solemn words. How often had he heard members of theclergy chant them during worship? Had seen them enter into a state ofsuch contentment and peace that their faces glowed with utmostfelicity. True, that sense of well-being, of oneness with somethingpowerful, almost always touched the congregation as well, which madefor the prayerful atmosphere desired in Veresian worship. The lack ofthat sense of spiritual communion was a sure indication that anofficiating cleric was not fully absorbed in what he was doing.Nonetheless,there had been times Lassen had wondered if the congregation onlyexperienced the scant spillover of the total experience. Somethingakin to tasting the dregs of a good wine but not ever imbibing thewine itself. Devout as a child who believed because he had beentaught it was so, Lassen did not doubt the otherworldly nature of therite he was about to undertake. But neither did he have anyexpectations of palpable divine intervention beyond what Rohyrthrough his special abilities might sense.Herealized Rohyr had finished the invocation and now waited silentlybehind him for a sign. Lassen swallowed hard at his lovers faiththat their plea would be visibly acknowledged. Several heartbeatspassed. A seeming eternity in the utter silence. How long would theywait? How long were they supposed to wait? Lassen did not really knowwhat to expect. How could he when soul-binding was very rarelypracticed nowadays.Formost, the infinite nature of such a bond was frightening, the fearfurther exacerbated by the diminished sense of direct divine contactthat was instrumental in lending courage and inspiring conviction tocommit to so immutable a fate. The exigencies of racial survival hadtaken its toll on what had once been a part of Deiran life: theprimal connection wrought by constant communion with the Creator thathad been a matter of course among the Naere in the early daysfollowing the evolution of the belief in one supreme being and thedevelopment of a universal creed.Soul-bindingrequired no magistrate to validate the nuptial vows as in ahandfasting or a priest to solemnize the union as with a fanemarriage. Nor was there a need for witnesses to affix theirsignatures to a document to guarantee legality. The transcendentalnature of the rite needed only the invocation of the Makerspresence and a tangible manifestation of his blessing.Acollective inhalation of breath pulled Lassen out of his musings. Heglanced back and saw the others going down on their knees once more,faces upraised in reverence. He followed their gazes and caught hisbreath.Thestar was glowing with an unearthly, purest white light. It was notreflected light but came from within. Even the metal seemed alivewith the gentle incandescence that suffused it.HolyVeres... he whispered as something washed over him. A feeling ofaffectionandconcern so profound, so encompassing, he found himself blinking backtears of gratitude and joy.Tenryonbegan to speak in the language of their Naeren foresires. The archaicspeech was used only for the most formal and solemn of religious andstate ceremonies such as a sovereign rulers coronation or aranking clerics investiture.RohyrEssendri, Lassen Idana, ye wouldst join thy selves in eternal andsacred matrimony. Rohyr, dost thou pledge thyself to this?Lassenglanced back at Rohyr. The king smiled at him with a tenderness thatalmost snatched the breath