by Varian Morn
“Before we get started... Telleya, come introduce yourself to your husband,” Rivini warmly beckoned for me.
For the first time since this all started... I was able to put on a real smile as I approached the man.
Noth didn't turn to look at me, so I had to round his servants and put myself in front of him. I gave him as formal of a curtsy as I could, as flawlessly as I could within the dress, and accompanied it with a warm smile.
They could force my fate... but they could not force his. He was beyond them. Beyond us all.
Which meant he could do it.
He could accomplish what I couldn't.
“Pleasure to meet you, Lord Noth. May the Sands bless our meeting and union,” I said, greeting the man who would soon bring down the House of Derri.
Chapter Twenty – A Groom’s Expectations
The young woman's introduction was a proper one. One done with ease and grace... but it had also made me sick to my stomach.
Jamthi and Yevin both coughed a little, and I didn't need to turn around to know that they had not done so to mask their laughter.
They had done it to conceal their displeasure.
“Telleya is a proud daughter of Derri. She is healthy and wise, and will do well by your side,” Rivini said, pleased with herself and the woman before me.
Staying seated, and keeping the cold anger that was boiling within my stomach from exploding... I took in the sight of the woman.
Healthy? Like most of her people, she looked malnourished. Not nearly as bad as some that I've seen, but the dress she wore failed to hide the side-effects of a lack of a proper diet. If anything, the fancy dress that tightly hugged her body only made it more apparent.
Quite simply, she looked frail.
I could have overlooked the frail appearance... and the hint of malnourishment... but I could not overlook the gleaming smile on her face.
It was not the smile of a daughter doing as she was told. It was not the smile of a woman scared to do anything else.
The great smile was pure, almost too pure. She looked as if she had just been given the greatest gift in the world.
In fact it wasn't too far off from a real smile. A smile that would indeed be worn by a woman as she met her husband.
And that was why it was so sickening.
Had they not told her? Did she not know that this was just a plot? A play? A political scheme to circumvent war?
Clearing my throat, I nodded and stood. I couldn't find it within myself to kneel or to grab her hand and kiss it, as I would have back home... but I still gave her a friendly bow.
“My name is Noth, I am the Commander of the Front-Line. The pleasure is mine,” I said.
Her smile grew with my greeting, and my heart sunk even lower. The poor woman didn't know, did she?
Or rather... maybe she did.
With a glance to the surrounding elders, I could see the joyous relief in their faces.
She may very well know exactly what was happening... yet still was happy.
Pride in doing her duty, to save her House, was not a farfetched idea.
There were many who found joy and acceptance in being used in such ways... as sad as it were.
Glancing behind me, to my cousin and Yevin, I noticed Yevin's stone face... and my cousin's sorrowful one.
His eyes were focused hard on the young woman, and although no one else could tell... I could see the deep sadness within them. The look was a familiar one, one that I knew well.
Yeah, cousin, she's just like you. Or at least, like what you had been at one time.
Looking back to the young woman, I held out my hand as to shake hers. “Telleya was it?”
She blinked, and stepped forward to take my hand. With a hearty shake, she nodded. “Yes, Lord Noth.”
“Noth is fine,” I said, and noticed the strange feeling of her glove. It was oddly smooth... not like cloth and leather, or silk... but more like a plant.
It was a strange feeling.
Her smile grew with my words, and I had to look to the elders because of it. Her happy face was painful to look at.
“So... what exactly is the process from here? Or rather, what do you expect of me?” I asked them.
Sitting back down, I decided to somewhat ignore the young woman. Not completely, just... enough to not hate myself or do something stupid.
I felt a little bad about it, but only until she sat down in the chair to my right. As if it was the most natural thing for her to do.
Staring at her as she smiled warmly at me, I looked back to the elders and was half tempted to order Yevin to slap them all upside their heads when I saw their smiles.
They were just as happy, if not more so, than the woman.
“Well, a formal declaration must be done by our House. To alert the city of your proposal, and our acceptance. Then we must go into motion to prepare for the wedding, and the customary joining celebration of our Houses,” Rivini said.
Gripping my chairs hand rest a little too tightly, I bit my tongue long enough to stop myself from biting their heads off.
“Wedding?” I asked.
“Oh yes... how else would anyone accept this marriage if they didn't see it themselves?” a white-haired man asked with a small laugh.
I rubbed my temple, and knew that this was going to be horrible.
“How long will that take?” I asked.
All of the elders looked at one another, and with a few whispers they all nodded. “It is custom for such a union to be done promptly, but also with proper festivities. At least seven days... A day will soon be chosen, once we get the acceptance by the other Houses.”
“Acceptance? So they could say no?” I asked.
“By no means! But they might not all agree on the day. They'll want time to prepare, as to bring gifts and properly honor the two of you,” Rivini said.
I sighed, and the elders took notice.
Several smiles disappeared, but no one said anything as I sat and pondered.
Glancing to my right, I flinched at the sight of the woman's smile. It had grown even larger.
“I hope that your customs won't stop me from trading with the other Houses during these... festivities,” I said, trying to change topic.
“Oh, by no means! In fact, we ask that you do trade with as many Houses as possible. It will make the wedding that more powerful of a tool, and will force them to accept their positions,” the white-haired man said with a gusto.
Once again I glanced to the young woman behind me, and I noticed that she didn't find his words surprising at all.
So she knew.
Why then was she smiling like that?
“Good. I plan to start immediately. Is that all then? You all will handle this wedding and stuff?” I asked.
A few of the elders looked at one another, but only Rivini spoke next. “To a degree... you will need to be seen by all, at the very least, while we prepare,” she said.
“Seen?” I gestured for her to explain.
“With your wife,” she answered, gesturing back at me.
My cousin coughed again, and this time it was to mask a laugh. He had done such a poor job of it, even the elders looked at him.
“My apologies,” he said plainly, and I could hear the smile on his face.
I noticed the young woman looking at him, and her strange smirk as she studied my cousin.
Enjoying herself, or simply glad to be a part of this, I wonder?
“Alright, so I'll walk around town with her then? Is that all?” I asked.
“Well... yes? She shall be with you from here on out, at least until the day of the wedding,” Rivini said.
Great. They were going to force her on me to such a level. I had expected many annoyances, but not one of this level...
“Is that a problem, Lord Noth?” another elder asked.
“It might be,” I said plainly.
The moment I spoke, I regretted it. Several of the elders startled, nearly jumping in their se
ats from my words.
Raising my hand, to stop them from becoming too unruly, I shook my head. “It's fine. The Front-Line enjoys guests,” I said.
That didn't calm them down, but it did keep them from shouting at me at least.
Before they could say anything, I looked to my supposed wife.
“What about you? You're alright with this?” I asked her.
Although her smile lessened enough to almost die, it didn't disappear as she blinked at my question. “Am I alright? Of course I am, Lord Noth. I shall fulfill my duty, as is my pleasure,” she said.
Course you were.
I had to look away from her, lest I grew sick, and nodded. “Fine. Anything else then? Just got to be together until the wedding?” I asked.
“Um... yes, Commander Noth. We may need you to do a few things, but nothing that strenuous. Please remember to let as many elders of the other Houses see you two together, and introduce yourself as her husband and she your wife,” Rivini said.
“Simple,” I said.
“All will go well! We shall all be pleased with the results,” the white-haired elder said.
Several others agreed, and even a few of the servants and guards voiced their support.
Well, if that was all then...
Standing from my seat, the elders of the House of Derri all became quiet. Their backs going stiff as they awaited my next move.
“Then so it shall be. I suggest you keep me apprised. Inform me immediately if something is needed, or goes astray,” I said.
I wasn't in the mood to hear them shower me with praise and thanks, so I simply turned and left. Leaving the room was easy, and no one even accompanied me as to guide me to the exit.
Either they had been too shocked at my sudden departure, or found it unnecessary.
Probably the former.
“Wasn't that a little too brunt, cousin?” Jamthi asked as we headed for the exit.
“Only a little? They're lucky if that was it,” I said, passing a guard.
The guard didn't seem bothered by my words or my leaving, but I didn't care to wait and see. I left the House of Derri faster than I had entered it to escape the heat.
“I want trade to happen immediately. Once we're back, summon the other Houses to let them know,” I said.
“I suggest starting with the House of Hombil, husband.”
Coming to an abrupt stop, I didn't even notice the hot wind trying to slap me with sand.
Turning around, I found Yevin and Jamthi with huge smiles, both standing farther away than normal...
Yevin's other soldiers were even farther behind, but they as well were all staring at me with great amusement. Or rather... they were staring the one who stood before me.
Standing in-between me and them... was a young woman. Dressed rather well, and wearing a huge smile.
My so called wife happily smiled up at me, pleased with herself as she nodded. “They're the richest, after all,” she added.
Hot sand scraped across my face as the wind picked up, and I wished it could pick me up and blow me away too.
Chapter Twenty One – A Lord’s Office
He no longer wore those fancy clothes, which was too bad.
I had wanted to study them longer. They had been some kind of strange leather, as if from a very colorful animal.
“We can start tonight, boss,” a young woman said with a salute. The Lord of the Line simply nodded as he gestured to the man next to him to take note.
The young man wrote something down on his clipboard, and I wondered if he was blood-family or just a member of his House.
He had called him his cousin, after all... but they didn't look like each other at all.
Noth didn't have such long hair, or those high cheekbones.
“Yevin, I want you and your people to watch over the loading as close as possible. I doubt anyone will try anything stupid but...” Noth stopped talking as he shrugged, as if he didn't care to continue.
The man he called Yevin was a little older than the rest I've seen so far, but he was by far the most terrifying. Even the way he silently nodded, accepting his Lord's command without a word was scary.
He was far too big to be normal. He towered over even the tallest man, and was huge on top of that.
Most of Noth's men were larger than what I was used to. Not just their height, but their weight. All men of the City of Sand were... thinner. The Linesmen were all burly. I knew how heavy a man was from having to help carry them and flip them over when tending wounds... but the thought of having to carry one of the Linesmen was daunting to say the least.
Even the warriors in the city, the ones who should be larger, were smaller than these Linesmen. The obvious reason was the lack of proper food... but something told me it was more than that.
This was a Line. It traveled everywhere.
It was very likely that the Lord of this Line only employed the strongest and fiercest warriors that he found on his travels. It made sense, and it was something I would do if I was in his position.
“Jamthi, I want everyone on shift-call,” Noth said.
“People will work double-shift without even being told,” Jamthi said with a strange smirk.
“I expect that. So make sure people get their proper rest,” Noth said.
“How many slaves do you posses, husband?” I asked.
Of the three men, only the one I had spoken to didn't look at me. He kept his eyes on the groups of people working around us.
“There are no slaves on the Front-Line, young miss,” Jamthi said to me.
I frowned at the young man's answer, and walked closer to him. “Are there not? Who then works for you? All those people call you master, do they not?” I asked, pointing to the many dozens of people nearby.
“He is the Commander,” the scary man said, his deep voice causing me to step back a little. It was the first time I had heard him speak, and now I wasn't sure what to think of him. Maybe he wasn't a man at all, but some kind of beast...
“Don't scare her, Yevin,” Jamthi said, glaring at him, and then he gestured to Noth. “My cousin is the owner of the Front-Line. So in a sense, yes... he is our master. But we are not his slaves. We are employees, family, friends,” he explained for me.
While the young man gave me a smile, explaining so gently, I studied the giant Yevin who had gone silent.
“Are you a warrior?” I asked him.
The giant man finally looked down at me, but he said nothing.
“Yevin is the leader of our security. He's also Noth's only friend,” Jamthi said with his happy voice.
Glancing to Noth, as to verify his cousin's statement, I wasn't too surprised to see the Lord of the Front-Line glare at the young man. “Hear that Yevin? You're my only friend. It's too bad really; I have so much treasure to share with my friends... if only I had more.”
Jamthi's face became pale as he gave off an aghast expression. “Oh my! How could I forget my long lost cousin! Oh how I've missed you! My dearest friend, I fear I had been suffering from such a dreaded amnesia!”
With quite the theatrics, I quickly realized that the young man was simply playing around. It was quite a sight, and he was fascinating to watch. He was very expressive, and wasn't afraid to make a fool of himself.
“We're family,” Yevin's deep voice said to me. His voice, like his body, was great. It somehow made him seem even bigger... Which made his smile all the more stranger. Since it was the tiniest of smiles I've ever seen.
Somehow it made me smile back, even though he still scared me. “So you're all part of the same House then,” I said, understanding.
“Well... no, not really,” Jamthi said, but didn't seem too concerned in describing it further.
“Commander! I've been informed a leader of the House of Hombil will be here soon,” a young woman said, all the while running up to us.
She wore a strange suit, which looked like it gleamed a little in the light... as if it was wet. Maybe it was.
&nbs
p; “Thank you. Let Sarley know I'll meet them in my office, have her bring them when they arrive,” Noth said to the woman.
She quickly saluted, then ran off back into the crowd.
“Yevin,” Noth said without looking at the giant of a man. And without saying a word, or asking what his Lord wanted from him... he began to walk away.
Watching him walk, I wondered how he did so with such silence. He was so big... surely he should be making more noise?
When I had been young, there had still been large creatures in the farms. Creatures big enough that even their footsteps could be felt through the ground. He was not as big as some of them, but he was close.
Maybe it was because we were in the Line, and not outside walking on the sand, or stone.
“That didn't take long,” Jamthi said.
“The others will show up soon too, even without being summoned,” I said.
Hopefully the House of Markith will be one of the last to come...
“Don't you just love it when business goes well?” Jamthi asked.
“You call this going well?” Noth asked back, then turned and walked away.
For a moment I was unsure of what he meant, but I quickly understood he had meant me.
He had yet to say anything, but it was clear that the Lord of this Line... This Commander Noth, was upset. And it was because of me.
Or rather, my presence. I don't think he had expected or planned on the elders forcing me upon him. At least not so directly.
His annoyed temperament told me he originally thought he only had to play along with the wedding only at a distance. He probably never even expected to meet me in person.
“For us, yes it is going well. Who cares if it does for you or not?” Jamthi asked, following his Lord.
I quickly followed them, even though it was difficult. They walked quickly... too quickly. I was still dressed in the formal gown, and it was difficult to move in it.
“One of these days you'll all regret being so ungrateful,” Noth said.
Usually such a warning, being spoken by the head of the Household, carried great weight. It made people freeze in their tracks, and become terrified.
Strangely, here on the Line... it was only met with laughter.