“It’s good to see you so happy, Iris.”
Iris returned Elera’s smile. “It’s good to be happy.”
The two women were making breakfast and talking. They were already past Iris’ dream and the tears that came with that, and now, Iris was telling Elera about her visit to the orphans. She hesitated to say anything about it at first because of the strangeness of leaving her body, but Elera took that in stride. Iris still skimmed as much of that part as she could and focused on her conversation with Kayla, Ginger, and Fred.
“Good morning to my two queens,” Char interrupted from right behind them.
Iris jumped, but before she could say a word, he'd kissed first her and then Elera on the cheeks. She couldn't scold him after that. “Hello, Char.”
Elera chuckled. “Jarth and his ridiculous queen nonsense. You can’t have two queens, so until you are married, that title belongs to me. Now, go set the table. Breakfast is almost ready.”
Char and Iris’ meeting with the priest was in an hour, so Char had decided to come over for breakfast instead of dinner today. She hoped he could get away from the barracks long enough to come for dinner, too, but she’d take whatever time she could get with him. Although the prospect of pre-marital counseling with a priest she didn't know made her nervous.
She was familiar with the concept; it was one of Father John’s favorite parts of the priesthood. He’d liked to say if he did it right, he would put himself out of a job. She could hear his jovial laughter as he said it. Of course, solving the orphan problem wasn't that simple, but kids had the best chance at a happy life if their parents' marriage was strong. And the key to a strong marriage was a solid relationship.
But orphans came from many sources. Iris was proof of that.
She wondered if her mother had ever resorted to prostitution. Iris had seen nothing in her visions that pointed in that direction, but she only saw what her mother had allowed her to see, and her mother had to provide for them somehow. It wouldn’t have surprised Iris if she’d gone that route, and Iris couldn’t hold it against her, either. Not every girl had Father John looking out for them.
He’d always worked hard to protect his girls. Iris knew prostitution would have paid well, but she’d never given it a second thought. They made do with what they had. And someday, Father John would make sure she married the right kind of man who wouldn’t abandon her and leave her with too many mouths to feed, so she would never have to worry about it.
That had been the plan, anyway.
“Ready for this?” Char asked, breaking into her thoughts.
She looked up at him and smiled as they walked hand in hand down the street. The plan had gone out the window, but she had no doubts about Char.
“If he asks the same questions Father John did, then yes, I am.”
“What did Father John ask?”
“Oh, what kind of backgrounds the couple came from, how they met, why they wanted to get married, did they get their families’ blessings, that sort of thing.”
Char smirked. “So, nothing we can give a normal answer to. Maybe I should ask if the priest is ready for us.”
That was part of the nervous tension fluttering in Iris' stomach. Father John had taken any and all strange answers in stride and focused on evaluating the couple as a whole so he could best advise them. If there were any problem areas, he would offer solutions or suggestions to help, and sometimes he had even recommended a couple wait longer to get married. It had been rare for him to refuse to perform a wedding, but it had happened.
She was secretly concerned that this dragon priest would do that.
“Do you think he’s ever married a dragon and a human before?”
Char shrugged. “I don’t know. Probably not. I know it happens, but it’s pretty rare.” He leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Char!” she whispered, blushing as her eyes darted around the street.
He chuckled. “You humans are too reserved.”
“Well, you dragons are too bold.”
“A kiss on the cheek in public is not bold.”
He leaned toward her again, and she pulled her hand free from his and stepped away, fighting to hide her smile. “No.”
He laughed and caught her hand again, tugging her back to his side. “Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you anymore until we get to church.”
“Oh, why did you have to say it that way?”
“This is the same priest who married my parents, Iris. He won’t refuse to marry us, so just relax.”
She let out a deep breath. “Well, if he’d marry them, I guess I have nothing to worry about.”
“What are you trying to say?”
She gave Char an innocent smile. “I only know what I’ve been told.”
“Hm.” He leaned closer and dropped his voice. “After this is over, what do you say we go someplace private so I can tell you more?”
The nerves in Iris’ stomach burst into a flight of butterflies. She felt her face warming and looked away. “You’re assuming the priest won’t tell me to turn tail and run away from you.”
“I’m more persuasive than he is.”
“You’re more trouble than you’re worth.”
“I could say the same about you—but I’d be lying.”
She peeked up at him. “So was I.”
He flashed her an arrogant smirk. “See? I’ve already got you fooled.”
“Oh, you—”
“Shh.” He put a finger to her lips, sending another jolt through the butterflies. “Watch what you say until we’re out of church.”
She looked up at the stone edifice in front of them. Although it had been carved from the same stone as every other building, it looked like what she expected from a church. The tall spire, the arch over the doorway, the stained glass windows—it could have been the church at Little Rest.
Suddenly, her heart hurt.
Char led her up the stairs to the heavy wooden doors. Similar wooden doors. Almost the same church foyer. And in the next room, the rows of wooden pews, the central aisle, the altar, even the organ—it was so much like Little Rest.
“Hello,” said a reedy voice.
“Father Berk,” Char called out in greeting.
The priest didn’t look like Father John, although Iris guessed he was about the same age, somewhere in his seventies. He was a tall, scrawny man with a ring of white hair around the top of his otherwise bald, shiny head, and his pink eyes put her in mind of a rabbit. He moved a bit like a rabbit, too: perfectly still, then a sudden burst of movement, then motionless again.
“Char, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in my church.” A genuine smile accompanied Father Berk’s light reprimand. “And this must be Iris.”
She smiled at him. “Nice to meet you.”
“And you as well, I’m sure. It isn’t every woman who can handle the men of his family.” Father Berk jerked a thumb in Char’s direction.
Iris took an immediate liking to the priest.
Char rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re not that bad.”
“The last time I saw him, he and Rather were here for a friend’s wedding—drunk. They—”
“Okay, I’m sure you have a full schedule for today, so why don’t we get right down to business?” Char interrupted the priest.
Father Berk chuckled. “I’ll tell you the rest later, Iris. Have a seat.”
“Anywhere?”
“Anywhere.”
Char led Iris to the nearest pew, and Father Berk sat in the row in front of them, twisting around to face them.
“Now, let’s start with a bit of an introduction. I already know Char, so why don’t you tell me about yourself, Iris?”
She hesitated. “Well, I’m a human.” But he probably already knew that, she realized.
He nodded, encouraging her to continue.
“I’m also an orphan, and I grew up in the church.”
“John or Peter?”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
He chuckled again. “The priesthood isn’t the most popular profession. Dragons and humans study at the same seminary, and we attended at the same time. I’ve tried to keep up with them, but the years and the distance don’t make it easy.”
The more they talked, the more she realized she had nothing to worry about.
Father Berk was as unflappable and easygoing as Father John. If anything surprised him, he hid it well, and he surprised her quite a few times.
So did Char.
“Well, Elera was the one who came to me about this, so I assume you have her blessing and I can skip to the next question.”
“Father John gave us his blessing, too,” Char said.
Iris shook her head and smiled. “I don’t think his telling you he’d make sure I was at the river counts as his blessing.”
“Oh, you don’t remember?”
Char’s smile was still carefree, but his green eyes were serious. She shook her head.
“I guess it shouldn’t surprise me. Father John was the last to enter the crystal, and you were about to pass out. He told you he knew you’d use the amulet appropriately, and then he told me to take care of you.”
A lump rose in Iris’ throat. She pressed her lips together, blinking back sudden tears.
Char squeezed her hand and turned back to Father Berk. “And I had a talk with Mother before I proposed. She gave me Father’s blessing, too.”
That was when the conversation took a more serious, emotional turn, and Iris was crying before the session was over. Char was too sweet, and Father Berk was too open and understanding for her to keep the tears inside. His similarities to Father John were striking. The way nothing flustered him, the way he took every word without judgment or criticism, made her feel like she’d known him all her life.
After the last question, there was a brief silence while he deliberated and Iris wiped her eyes.
“You two are an interesting case,” he finally said.
“If you tell us we can’t get married, I’m finding another priest,” Char joked.
Maybe it was a half-joke, Iris thought, feeling his tension through their intertwined fingers.
“Oh, no. You two should absolutely get married, and as soon as possible, before either of you does something you’ll regret. But I won’t lie and say there won’t be difficulties going forward. I don’t expect anything as severe as what you’ve already experienced, but no marriage is ever smooth sailing. So, I see two areas of concern.” He shifted on the pew and held up one finger. “First, religion. Iris grew up in the church, and Char grew up trying to stay out of the church.”
“That… isn’t entirely true,” Char muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
“It’s something you need to discuss. Differences in belief can tear families apart, and I don’t want to see that happen to you two.” Father Berk held up another finger. “Second, and you’ll probably find this easier and more enjoyable to resolve—you two have never been on a date, have you?”
Char and Iris looked at each other. The party hadn't really been a date, Iris realized. It had been fun, but it had all been a cover for sneaking her out of the mountain. They couldn't even use her real name, and although the alcohol had relaxed Iris, she doubted Char had ever let down his guard.
He shook his head, coming to the same conclusion as Iris. “No, we haven’t.”
“Having fun together is more important than many couples realize. Go out for dinner. Get to know each other when you aren’t fighting for your lives.”
The corners of Char’s lips turned up. “Is that an order?”
Father Berk chuckled. “I’m not your commanding officer. It’s a suggestion. Go out, have fun—but try to behave yourself. The wedding is in three days, and I’d hate to find out you slipped up before then.”
Char stood, now wearing a wide grin. “That won’t be a problem. Come on, Iris. I know a great place where we can get some lunch.”
“Thank you for your time, Father Berk,” she said, also smiling. This had gone better than expected.
“If he gives you any trouble, let me know.” The priest winked a pink eye.
“I’ll do that. We’ll see you Sunday!"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfXaezeGMB
