What is there to say about the ceremony that followed?
The Axe was brought, I presume from some strongbox or other.
"Gyrfalcon, consort to my elder sister Uma. Step forward. It is time."
"Uh? Already?" Gyrfalcon took tenative steps, like a fawn freshly born from a doe. "I... I wasn't expecting this so soon, I don't have any of the traditional gifts. Here, I mean. I don't have them with me."
"Gifts? Sister Uma, what is he babbling about?"
"YOU!" she commanded, "KNEEL!"
He made great hurry to do so, a slight smile on his lips even as he lowered his forehead to the floor.
"Brother," she said in a more normal voice, "it is coming. Not tonight, but I mean to make Gyrfalcon foremost among my mates."
"Toxic Mages! Check my sister for signs of external control!" he bellowed.
"Ugh. And THIS is why I told you nothing." she complained, as the mystics blew colored powders in her direction. She glared defiantly at them.
Broccoli, broccoli, broccoli. What vegetables are in season? Hey, broccoli. What's high in iron? Hey, broccoli. What can I put on a balista to knock down wards and collapse the wall?
Okay, broccoli doesn't do that, but you know where I'm going as an author with that. I'm freaking tired of how awesome broccoli is.
So next time you have a chance, make some of that awesomeness yours; eat a piece of broccoli.
As always, thank you for your continued readership. I swear, I'm trying to get vegetables other than broccoli into the mix.