Chapter 91

In Celebration, the entire town of Sea Meet held a great feast for all. Jugglers and fire eaters entertained the children, and musicians played traditional wedding songs. Aurelia enjoyed the scene. Zinjo drank in every last second.

Aurelia raised her hands for silence as she and Zinjo faced the crowd. She cleared her throat, "In a few short days, I will be your queen," she opened the parasol, slung it over her shoulder, and twirled it while she paced. "I have decided it is time for Shadowfen to change. For too long, we have isolated ourselves and hid from the world. I intend to change this."

She motioned for Lord Nian to come forward, "Lord Nian will be assuming the role as our minister of defense. I have seen the discipline of the far east and feel Lord Nian make our soldiers a force on the continent."

Lord Nian bowed, "I shall do my best to meet your expectations," Lord Nian gave a slight bow and stood next to his family.

"We brought some refugees from the far east, and it is uncertain if they can return home. My mother will be in charge of sorting them out as I plan to meet with the Cherish Empire to establish diplomatic relations," Aurelia allowed her words to sink in with the crowd. "Next, I would like to welcome Tang Sai and Han Xin to our lovely kingdom. They will be working to protect our foreign interests." The Huli Jing smiled and waved to everyone.

Zinjo whispered, "Look at their faces. They are filled with shame because they doubted you."

Aurelia admitted their looks provoked satisfaction in her. As a ruler, she needed to be above such petty thoughts. She ignored her husband's words. "I would like to recognize Tess and Gael of the trade guild."

Gael smiled, and the Al' Miraj perched on his shoulder fast asleep. Tess gripped his arm while brandishing her diamond ring to any who would look. "I would like to make you two the head of trade relations. Gael negotiated a deal with the lion people of Kianzangi. Tess will handle the negotiations, while Gael will act as fleet master." She paused and saw the crestfallen traders guild, "By the way, Tess, that makes you in charge of the traders guild."

"Just a couple more introductions, and then we will move straight to forging the bottle or bottles," Aurelia could not wait to finish and get on with the forging. She Introduced Sojobo and Limao hastily. The world began to slow around her and Zinjo and then came to a grinding halt.

"What is this?" Zinjo tensed up and prepared to shift into his powerful

"Take it easy. We are about to receive a visit from Amouria. She did this to me once before," Aurelia's eyes scanned the frozen scene birds and insects hung in a crystallized moment. One could see everything going on.

Amouria appeared in her best robe, a smile on her face, "Oh, you two look more magnificent together than I imagined. I wasn't sure you two would make it, but there...,"

"What do you mean by that?" Zinjo crossed his arms, and the yellow eyes pierced the goddesses.

"You exceeded my expectations at every turn," Amouria's impatience came out in jerky hand motions, "I couldn't have made a better choice to undertake the mission."

"Can we please get to the forging...," Aurelia looked down and saw the Al' Miraj, "What's he doing here?"

"He has a part to play in the forging as well, as does one other, and you won't like it," Amouria sighed, "It's going to be a long day, I suspect."

"Why would you say that?" words from the void echoed around the area. A sickly swarm of death moths began to Congeal into the deadly beauty known as Carmen. She raised a slender hand and waved, "I told you I would be forging the bottle," She hovered in front of Amouria, "Can we please get this done quickly. I have no desire to be among the living."

"Very well," Amouria waved her hand, and the quartet found themselves in the forge. Aurelia could smell the smoke, and the scorching heat caused her to sweat a little.

Amouria took a deep breath, "Void sand, please," She took the amphorae and dumped the charred sand into a crucible hanging above the forge.

Next, Carmen added the tears and then slashed her arm. Thick purple liquid oozed from the wound and dropped into the strange brew. She pointed to a hollow pipe in the corner, "Quickly, you must blow the glass now."

Aurelia snagged the metal tube and dipped it in the molten sand, and began to twirl the rod, "Now what?"

"Raise the tube to your mouth, and blow," Amouria waved her hand. The Lemuria Scroll and stone appeared. She held the Al'miraj and kissed it on the head, "It's your turn, my dear."

Aurelia blew on the glass, and Zinjo twirled the rod. The Al' Miraj's horn glowed as it touched the glass. With each turn of the molten sand, the horn left Lemurian runes in its wake.

Sojobo appeared, "Am I late," The Tengu King asked.

Amouria rolled her eyes and scowled at the birdman, "When are you ever on time for anything?"

Carmen shook her head, "My part is over. I shall return to my island, now." She strode by Zinjo, "If you ever get bored with the princess, my bed always needs warming."

"No thanks, I enjoy my sanity. I have a feeling if I spend too much time with you, I'd lose it," Zinjo kept his tone neutral and indifferent.

"Is that why you came to the wedding?" Aurelia kept her mean words to herself and focused on Sojobo.

"Yes, the first few ingredients are of the mortal realm, but since the shadow people exist in the beyond as well, we higher beings are the binding agents. Mine is Divine lightning." Sojobo's hands moved rapidly, and he chanted a small stormcloud appeared over the glass. Tiny bolts of lightning galvanized the runes.

The glass had grown into a four-foot urn complete with a lid. Zinjo looked over at Aurelia, "I was not expecting it to be so big," He tapped it with a single finger, not a burn mark touched his hand.

Sojobo bowed, "I shall take my leave," he smiled at Zinjo, "I made some changes to your armor. I hope you don't mind."

The goddess waited for the Tengu King to leave, "He hasn't changed in a thousand years," She turned to the newlyweds, "But I digress," She fiddled with the translation stone and smiled, "When it's time, chant this spell. Make sure Zinjo guards you well because Lebende will catch on at some point. I cannot aid you either."

Aurelia smiled at Zinjo and clutched his hand tight, "I trust Zinjo with my life. I know he will not fail me."

Zinjo smiled at his bride and kissed her, "I know Aurelia will handle herself brilliantly."

Amouria clapped her hands, and they were back at the feast, with the Urn, "Be good to each other there is a bright future ahead of you both. if you survive."

The goddess vanished, and time resumed. Aurelia turned to Zinjo, "Are you ready to finish this?"

Zinjo grinned, "Yes."