Excerpt: The Grail Marriage

'You would have to know Lucas to understand what this all meant to us. It is impossible to explain. He and she together were like the king and queen of a fairytale.' She hesitated for a moment then added 'Their love was so pure and radiant that it warmed and embraced us all.'

She paused, and then continued. 'It was a very beautiful ceremony - a Grail Marriage, in which they vowed to nurture the fire of sacrifice in each other and serve humanity together. The Grail Marriage is a holy mystery. I know she wanted to tell you, but I guess she didn't get around to it before the accident.'

'Yes,' Alaric sighed and Joy saw how he bit back the pain. 'She did call me about a week before she died but I was too busy to talk to her.'

An imposing silence descended between them.

'Why do you think she killed herself the way she did?' he finally asked.

'I am not sure,' replied Joy.

Alaric sensed a note of caution in her voice, telling him that she knew more than she was saying. Perhaps if he showed her the medallion...

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