Descending Road - THE WEDDING OF LEIL AND ANDREW by Dana W. Paxson

THE WEDDING OF LEIL AND ANDREW

1541 4D

They had the ceremony in a white-domed meeting hall off Fourth Wave Ring, just outside Sobi Zone. Skinsuits in Darko Hejj orange and black and Astran Terxil brown and blue made the ambience vibrant, edgy; forewarned by the Assayers, the City blues came in force, checked weapons, and watched everyone from the periphery of the circular room. Wall sconces of brushed steel sent shafts of bright light up and toward the center of the dome.

The couple and those standing for them spaced themselves uniformly along the edge of a circular, polished stone floor area: the wedding stage. Syntrells sounded a slow sarabande-like figure; the participants stepped a snaky path toward the center, where one Astran donro and one Hejji treiach stood waiting, dressed in flowing robes striped in their own coll colors.

The donro, the leader of the Astran women’s council for Sobi Zone, touched Leil‘s hand. The treiach, one of the three male leaders of the Darko Hejj military arm, stood beside Andrew.

Leil wore a multilayered, veil-like, crimson-tinted skinsuit that clung to her body; her waist sash, tied in the eight-knot, was white with splashes of the Hejji colors. Her hair lay tight-bound to her head in a ribbed gold clasp that reached from forehead to the back of her neck. Her eyes shone.

Andrew‘s black skinsuit hung close on his muscled frame; his waist sash was white like Leil‘s, but marked with the Astran brown and blue. His grin came and went, flashing as he saw a friend, fading as the enormity of this cross-coll marriage struck him again. He was so nervous he almost ignored Nexi‘s hiss: “Undo the clasp!”

He looked at the Astran donro, who nodded slightly, granting him permission to touch his bride. He reached up and pressed at the center of the clasp; it opened, and Leil‘s dark hair tumbled free.

“Names have no place in the Realm of the One,” the treiach intoned, his head bowed. “But we must call to the One to make us one.”

“Division has no place in the Realm of the One,” the donro responded, her hands outstretched. “So we must call to the One to make us one.”

“Not male, not female.”

“Not known, not unknown.”

“Male and female.”

“Known and unknown.”

And together, “The One.”

The two officials drew Leil and Andrew in until the four of them stood at the corners of a square, shoulders nearly touching, the bride and groom opposite each other.

“You become one now,” said the donro, looking from Leil to Andrew. “The seas of your bodies and the sweet airs of your souls mingle now.”

“You become one now,” echoed the treiach, looking at each of them. “From seas come seas, from the sweet airs comes the breath of new life.”

Said the donro, “Leil Adrili Hartrei Terxil Astrani, is this your wish, to become one with Andrew Luce Hejji Anassi?”

“Yes,” said Leil, “It is my wish to become one with Andrew Luce Hejji Anassi.”

Said the treiach, “Andrew Luce Hejji Anassi, is this your wish, to become one with Leil Adrili Hartrei Terxil Astrani?”

“Yes, it is my wish to become one with Leil Adrili Hartrei Terxil Astrani.” Andrew wondered at that moment how he could become any more one with Leil than he already had. With that thought, he glanced at the treiach, whose eyes twinkled.

“The waters of your bodies and the breezes of your nouess, your souls, now flow together,” the donro said to them. “Open your hearts to the One, now, and breathe the airs of hope.”

“Drink the waters of hope, and open your hearts to the One,” said the treiach.

Andrew and Leil took each other’s hands.

“It is time.”

They kissed, and embraced. A high, piercing note held, descended, and shook, and then the voices of the Astran women filled the dome of the hall, and the music rose up like a storm of joy. Underneath the soprano voices moved the measured notes of the Darko Hejj men.

It was done.

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	THE WEDDING OF LEIL AND ANDREW 1541 4D They had the ceremony in a white-domed meeting hall off Fourth Wave Ring, just outside Sobi Zone. Skinsuits in Darko Hejj orange and black and Astran Terxil brown and blue made the ambience vibrant, edgy; forewarned by the Assayers, the City blues came in force, checked weapons, and watched everyone from the periphery of the circular room. Wall sconces of brushed steel sent shafts of bright light up and toward the center of the dome. The couple and those standing for them spaced themselves uniformly along the edge of a circular, polished stone floor area: the wedding stage. Syntrells sounded a slow sarabande-like figure; the participants stepped a snaky path toward the center, where one Astran donro and one Hejji treiach stood waiting, dressed in flowing robes striped in their own coll colors. The donro, the leader of the Astran women’s council for Sobi Zone, touched Leil‘s hand. The treiach, one of the three male leaders of the Darko Hejj military arm, stood beside Andrew. Leil wore a multilayered, veil-like, crimson-tinted skinsuit that clung to her body; her waist sash, tied in the eight-knot, was white with splashes of the Hejji colors. Her hair lay tight-bound to her head in a ribbed gold clasp that reached from forehead to the back of her neck. Her eyes shone. Andrew‘s black skinsuit hung close on his muscled frame; his waist sash was white like Leil‘s, but marked with the Astran brown and blue. His grin came and went, flashing as he saw a friend, fading as the enormity of this cross-coll marriage struck him again. He was so nervous he almost ignored Nexi‘s hiss: “Undo the clasp!” He looked at the Astran donro, who nodded slightly, granting him permission to touch his bride. He reached up and pressed at the center of the clasp; it opened, and Leil‘s dark hair tumbled free. “Names have no place in the Realm of the One,” the treiach intoned, his head bowed. “But we must call to the One to make us one.” “Division has no place in the Realm of the One,” the donro responded, her hands outstretched. “So we must call to the One to make us one.” “Not male, not female.” “Not known, not unknown.” “Male and female.” “Known and unknown.” And together, “The One.” The two officials drew Leil and Andrew in until the four of them stood at the corners of a square, shoulders nearly touching, the bride and groom opposite each other. “You become one now,” said the donro, looking from Leil to Andrew. “The seas of your bodies and the sweet airs of your souls mingle now.” “You become one now,” echoed the treiach, looking at each of them. “From seas come seas, from the sweet airs comes the breath of new life.” Said the donro, “Leil Adrili Hartrei Terxil Astrani, is this your wish, to become one with Andrew Luce Hejji Anassi?” “Yes,” said Leil, “It is my wish to become one with Andrew Luce Hejji Anassi.” Said the treiach, “Andrew Luce Hejji Anassi, is this your wish, to become one with Leil Adrili Hartrei Terxil Astrani?” “Yes, it is my wish to become one with Leil Adrili Hartrei Terxil Astrani.” Andrew wondered at that moment how he could become any more one with Leil than he already had. With that thought, he glanced at the treiach, whose eyes twinkled. “The waters of your bodies and the breezes of your nouess, your souls, now flow together,” the donro said to them. “Open your hearts to the One, now, and breathe the airs of hope.” “Drink the waters of hope, and open your hearts to the One,” said the treiach. Andrew and Leil took each other’s hands. “It is time.” They kissed, and embraced. A high, piercing note held, descended, and shook, and then the voices of the Astran women filled the dome of the hall, and the music rose up like a storm of joy. Underneath the soprano voices moved the measured notes of the Darko Hejj men. It was done.