friends and family grew excited about it. Toby looked at Happy and grunted.
"You knew but didn't say anything." Toby accused her.
"Of course I didn't say anything. You think I was going to steal her thunder?" Happy laughed.
"Are these the ones you said that you would name after Sir Cabe and Allie?" Sylvester asked.
Paige and Walter both nodded.
"Wait, you already know you are having a boy and a girl?" Veronica looked at them puzzled even as Louise moved up and hugged her daughter.
"I'm so happy for you, my daughter." Louise told her as she hugged her and then kissed her cheek.
"Thank you Mom." Paige told her. "Yes Mom. They were the next ones that the wise Lady had told me about. And then we just have one more. Little Lisa." Paige said as she smiled at the woman who had become so important to her.
Six days later Lord Walter walked out of the Keep late that night, as for just like the last six days, Happy had missed dinner with them. He strolled through the waning light barely illuminating the outer courtyard to the smithy where he could hear the sounds of steel being beaten.
Walter stepped into the open door and saw Happy hard at work. The sparks of glowing metal flicked off in all directions and he smiled.
"Happy." Walter said gently between strikes.
Happy looked back and sighed as she half turned towards him.
"What's up?" Happy asked as she continued to work.
"You have been missing dinner with us this week. You've been sequestered inside your shop throughout the day. Is something wrong?" Walter asked.
Happy shook her head as she continued shaping the chest piece she was working on.
"Just trying to get this finished for you for tomorrow." Happy told him.
Walter frowned as he walked on in and looked down at the breast plate. The plate was purely decorative. Clearly made from Elven steel but Happy had woven gold and platinum laurel branches about it giving it a rare and rich look.
"Happy, what is this about?" Walter asked.
"If you are going to marry your son and daughter tomorrow you can't wear a simple piece of armor. You are Lord Walter, Paladin knight of the wise Lady and the Lord of Scorpion Keep. You've needed an official, ceremonial breastplate for a long time." Happy told him.
"Happy, you know that isn't me." Walter told her.
"Maybe it isn't you, but we all love and respect you and we want to give this to you." Happy told him.
"We?" Walter asked.
"Yes, we and that is all you are getting out of me on it. I'm almost done with it." Happy told him.
Walter nodded.
"Well stop by and see Paige before you retire." Walter told her. "And thank you."
Happy nodded as she continued working.
"How's Veronica doing?" Happy asked as he turned to leave.
"She's fine now. The temple Mistress was able to heal her condition. Thanks for asking." Walter smiled and walked on out.
Lord Walter woke up the next day as Lisa woke him. He hugged Paige tightly to him and smiled as he felt her hand run down lower over his abdomen.
Their impromptu love delayed him a half hour. And would have been an hour but little Veronica needed her Mother. So they had to be content with the shorter time to express their love. Paige and Walter had been very impressed with the breastplate Happy had made and he looked quite regal in it. Walter sighed but gave in to Paige's request that he wear it.
Lord Walter stood under the wedding arch that had been made for his wedding to Lady Paige and Lord Ralph stood waiting just a few steps away. Lady Paige sat with misty eyes in the front pew as the whole town sat watching and waiting. Gemma sat next to Lady Paige and Frank stood back at the end of the carpet runner waiting for the coach to bring Patty to the ceremony.
The orchestra began playing as Raynold gestured and the singers joined in just before the creak of the coach and the clopping of the horse hooves on cobblestone would announce the arrival.
Selase sat on the roof of the temple of Athena and watched over the whole preceding. She chirped as the coach finally came into view and excitement ran through the crowd.
The coach made a grand circle and pulled up to the runner and stopped. A richly dressed gentry stepped up and opened the door after setting down steps and then took the hand of Patty's maid of honor and best friend Angela. Angela smiled and walked on down the carpet. Daithi stepped out and carried the small pillow with the rings upon it, down to the arch. Aine stepped out and everyone nearly gasped to see her wearing a dress.
She was wearing the smile her Mother had made her practice even though she really didn't want to. She spread the flower petals as she had been directed by the office of protocols all the way to the arch. She'd agreed to be the flower girl before she realized what that would entail. And once her word was given she had to go along with it.
The music changed and everyone rose before Patty slid out of the coach. She looked lovely standing there in Paige's wedding gown. The original dressmaker had worked on the gown every day until the alterations were complete since Patty was slimmer than what Lady Paige's muscular form was when she'd married Lord Walter.
She smiled at the tears in her Dad's eyes but slipped her hand onto his arm and they walked at that stately pace until they reached the arch. Frank reached out and shook Lord Ralph's hand before Patty took Ralph's hand in hers. Lord Walter waited until Frank joined his wife and the orchestra muted their playing to a soft background accompaniment. He gestured and everyone sat down.
"My family." Lord Walter said in that booming voice that seemed to echo throughout town. Even though the entire town minus guards was there in the square. "We've come together again to witness yet another act of the wise Lady in our lives."
"The wise Lady has blessed us with so much and we are here to celebrate those blessings as they culminate into this union. Lord Ralph, my son. You are a Paladin of Athena, the wise Lady and in proper standing with her. Do you accept Patty as your true wife? To affirm your love as only for her? And do you swear to recommence to grant unto her all the same rights and liberties you yourself claim?" Lord Walter demanded.
"As a Paladin, in proper standing of wise Athena and your son, I continue to bow to her wisdom and forever will accept Patty as my true wife. My love is hers and hers alone throughout all time and I bestow upon her every right and liberty I claim." Lord Ralph said.
Lord Walter smiled and looked at Patty.
"Dear Patty, you are a child of Athena, the wise Lady and in proper standing with her. Do you accept Lord Ralph as your true husband? To affirm your love as only for him? And do you swear to recommence to grant unto him all the same rights and liberties you yourself claim?" Walter asked lovingly.
"As a child in proper standing with wise Athena, I continue to bow to her wisdom and forever will accept Lord Ralph as my true husband. My love is his and his alone throughout all time and I bestow upon him every right and liberty I claim." Patty answered.
Lord Walter reached out his hand and Daithi stepped up and put the rings into his hand.
"These rings representing the forming of a circle of love and family, crafted out of love for both of you, will forever be the symbols of your pledges made here this day before wise Athena and every witness here." Lord Walter said as they all saw the rings glow blue.
Lord Walter nodded to Ralph who picked up Patty's ring and slipped it on her finger.
Walter nodded to Patty who picked up the other ring and slipped it on Ralph's finger.
"As a Paladin in proper standing with wise Athena, and Lord of these lands, in the name of wise Athena I declare you husband and wife in the sight of Athena and throughout all time." Lord Walter intoned.
Ralph and Patty grinned as they wrapped their arms about each other and kissed quickly and passionately.
"I don't believe I said you may kiss your spouse yet." Lord Walter teased as everyone laughed.
"Family it is my honor and privilege to be the first to introduce, as husband and wife, Lord Ralph and Lady Patty. Go, always in faith of the wise Lady and wedded bliss." Lord Walter said just as the crowd stood and erupted in cheers.
Greetings! And so we come to a close of this future story. Monday I'll return to "I Only State Facts" storyline. Some of my older stories really have talked in a long time and I am considering just putting them into the "Grab Bag".
Railman - hehe Well the puzzle has been solved and let out of the box! Indeed, Cabe of the house of Gallo and Cavalier of Queen Katherine is not only too old to consider switching to the life of a Paladin, but has done many things in his life that would keep him from ever being able to obtain such a position. They were speaking of the yet to be born Cabe and his twin Allie.
Susan - A tad bit like a catch 22 for sure! And in his usual charm Lord Walter has gotten to the bottom of the issue and the wedding goes off without a hitch!
See you Monday with Losses & Gaines!
To the Adventure! -Tim