The clouds strode slowly away from the sun as it climbed higher into the sky, its sharp, brilliant rays drifting down through the morning mist like the great fingers of the Father.
For a tense moment, one massive, dark-bellied cloud threatened to swallow the light entirely, but the wind nudged it along. Seconds later, a glorious pillar of sunshine broke through, coincidentally raining down directly upon the bride. She stood waiting at the small, flowery altar, framed perfectly beneath the sprawling nut tree that rose majestically from the palace earth.
At her side stood her uncle, Shahab's son, Lord Jared. He had ridden to the capital alongside a glittering host of trusted lords who could proudly boast of the crown's friendship and pleasure.
