Murderous Matrimony(68)

“We have to make the rounds of all the parties, you know. Each guild is planning their own event.”

“Five minutes each.” He nodded. “I have more important plans.”

A minister, dressed in fantastic Renaissance robes, approached the podium. He looked huge on the screens that were up around the Village. He was wearing an enormous sequined hat. I couldn’t imagine how he kept it on his head.

I looked closer. “That’s Merlin!”

“Yeah. Apparently, he’s a minister of the Church of the Light,” Chase explained. “Don’t worry. I have a legal wedding license in my pocket.”

“Of course you do!”

Merlin cleared his throat and began the vows. Most of them I couldn’t understand. I said ‘I do’ when the voice in my ear said to.

Chase put his ring on my finger. “I love you, Jessie. I always will.”

That wasn’t the line that he was supposed to say.

I didn’t care. “I love you, Chase. I always will.” I put my ring on his finger.

Merlin pronounced us man and wife. Fireworks were shot off of the top of the castle. Dancers from the Stage Caravan began gyrating in wild, colorful costumes that no Renaissance Faire of the past could ever claim.

The cannons were fired on the pirate ship until we were almost deafened by the sound.

Shakespeare recited the ode he’d written for us, but I’d have to ask him later what it said. His microphone wasn’t working.

Master Archer Simmons and his men shot off their flaming arrows with no problems. It was a wonderful display.

But I barely saw it. I was dying to know what inscription Chase had put in my ring. I took it off and read it: Forever and Always.

“Couldn’t you wait for that?” Chase asked.

“Have you looked at yours?”

He took off his ring. “Always and forever. Did you peek? Did the twins tell you?”

“No.” I threw myself into his arms. “Guess this was meant to be, huh?”

“I guess so. Did he say kiss the bride yet?”

“He did. I was wondering when you were going to get around to it.”

Chase kissed me, and I had the feeling that I was floating. It was amazing!

“Jessie?”

I opened my eyes and looked down. “We’re floating! What the—?”

We looked at each other as screams erupted from the crowd below us. There were frantic commands in our ears as the wedding planner tried to decide what to do. Someone suggested calling the police.

“Wanda?” Chase asked

“In the ectoplasm!” Wanda appeared beside us. “Just my wedding present to the both of you on this fine day.”

She dropped us right in the middle of the cold water of Mirror Lake. “Many happy returns!”

And so the final photo in our wedding book was that of us surfacing from the water and being dragged onboard the pirate ship.

All in all, a memorable day!