�This is�� Keenan paused, as if searching for just the right word.
�Foolish?� Ezra supplied helpfully.
The smaller man snorted and gave him a weak smile. �That�s putting it mildly,� he grumbled, turning back to the turbulent water and eying them warily. Turning to Phillip, he said, �Tell me again why it�s so important that I do this?�
The lord elder frowned and shook his head. �It�s a traditional rite of passage into adulthood that all Cygmans undergo,� he stated firmly.
�Yeah,� Keenan agreed. �When they�re twenty-one years old and haven�t proven that they�re� you know� adult. When they�re still apprentice mages, who haven�t come into their full power.� Turning to Ezra, he asked, �How old am I again?�
The southerner grinned slightly. �You are turning thirty-six, Keenan,� he replied, still grinning.
The wizard turned back to the elder with raised eyebrows. �And what rank am I, Phillip?� he asked testily.
Phillip rolled his eyes. �The fact that you are a master has very little to do with this decision, Keenan. As well you know!�
�I thought the council decided that everything I went through to get to this point would count as my ordeal?� he asked impatiently.
�It did,� Phillip stated, nodding. �And that means you are counted as an adult � able to come to your throne and title ��
�So?� Keenan started, interrupting the elder.
�As far as the Shynians are concerned,� Phillip added, glaring at being interrupted. �Let�s not forget that you are half Cygman as well.�
Keenan glared darkly. �Phillip,� he growled. �It was stupid when they made you do it and it�s still stupid now they�re making me do it.�
�I can�t argue that,� the elder said softly. Raising an eyebrow, he added, �But I did do it � in the middle of January, I might add � and you�re going to do it too!�
�Can�t you just give me my adult name?� the wizard whined.
�Keenan,� Phillip snapped. Holding his forehead with one hand and trying to sound patient, he answered, �You know it doesn�t work that way.�
�Damn it,� the wizard mumbled. At his side, Ezra chuckled, earning a glare from both of the other mages.
�You�ll do fine,� Phillip said. �It doesn�t test anything physical. It�s a test of your aural strength.�
Keenan goggled at the elder and turned to Ezra. �I�m gonna die,� he moaned. Everyone knew that the wizard had an incredibly sensitive aura.
�You�ll be fine,� Phillip insisted.
**
The two days before Keenan�s thirty-sixth birthday passed quickly. When the night arrived, it found nearly everyone in North Lake waiting beside the turbulent waters of the North River for the ceremony to begin. Keenan was waiting in a small tent, apart from the crowds.
�It�s really cold out there,� he whined.
Ezra sighed and rolled his eyes. �The others will be waiting on the far bank with a blanket and a robe,� he said helpfully.
Keenan glared at the magician. �Phillip may have had to do this in January, but February isn�t much warmer and I have the spring thaw to deal with!�
Standish peered up at the moon, which was just beginning to rise. �It�s time, my lord,� Ezra stated, ignoring the complaint.
Keenan rolled his eyes and led the way out of the tent to the river. He glared at the waters, as if commanding them to still and then shed the robe, which was the only thing protecting him from the light wind blowing out of the north.
With a muttered curse, the young wizard stepped into the water. He winced at the cold, but continued across toward Phillip and the others on the far bank. The water deepened steadily until it was up to his chin. Only then did the wizard pause, his eyes widening in alarm. How deep was the water going to get? He shot a glance at the elder, who merely shrugged and waved him forward. Glaring darkly, he began swimming. His strong strokes quickly brought the west bank ever closer, until he was near enough to see Phillip�s shining blue eyes.
Keenan felt his toes touch the sandy bottom and he stood again, shivering as the cold air swept over his body. Mumbling a curse, he trudged forward and hurried up the bank to the waiting blanket.
Phillip smiled. �I told you that you�d be fine,� he whispered, pulling a thick woolen robe around his shoulders. Smiling even more, he began the words that were the final step of the ceremony. �You are no longer a child,� he said, his voice carrying to the people assembled all around, �and, as such, you leave your childhood toys and fancies behind.�
Keenan rolled his eyes. It wasn�t as though he�d been playing with any toys lately, except when entertaining Amy or Perry.
�With them you leave the name you were given as a child,� Phillip went on.
Keenan couldn�t help but smile slightly. In spite of all his complaining, he had felt that something had been missing until this moment and he could feel the magic behind Phillip�s words.
�Be Keenan no longer,� Phillip said firmly, his eyes becoming distant as Keenan�s adult name was revealed to him. Fairly beaming, he added, �Today you are Allian, which means, �little wise one� in the language of our ancestors.�
Keenan�s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in anger. �Damn it, Phillip,� he cursed in a whisper, surprising the elder. �My mother named me Allian when I was born! That�s just � that�s just wrong!�
Smirking, Phillip shrugged and turned to the crowd, saying, �Come brothers and sisters, greet this new one in our midst, Allian Meadows.�
�You�re just pleased because we both have the same name,� Keenan muttered accusingly, shivering violently and shaking his head. �Stupid ceremony tells me my �adult� name is the same as my �childhood� name!�
Phillip shrugged, still smirking. �It�s been known to happen,� he stated softly. �Although it�s rather uncommon.� Ignoring the glare Keenan was shooting him, he said, �The coronation will take place after you�ve been greeted by all your guests.�
�Followed by the wedding,� Alister put in, joining the pair.
Keenan shot the older man a glare and said, �Check me on this, Alister� When the bard nodded, he asked, �I�m an adult now, all legal and proper, right?�
�Of course,� Bertram stated, nodding in agreement.
�Fine,� Keenan said, standing up a little straighter. �We�ll have the coronation right after I shake everyone�s hand and they all congratulate me on getting to be called the name I�ve always been called, but there won�t be a wedding, because I�m already married to Elayne.�
�But that ceremony was a binding one,� Alister argued. �You�re to be king of Shynia, you can�t be bound to a woman�s whims.�
�Bite me,� Keenan hissed. Turning to the first person in the long line of guests, he smiled warmly and said, �Thank you for coming!�
Ezra chuckled from behind Alister and Phillip, both of whom looked shocked by Keenan�s outburst. �I could have warned you that he would react that way to your shared views of his previous nuptials with Lady Elayne.�
Phillip frowned. �Has a bound-spouse ever held a title before?� he asked, frowning in consternation.
Alister shook his head. �First time for everything, I guess,� he said softly.
End