Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. – Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
The prenuptial feast that evening went off without incident, though Bredin felt isolated. Only Syd Nugent took any time to really talk to him. Otherwise, Bredin felt unwelcome. Twice, he caught his father and Asen frowning at him; both looked away when they met his eyes.
When Twyla's sister Esther Cork begged to see Lacaral, Bredin was only too glad to go out with her and spend time with the Companion.
The next morning, Bredin went to Lacaral's stall immediately after breakfast. He groomed and braided Lacaral for two candlemarks, meticulously putting every hair in place and evening the braids. He wove blue and silver ribbons into the Companion's tail and polished his hooves to a gloss.
He saddled Lacaral and put on the full barding and bridle bells. Done he stood back and admired his work. ::There. Now you look perfect.::
::I am perfection already. Decoration is unnecessary.:: Lacaral arched his neck and posed.
Bredin laughed. He went in to the house to bathe and put on his formal greys. With time to prepare, Housekeeper Gaytha ensured that this set of formal greys fit to perfection. The greys Bredin wore at Midwinter were impressive; these were resplendent.
A quarter candlemark before noon, the family formed up to proceed to the Temple. The weather was mild and sunny. Only a few fleecy clouds drifted across the sky. Bredin mounted Lacaral. He reached down to grasp Asen's arm. With Enro giving a boost, Asen got up behind Bredin.
The family set out. Enro and Zelar led, followed by Bredin and Asen on Lacaral. Syd Nugent walked beside Lacaral, using a cane to help himself along. Raidal trailed behind.
People on the street cheered and waved as they passed. Asen smiled and waved back, though Bredin was sure that they were more impressed by Lacaral.
::Would it make a better impression if I passaged?:: Lacaral asked.
Bredin rolled his eyes, but otherwise kept a straight face. ::Don't even think about it. Asen would be so sore he couldn't consummate the marriage. And he'd never forgive me if he fell off.::
Lacaral snorted loudly. ::I think consummation is unnecessary. Have you looked closely at the bride? I think you will be an uncle before the end of summer.::
Bredin struggled to keep his composure. He'd avoided looking too closely at Twyla. There were things he'd rather not know.
They arrived at the Temple. The ushers welcomed them and guided them to their places. To Bredin's surprise, they invited Lacaral inside, showing the Companion to a spot on the groom's side of the aisle where Lacaral could watch and be seen.
The friends of both families were inside. Baron Mittel and his wife as well as Wallis and his new bride were present, giving an official approval to the wedding; they would attend the ceremony but not the wedding feast.
Twyla's family arrived. The four canopy-bearers halted at the Temple entrance. Davan Cork guided her to the altar and placed her hand in Asen's.
The Priest and Priestess stepped forward and the ceremony began.
Nothing untoward happened during the ceremony. Asen stumbled once on his lines, but no one paid attention. Everyone duly applauded when he kissed his new wife.
The ceremony over, the couple, families and guests went in procession to the village hall for the wedding feast. Bredin walked beside Lacaral at the end of the procession.
Once everyone was inside, Lacaral returned to his stall. As a courtesy, Baron Mittel's stableman, Gwil Prichard, waited to untack the Companion. Gwil refused any payment for his help. "I always wanted to get near one of them beauties." He said. Lacaral mindspoke Bredin his amused comments on Gwil's care as the stableman groomed him obsessively over the next candlemark.
Lacaral's observations were Bredin's only amusement during the feast. The food was excellent and plentiful, so Bredin ate quietly. After the feast, the couple opened the gifts. Twyla's gratitude for Bredin's gift was far more effusive than Asen's.
The party and celebration continued until well after dark. At last, the couple led the way to their new home – actually Bredin's family's old house, which Enro had renovated and given to his eldest son and his bride. Enro had attached a new dormitory to the house he'd bought from Ilis for his apprentices and journeymen.
Enro confronted Bredin the next morning at breakfast. "If you have to be all high-and-mighty when you come here, don't bother coming. I'll not have my own son looking down on me."
Bredin stood in shock, his mouth hanging open. "What have I done?" He asked at last.
"You come with your fancy clothes and horse all fancied up. You won't help your brother and you don't talk to anybody. At the feast, you just sit there looking proud and smirking now and then. You think you are too good for us." Enro shook his finger at Bredin as he spoke.
"That's not true!" Bredin said. "I told you that no one rides a Companion but their Chosen. So did Syd."
"Oh, you got everybody on your side, making me back down, showing you are bigger than me." Enro's rage was building.
"Enro, please don't do this." Zelar begged, but Enro did not listen.
"You're even trying to turn the family against each other." Enro went on.
"Dad, no." Bredin pleaded with his father.
"I saw you smirking and snickering at the feast yesterday. You couldn't even be nice for your own brother's wedding." Enro was now shouting.
Bredin was shocked. "Lacaral was enjoying being groomed…." He began.
"So why couldn't you tell us the joke?" Enro interrupted.
Now Bredin lost his temper. "Because it was between me and him. You think he's just a horse. Why should you care what he says?"
Enro slapped his son. "Enough disrespect. Get out of here. Go away and never come back."
Bredin stared at his father. Tears welled up in his eyes. Without a word, he went to his room and hurriedly stuffed his clothes into his saddlebag. He came out of his room and crossed the kitchen to the door. Enro glared at him as he went.
"Goodbye, mom." Bredin said.
He went out to the stable. "We're leaving." He said to Lacaral.
::I heard.:: Lacaral said softly. ::Chosen, I am so sorry.::
"Please. Not now. Let's just go."
One thing Bredin had learned was how to saddle Lacaral quickly. In a few sunwidths, he mounted his Companion. In the quiet morning street, Lacaral picked up the canter. In another sunwidth, they were out of the village. They crossed the bridge and headed for Haven. For home.
Neither Bredin nor Lacaral spoke for half a candlemark as the Companion galloped down the road. The few travellers already out stared in astonishment as the Companion and Trainee flew past at a pace no horse could equal. Tears streamed down Bredin's face as the Companion ran.
Bredin sat up and Lacaral slowed to a walk. Bredin burst into tears, then stopped himself. "I won't cry." He said. "I've got you."
::Chosen. Don't deny your feelings.:: Lacaral warned.
Bredin flared up. He snapped at Lacaral. "I don't want to talk about it." Instantly contrite, he apologized. "I'm sorry. You're my best friend. Can we talk about it later?"
Lacaral's barrel heaved in a sigh. ::Very well, Chosen. We'll leave it for now.::
::I have many eyes and walk on silk, I eat your meat but leave your milk. I go along and stay behind. Turn to see me, I'm still behind. What am I?::
Distracted by the riddle, Bredin puzzled for a long time. He looked backwards to see if anyone was following. There was no one there, but the riddle said that. Finally. "I give up."
::The big spider on your neck.::
Bredin jumped and slapped the back of his neck. There was nothing there. "There's no spider." He accused.
::I lied.:: Lacaral's mindvoice laughed.
Bredin laughed and slapped Lacaral lightly. "I thought Companions never lied."
::We don't. But sometimes we creatively expand the truth. You've had a spider on your neck before. I just didn't say it wasn't there now.:: Lacaral seemed pleased with himself.
Bredin laughed once more. "I creep and crawl, yet jewels adorn me. I close men's eyes, they both bless and scorn me. What am I?"
The two played the riddle game until they reached Leuven. Lacaral's distraction kept Bredin from dwelling on his banishment.
They were early at The Blue and The White. Tom Murray was still in his morning class at the local Temple, so Bredin unsaddled and fed Lacaral himself. Bredin had a ploughman's lunch and light ale before saddling Lacaral once more and heading on.
Bredin and Lacaral traded remarks about the other travellers on the road until they reached the Collegium. By mutual consent, they did not discuss Bredin's family.
Back earlier than expected, Bredin was able to join the unarmed combat class in the salle. Alberich noted that Bredin did not take a rest break and drove himself relentlessly, but said nothing.
After a quick bath, Bredin joined his yearmates at dinner.
"Hi Bred! You're back a day early! How was the wedding?" Lars asked.
Bredin's face fell, but he quickly forced a smile. "Oh, fine." He said.
Lars was not deceived. "What happened? What's wrong?" Jill kicked him under the table.
Bredin hung his head. "My dad kicked me out. Told me never to come again."
Jill put her hand on Bredin's arm. "You don't have to say anything." She frowned at Lars.
"It's OK. I have to tell somebody." Painfully, Bredin told the whole story.
His yearmates rolled their eyes when they heard that Asen expected to ride Lacaral, but kept silent. When Bredin finished his tale, Jill and Ari hugged him. The others put their hands on his sympathetically.
Jan opened his mouth and closed it again. He got the distant look that told the others he was mindspeaking his Companion.
Bredin caught the moment. "What did Gadar say?"
Jan blushed. "He told me to keep my mouth shut."
"That would be a nice change." Jill teased.
"Go ahead and say it." Bredin said morosely. Jan could be insensitive, but he was never cruel. Bredin was sure Jan had good intentions.
"I was going to invite you to visit with my family at summer break." Jan said softly.
Bredin winced at the reminder that, unless his father relented, he had nowhere to go when the Collegium was on break. "Thanks for the offer, Jan. I'll – I'll think about it.
"Did anything happen here while I was away?"
The others grinned. "Oh, yes." Tanis said. "A Rethwellan Prince showed up. He threw himself at Selenay's feet and praised her. It was very romantic."
Jan snorted. "How do you know? You weren't there."
Tanis rolled her eyes. "Everyone knows! It is all over the court."
Jan snorted again. "You mean your sister knows and told you every bit of gossip." Tanis was the third daughter of Baron Kivas Girard. Her sister Sirena was one of the Queen's maids of honor and also one of the most notorious gossips in the Court.
Tanis waved her hand at Jan dismissively. "Sirena is in a better position to know than you are. She says the Queen is absolutely smitten with this Prince Karathnen."
"Karathanelan." Jan corrected.
Tanis ignored the interruption, passing along every bit of gossip she had gotten from her sisters. Bredin's female yearmates listened raptly. Bredin and the other males sighed heavily and smirked at each other.
After dinner, they moved to the second floor common room and got out their books to study. The others shared their notes with Bredin for the days that he had missed. Bredin had barely finished his reading when the curfew bell rang. They bid each other good night and returned to their rooms.
Bredin got into his bed, but could not sleep. With nothing to distract him, his argument with his father and his banishment played over and over in his mind. Bredin cried, but the tears brought no relief.
At last, Lacaral said. ::Chosen. Come to me. You are not going to sleep if your mind keeps going over it time and again.::
Bredin slipped on an old uniform and went to Companions' stable. He walked down the aisle under the sympathetic eyes of the Companions that were awake. He picked up an old blanket and went into Lacaral's stall. Lacaral nuzzled him, then lay down.
Bredin curled up against Lacaral's side. Pulling the blanket over himself, he slept.
The budding romance between Queen Selenay and the Rethwellan prince filled the Court and the Collegium with gossip over the next moons. Bredin was only mildly interested, but nonetheless aware of each new development. Bredin was happy for the Queen. Though he did not see her out to ride Caryo as often as before, she seemed much livelier and lighthearted. It was good to see her emerge from mourning her father.
Bredin could not understand why Lacaral was displeased. Surely it was good that the prince made Queen Selenay happy. What could be wrong with that? He asked Lacaral directly.
::I just don't like him.:: Lacaral said.
"Why? What's wrong?" Bredin asked.
::Nothing. It's none of my business. None of yours, either.:: Lacaral's mindvoice was testy.
Bredin could tell that there was 'something' but his Companion would not say anything more.
His yearmates all reported similar discussions with their Companions. None of them had any clue why the entire Companion herd disliked Prince Karathanelan.
When Bredin asked Harrow about it, his mentor only said. "Just remember that Companions are far better judges of character than you or I ever will be."
Bredin got a look at the prince when he acted as Harrow's groom at a Hurlee match staged for the benefit of the prince and the court. To Bredin, Karathanelan looked handsome enough, but not really different from any of the other highborn at Court. Bredin shrugged and watched the Hurlee match, which was far more exciting in his eyes.
The morning after the next full moon, the Collegium was in an uproar. Queen Selenay had declared her intention to marry Prince Karathanelan. At the climax of a masquerade held in the palace gardens, Selenay embraced the prince in full view of the assembled court.
All of the trainees wanted details, which Tanis was only too happy to provide. Bredin noted that the instructors and some of the final year trainees seemed much less enthused, but soon dismissed their worried looks from his mind.
Excitement built over the next few sennights leading up to the wedding. The trainees discussed it endlessly amongst themselves. A few of the older trainees were enlisted as ushers to show the highborn to their places at the wedding. Most of these were highborn themselves; they would recognize the faces and ranks of the guests more easily.
The rest were enlisted to form a mounted escort for Prince Karathanelan's carriage from the Rethwellan Embassy to the Palace. All were dressed in formal greys. Bredin and Lacaral were among the escort; they were near the end of the group. From where he was in the procession, Bredin could barely see the Prince, who was surrounded by nobles from Rethwellan who had come with him.
Cheering crowds lined the route during the long procession to the Palace. Bredin barely noticed the onlookers as he concentrated on keeping his position on Lacaral's back. His formal greys were stifling in the bright sunlight and he began to itch.
Once they reached the Palace, the Prince got out of the carriage, which drove away. Bredin and the others were posted around the outside of the gardens as a frame for the ceremony.
Bredin reached his post. ::Damn. I can't see anything.:: He thought to Lacaral.
::Don't worry. You are not missing anything. Prepare to be bored.:: Lacaral stood like an alabaster statue as a lone trumpet signalled that the Queen's procession was coming out of the Palace.
Bredin waited impatiently through the ceremony. His place was in the open, the sun beat down on him and Lacaral. He couldn't see or hear anything as he waited. He nearly dozed off once or twice from the heat and boredom. Lacaral gently chided him a few times when he fidgeted. ::Think of it as practice for when you have to take your turn on watch someday.::
When the bells rang out, signalling the end of the wedding, Bredin's shoulders slumped in relief. He turned his head to go. ::Not yet, Chosen. We stay until the guests have gone to the reception.:: Bredin stiffened himself once more. The last quarter-candlemark waiting for the guests to clear was not quite as bad; a few of the guests came over to admire Lacaral and the other Companions. Bredin was happy to talk about Lacaral with anyone, though it was hard to keep his composure when Lacaral made remarks about the guests.
Finally, Lacaral told Bredin they were free to go. The trainees headed for Companions' stable to dismount and untack their Companions. Done, they went quickly to their rooms to change out of the Formal Greys, which all were glad to abandon. They changed to their lightest clothing.
Gathering blankets plus some picnic items Mero had prepared, the trainees headed out to Grey Vale, a part of Companions' field traditionally reserved for the trainees to enjoy their own celebrations away from the eyes of adults. Though boisterous as any group of youngsters, the trainees were responsible enough to be trusted and there was never any serious trouble. Their link to their Companions ensured that anything that did get out of hand would be detected and stopped.
Bredin and his yearmates chatted far into the night. Eventually, a few headed back to their beds in the Collegium. Bredin curled up in his blanket and slept under the stars.