Heart Fire (Celta Book 13) (41 page)

“You designed a great cathedral that will stand for ages. Congratulations. Now breathe.”

He let one arm fall, kept the other loose around her waist as his gaze gently scanned the cathedral, nodded once. “It’s good.” Then he let happiness bubble through him and smiled. “Wondrous. Wonderful.”

Quina D’Mugwort glided up to them with a satisfied smile on her face that told him she’d gotten a sufficient amount from the tourists for her church.

Reluctantly, he withdrew his arm from Tiana, missing the physical connection though their emotions linked. He bowed to Quina. “Good evening, GraceLady D’Mugwort.”

She dipped a curtsey in return. “Good evening, Antenn and Tiana.” Her slight frown cleared. “I see the banquet went well.”

“As well as could be expected,” Antenn said.

“It went very well,” Tiana said in her priestess voice that told him he’d been less than gracious.

“Everyone asked and spoke about the cathedral.” He made a sweeping gesture. “I think you Hopefuls will have some visitors from the highest Noble class.”

Quina rubbed her hands. “All to the good.” Her chin lifted. “And our beautiful cathedral can match the loveliness of GreatCircle Temple any time.”

“Yes,” said Tiana. She curled fingers around his upper arm. “Mother, did you and Father go and look at the estate the NobleCouncil awarded us today?”

Quina’s eyes shifted and she took on a defensive stance. “We did. We didn’t stay very long.”

“Didn’t you like—”

Tiana’s mother shrugged; her gaze met Antenn’s. “It’s a sad place, since the last of the Rhinanthus Family passed on to the wheel of stars.” Her shoulders straightened. “We already have a wonderful home.”

The legendary FirstGrove, the secret garden, the secret sanctuary . . . and the grumpy BalmHeal Residence, which had grudgingly accepted Antenn as a member of the Family.

He’d have liked to spend more time exploring the grounds, that stayed closer to the original layout of the Earthan colonists than any other place he’d seen. With blatant flattery based on sincere admiration he could pump the Residence about its past and its structure, maybe even get its original plans.

But Quina Mugwort stared at him, and his neck heated as he knew he’d missed a question. “Of course we can add to the HouseStones of our new estate in the city,” Tiana clued.

“Yes,” Antenn said. “We can. As a full
Family
.” He cast Quina a stern glance. “You and Sinjin and Artemisia will wheedle a couple of stones from your Residence that we can take to the new Mugwort estates here and in Gael City.”

“But Artemisia and Garrett and their children will be living at our home, and yours and Tiana’s at the Turquoise House—”

Antenn smiled and rubbed his hand up and down Tiana’s supple back. “The thing I know about children is that they rebel against their elders, even though it might take them a while. We, as a Family, the Mugwort-Moss-Primross-Blackthorn Family, will care for our new Houses, and nurture them, and when one or two of those children wish to
not
live in our Family homes, they will have their own places.”

“And stay close with us. An excellent idea.” Quina nodded.

“We just haven’t spent the time to discuss this much,” Antenn said.

Quina smiled, spread her arms wide, and turned slowly in a circle. “I gave the backed-up amount of my NobleGilt to help with the cathedral expenses.”

“Something I’m sure the Intersection of Hope ministers greatly appreciated.”

She sighed. “Of course. And I am pleased to have another place to come to in the city.” Her smile trembled as she glanced at them. “We, Sinjin and I, are doing better in that regard.”

“Yes.” Tiana hugged her mother. “It takes some Families . . . and Residences . . . longer to bond than others, like yours.”

D’Mugwort laughed, blinked tears away from her lashes, and shook her head at them, putting her hands on her heart. “Four days. I still can’t believe that it took you only four days to bond, and with the Turquoise House, too.”

“We were ready,” Antenn said, stepping up and circling his wife’s waist again.

Footsteps sounded and the four Chief Ministers converged upon them. They all bowed and greeted Antenn, then Tiana.

Antenn bowed back, coordinating it with Tiana’s curtsey so he could keep hold of her.

“We are very pleased that you honored GraceLady D’Mugwort’s request to meet us here,” Custos said.

Antenn hadn’t known that was part of the deal, but said nothing.

“We want to express, once again, our gratitude that you took our commission, treated us fairly and with respect,” Younger said.

Antenn smiled, deliberately stared around him. “This was the project of a lifetime for me. I couldn’t refuse.” He let his smile broaden. “And I thank you, once again, for the bonus.”

“A good workman is worthy of his gilt,” Foreman said gruffly.

“If you will follow us,” Custos said. He gestured to Foreman, who’d turned on his heel and begun to stride down the transept dedicated to his portion of the Journey, followed by Custos, Elderstone, and Younger.

Quina beamed. Tiana held Antenn’s hand and chuckled in her throat. Antenn’s heart began to pound in anticipation. They paced to the end of the arm and the two great bronze doors that opened to the outside. Foreman planted himself by a large plaque that showed the floor plan of the cathedral and a wall elevation showing the different sections from flagstoned floor to the arch of the stone vault at the top. Below the drawings was his name in raised letters:

A
NTENN
B
LACKTHORN
-M
OSS
, F
IRST
L
EVEL
A
RCHITECT
.

Pause your Journey to gaze around and appreciate his Mastery.

Antenn’s insides contracted, his eyes stung, and he had to pull a little Flair from Tiana to keep his composure. Then he bowed formally to each of the ministers. “Thank you,” he said roughly.

Linking her arm with his, Quina said, “Now that you’ve finally finished your work on the cathedral”—her tone scolded subtly—“will you stay for a cup of celebratory tea? I commissioned a blend specifically for us Hopefuls from GreatLady Camellia D’Hawthorn.”

Foreman grunted and frowned. “Cups and cups and cups of tastings until we found one we agreed upon.”

“It’s good, though,” said Younger. “Please join us.”

Antenn let the ministers persuade him. The tea was tolerable and the flatsweets great, comments from the cathedral cat amusing. The small courtesies smoothed out the emotions of the day.

He’d always remember the moment when he saw the plaque. And he had no doubt that in the years ahead he’d learn how light fell on it on all hours and seasons. It would be an anchor for his spirit, when he doubted himself.

Soon enough, he slanted a look at Tiana and they rose and excused themselves to Quina and the ministers and walked to the private teleportation area. Once again he wrapped his arms around her. “Home?” he asked.

“Home,” she agreed.

*   *   *

T
iana settled into the embrace of her HeartMate, and their minds tuned together and meshed the vision of the teleportation area of the courtyard of their home. Heart-fulfilling home.

They arrived as day transitioned into night, a precious time to her, now, and to Antenn.
Their
special time, when they acknowledged the changes of the day and the changes in their lives.

“I love you, wife and HeartMate,” he said.

“I love you, husband and HeartMate,” she replied.

The last rays of golden-evening sunlight speared onto the glossy turquoise finish of their home.

As they approached, the moss-green door opened and they stepped over the threshold together.

The cats sat in the entryway, tails curled around them, and mewed in unison, sending love at seeing them again.

“Greetyou, beloved Family,” came from the walls in a deep, resonant voice.

She glanced at Antenn, words unnecessary.

“Greetyou, beloved Mugwort-Moss Residence,” she and Antenn said in unison.

Startled silence, then a wave of love came from the one who had been the Turquoise House. “I have found my Family!” he yelled.

We found YOU
, the cats said.

“We found each other, and love,” Tiana said, curving her body into Antenn’s.

“We found each other and love,” he said, then moved behind her and held her, and a complete atmosphere of fulfillment like she’d never known enveloped her, including him and Felonerb and Pinky and the Residence. She put her arms on Antenn’s, tilting her head until she could smile into his eyes. “We are a unit, all of us. A Family, with a home forever for our children and their children that we will cherish and who will cherish us. And with our Family, we’ll make traditions to celebrate each other.”

“Yess,” Pinky vocalized, and leapt to Antenn’s shoulder.

“Yess,” Felonerb said, and sat on her foot and Antenn’s and rumbled a loud and raspy purr that echoed throughout the chamber.

“Yes.” Antenn rubbed his cheek on her hair. “This is our most important legacy, our children and our Residence, the Mugwort-Moss Residence, formerly known as the Turquoise House.”

“I
am
a Residence!” the House said. “I have my Family!”

“And we have you and each other. I love you all,” Tiana said.

“I have all that I’ve ever wanted, ever needed,” Antenn said. “I love you all.”