by Sandra Lang
“I have just one more question for you, Akari,” Pema says. “Are you in love with my grandson?”
“I am, Matron Pema. I have been for a long time,” I say truthfully and sincerely.
“Namira, not once did I hear a valid reason as to why you would be a fit bond-mate. The entire time you spoke you only had negative things to say. As for the matter of tradition, it has come to my attention that Akari’s name was also drawn the first time we went through this. I see no reason why Tarok cannot declare Akari to be his intended. We will speak with the Shaman, Chief Narot, and your parents to decide when the binding ceremony will be held.”
“Thank you, Matrons,” Tarok and I say with respectful bows.
The Matrons begin to shuffle out of the lodge when Granny catches my arm. “Come, dear, we must now tell your parents.”
Tarok kisses my cheek as a means of saying good-bye. Granny grabs onto him before he can leave. “Where do you think you are going, young man?”
“To speak with my father and grandmother?” he says.
“You have nothing that needs to be said. They already know. This is just as much about you as it is about her. Besides, you must get used to doing things together.” Granny continues speaking but I have lost interest.
I notice the way my hand brushes against Tarok’s as we walk. Almost as if asking permission to be held. I slide my fingers against his palm and feel the rough skin. Just touching his hand in front of everyone walking about is exciting. I have wanted this for so long and now it is real. I discretely pinch myself to see if I will feel the pain. I feel it. This is not a dream. This is all happening. This… my hand wrapped with his… it is all real.
“Have you heard a word that I have said, Akari?”
“Of course, Granny. Every word.”
Tarok nudges my shoulder and winks when I look up at him.
Father, Uncle Pilar, Aros, and Reven are walking back to Sharp Stone when they catch sight us of entering the Sharp Stone House territory. Father waves and they walk up to us.
“It is good to see you, Tarok. You have not come to Sharp Stone House in quite some time,” Father says in greeting.
“It is good to see you as well, sir.”
“What brings you here?”
I place my hand upon my father’s arm and say, “Perhaps we should speak inside, Father.”
The four of us followed by my Uncle and his family enter our hut. There is little space to sit so Tarok and I stand to speak with everyone at once.
“What is the meaning of this, Akari?” Father asks looking at us expectantly.
“Father, Tarok has asked me to be his intended and I have accepted.”
Congratulations are offered from around the hut. There is question in the eyes of my Mother and Father. They offer their congratulations none the less, while asking me to explain everything when we return home. My parents, Granny, Tarok and I leave the hut soon after to go speak with Narot, Natoak and the Matrons at the lodge.
After a lot of deliberation, they decide that in a half cycle Tarok and I will go through the binding ceremony. It seems so far away and so close at the same time. I walk back home with my parents who do not speak. Granny walks at my side with a slight smile to her withered features. She gives my arm a reassuring squeeze before walking toward her hut and leaving me to my parents.
“What is the meaning of all this?” My father asks when we enter our hut.
“Tarok asked me to be his intended yesterday and I accepted him today.”
“Have you told him that you are sick?”
“Yes, Father, I have.”
“And this is his response to that?”
“Yes and no.”
My parents exchange glances. “Yes and no?”
“He said he was going to ask before I told him I was sick,” I say defensively.
My father sits onto his platform and runs his hands down his face roughly. “Do not mistake my questions for anger, Akari. I am pleased that the two of you have finally sorted through this mess.”
My mother turns to me and places her hand upon my arm. “Dear, we are happy for you. We are just worried that you are accepting him because you are afraid of what will happen in the future with your illness.”
“If anything, that was the reason I told him no. I do not want to leave everyone behind if I have to make my journey into the Spirit World early. But I want this. I have wanted this for a long time and… and I just want to be happy for once.”
“We trust in your judgment, Akari. And we will cross that road when we come to it.”