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Stories from the Verse
Verse Three, Chapter One
Chapter 40: Slade 13
Table of Contents
Previous chapter: Chapter 39, Hastings 14
The next spring, before Slade had thought about who to visit, Filp came to see him, and brought Torelle. It was the first time Slade had company at the castle, and his chef seemed to relish in the opportunity to cook for someone new. They ate well.
Of course, Torelle had news about his family. The children were growing, and Mica, the eldest, had begun studying swordsmanship in earnest. Torrence and Shella were well, and there was as yet no fourth child. He also spoke of matters of court and such things as were important to him.
But it was Filp who brought the big news. He was to be married. Wen, the barmaid, was the bride, and of course Slade was invited to the wedding late in the summer.
The two stayed for a fortnight, but Filp still had to invite Omigger and return to his own castle to make preparations, so they were on their way sooner than Slade would have wished. However, Torelle agreed to await his arrival in a month and travel with him to the wedding.
The nuptials were in every way different from Torelle's. Filp and Wen clearly had a passion for each other, and it brought the formal ceremonies some genuine excitement. Torelle was the only noble present, unless Slade and Omigger counted. The villagers were all invited, and probably would have come to the wedding of their friends even without the lavish wedding feast. The couple left the party early, which was thereafter hosted by the castellan and the household manager (although Torelle felt it his obligation to take command of the situation). They were thereafter seen around the castle very rarely for several days, and had meals brought in more often than not. The visiting threesome left their good-byes with the castellan, and returned together to Torelle's, where they stayed a couple more days before ending their company and traveling home.
And Slade was content, convinced that there was something good in this world.
There is a behind-the-writings look at the thoughts, influences, and ideas of this chapter, along with five other sequential chapters of the novel, in mark Joseph "young" web log entry #33: Novel Struggles. Given a moment, this link should take you directly to the section relevant to this chapter.
As to the old stories that have long been here:
