In a sudden outburst to Redberry, Sammy added, “I love you so much!”

  Redberry had a mixed bundle of emotions to this, but exasperation rose strongest. “Alright, but let’s not get carried away.”

  Sammy giggled. “This has been such a wonderful day! It can’t get any better, really.”

  “Your mother is also ready to return to you.”

  “Whaaat?! Get out! Oh Em Geee!”

  “Before you get too excited — though I know it’s too late for that — we’ve already conferred with your realm and decided on tomorrow, assuming this ‘clandestine operation’ I’ve been somewhat informed on is conducted today or tonight. Apparently involving ‘Ash,’ a former Dominion operative?”

  “Oh. Yes, that’s my next priority. Tying up a loose end. But anyway, how is Marjorie? How did things go?”

  “She is quite well and she did excellently. She’d be much better off with a man to sex up on a daily basis, but she won’t want to possess the first one she sees or the like. She has cemented her will and will most likely abide like a human maiden ready for courtship. Though I think she is in denial about this. Regardless, she’ll be judicious enough.”

  Sammy did a slow blink. “Right. I… forgot about… that whole thing being why she was sequestered.”

  “Part of the reason, Samantha. But yes, lust is a problem. We’re nymphs, despite how separate we’ve made ourselves over time. It takes reprogramming and a little enchantment assistance to get our nature under control.”

  “So… I should matchmake, you think?”

  “You can do what you want and so can she. But frustration will mount over time without a partner. I don’t think she has the capacity to ‘nun up’ long-term. There is a certain crossroads of the corporeal and mental meeting where that is feasible. She is parallel on both counts to the opposite now, however she thought about things before.”

  Redberry’s words took a minute to unravel. She’s saying Momma is a horny person, I think. Sammy recalled that Marjorie’s first custom spell was an aphrodisiac of some kind, and she was an ardent romance novel reader. “Yeah, I think I get the picture.”

  “Good. Otherwise, she’s adjusted well and is thrilled with her new body and life. She is looking forward to serving in your organization and has an ironclad motivation to help.”

  “I’m so stoked it’s not even funny!”

  “I’m not so sure. Most of your antics are funny, Moth.”

  “Well, you got me there!” She quite suddenly remembered something else she wanted to speak to Redberry about and felt a bubble of anxiety. “Speaking of courtships… oof…”

  “Out with it, then.”

  “Another thing for the itinerary… um… Blueberry. Azure. I- we… need- er, want to marry. Yup! I just… have no clue how to go about this and… well, I wanted your advice.”

  “I see. I will perform the ceremony as a Southlander wedding. So what stage are you at exactly? Has either of you broached the subject to the other?”

  “Yeah! See, this is what I want to ask about! She mentioned she’d be my wife ‘someday soon’ and it kind of took me by surprise. So.”

  “And what did you say?”

  “Yes?”

  “So you verbally agreed to her proposal.”

  “I did?”

  “Well, didn’t you?”

  “Um. Yes. Definitely. But-”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks, but, er, now what?”

  “You don’t know? Anywhere in the known world, as far as I know, your agreement equates to you broaching three or more days later to arrange a formal betrothal. Otherwise, you’d have someone go to them on your behalf to cancel or re-negotiate, and then they could eventually arrange the betrothal.”

  “Oh. So… Now I go to her and just say ‘Let’s get hitched,’ at this point? Or is there more?”

  “In the Southlands, you give them some article of your clothing, classically a ribbon but always something obvious and public so your close friends and family can see and ask where it is. That’s why nearly all Southlander women wear ribbons in their hair. Your love might wear what you give them or keep it hidden but generally on their person. It’s a symbol of your acceptance, though still not technically formal. Most will show it off in some fashion.”

  “Neat. Do I get a ribbon, too?”

  “No. You were the one asked, and thus courted. You give the article as acceptance.”

  “Shucks.” Despite this, Sammy grinned. There were nice butterflies in her stomach. “Okay. Will do. I can’t wait!”

  “The timeframe for the betrothal should be, once again, three or more days. There’s no specific habit here. Some fast track, some have a long period to help prepare for the wedding to come. A wedding is more of a celebration because the betrothal is considered binding by… well, me. I supposedly am the officiator of every betrothal, with the actual official standing in my stead. Even those corners of the Southlands wiped of my acknowledgment say, ‘May the Ancient Trees bear witness above all and approve of these vines binding.’ That refers to my dryads and me.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Sammy listened intently, fascinated. “So, what happens during a betrothal compared to a wedding? Ooh, do you do the handfasting binding thing?!”

  “I am not familiar with that term, but each is to separately bring a symbol of their binding of the other. Classically, this is a new, red ribbon — and I should note the first ribbon you give should thus not be red. Another common item is a certain reddish vine. Whatever it is, you tie it around each other’s wrists into a bow. For the wedding, you place a ring of some kind, usually wood, bone, or metal, and then remove the wrist binding without undoing the bow. Most hang them on the marriage bed posts. You might notice most have screwed-in rounded tops.

  “It is considered bad luck and doom for the marriage to have the bow come undone, so most glue the knot, and possibly even glue them to the posts. But you can’t glue the knot while it’s on the wrist. Not a good idea to begin with. Some will protect it under a clasp to keep it from being damaged or undone through the betrothal period.”

  “This is just incredible! And extremely specific.”

  Redberry shrugged. “I didn’t come up with it. That’s entirely elven and then human convolution. I think? I don’t remember exactly. My invocation in the rituals is probably a replacement for other gods.”

  Sammy didn’t point out how ‘bindings’ were entirely appropriate themes for anything tied to Redberry. I mean, what are the odds she didn’t influence this in some way? Denial much, Red?

  “What about Naugite?” Sammy asked instead.

  “Trust me, Samantha. I at least know Azure well enough to understand she’d be a complete sap for all of this. The Land of Naug is not ornate about such things, nor very focused on dedication. The only contract they get into has to do with the division of property and inheritance, complicated depending on the clan, but I would classify them all as poisonously pragmatic. In any case, Azure would vastly prefer to act as a proper suitor in the more romantic Southlands tradition.”

  “Hmm! Well, okay then, I just have to give her a ribbon first off. Blue! It should be blue.”

  “Sure. You’ll need three official witnesses for the official betrothal, including me; one is supposed to be of your family, and one of hers. I suppose you’ll need stand-ins. More can come if you want. It is usually done outdoors next to a significant tree.”

  Sammy frowned. Family. We don’t have any available. My adoptive mother for me is more than fine, but what about Azure? Damn. Could we find someone? Couldn’t hurt to ask.

  Redberry continued, “I believe that’s all, Moth? I have some knots of my own to untie. Keep me a breast and let me know as soon as you do in regards to the betrothal. Good luck with the operation.”

  Sammy narrowed her eyes in suspicion at the way Redberry said ‘a breast,’ unsure if it was misheard, intentional, or Freudian. “Thanks again, Red. I will.”

  Before she could even think about getting around to final Dominion Operation prep work, Sammy zipped back to the Geirkos hideout, materializing and diving into her honestly quite modest closet of Actual, Physical clothes. She really didn’t have much of anything that fit the bill of something cloth that everyone would notice was gone.

  Hmm. Something more than a random piece. Come on… what’s a memorable ensemble? Something from when we first met… or maybe a first date?

  Hypothetically, the first was eating at Brackenhome in the inn, right before shit hit the fan with the Meritosi Brothers. But she hadn’t been wearing anything special. Then there was the big meeting in Geirkos where Azure had first sat by her and even fed food from her own hand.

  Sammy smiled faintly in memory. She’d got totally sprung by that. Everyone else present knew they were ‘together.’ Everyone besides Dumbo Samantha! It was right after their dragon ride on Dart, where Azure had her arms around her waist. Sammy had stopped her when she almost pulled away…

  Neither of us could help ourselves.

  She switched over to her [Birdy Dress] outfit half in reminiscence. It wasn’t exactly unfamiliar — she wore it often. She had been wearing it the first time they were being cute together, possibly on their first date. It fortunately had a sky blue sash as part of the outfit. Much larger than a ribbon, but, hey, she was a goddess! A little extra was expected! It might also be noticeable without the sash. It was hard to say. She felt like people wouldn’t bother mentioning such a subtlety.

  As she removed the sash, her eyes were drawn to the colorful bird imprints of the dress. All the birds of her order on display, from sparrow to…

  Sammy gasped as an idea came to her. The phoenix! It represents the high priestess, who first was Azure.

  She cast a simple customization/alteration spell to modify her clothes, removing the phoenix imprint from the dress and putting it on the sash. “Haha! Now that’s what I call noticeable!”

  Sammy quickly sent an urgent mental message to Azure, faking sudden emotional alarm. “Blueberry! Oh no! Drop what you’re doing and come to me quickly and immediately! Hurry!”

  “What? What is it?!” Azure exclaimed, but a more physical response could soon be felt. “I’m coming!”

  Azure bodily spawned like liquid turning into crystal. She spun around, her wicked dagger Deathsting already in hand and looking for someone to stab. Then she noticed where she was and the dagger lowered. “Wait-”

  Grinning, Samantha held out her sash with both hands, the golden-red phoenix plainly visible and presented. “My gorgeous suitor, I present to you a symbol of my acceptance of your proposal for betrothal and marriage. I am yours, darling.”

  Azure went wide-eyed and gasped in shock. She even dropped Deathsting as her hands shot to cover her face. The dagger didn’t hit the floor, of course. With a faint “Hmph,” it returned smoothly to its sheath. Azure did not even notice. She stared at the sash with tunnel vision.

  “Surrendering an article,” Azure whispered reverently as her hands slowly lowered. Her eyes shone with wetness. “Like out of the stories… I’ve fantasized about this… once, to be the one surrendering, and then later, to be the receiver. Woman and woman. You can thank Southland novels for putting such notions in my head…”

  Samantha chuckled as she continued holding out the sash. “I am thankful for that, Azure. I definitely am.”

  Azure had the spell over her break a bit as she glanced over the sash at Samantha. Her cheeks went a bit purple! She fell to a knee and very reverently and solemnly took the sash lightly in her hands, gently from underneath. Locking eyes with Samantha, she declared, “I will cherish this forever, and you far more, my love, my goddess, my Chestnut. Samantha, we will be bound together and wedded soon, with much glory and beauty owed to you, though nothing could ever fully equal what you deserve; nor could anything of matter express what you mean to me.”

  Whatever power Samantha had within her to respond elegantly was crippled by the girl within her — a girl overcome. All she could do was burst into tears of raw emotion. She released the sash — Azure took it and rose quickly to embrace her.

  Clinging to her Blueberry and sobby, Sammy managed, “I love you!”

  “I love you, too.”

  All together now: D'AAAAWWWWW!

  Next Chapter...

  Getting a certain spell ready for operation. Fateful meetings.

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