Chapter 5
Five
There were indeed many conversations to be had when Loric and I returned to the kepen.
And already we had a few small secrets between us.
Bonding us further was the realization that we were both immensely uncomfortable with the constant wishes of fertility.
We looked to each other often, knowing without needing to say more that we each were a little embarrassed by the ordeal, by the line of people waiting to congratulate us for nothing other than doing what we’d been told.
Though I must say, I felt great pleasure when my mother’s turn came, and I opened my coin-less mouth and thanked her with my own voice.
Her face full of piercings barely changed, but I knew she was bothered by the lack of constraint.
In truth, I think she enjoyed anytime I was restricted or uncomfortable.
I think it made her feel like a good mother and a devoted member of the order.
All the while, Loric sat just to my left, and I could feel the warmth of him with my shoulder.
The evening was long, and we had the same conversation with most everyone who lived or worked in the kepen.
Well, everyone except for Dayne. He had no well wishes for us, but he came to collect me in the middle of the evening when the iron in my gown was grinding against my shoulders, and my back was burning.
I turned to Loric. “I will retire with your permission, Gentlesir.”
“Of course.” He stood, offering his arm for my left hand and his hand for my right hand.
He helped me stand against the weight of my gown.
And he didn’t let go of me until Dayne was supporting me as well.
I obsessed over this as Dayne and I entered the dim corridor, the evening’s candles burnt to stumps or else burned out.
Dayne was patient with me as we walked, taking the stairs slowly, resting twice before reaching the top. I’d been wearing my gown for more than twelve hours.
“Are you happy to be going?” he said softly when we reached my door and he released me to open it.
“No,” I said without stopping to consider whether this was the truth. “Only I am happy that, since I must go, he seems a polite and gentle man.”
Dayne nodded to himself. “It does seem so.”
I thought again of how carefully Loric had helped me up, my cheeks heating.
I wanted to ask after my price, knowing one tenth would go to the order and hoping the arrangement would appease them, but it was a sore subject for Dayne, and he looked so sad already.
In a few short days, I would leave him and travel across the Isle to my new home.
We would see each other a few times each year, if at all.
My sleep was interrupted by chaos in the halls, and I rose in haste, clamouring into my weighted gown without taking even a moment to stretch the ache out of my muscles.
I thought only of the vault, of seeing that all was still protected.
But when I entered the hall, I found a servant on her way to me.
“To the courtyard, Gentlewoman. Your beloved is leaving. He wishes to see you first.” Could it be a trick of some kind?
Were they distracting me while they robbed us?
I ignored the servant, rushing as fast as possible in my weighted gown through blacked basalt corridors. My mother was at the vault. Elfrith arrived one or two heartbeats after I did.
My mother hissed. “Go see your betrothed off.”
I buried my urge to scowl. “I came to see the vault was well—” I could tell she was angry at me, perhaps still bothered I hadn’t hidden Loric’s first coin in my mouth.
“Don’t make him wait—”
I was already on my way, following the din down to the kepen’s welcoming hall and out the open door to the cold, misty courtyard where people were rushing about despite the early hour.
“Gentlewoman.” Loric approached me, walking quickly. “There has been raiding in the countryside near the Hard-Won Kepen. We will go ahead of you to clear the sea dogs out.”
In the near-morning darkness, I could make out the hurried preparation of horses and a messenger, red in the face, hastily drinking from a goblet.
“I am sorry to part so soon after our betrothal.”
The words were sweet, but I was unbothered. He was to be a grainkeeper one day. It was his role to keep the fields clear of those who would harm the harvest. He had to go.
He walked away, briefly digging from his packed bags on his horse, before returning with a small oaken lockbox.
“Should you need anything in my absence.” He presented it to me, and I knew by how he bore the weight, that it contained coin.
“This is not mine for you to guard. It is yours for you to spend. Don’t spare yourself comforts, please. ”
I took the box in my hands, suddenly embarrassed by how dry my skin must have looked. I wore no oil at all.
“My brother has left a small portion of gold for you to watch over, to deliver to us. To please our orders. Hopefully, not so much as to burden your travels. We will send word with a messenger when the threat has been cleared.”
And then he was getting on his horse. His father and the broken-nosed man and the younger boy were all mounted. And then Loric was gone, riding to the east where his family’s knights were battling without him.