The Bond of Blood

by Kody Boye

  Here goes nothing, he thought.

  He settled himself in with practice he’d come to learn over his life in living on the top of the hill with his father, first by bracing his arms along either side of the pool, then by lowering himself in as slowly as possible, careful not to slip for fear of injuring himself. Beneath his feet, a current, swift and strong, guided fresh water from beneath the ground, though where it came from, he couldn’t necessarily be sure, though his father had once said that there were a series of underground rivers that would, one time or another, eventually stop running.

  There can’t be water forever, Patrus Eternity had once said. Even if this stream runs in a place where it shouldn’t.

  Nova shook his head.

  Sinking until all but the tip of his head was submerged, he closed his eyes and waited.

  Not a sound existed beneath the depths of the pool, save for the current that created a sound much like a man gargling water tainted with salt.

  It couldn’t have been a more peaceful situation.

  Reluctant to rise, Nova made way to push himself out of the water, but stopped when a long pair of legs greeted his vision.

  What the—

  “Oh!” the woman cried, taking a few steps back as Nova emerged from the pool. “I’m so sorry, I—”

  The rest of her words were lost, as in staring upon her face Nova found himself captivated by the one and only woman throughout the entire village he fancied. His eyes, wandering, traveled the length of her long, thin legs, to the skirt of her dress that billowed in the breeze, then up her chest Perhaps the most striking of her features, however, beyond the beauty that was her physical body, was her face. Slim, crafted with high cheekbones, a small, perky nose and dusted with freckles that branched out until they hit a strong yet fair jawline—she appeared a goddess sent from the Heavens to tempt him with her beauty, such was the portraiture of her face, though in that moment Nova could find nothing but a swell of unease rising in his chest.

  Be calm, he thought. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.

  Why he had nerves he couldn’t be sure, as in that moment he had less to be uneasy about than she did. Coming across a man unexpectedly in a pool, much less a naked one, surely had to have been an embarrassing sight

  “It’s all right,” Nova said, pulling himself out of the water only for her to blush at his nakedness. “You didn’t know anyone lived up here?”

  “No,” she said, shying her gaze away from his nudity. “I didn’t.”

  While Nova dressed, he tried his best to put on the best aura of ease as possible, but found himself even more embarrassed for the mayor’s daughter in the process. After he finished, he turned his attention first from Katarina, then to the town beyond, which had since begun to rise for the day.

  “Are you all right?” she asked, turning her head up to look at him when he was finally dressed. “I’m sorry I disturbed you. If you’d like me to leave, I can—”

  “You haven’t bothered me. I was just bathing.”

  She said nothing. Nova reached out to touch her, but stopped halfway through the process. The idea of such personal intimacy between a commoner and a woman of her status would have seemed dirty, so he chose to keep his hand at his side and instead offered a smile.

  “I should get going,” she said, turning to leave. “I’m so sorry mister—”

  “Eternity,” he said. This time, he managed to set a hand on her shoulder without feeling uneasy. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t.”

  Her words, nearly a whisper, surprised him. Normally her tone of voice was much stronger.

  Does she…

  No. He had to shake that idea from his head, otherwise it was bound to get him into trouble.

  “I’d like to take you home,” he said. “Or at least into the village, if that’s all right.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you would.”

  After readjusting his shirt across his chest, he fell into pace with her and began to walk down the steep incline that led to the primary road throughout the village. Along the way, both of them received strange looks from their fellow townspeople, but neither of them returned the gesture. Any reciprocation on their behalf would surely just cause gossip.

  “So,” Nova said, drawing his word out to get her attention. “What were you doing all the way on the other side of town?”

  “I wanted to take a walk,” the young woman said, turning to look upon him with her beautiful crystal-blue eyes. “I never intended to go through the village, but I guess I just started walking and didn’t stop until I had nowhere else to go.”

  “I do that too sometimes. Your mind gets to wandering when you walk and you don’t really pay attention to the things around you, just where you think you’re going.”

  “You’re right.” She paused. “I’m sorry, sir. I never caught your name.”

  “Novalos,” he said, lips parting to reveal a smile. “Most everyone calls me Nova though.”

  “Nova,” she nodded. Then, in a lower voice, whispered, “I’ll remember that.”

  Whether she intended for him to hear what she said he couldn’t be sure. The fact that she wished to remember his name filled him with a sense of pride that he felt he would not have been able to shake even if he tried.

  Here I go again, he thought, distracting himself from the curves of her body.

  Soon, they’d be leaving the main road and splitting off onto the country path—directly toward the ranch house that Katarina lived in with her none other than her father: the mayor of Bohren.

  “Why did you walk so far by yourself?” Nova decided to ask. “It’s dangerous this early. No one would have heard you if something happened.”

  “My father said the same thing,” she laughed. “He’s told me time and time again that he’ll send a stable hand with me should I want to walk, but I need my space sometimes too.”

  While he didn’t particularly agree with her ‘need for space,’ he could understand her point. In all his life he’d never once been under the scrutiny of an unruly father. His own adoptive father had given him free rein of the town and surrounding land. He couldn’t imagine having to be constantly watched.

  “I don’t think I could be in your situation,” Nova admitted. “I admire you.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  The blush that brightened her face tickled warmth from Nova’s chest once more.

  “Well, we’re almost here,” Katarina said, stopping near the gate where directly behind it two rows of rosebushes lined the road leading up to the house. “Thank you, Mister Nova. I appreciate your company.”

  “You don’t need to thank me. I just wanted to help.”

  He turned, ready to leave, but stopped when he felt the young woman’s hand on his back.

  “I’ll see you again?” she asked. “Right?”

  “If you’d… like.”

  She smiled. “Yes, Nova. Could you come tomorrow morning, or in the afternoon? I mean, if you’re not working.”

  “I don’t work tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon, if that’s all right with you.”

  “Yes. It’s perfectly fine.”

  Before the young woman could turn to leave, Nova took her small hand in his, lifted it to his lips, then planted a short kiss on the base of her knuckles. “Thank you, madam,” he said, then bowed.

  When he turned to leave, he swore he heard a faint ‘thank you’ beneath the wind.

  As he arrived home, a bundle of nerves and unease, he took several long, deep breaths upon entering through the front door and tried to collect himself as much as possible.

  What could it mean? he thought, running a hand over his face. Does this mean she’s interested?

  Then again, who was to say that a woman of such prestige would be interested in him? He was young, yes, but he had no money, no house in which to allow her to live and no precious artifacts to impart upon her as gifts. In looking at himself in the mirror w
hich lay no more than a foot away, he traced his face with his eyes—from his proud brow bones, his low-set cheekbones and his strong nose. That in itself was enough to make him uneasy, for he’d never considered himself exceptionally good-looking, but if Katarina truly was interested, did that mean looks could be replaced and something else could be offered instead?

  He said, he thought, slowly trying to bring back a conversation that had once taken place between him and his father.

  Patrus Eternity had once said a woman was attracted to one of many things—the way her husband looked at her, the way he showed her his personal affection, the gifts or actions he took upon himself to express his feelings and his confidence that could radiate from one’s person. He had said that a woman wanted a husband who would give her his love—a man whom, in all respects, would treat her kindly—and if one was good to her, she would stick around, if only because she as a woman would know that he would never stray from her side.

  Could, he wondered, he bring Katarina closer if he let his attraction show a little more?

  At that particular moment, he wished he had his father, or at least a married or experienced friend who could teach him how to express affection. For that he questioned whether or not the plan formulating in his brain would work.

  Upon that notice, Nova closed his eyes.

  “Oh God,” he said, looking up at the ceiling, near where no more than a dozen feet above the roof the pristine-blue sky lay. “Please have mercy on me.”

  He closed his eyes and breathed in the clean air.

  Tomorrow, he thought. I’ll know more.

  The following afternoon, he stood on the road that led up to the three-story ranch hour kicking dirt from his heels and waiting for Katarina to arrive. Anxious for her presence and even more unsure of himself, he desperately tried to peel dried mud from a shirt that was dirty beyond compare in an attempt to make himself more presentable.

  Where could she be, he thought, if not inside?

  She was likely preparing herself for the day’s excursion. Putting on her clothes, her rings, her necklace, her shoes that looked to have been polished with the spit of the Gods and arranging her hair—these were the things that surely a woman of her caliber would have done were she to go on something that could be considered a romantic outing, but who was he to wonder if her progress was slower than his own?

  She just hasn’t realized that I’m here yet, he thought. That’s all.

  He could afford to wait just a little while longer, couldn’t he?

  Convinced that time would not be of the essence, Nova continued to pace, his eyes scanning the area with the cunning he imagined wolves must have for their prey. Roses, in shades of reds and magentas, lined the path leading up to the house, while the mansion itself boasted nondescript paneling.

  Were he to have looked any closer, he imagined he would have seen Katarina preparing for their outing. Despite that, he could see no glimpse of her. Ivory curtains shrouded his view from the mayor’s secret life. He had absolutely no idea who or what could be behind those windows.

  Patience is a virtue, his father had once said.

  If it were such a virtue, then why did he feel as though his heart was ready to burst from his chest?

  Overhead, the sun began to pass across the sky, shrouded by clouds that threatened to produce rain.

  Nova sighed.

  How much longer would it take for her to come outside?

  When the sun reached halfway across the sky, he decided, with sadness in his heart, that she would not be coming today.

  She’d decided not to walk today—to not be seen with a man of such common portrayals.

  The realization began to set in.

  She’d given him a pity handout—nothing more.

  Turning, he began to make his way down the path and toward the village he called home.

  “Wait!” someone called.

  Nova turned just in time to see an older man approaching the wrought-iron gate, his pace ragged and his breath faint in and out of his chest.

  It took but a moment for him to realize that he was facing the mayor of Bohren.

  “I’m sorry,” Mayor Ketrak panted, setting a hand on his chest as if to still his frantically-beating heart. “You wouldn’t happen to be Mr. Eternity, would you?”

  “Yes,” Nova said. “I am. I’m sorry I was on your property, sir. I was just interested in the flow—”

  “My daughter said that she had plans to meet you. I would’ve come sooner, but I only just learned that a man was supposed to meet her.”

  At this, Nova swallowed a lump in his throat that seemed to grow progressively worse by the moment. The man appeared friendly enough, but that didn’t mean he had any intention of letting him slide without some form of humiliation.

  All I did was take your daughter home.

  As if given a life of its own, the lump swelled in his throat.

  Oh, no.

  Had he associated himself with a girl younger than himself? He couldn’t have. She looked to be his age, maybe even a bit older. Maybe—

  “Nova?”

  “Yes?” he asked, almost on instinct. He swallowed the second lump and straightened his posture. “Sir, I’m sorry. I had no right to—”

  “Oh no,” Ketrak laughed, sliding a hand through the iron fence to clap his shoulder. “You have nothing to worry about, my friend. I appreciate you bringing my daughter home. I’ve told her not to go out on her own, but you know girls—they never listen to what their fathers have to say.”

  “I didn’t want her to get hurt,” Nova said. “Especially since she wandered onto my property. I felt like she was my responsibility.”

  “Well, she isn’t, but I thank you regardless.”

  Ketrak smiled and squeezed the shoulder he’d placed his hand upon. The man still hadn’t revealed his reason for coming out.

  “Sir,” Nova began, “if I can ask: what reason did you come out here for?”

  He dare not ask if Katarina still had plans on accompanying him today.

  “My daughter’s fallen ill,” Ketrak said. “She wanted me to tell you that she won’t be going on her walk today.”

  “Oh.” This time, it was Nova’s turn to frown. “I’m sorry, sir—I hope I didn’t give her anything.”

  “You couldn’t have. She just came down with it this morning. There’s nothing to apologize for.” Ketrak paused. He turned to glance at the front door, then at the chains snarled around the gate. “Say… would you like to come inside?”

  “I couldn’t possibly—”

  “Please do. I know it’s not much, but I just made lunch. Come join me.”

  “Mister Mayor, I—”

  Before Nova could finish, the mayor of Bohren secured from his belt a series of keys which he used to unchain the gate. Shortly thereafter, he took Nova by the wrist and began to drag him up the road.

  “Aren’t they beautiful?” the man asked, gesturing to the flowers. “My daughter chose the roses herself. They’re her favorite.”

  “They’re beautiful,” Nova agreed. “I mean, your property—it’s quite breathtaking.”

  “Thank you. I’ve had some hard work put into it. My daughter, though, she planted all the trees and flowers when she was younger.” The mayor glanced at Nova out of the corner of his eye. “How old are you, Mister Eternity?”

  “Seventeen,” he said. “My intentions with your daughter, sir—I’ll stay away from her if you like.”

  “I understand your concern, but you have nothing to worry about. My daughter is only a year younger than yourself.”

  “I’m not a pervert. I mean…” Nova stopped in place. Ketrak did as well. “I mean, I do like your daughter, sir, but I’ll stay away if you don’t want her to be with an older man.”

  “I’d prefer her be with a man than no man. Most of the young women in the village are married off when they’re thirteen, fourteen even. I just want her to find someone she feels comfortable with.”

  “Yes s
ir. I understand.”

  “And,” Ketrak continued, “she seems quite comfortable around you.”

  Nova must’ve blushed, since Ketrak laughed and slapped his arm.

  “I’m sorry,” Nova said, reaching up to rub his neck. “I’ve never pursued anything like this before.”

  “There’s a first time for everything.” Ketrak smiled, then nodded, gesturing toward the house. “Come. I’ll feed you lunch.”

  After they ate a fine meal of freshly-killed venison, vegetable soup and bread, Nova and Ketrak sat at the long table no more than a seat apart, reminiscing over the past days and how the work in the fields seemed to be going perfectly despite the awe-inspiring temperatures.

  “Thank you for the meal,” Nova said, propping his spoon against the bowl and leaning back in his seat. “You didn’t have to do this.”

  “I know, but I wanted to.” Ketrak set a hand on Nova’s arm. “I’d let you see my daughter, but I don’t want you catching what she has.”

  “She needs her rest,” Nova agreed.

  “Of course. I’ll give her your regards.”

  Standing, Nova shook the man’s hand and started walking to the door, but stopped when he felt Ketrak grab on to the back of his shirt.

  “Come around again sometime,” the mayor said. “I’d be more than happy to have you here.”

  “I can’t intrude on your personal life, sir.”

  “You’re not intruding if I invite you, now are you?”

  “I… I guess not.”

  “See, then?”

  Nova nodded. “I understand.”

  “All right then. Come over whenever you’re bored or aren’t working. I’ve got an extra room that I reserve for guests. You’re more than welcome to sleep here.”

  “Thank you,” Nova said, once more starting for the door. “Please tell Katarina I care for her health more than some walk.”

  “I’ll be sure to, Nova. Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye, sir.”