Heirs of War by Mara Valderran Page A

though the world around them had disappeared. She loved how he always managed to cheer her up even when he had no idea what troubled her.
    "I should go get ready for the festival since you ruined the back of my dress," she teased.
    He placed a kiss on the top of her nose. "Go check your room, and I doubt you will mind much."
    Her full cheeks brightened at the idea of a present, and she rushed inside like a child on the anniversary of her birth. She whipped around the doorframe, stopping short as she spotted the gift Garrett had left for her. There, in front of her window, hung a brand new dress made from a bright golden material brushing the ground in length. The trim consisted of a dark green fabric strip with bronze embroidered leaves lining the scoop neck and bell-shaped sleeves.
    "The dress matches your eyes," he said from his perch against the doorframe and referring to the amber flecks of her green eyes.
    "It's beautiful," she said, overcome with emotion. "Thank you, Garrett."
    He gave a slight bow of the head in answer before slipping around the door to give her privacy to get ready.
    Later that evening, the sounds of music and laughter filled the night air as the Lugnasad festival raged on, which was one of biggest celebrations Terrena had seen in years. The war-induced poverty of the lands had spread like an illness wreaking havoc on the worlds, so most towns didn’t have the means to do much for the festivals throughout the year. The traditional feasts were cut down to a mere breaking of bread, the hunts lucky to find any game at all if they even tried.
    This year had been different for the town they resided in. This year they were celebrating their first Wassail in ages, and the excitement buzzed through the small mining village. Wassail was the ritual to begin marriage contracts and always paired with one of the four festivals marking the calendar year. Terrena had been begging her Cyneward to allow her to attend though large crowds set him on edge. She skipped around the makeshift dance area with Garrett along with the other townspeople, laughing gleefully as she let the cares usually weighing heavily on her mind slip away for the night.
    The air of the mountain regions in Western Estridia was frosty and it hugged the people tighter together as the season’s first dusting of snow clung to the grass. The town square, which consisted of a well and a few market stalls, consisted of muddied ground from where people had been stomping and dancing around all day, melting the snow underfoot. A loud cheer erupted nearby, and they ceased their dancing, pulling off to the side to clap in time with the music along with the others. The happy couple took to the dance floor, the groom sweeping his new bride off her feet and twirling her around jubilantly.
    Garrett placed a hand on the small of Terrena's back, rubbing his thumb back and forth against the belt of her new dress. She turned to face him and leaned in for a small kiss. She rested her head against his shoulder and she watched the newly married couple celebrate, fighting against her own sadness as she feared the same happiness did not await her and Garrett.
    He pulled her close and placed a kiss on her forehead. "One day, my love. One day your father will give us his blessing, and we will have our celebration. He can't deny me forever," he said with a wink.
    She gave him a weak smile, wanting to take comfort in his words, but at the same time weighed down by the guilt from the lies she’d had to tell him over the years. "One day," she agreed softly.
    He took her hand in his. "Let's go for a walk."
    He made small talk as they left the celebrations and Terrena mostly listened. His voice mesmerized her, like a song she alone could hear. She couldn’t get enough, constantly prompting him with questions so as to prolong their conversation even further.
    He traced the curve of her mouth with his finger as they came to a grassy patch a little ways off from the town square.