“Why would you want to hold him, Erin, when he doesn’t want you? So he can humiliate you again by rejecting you?”
Erin couldn’t see the owner of the voice, but she recognised the truth in her words. It reignited her anger. Gritting her teeth, she shoved Seth away and stalked across the room.
The unseen Gefallen smiled.
Then Erin saw Seth’s face; it was a picture of hurt and confusion. I hate this! Why am being so emotional, so bitchy when I love him? She frowned. Love him? Do I love him when I hardly know him?
“Your spirit has known him for almost an eternity, Erin.” This voice Erin recognised. Stephanie. She looked around to find her, but the angel had chosen not to reveal herself. “And you’ve been drawn to him from the moment you saw him at the airport.”
It was true. Try as she might, Erin couldn’t deny it. But does that mean I love him?
“That’s one of the things you’re here to find out. But, in the meantime, how about a sorry to Seth for your . . . super-charged emotional state.”
As Erin turned to apologise to Seth a flood of face-blotching, gut-wrenching sobs engulfed her. She spun away quickly, struggling to gain control of her heaving emotions.
Neither of them was sorry when Caleb, Daniel, and Jared walked into the lobby.
* * *
“It could always be worse, you know,” Jared said, laughing at Caleb’s and Daniel’s bleak faces.
“Only some smart arse who managed to persuade his doting father not to put his emblem into the Emblem Picking would ever say that on the morning of the marriage sacrifice,” Daniel replied.
“Correct. As usual, brother. Jared has no idea of what he’s talking about. No change there.” Caleb slumped against the wall. “This is hell.”
“Can’t help it that I was born with finely-honed persuasion skills,” Jared smirked. “And, by the way, Caleb, have you actually seen Sophia? Looked at her? How can marrying her be the trial you’re making it out to be?”
“Sounds like you wouldn’t object to some of her yourself, Jared,” Daniel said with the trace of a grin.
Caleb launched himself off the wall and shoved Jared hard in the chest. “Don’t even think of touching Sophia, Jared, or I swear I’ll kill you. Just because I don’t want her doesn’t mean it’s open season.”
Jared gave a derisive laugh. “You don’t want her? And I’m expected to believe that? Give me a day, Caleb, and Sophia will be mine. And then we’ll see whether you really want her or not.”
“Man!” Seth rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe it. When I looked back to before we were born, Jared and Caleb were fighting. Now it seems they’re still at it. What’s with these two guys?” He instinctively moved between them as he’d done so many times before their birth. Then he remembered how pointless it was. He stepped away as Sophia and Kezeah appeared at the door. Jared immediately slipped behind Daniel and Caleb before Sophia could see him.
The girls were holding handmade dolls made from woven palm fronds and grass. Sophia had dressed hers in a grey silk dress, identical to the one she was wearing today. Kezeah’s doll wore an elaborate leather outfit, also matching her own. None of the Shenayan boys seemed surprised at the strangeness of sixteen-and seventeen-year-olds clutching toys.
With a reluctant smile, Daniel offered Kezeah his arm.
Caleb, fully intending to ignore Sophia, was slower to move. Then his eyes fixed on her silk dress, clinging provocatively to her swaying hips, hugging her long legs. His pulse raced; he could feel a stiffening in his groin. He shook his head, struggling for control. Am I insane? She’s here for Reuel and Gideon! Don’t ever forget it.
But it was only with real effort that he managed to pull his eyes away from her body to look at her face. It was then he realised that he hadn’t even noticed it the previous evening, although they had eaten dinner together. Her face was compelling, more beautiful than any he had ever seen before. He felt his resistance crumbling. Run. Get the hell out of here, he shouted at himself. But his body refused to obey. It was as if his feet had been riveted to the floor. In self-defence, he jerked his eyes to her hair. She had piled it onto her head. Refusing to be tamed, teasing locks had slipped free, wisps framing the sides of her face. Like his body, his mind began to spiral. Waiting for my fingers to twirl them. To pull out the hairpins, one by one . . .
“What’s happened to him?” Seth moaned. “It’s like he’s lost all control.”
As if hearing Seth, Caleb clenched his fists. Dammit, what’s the matter with me? She’s a lethal bitch sent from hell to destroy me. And I traded Talitha for this! He forced his eyes to settle on Sophia’s. Poisonous blue, just like her traitorous son. He tried to look away, but she fixed her gaze on him, holding him in her thrall.
Smiling, she said, “Good morning, Caleb. I believe we have an appointment together today. Something about getting married.”
Jared chose that moment to step into view. “Good morning, my lady. I’m sure my cousin Caleb can’t wait.”
The forced confidence in Sophia’s steps faltered. “Commander! I – I had no idea–”
“You look beautiful, Sophia.” Jared’s green eyes were dancing. Then he smiled as if he’d known her for years. Before she knew what was happening, she was smiling back.
Her hold on Caleb snapped. He took a step back with relief, and said in a bemused voice, “It seems you two have already met.”
“I met her. But she didn’t really meet me.” Jared thrust his hand out to Sophia. “Jared.”
“You and Caleb are cousins?” Sophia asked, taking his hand. It was hard and callused from a life-time of handling weapons.
“Lord Rustus is my father.”
“Oh,” was all Sophia could think of to say. She turned to Caleb, but he was already heading for the door.
“Caleb,” Jared called after him. “Since when have you ever been in such a rush to offer sacrifice to the Lightning Bird? Or is marriage suddenly so appealing?”
“I know my responsibilities, Jared.”
“Well, there’s a first.”
Daniel and Kezeah followed Caleb down the passage.
Jared offered Sophia his arm. “Come. I hate to admit it, but Caleb’s right. We shouldn’t keep the great Shenayan god waiting. He might take offence and roast us.”
Sophia took his arm almost in a daze.
Seth stood rigid, fighting the Seer-Stone’s pull to follow his warring friends.
“We have to go with them, Seth.”
“Have you any idea how much I hate seeing them fighting?”
“Now you know how I felt when Caleb betrayed Talitha. But we still have to go with it.”
Reluctantly, Seth followed Erin and Jared.
Jared set a brisk pace, catching up with Caleb as he reached the high-vaulted Fortress entrance hall. The room was packed to capacity with teenagers. Oddly, each girl held a doll in her arms. The boys were all armed with a variety of lethal-looking weapons. Although they stood side by side, no one was talking.
“Strangers forced to marry,” Erin murmured, feeling her anger spike again. She roved her eyes across the faces of the girls who had been born and bred for this moment. There was none of the kiss-blowing bravado Daniel had mentioned in his discussion with Caleb, or in his private thoughts when he’d first seen Kezeah. Looking vulnerable and frightened, most of the girls kept their eyes averted. Some picked nervously at their dollies’ dresses. A few just looked sullen. Erin’s heart soared when she spotted a girl standing with her fists clenched to her side, clearly fighting to control her fury at the humiliation she faced today. She pointed her out to Seth. “So Queen Camp is obviously not universally successful. See, not even Reuel can totally crush the human spirit.”
As Caleb appeared the crowd of boys and girls parted. Then all eyes turned to Sophia. She shifted uncomfortably and whispered to Jared, “What have I done wrong?”
“It’s what you haven’t done,” he replied, also in a whisper. “Put your doll on that table.”
Without letting go of her arm, Jared walked her to a small table near the door.
Still looking confused, Sophia obeyed, and then stood back. The focus now shifted to Caleb. With a derisive snort, he swiped the doll onto the floor with his bandaged hand, then stepped out the door and disappeared. Sophia eyes almost bulged after him. Smiling broadly, Jared grabbed the doll and placed it in Sophia’s arms as if it were a baby. Someone gasped, almost as if Jared’s action was more surprising than Caleb’s. Sophia looked round and saw shock on all the watching faces. Assuming she’d done something wrong, she gave Jared a tentative smile of thanks, clutching the doll even tighter to her heart.
With a worried frown, Daniel gestured to Kezeah to put her doll on the table. Face flushed with nervousness, she obeyed. Daniel’s hand hesitated over the doll. Then he sighed, picked it up, and thrust it at Kezeah.
“Done,” Jared said with a satisfied smile. “Let’s go.” He led Sophia through the door into the crisp pre-dawn air. The rest of the teenagers trailed behind him. They quickly passed through a gate, onto the snaking path that led to the town below. In the distance they could see Caleb’s shadowy form racing down the hill – the very same hill, Seth and Erin recognised, where just hours before, they and Caleb had been slithering around on corpses.
“What was that all about, Jared?” Sophia asked.
“You mean no one bothered to explain our fascinating marriage rites to you?”
“Not the part where I get glared at by everyone for not knowing what to do with that stupid doll. And who were those people anyway?”
“You do know this is marriage season in Shenaya? Everyone you see clutching dolls and weapons are getting hooked today.”
“I don’t see you carrying any weapons.”
“And you’re not likely to either. Well, not today, at least. Any other day of the week and I’d be armed to the teeth.”
“Does that mean you’re already married?”
“Over my dead body will some stranger pick my emblem at an Emblem Picking.” He grinned at her. “Although I quite enjoyed the doll exchange.”
Not really understanding the significance of Jared’s comments, Sophia asked, “So what do the dolls mean?”
“No one told you that either?” Jared sped up, opening a wide gap between them and the followers. Satisfied that no one could overhear him, he said, “That was an abridged version of what would happen at an Emblem Picking. Once the girl picks the emblem she likes, she puts her doll on it. The poor bastard who owns the emblem has to pick it up – the doll is a fertility offering, in case you haven’t figured – and give it to back to her. Through the exchange they show their willingness to marry. That placates everyone’s consciences by creating the illusion that we have some say. Although I would hazard a guess that we’ve just witnessed the first instance in Shenaya’s long and dubious history that a boy actually refused to play along.” Jared grinned. “But, no matter. Even if Caleb doesn’t want you, I’ll accept your offer of marriage.”
Sophia paled. “But . . . I don’t understand. Why didn’t Caleb accept my doll? He’s bound by oath to marry me.”
“Maybe he doesn’t find marriage to you that appealing. Just as you aren’t that thrilled to be marrying him.” Jared’s smile broadened and his voice became mocking, “Honestly, Sophia. Coming all this way from Norin just to destroy us with the Gideon baby! I’m shocked.”
Seth and Erin felt Sophia’s already taut body stiffen. “You weren’t supposed to hear that, Jared.”
Jared laughed. “Then, my fiery Sophia, in future keep your mouth shut. It’s the only way you’ll survive this place.”
“So, who have you told about my . . . indiscretion?”
Jared squeezed her arm. “Calm yourself. Even though you think I’m a despicable arse, your secret’s safe with me. I don’t always like us much either.”
Sophia stole a look at his profile. He was no beautiful Caleb, but his strong, angular face was still enticing. She wondered desperately if she could trust him. But as she had no one else to turn to, she confided, “Jared, I have to marry Caleb today. The Overlord has made that very clear.”
“You mean he’s not worried about the Gideon baby?”
“Apparently not,” Sophia replied, aware that Jared was mocking her. “He’s in the mood for a grandson.”
Jared’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. “Sophia, that’s the kind of information you keep to yourself. If you want to survive until tomorrow lunchtime.”
“Thank you for the advice. But it doesn’t solve my problem. How do I get Caleb to marry me if I’m hanging onto you?”
Jared tightened his grip on her arm. “I think the fertility goddess will take care of that. And if that fails, there’re always your silk dresses. Those really seem to get Caleb’s tongue hanging out.”
“Not funny. And who’s the fertility goddess so I can start praying to her?”
“You really don’t know much about Shenaya, do you?”
“It hasn’t been a subject of burning interest to me.”
“How could I forget? We’re all savages and rats. Snakes too, as I recall.”
Sophia laughed quietly. “And you’re the most outrageous rat of all, Jared. Now answer my question.”
He smiled at her. “It’s Reuel’s wife Isobel who decides if you and Caleb will have babies. Or so the majority of Shenayans will tell you.”
“Reuel’s wife!” Sophia checked to see if he was joking, but no smile played around his lips. “How does that work?”
“She’s worshiped as our fertility goddess.”
“I think my chances of having a baby with Caleb have just hit zero,” Sophia said, forcing a light-heartedness she didn’t feel.
Her Gefallen brushed her angrily, making her shiver.
With a flash, Stephanie appeared between Sophia and the wraith. “Touch Sophia and you deal with me, Isobel.”
“Go, Stephanie!” Erin laughed. “You’ve got a temper on you.”
“No Erin, I’m not a bad-tempered Guardian. None of us are. I just don’t like my mother-in-law.”
“Your mother-in-law?” Seth asked, gawking at Sophia’s Gefallen.
“That black-caped thing used to be a beautiful woman named Isobel,” Stephanie replied. “She was Lucien’s mother. Hence my mother-in-law.”
“Reuel really likes to keep it in the family, doesn’t he?” Erin looked at Seth. “It makes me wonder about us? Could we be his family too?”
“Not a chance.”
For no reason Erin could explain, Seth’s offhanded answer irritated her. “Oh, so now you’re the expert on Reuel’s family?”
“No, Erin. I don’t claim to be an expert. But I honestly can’t see Gideon giving one of Reuel’s Sons custodianship of the diamond. Can you? And, as no girls have been born to Norin wives, that counts you out too.”
Erin burst into tears.
This is insane. What’s hit her? “Erin, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that you’re really sensitive right now.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She looked away, hating herself for being so childish. Stephanie touched her shoulder, and her mind calmed. She smiled an apology at Seth, but he had already walked on down the hill with Sophia and Jared. It seemed like too much effort to follow them.
“You need to be with Seth, no matter how tough things are at the moment,” Stephanie said.
“What’s the matter with me? Why am I being such a hormonal bitch? It’s just not like me.”
“You didn’t ask for help when you needed it.”
Erin tried to think back to what Stephanie was talking about, but her mind was too confused.
Stephanie grabbed her shoulders, and spun her round to face Seth’s retreating back. “He’s yours, Erin. All yours. But only if you’re willing to go and get him.” She shoved Erin gently forward.
With heavy steps, Erin started walking.
“And trust me, this awful mood of yours won’t last forever,” Stepha
nie called after her. Then she added under her breath, “At least I hope it won’t, or I might end up killing you myself.”
* * *
Erin passed through the gate leading into Cian a few moments after Seth, Sophia, and Jared. The first thing that struck her about the Outcast town was the stench. Sophia was obviously also struggling because Erin saw Jared hand her a hanky to cover her nose and mouth. Erin broke into a run, joining them in time to hear Jared explain:
“Cian is one large tannery, and curing leather stinks. It’s why we never come into town if we can help it. But today the Shadow Lord is setting the example of marriage for our Outcasts, so we just have to pretend that our noses are as inept as our town planning.”
“Your Outcasts certainly pay a high price for the privilege of seeing their masters dressed in the trophies from the hunt, if this is what they have to endure each day.”
“You’re hopeless, Sophia,” Jared said, shaking his head. “You do know that people who mouth off around here are usually fed to the vultures.”
“As I said, you’re all savages. No exceptions.” But her blue eyes were sparkling, robbing her words of their sting.
“Then I take it that I’m invited to your funeral.”
Sophia blushed. She was being dangerously indiscrete, and she knew it. But something about Jared seemed to invite her confidences – no matter how outrageous. She half turned away from him and watched as a threadbare woman emptied a urine bucket into a communal piss-pot on the side of the road. The woman saw the teenagers coming, threw her bucket down and fell onto her knees. At the same moment, the Pledged, standing guard on watchtowers surrounding the town, blew their hunting horns. Hundreds of ragged people poured out of their hovels onto the streets. Like the women, they genuflected until the teenagers had passed. Then the couples destined for the marriage altar joined the back of the procession.
The parade finally stopped at the grandest piece of architecture in the ramshackled town: a podium set at the head of a large square built from clay bricks. Here, Marlthas sat on a huge throne at the top of a three-tiered podium. Below him, on a second tier, sat his two brothers, Lords Alfred and Rustus. The bottom tier, where Caleb, Daniel, and Jared usually sat, was empty. Flaming torches set around the stadium-like benches lining two facing sides of the square cast ghostly shadows on the faces of the adult Defenders, come to witness this mass Shenayan wedding sacrifice. At the foot of the podium stood an altar in the centre of a black Maltese cross. Behind it leered a giant Lightning Bird with its usual blood-red garnet eyes.
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