Aldeheid couldn't stop staring at his hands. In a time not long pass he'd thought them to be irrevocably cursed. They'd caused so much pain, done so much damage, killed so many capes. A gambit of emotions ran through him as he examined the swirling lines that accented his mark.

He wanted to run up to someone and them that nothing was impossible, that they can do anything, try anything. Surely if he could be bonded to a cape like Kitaya, then anything was possible.

I have a cape now... Just admitting it to himself felt so surreal, like this was all a figment of his imagination. Or an out of body experience. It was his duty now, to mold himself into a magician worthy of her. She deserved no less.

"Nervous?" Kitaya asked him. They were on the upper circle of the great hall, preparing to descend the steps as magician and cape, with Kitaya on his back. Apparently it was some kind of tradition.

Below them, the guests were gathered in small groups, talking and laughing while attendants flitted around with light refreshments.

Aldeheid shook his head. "I'm just... in awe. Humbled. I never thought this day would come." His eyes drifted to the jagged lines going through Kitaya's mark. "You're my cape."

"And you're my magician." Kitaya gave her marked hand a cursory look before gazing over the banister at the guests, a small smile on her lips. He wondered how she was feeling about all of this. Was she over the moon? Or was she having second thoughts?

"And you?" Aldeheid asked, sweat coating his palms. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel great, angel eyes." She turned to face him fully, a quizzical expression crossing her face. "Try to enjoy yourself, alright? There will be plenty of time to fret and wring your hands. Today is our day."

"Right, of course." He blushed and looked away in time to see Kemah nod up at them from the base of the stairs.

"Alright. Whenever you're ready," he said.

Aldeheid took Kitaya's hand and a gentle white light radiated from her chest. One flash later, she was a dark green cape, softer than the finest silk. He fastened her at his left shoulder, his hand lingering over the gold clasp for a moment.

"This is strange..." Kitaya's voice was soft, wispy, and very in his head. "I can see what you're seeing."

A wave of dizziness overcame him, and he threw out a hand to steady himself. He took a breath and blinked his vision clear. "Alright, let's go down." As he took the first step, his vision doubled and he misjudged the distance between his foot and the stair. The world went sideways and upside-down as he tumbled down the steps.

Aldeheid tucked his head in and held his arms up to protect his face. At least this set of stairs had a rug down the center which made this descent a little less painful than the one at the temple. His fall ended when his back collided with the polished floor at the base of the stairs. If this series of events kept up, he'd be just as afraid of stairs as he was of heights.

The room erupted into laughter, followed by a round of thunderous cheers. Although, Aldeheid had no idea what there was to cheer about. He tried to push to his feet but he was tangled up in green fabric.

"Are you alright?" Kitaya's voice in his head made the room spin, and he clutched his head, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Change back Kitaya," Kemah said.

A bright flash filtered through Aldeheid's eyelids and a sudden weight pressed down on his chest. He opened his eyes to see Kitaya's smiling face in front of his. She was just as tangled around him as the fabric had been. One of her braids fell free and tickled his face.

"Are you alright?" she asked again.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the words died before they could escape, burnt to ash by the heat crawling up his neck. How could he say anything when she was draped so suggestively over him?

One by one, she untangle her limbs from his and rose to her feet, straightening her skirts. Then she extended a hand to help him up, steadying him as he swayed.

Aldeheid rubbed his temple as his vision blurred. "Dear gods, why am I so lightheaded?"

"The bond," Kemah explained. "It takes a little while to get used to. You'll get these dizzy spells for a few days while your mind adjusts."

"Well thanks for telling me that before I took the stairs and humiliated myself." He rubbed at a bruise that was blooming on his shoulder.

"The fact that you tumbled down those steps is a good thing. Being able to walk down after making the bond is considered bad luck."

Aldeheid shot Kitaya a sidelong stare. "You knew this would happen, didn't you?"

"I did. But tradition." She made a grand gesture with her hands. "At least we get to sit down now." She looped her arm around his and led him to a table where guests would be able to come and offer gifts and well-wishes.

Attendants came and offered drinks and food. Kitaya took the whole bottle of wine and filled her glass to the rim. Gods knew he was probably going to need a few extra glasses himself. While the gathering wasn't as large as some of the ones he used to attend in Wylerra, there were still a sizeable amount of people.

The first pair approached the table – a man and woman who walked hand-in-hand. From head to toe, they were adorned with gold and jewels, looking more like deities than ordinary immortals.

Kitaya squealed like an excited child and jumped up, running to hug them. "I'm so happy you came." She turned back to Aldeheid. "This is Kya and Tahir, Kemah's altori."

Aldeheid rose to greet them properly, apprehension making his steps slow and unsure. He'd learn to expect the unexpected when it came to meeting anyone related to Kiyaya, but surely Kemah's altori couldn't be as abrasive as some of her friends had been.

Kya took his hand in both of hers and looked to Kitaya. Her hands were smooth and warms, contrasted by the cold gold rings that adorned her fingers. "Kemah has told us much. Although, I imagined him..." She raked her gaze over him, but not in the same scornful way that Eriani did. "...differently."

Aldeheid wasn't sure if he should take that as an insult or not, so he chose to stay quiet.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Aldeheid," Tahir said, his voice as low and booming as distant thunder. He possessed the same air quiet curiosity that Aldeheid sensed from Kemah. "How exactly did you convince Kitaya to take you as her magician?"

"I uh..." Aldeheid looked to Kitaya, but all she offered him was a smile and a nod. "I didn't do anything."

"It was probably the eyes." Kya dropped his hand and cupped his chin turning his face to examine him from all angles. "Or perhaps he makes a good bedmate. Good stamina. Strong back."

Dear gods, please strike me dead.

"Kya, you're scaring him." Tahir took her hand from Aldeheid face and tugged her back to his side. "Aldeheid, If you ever find time, do come visit us in Andedar."

"Yeas, please." Kya frowned at Kitaya. "We never get to see you child."

"I know, I know. I promised Aldeheid a trip there once we're done with the thin spaces." Kitaya grimaced. "Well, if we ever get done."

"Let's not think about such troubling things today. Here." Tahir nodded to the crowd, and a small boy emerged carrying a black box. "Take it with our blessing for a strong and lasting bond."

After another round of hugs and well wishes, Kya and Tahir melded back into the crowd.

Aldeheid sat back down and took a sip of wine. There would be much more of that to come. More gifts, more well-wishes, more merriment. Hopefully people from people who are less... forward. He soaked in the atmosphere, committing it to memory. He doubted he'd ever have a day as special as this one again.

"I got something for you," Kitaya said, over the ruckus. She held out a tiny black pouch, sealed shut with gold string.

Aldeheid took it, humbled by the gesture. "But, I didn't get you anything." He opened it and dumped the contents into his palm. A single earring fell out – a black bead with gold filigree work coving it, dangling from a chain of the same metal.

"Since you gave me yours, I figured you'd need a new one." She placed her hand over his old earring, which hung from a gold string around her neck. "I got Eriani to enchant it, so it will protect you when I can't."

"Thank you, kitten." His heart swelled with warmth as he slipped the earring into the hole in his ear, the familiar heaviness making him smile.

"Look what Kya and Tahir gave us." Kitaya had opened the box, nestled inside were two daggers, side-by-side. One was engilded with jagged lines, the other with swirling lines.

Aldeheid picked up the one obviously meant for him, turning it over in his hands. The handle was wrapped in a material that had been stained purple, and the pommel was fashioned into a talon. "It's nice."

The next person to visit their table was Nylarah. She wore her usual green robes, and a wrinkle in her brow that gave away her apprehension. The chimes of her staff clinked together, the sound somehow carrying over the music and chatter. "I... came to offer my well-wishes," she said, not meeting either of their gazes. "And to officially welcome Aldeheid to our family. If that's alright."

"It's fine," Aldeheid said, his voice sounding as though he were talking to a small, frightened child. "We're not angry with you."

Kitaya scoffed. "Speak for yourself, angel eyes." She folded one leg over the next and took a sip of wine.

"Kitten..."

"Fine, fine." She finally looked at Nylarah. "Despite what happened, I'm glad you came, Ny."

"Thank you." Nylarah gave a small smile. "I neglected to get a physical gift, but I believe I have information that may be of use to you. I heard from Kemah that you two are going to search for Mellidius."

Aldeheid was goimg to take another drink of wine but set his glass back down instead. "That's right."

"Well, this is just speculation and rumour, but I heard that he was spotted near the backlands some time ago. So perhaps you can begin your search there."

Kitaya blinked, her mouth agape, and looked around as though she was making sure no one else was listening. "The backlands? Are you serious? Does Eriani know about this?"

"If it has reached my ear then it's surely reached hers as well. Although, I can't imagine she was happy to hear it."

Kitaya blew out a long breath. "Alright. Thanks, Ny."

"What's so horrible about the backlands?" Aldeheid asked once Nylarah was out of earshot.

"They're homes of criminals, outcasts." She waved a hand around. "You know, the more unsavoury and less civilized folk that dwell in this region. The fact that Mellidius is roaming around there probably means he's gotten himself into a bit of trouble."

"Or perhaps he's going out of his mind." Aldeheid had heard how devastating it could be to lose ones magician or cape. It wasn't uncommon for immortals to lose themselves after going through such an ordeal. But he hoped that wasn't the case for his mentor.

And he hoped it would never be the case for him. Now that he was bonded, it was a very real ad very terrifying possibility. As he looked at Kitaya – her skin glowing, and a small smile on her lips as she watched the guests – he hoped and prayed to whatever gods were listening that neither of them would have to go through the same ordeal as Mellidius.