Chapter 36 book 3 is live

[And so are chapters 33-35. Got sidetracked and forgot to post the excerpts here!--MLM:]

Wedding Rings for a Wedding Night :

He looked up at the freshly-tonsured Father behind the lectern, calmly paging through the Law. Was he old enough to be a Father? What if they found out years later they weren’t really married? What then! He wouldn’t have that shame on Arta for the world.

Worry got the better of him. “Excuse me,” said Fen, “how long have you been a Father?”

“I beg your pardon?” said the Father--down his nose, Fen thought. Then again, the Father was quite tall.

“You’re not a Postulant still, is all I’m wondering.”

The Father raised his eyebrows. “And what makes you think the Temple of Pagg would send a Postulant to perform a wedding?”

“I don’t know!” said Fen. “You’re just a little--young.”

“I assure you I am a Father. I admit it’s recent, but I am a Father.”

“How many weddings have you performed, Father...?”

“Father Nino. Actually,” said the Father, “this is my first.”

Wonderful, thought Fen. “You do know the right words and everything, don’t you?”

“Strangely,” said Father Nino, “they’re written down in this enormous book in front of me. Are you having second thoughts about this?”