***
Fortis returned to his father’s house that evening with yet another mysteriously delivered scroll. His father reached for it but Fortis pulled back.
“I’m sorry father,” he said. “But this one is addressed to Pulchra.”
He handed the scroll to his younger sister who opened it.
“Dearest Pulchra,
I am the one whose affection you have stirred so completely. The thought of your union with any other male is unbearable to me. I present myself as a mate worthy of your noble birth for I am a king among my people. As such, I will not steal you from your family. A fit dowry shall be paid to your father which will double his wealth. I also guarantee that you shall be treated with the dignity fitting your position. Our union must be completely legitimate with you performing your people’s prescribed rites and I performing mine. If you agree to this proposal, leave a candle burning in your window tonight. When I see it I will have the dowry delivered before sunrise. Celebrate your marriage feast the next day in your town as I do the same in mine. That evening walk toward the setting sun and you shall be brought to me.
The Lord of These Lands”
When Pulchra finished reading the scroll, the house erupted into heated discussion. The magistrate, eager to double his fortune given his recent loses, ordered Pulchra to place a candle in her window immediately. Pulchra’s mother and sister burst into tears, urging the magistrate not to sell his most beautiful child.
“It is the will of the gods, not only my father, that our sister enter this union,” Fortis’ strong voice cut through the others. “And I believe this god or whatever he may be to be of good character since he neither threatens nor insists on anything in his letter. However, we must see to it that our sister is not handed over to a vicious human prankster as father fears. Therefore, Pulchra, insist of your husband that you be allowed to visit your family after you have settled into your new home. If you have not returned to us within one week’s time, I will scour the country for you and butcher your husband with my own hands.”
Fortis’ words somewhat alleviated his mother’s and sister’s worry and so when Pulchra retired for the night she brought an extra-long candle to her room.
“What do you think he will send?” Cara, who had chosen to stay with Pulchra for the night, asked.
“What?” Pulchra asked as she set the lit candle on the windowsill.
“The dowry he promised father,” Cara said sitting on the bed and beckoned Pulchra to join her.
“I couldn’t say,” said Pulchra as she pulled the pins out of her hair and the dark brown waves fell over her shoulders and down her back. “I don’t really care.”
“If he has a large estate it will be livestock,” Cara said as she turned toward her sister and began running a comb through her loosened tresses. “But if he is the king of one of the mountain tribes it could be furs or jewelry. Though, if he has connections in the south it could be imported sculptures, or dyed linens, or maybe even spices.”
Pulchra didn’t answer. She watched the shadows cast by the candle dancing against the wall as the comb continued to scratch its way through her hair. Outside a cart rumbled down the street and a soft breeze brought the scent of blooming flowers from the garden.
“You knew this day would come,” Cara said. “Since the day we were born Father has been planning which nobleman to marry us to. I remember the night before my wedding. You combed my hair and hugged me all night long. I was so young, so nervous. But men are not so terrible, even if they can be demanding.”
“It’s not that,” Pulchra whispered. “We knew Telon. We knew his family. We knew the benefits of uniting our families; the stability it would bring.”
“I know the uncertainties of this situation make it seem more difficult-“
“But it isn’t that either,” Pulchra interrupted her sister. “When Fortis left on campaign with the troops from the capital we did not know where he was going or if he would come back. But we knew that what he was doing would benefit the nation. It would be worth whatever sacrifice, and father was so proud of him.” She turned and looked into Cara’s eyes. “He was proud of you too, when you married Telon.”
“And he is proud of you,” Cara said and leaned forward to put her arm around Pulchra’s shoulders.
“But for what?” Pulchra turned away again and the comb resumed its work. “For compensating him for damages which were my fault to begin with?”
“He doesn’t blame you for that,” Cara said gently. “To tell you the truth I was surprised there wasn’t a riot when suitors started courting you. Your beauty is legendary. Travelers come miles out of their way just for the chance to catch a glimpse of you. And I can tell you that father has always been proud of you for that.”
“But don’t you see?” Pulchra sighed. “That’s exactly why my marriage is expected to be of greater benefit to the town. If I had married a powerful noble from the capital there might have been lowered taxes, cheaper tariffs-“
“Just a little pretentious are we Miss Beautiful?” interrupted Cara.
Pulchra slouched and didn’t respond. Maybe it was pretentious of her to expect to be a great benefactress to Angustia, but both of her siblings had fulfilled their obligations and won their father’s appreciation. She couldn’t allow herself to do any less.
“Do you think father is right?” Pulchra asked. “That the one behind all this is a jealous townsmen who wants me for himself?”
“Let’s wait and see what the dowry is,” Cara replied. “If he is a simple man it will not be impressive and Fortis will deal harshly with him when he tries to deliver it. If he is a king, as he claims, then your marriage may turn out to be more beneficial than you imagined it would.”
The next morning three sacks of gold ingots and precious gems were found before the magistrate’s house. The sum of this treasure more than tripled his fortune. Fortis, who had been watching, had not seen who it was that delivered them. So the magistrate had the word spread that his youngest daughter was to be married and the entire town gathered in the marketplace for the marriage feast.
Pulchra wore a simple white dress and her head was covered by a crimson veil. She was led through the crowd clutching her mother’s arm. Many of the town’s people shouted their congratulations, but Pulchra could hear others in the crowd whisper to each other.
“I hate to see her go, what will we do without Miss Pulchra?”
“Who could have paid a dowry large enough to merit such a sudden wedding?”
“It’s all very mysterious.”
“Where is the groom anyway?”
“Is it even possible to be married without the groom present?”
Before the columns of the temple a priest waited for the bride’s arrival. Once all of the prominent citizens had arrived a yearling bull was offered on the alter outside the temple.
“A very good omen,” the priest announced after examining the bull’s liver. “The gods approve the match and predict a pleasant life for the newlyweds.”
Fresh fruit, bread, cheese, and beef were distributed to the crowd along with copious amounts of wine. The feast lasted throughout the afternoon. Everyone tried to catch a last look at the beautiful bride, but Pulchra did not look up from under her veil and she stayed close to her mother and siblings.
As the day drew to a close the magistrate led a procession which would escort Pulchra to the edge of town. Cara handed Pulchra the small bag she had packed as they stood to follow. It was customary for a new bride to bring only a few things when she first entered her husband’s house. So Pulchra was only taking a few clothes, a bag of tea leaves imported from the south, and a small statue of Tutela, her guardian deity. She clutched the bag to her chest and looked down at the road as she walked. Seeing the familiar houses and shops for what very well may be the last time would only cause her to cry.
When the procession reached the city gates the magistrate embraced his daughter and pulled the veil away from her face.
“I am going to miss you, Pulchra,” he said. “You have made me very proud.”
Pulchra smiled, unable to stop the tears rolling down her cheeks. Then she said goodbye to her mother and sister. The last to say farewell was Fortis, who whispered, “Remember what I told you. Return within a week or I will come for you, no matter where he may take you.”
Pulchra nodded, then turned towards the setting sun and walked alone away from Angustia and into the forest.
Pulchra had never left town by herself before. Walking through the forest was so different from walking in her father’s orchard. There did not seem to be any direction from which a crack or a rustle did not issue. The sun continued to set and the wind felt unusually cold for the time of year. Pulchra shivered and kept walking. She should have asked her father to let her take a horse, she had never walked this far before. But then he likely would not have parted with any of his prized stallions, even for her. Angustia had long ago disappeared from view and still she had not met anyone. She had no idea how long she had been walking. How far must she go? Pulchra sighed, wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and continued walking.
She then wondered about the husband who was waiting for her, which made her shiver again. He was obviously generous since he had paid such a large dowry, but what kind of man would steal from her father to remove his rivals? Perhaps a man suffering the sweet pains of true love, but then why had he never presented himself to her father like the others? Well he was a spirit or some kind of supernatural being, perhaps he could not enter the town. Did that mean that he was grotesque or monstrous in appearance?
“Mistress,” Pulchra jumped when she heard the voice. “My name is Tobart. My master has sent me to escort you to his home.”
Pulchra turned to see the speaker descending from a tree. He had the appearance of a cat, but when he reached the ground he stood on his hind legs and bowed his head to her. He was slightly taller than Pulchra. He wore a red robe over his orange tabby fur and a small leather bag was slung over his shoulder.
“Please follow me,” Tobart said and gestured with a human like hand. He began down a path, still walking on two legs. It took Pulchra a few seconds to collect her wits and start after him.
“Excuse me, sir,” Pulchra asked as she caught up to him.
“Please, mistress,” Tobart bowed again. “I am a humble servant in your household. There is no reason for you to address me as ‘sir’.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Pulchra said sheepishly.
“No need to apologize, mistress.”
“So tell me, Tobart,” Pulchra asked. “Does my husband also resemble…your appearance?”
“Oh no, mistress. Lord Akaru is a greater daemon while I am merely a lesser daemon. I can also tell you that he is regarded as one of the most handsome of all greater daemons.”
Pulchra was happy to learn that her husband was not a large cat, but she still was no closer to being able to picture her mysterious spouse.
Pulchra followed Tobart in silence watching his tail curl and uncurl as he walked. The cat-man was completely at home in the woods. He agilely stepped over roots and held branches out of her way. Pulchra was so enthralled by him that she did not notice the lack of light until the sun completely disappeared behind the mountainside and cast the valley into darkness. Her eyes darted about searching for the curling tail, but she could only see vague shadows.
“Tobart!” she cried and held her hands out as she took two fast steps forward. A firm hand then caught her arm, halting her panicked flight.
“I am right here, mistress,” Tobart’s calm voice came from her left. “Can you not see me?”
“No I can’t,” Pulchra panted. She reached towards the voice. When her fingers touched a moist feline nose she quickly withdrew them.
“I am so sorry, mistress,” his voice stayed calm as he took her hand and guided it to his shoulder. “I knew men’s eyes are not sharp in the dark, but I did not realize just how acute the disability is. Please forgive me, mistress. Just a moment.”
“I can’t believe you can see with such little light,” Pulchra said. She heard rustling and then with a snap a flame appeared in Tobart’s hands. He had produced a lamp and a flint from his leather bag.
“I am truly sorry, I am so embarrassed,” Tobart continued to apologize as he held the lamp out to her. “Would it be more convenient for you to hold the light or shall I hold it in front of you?”
“You can see without it?” Pulchra hesitated as she reached for the offered lamp. Tobart nodded and she took it from him, holding it before herself as he again started down the narrow path.
Pulchra noticed that Tobart held his ears somewhat lower now than he had earlier. She hoped he wasn’t too disheartened. It had been an innocent enough mistake. Perhaps she should say something, but she couldn’t seem to find the right words. So she simply watched his tail in the lamplight as they continued into the woods.
At length they came to a clearing. The lamp cast enough light for Pulcha to see that a lone tree of great girth and height stood in the center of the clearing.
“Good evening, Arb,” Tobart said approaching the tree whose boughs began to sway.
“So this is the beauty Akaru risks so much to wed,” a deep voice came from the tree. “Rather skinny if you ask me.”
“You are simply a gatekeeper,” Tobart hissed and stroked his long whiskers. “It is not fit for you to make such comments. Now open the door.”
Without another word, the trunk of the tree split down its center revealing a wooden door frame within the two halves. Beyond the frame a long, lit stairway extended upwards. Tobart stepped forward and began to climb the stairs. Pulchra swallowed hard and followed him. As she started up the stairs she caught a subtle scent of nuts. Looking over her shoulder she saw the tree fix itself back together blocking any chance of retreat. Nowhere to go but forward.
The stairway was not as tall as it first appeared and soon opened into a spacious atrium with a bubbling fountain at its center. Burning candles in niches illuminated the fine room. The walls were richly decorated with inlaid gold and silver as well as life-like paintings of mountains and streams. Pulchra understood why her husband could afford such a generous dowry, his wealth must be enormous.
“If you please, I will show you to your chambers, mistress,” Tobart took the lamp from her hand and led the way through one of the many doors leading out of the atrium, down a long corridor, and up a stairway to a landing which overlooked a beautifully arranged garden. He opened a door to reveal a room even more richly decorated than the atrium. The walls were again inlaid with gold and silver as well as fine pictures of Angustia nestled in its valley. The high ceiling was painted like the sky at sunrise and a large portion of the floor was covered with a bear skin. In the center of the room was a huge golden bed with two silver Cupids on the headboard. Closets and a vanity with a large mirror sat against the wall behind the bed. Pulchra reached into her bag and withdrew the statue of Tutela which she placed on the vanity.
“These shall be your chambermaids,” Tobart gestured to two young girls who had entered behind them. They both had a human form but with blue feathers on their heads rather than hair and long feathers like a peacock’s falling down their backs. Beneath the hem of their skirts Pulchra could also see that they had the scaled, wide toed feet of birds. “This is Celisha and Carmina. They will be able to get you anything you require. Rest well, mistress, I shall see you again in the morning.”
“Do you wish to retire, mistress?” Celisha asked as Tobart left the room. Her feathers ruffled slightly.
“First I should like to present myself to my husband,” Pulchra answered pulling off her cloak which Carmina stepped forward to take from her.”
“He is not at home at present,” Carmina said as she opened one of the closets to hang the cloak in.
“He will return late,” Celisha said. “He left instructions that you needn’t wait up for him.”
They brough
t Pulchra a white silk nightgown and put her dress in another closet. They then showed her the cord to pull to summon them, extinguished the lamps, and left her alone in the huge bed. It was not the wedding night Pulchra had anticipated. If her husband was so anxious to make her his wife, why did he delay their first meeting?
Despite the fatigue of her long walk and emotional upheaval, sleep was elusive for Pulchra. Each of the creatures she had met, with the exception of Arb, had been amiable towards her and her new household was exquisite. Surely she had been blessed with an advantageous marriage but her thoughts kept returning to questions about her husband and his mysterious absence.
As the night drew on and her thoughts continued to swirl in her head, Pulchra’s blood seemed to run cold and her heart beat fast in fear. She had the inexplicable sense of someone drawing ever closer though she neither saw nor heard anything. She lifted herself on her elbows but still seeing nothing and feeling her stomach grow nauseous as the thing grew closer, she lay back down and buried herself beneath the silk sheets. In her fear she cursed her fate for taking her from home, she cursed her family for urging her to go, and she cursed herself for agreeing.
It was at that time that Akaru returned to his home after celebrating marriage rites of his own. Knowing that his love was under the same roof produced in him a certain giddiness and he anxiously climbed the stairs to the room Pulchra was sleeping in. Tobart waited on the landing.
“Good evening, sir,” Tobart greeted his master as he stroked his whiskers.
“It is a wonderful evening, Tobart,” said Akaru putting his hands on Tobart’s shoulders. “Love has won a great victory today.”
“Sir, I must ask you not to enter,” Tobart said in a somber tone. “As you approached, I heard the mistress begin to whimper. It is as I warned you, she is fearful of the mere presence of a greater daemon.”
“Tobart, I never intended to speak with her tonight.” Though there was a longing in Akaru’s eyes Tobart felt he was being honest. “I just want to be close to her. I know it will take time for her to become accustomed to me.”
“Might I suggest, sir,” Tobart said. “That the middle of the night may not be the best time to begin the process. I shall remain close to her and someday soon perhaps you may approach.”
“You are right, of course,” Akaru said and took a step back. “My excitement has made me reckless. I shall spend the night under the stars and remain at a distance for a week’s time. Please express my affection to her though.”
“I shall, sir,” Tobart followed his master down the stairs.
Pulchra And Akaru Page 6