Twelve wives nodded, children shifted on blankets, hearts steady. They had grown into this world's mysteries.
They prepared offerings: boulders carved with glyphs, woven ribbons, petals pressed into wooden bowls, seeds from the high mountain meadows. Each wife chose something personal, a promise made tangible. Susan plucked a silver fern from the creek; Zoey brought river-smooth stones; Rose picked lavender buds; Emma sealed memories in pigment-stained bark; Scarlet tied an arrow dipped in mountain water; Sophia bound palm leaves; Serena braided herbs; Layla plucked blossoms; Grace dressed in petals; Natalie cooked bread; Lucy embroidered a cloth; Stella carried two shells; Jude carried watchers' shard and the last of the honey bread; Grace held his hand.