Blood and Brass

Prologue: The Same Stars

"Zaraya! Are you listening to me?"

With a start, Zaraya sat up straight and sheepishly withdrew her hand from her pocket. Her tail flicked back and forth with the restless energy that had been thrumming through her body the entire night. If she hadn't known it to be impossible, she could have sworn that even her horns itched. She rubbed one absently as she gave an apologetic smile. "I am sorry, my beloved. I was merely entranced by your beauty. You look absolutely ravishing tonight."

Kamaria giggled, blushing. "Flattery will get you everywhere, you know." She ducked her head in a gesture that might have seemed shy were it not for the coquettish look she gave Zaraya through her long lashes.

"It is not flattery if it's the truth." Though if she were telling the entire truth, it was more than Kamaria's beauty that distracted her. The ring in her pocket seemed almost to burn, and the mere awareness of it set her heart pounding and her head spinning. She was really doing this. Tonight. But if she didn't find something else to think about, she would turn into a hyperventilating mess before the evening ended. "So, what were you saying?"

"I said, you won't believe what Rafiq got a hold of for me to study." Kamaria's eyes sparkled with excitement. Gods, she positively glowed when she was happy. Tonight, she could probably light up this tavern all by herself. She outshone the moons.

"Tell me," said Zaraya. She liked listening to Kamaria talk about her studies, even though she barely understood half of it. Just watching her face light up and her hands grow animated, hearing her voice as she spoke faster and faster while her mind spun from technical jargon to arcane theory to educated speculation and back—it was a delight to behold. Kamaria loved her work, and Zaraya loved seeing her so happy.

Kamaria fairly bounced in her seat as a wide grin spread across her face. "Ruidium."

The way she said it, clearly this was a big deal. But Zaraya had never so much as heard the word before. "Ah… what is that?" she asked.

"Ruidium! You know, that red mineral the Allegiance of Allsight dug up last year? That they think has magical properties?" She waved a hand dismissively at Zaraya's blank stare. "I suppose it's not of much interest to anyone but alchemists and arcanists. But it's incredibly rare. I don't know how Rafiq even got his hands on a sample at all, let alone enough to make a prolonged study of. We could make some incredible discoveries!"

Zaraya raised her eyebrows. She didn't have to know anything about ruidium to realize just how beneficial this could be for Kamaria's career. "This is the kind of primary research that could get you noticed by the Crystal Chateau—maybe even earn you a fellowship!" She reached across the table and wrapped both of Kamaria's hands in her own, squeezing tightly. "I am so very proud of you, my beloved."

"I haven't actually done anything yet, Zee," Kamaria protested with a chuckle. "Save the accolades until I've found something!"

"I have every faith in you. And Rafiq does, too, you know. He's always saying you're the most talented alchemist he's ever had the pleasure of teaching."

Kamaria blushed and looked down at their clasped hands. "I'm sure he says that to all of his apprentices."

"I doubt that," said Zaraya. "You are brilliant and—"

The end of her sentence was drowned out as the troupe of bards on stage finished their performance with a flourish, and the patrons of the crowded tavern broke into raucous cheers. The singer took a few ostentatious bows, made a couple of bawdy jokes, and led the band off to make way for the next performance.

A lone half-Elf woman with a harp took the stage, and a hush fell over the tavern as she began to pluck the strings and sing. What murmurings remained carried tones of mixed awe and confusion—this was much finer music than this establishment usually offered. Beautiful, yes, but not what most came to hear.

But Kamaria gasped, recognizing the song and instantly putting together what had happened. "Zaraya Iphenia Dameros, you did not!"

"I did." It had cost quite a bit of gold to book the performance, but Gods, Kamaria's face alone made it worth every copper. Standing, Zaraya walked around the table and extended a hand to her beloved. "Will you dance with me?"

"Here? Now?"

Zaraya met her gaze and said softly, "I can think of nowhere I would rather be at this moment than in your arms."

Taking her hand, Kamaria allowed Zaraya to pull her from her seat to the small open space in front of the stage. (That, the tavern keep had been happy to arrange for free.) Zaraya swept her into a formal ballroom dance more appropriate to the Cerulean Palace than this little local dive, and they both laughed at the curious stares of the other patrons.

The song was Kamaria's favorite, an Elvish ballad about a pair of star-crossed lovers, forced apart by fate, and their strife and sacrifice as they searched for each other, taking comfort in knowing that the same stars shone on them both. At least, that was what Rafiq said it was about—Zaraya had had to ask him to translate it for her. But regardless, judging by the helpless grin on Kamaria's face and the tears of happiness gathering in her eyes, it seemed Zaraya had chosen well.

And for a few blissful minutes, everything else had faded away, and there was only each other and the music. Zaraya thought she might drown in deep brown eyes. Kamaria wore a cropped shirt that left her midriff bare, so Zaraya's hands on her waist found warm skin, electric to the touch. The kiss she stole from full, soft lips tasted of wine and want. Nothing else mattered but here, and now, and her.

Then the song ended, the last notes shimmering into silence, and it was time.

Zaraya spun Kamaria to a stop and held her close. She'd had an elaborate, romantic declaration of love planned for this moment, carefully written, memorized, and rehearsed so it would come out perfect. But here, now, in the warm glow of oil lamps, in the pregnant quiet, under the curious and expectant stares of dozens of (relative) strangers, the words failed her. Her mind simply refused to retrieve them.

They didn't matter, anyway.

Threading one hand into Kamaria's long, thick locs, Zaraya pulled her in for another kiss, deep and fierce and searing hot. Wolf whistles and applause erupted from the crowd, followed by laughter as Zaraya playfully flipped them the finger with her free hand. Then she released her beloved, took a deep breath, and dropped to one knee before her.

The tavern fell silent. Kamaria gasped and clapped her hands to her mouth, eyes wide and swimming.

"My beloved," said Zaraya, her voice hoarse and cracking, "you are the light of my life, the glory of my days, and the radiance of my nights. I would spend the rest of my life with you, if you will have me." She drew the ring from her pocket and held it up, its amethysts and diamonds glittering in the light. "So, Kamaria bint Samir al-Jilani… will you marry me?"

For an eternal, terrifying moment, Kamaria simply stood there, frozen, her throat bobbing as she struggled to speak. Finally, a wordless squeak escaped her as she nodded and reached out her left hand, trembling to Zaraya.

As cheers erupted around them, Zaraya slipped the ring onto Kamaria's finger, kissed her knuckles, and stood. And they stayed there, staring and grinning and giggling like schoolgirls, until Kamaria finally flung herself into Zaraya's arms with a squeal of happiness. Zaraya spun her around, laughing out loud with relief and joy.

The stars that shone on Ank'Harel that night were the same as the night before. But for two young women, walking home hand in hand, they had never been quite so beautiful.