About Nocturne in Silver and Gold

by Molly Church
15 pages / 3600 words
Ebook zipped file contains - html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub

Corvo and Ardán are back in this stand-alone story, now living on Tiberia where Corvo's sister is heavily pregnant with Ardán's son and daughter, and as the due date approaches, Corvo and Ardán receive their license to marry.

However, Tiberian wedding customs throw up some problems of their own. Traditionally, each of the to-be spouses presents a gift to the other, a promise of their ability to provide for one another and their family to come. Ardán, legally Corvo's permanent prisoner despite their personal feelings, doesn't have anything that isn't already materially Corvo's. As a mere custom, it could be ignored, but Ardán focuses on it, and the question of what he brings to their union.

Corvo and Ardán have appeared in Brown: Grisaille in Sand and Sunset, Pentimento: Poppy and Gray: Grisaille in Stone and Sky.

Sample

It doesn't matter anymore, Corvo told himself. The license may have been debated in the highest offices of the world government, but it had been granted. That was all that mattered. Another smile spread across his face, and he took a deep breath. He'd braced himself, as much as he could, for the inevitable emotions, his and Ardán's, had they been denied, but he hadn't thought to prepare himself for winning. Having the license in his hand was a far headier experience than he'd ever expected.

He let himself back into the house, and made his way to their bedroom. Ardán was properly up now, the book he'd been reading earlier closed on the bedside table. Ardán was pulling a clean towel from their dresser, and totally, delightfully, nude. Ardán looked up as Corvo entered, and matched Corvo's wide smile with a brilliant one of his own.

"I'm getting in the shower soon. Would you care to join me?" Ardán asked.

"Yes," Corvo said, and then added, "Would you care to marry me?"

Ardán looked confused, and then excited. Corvo nodded, and handed him the license. Unexpectedly, Ardán closed Corvo in a tight hug. It took Corvo a moment to realize, as the embrace went on, that Ardán was weeping, and tears sprung to his own eyes.

It was over. They had won.