It was time. Skywise, backed up by Timmain, had absolutely forbidden any kind of celebration before the Recognition was consummated. He didn't want his friends to make the same mistake they had made last time. Just because Kahvi was here didn't mean things would be simple. And she would certainly take offense if she thought Skywise took her for granted.
The Sun Folk had however taken the liberty of decorating the entire Palace with flowers grown in the gardens they had established inside the Palace itself. And Moonshade had made new clothes for Skywise. They were simple, like he preferred, and designed to be taken off with ultimate ease. Moonshade had actually giggled when she pointed that out, and her eyes had sparked with delight.
It seemed everyone was giving Skywise advice on how to conduct his courtship. And the worst of it was the advice contradicted one another.
'Give her flowers, give her feathers, give her pretty things she can treasure.' said Ruffel, who collected pretty things like a magpie.
'No, don't offer gifts, offer submission. I can tell she would like to be in charge, even when joining.' Suggested Maleen, with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
'No, I think she would like someone else to be in charge, and let her relax for once', argued gentle Vurdah, looking down bashfully.
'Just be yourself, she'll love you. You have a way with chiefs', said Cutter, clamping his soul-brother in a bear-hug.
'Don't go on and on about the stars, she finds them boring,' suggested Clearbrook, who considered herself an expert on the subject of Kahvi.
'Be gentle. She is as afraid as you are.' Was the advice of lovely Leetah.
'Show your strength. She won't respect you if you don't stand up for yourself.' This came from ShenShen, who always stood up for herself.
Timmain alone offered no advice, although it was her words Skywise might actually have heeded. She told him she had never gone through Recognition the way it was known to the Wolfriders. To Skywise, it seemed she wished to be uninvolved, to look upon the events as if they were history already, to not be meddled with, like she always cautioned him to not change the past with the Palace's passage through time.
As the days passed, Skywise's nervousness grew. He was frequently found pacing the corridors of the Palace. He debated whether he should move the Palace after all, just the last small stretch of Kahvi's journey. He developed fears for all kinds of things that could go wrong at the last minute.
Finally, it was time. Kahvi's figure was seen on the hilltop, mounted on a stag with spear in hand. The Palace wall stood open for her. The inhabitants of the Palace, eager to see her, to verify with their own eyes she was really here, crowded out and waited for her. Sun Folk maidens shivered in the cold Frozen Mountains weather dressed in their gauzy mothfabrics. Wolfriders, more sensibly dressed, called out greetings to Kahvi in speech and sending.
Skywise stood in the doorway. His thoughts were on Sunstream's Recognition. He wished he had the skill of travelling outside his body – things might be simpler, if he could have gone to Kahvi beforehand, if he could have talked things over and prepared her – and himself – for what must take place.
Kahvi rode down the pathway left in the middle of the crowd. She halted the stag next to the doorway, and tossed something at Skywise's feet.
Surprised, Skywise picked it up. It was the skin of a mountain lion, freshly separated from its flesh. It stank of blood and death. And yet he held it with reverence. 'Thank you, Kahvi'.
She snorted, and dismounted with an agile jump. She took the reins and bags off the stag, and slapped its backside, urging it to return to the wilderness. She wouldn't need a stag, would she, now she stood in front of the Palace of the High Ones and courted its Master.
'So…' She grinned at him and stepped closer.
**Fahr… I found my soulname.** She told him.
**Roya...** He sent back, and the name was a caress of her innermost being. Kahvi shivered with unanticipated pleasure.
Kahvi touched her finger to his lips. 'Not a word more. You and I are going to make a baby, and that's that.' She grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him inside.
The Palace wall closed, leaving the crowd outside to cheer wildly.
When they dared venture inside, they found Kahvi and Skywise had sought some private corner, as expected. The crystal of the Palace seemed to glow redder than usual, painting everything with a brilliant pink light.