Page 100 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

Khiann had not known that. He had assumed the five of them were moving at roughly the same pace. It was strange to learn he was ahead, and stranger still to feel the small pleasure it gave him.

It was not his success or a reward for his hard work. He was simply built differently, and he should not take pride in something he was born with.

Khiann drove the chair onto the grass and parked it at the end of their row. "I have not trained with weights yet. If you have some spare weights, I would love to join you."

"I have plenty to go around." Hildegard handed him a pair of small weights. "Watch Michael and Zalag and do what they do."

He lifted them with the others as she counted, and when she called a rest, he set the weights down.

"Hydrate!" Hildegard ordered, handing Khiann a bottle of water.

The others already had theirs, and they all drank.

"I have news." Khiann put his half-empty bottle on the ground. "Princess Annani and I are getting married again. The date has not been set yet, but it will be within a month. Probably closer to three weeks." He smiled. "The princess is impatient, and she does not wish to wait. Once her mind is set, she springs into action."

The four set their bottles of water down and started clapping.

"Who will stand with you?" Adaluh asked.

"You four and Esag." Khiann looked down the row of chairs. "If you can stand by then."

The change in them was immediate. Ubhar glared at the pull-up bar over the door, and Zalag rubbed his hands together.

"Three weeks," Adaluh said.

"More or less." Khiann looked down at his skinny legs. "I intend to walk up to the altar unaided. No crutch, no cane. If I cannot do that, the wedding is off."

It was only partially a joke.

"We will walk with you," Ubhar said.

Hildegard chuckled. "Thank you, Khiann. This is the first time any of them have been enthusiastic about working out. Usually, I need to shame them into putting in some effort."

Esag arrived a minute later.

He greeted the men by name, shook Adaluh's hand, clapped Ubhar's shoulder, and then came and stood beside Khiann's chair.

"So, what are you all up to these days?" he asked.

"This." Michael picked up the weights and started curling them again.

"And this." Ubhar lifted the bar.

"Master Khiann is getting married to Princess Annani again," Adaluh said. "In a month or sooner."

Khiann had wanted to tell Esag himself, but he had not planned it well. He should have waited for Esag to arrive before making the announcement.

"Congratulations," Esag said. "It's a lovely idea. Humans call it a vow renewal."

"I do not remember mine." Khiann turned the ring on his finger. "That is why I asked Annani to marry me again. She said yes and, as is her way, started planning right away. I did not want it to happen so soon, but she does not want to wait."

Esag laughed. "I could have told you that before you asked. Annani waits for no one. She acts."

Khiann envied his friend for remembering what he had forgotten. "I am learning that about her. I am also learning a lot about human history, where the gods are myths and entertaining stories." He set the weights down. "I have reached the Romans. They were very fond of roads and bridges."

"They were fond of a great many things." Esag's mouth twisted. "I watched some of those films myself as part of Vrog's adult education supplemental program. I think his program should be recommended to all humans because I know for a fact that the vast majority of them have no clue about any of those historical events. The level of ignorance is staggering, even among those who believe themselves educated."

"It's a sorry state of affairs," Hildegard said. "And I am ashamed to admit that not all clan members bother to educate themselves either. They think that because they are old and might have lived through some of those events, they know it all. They don't."