Sunset of Lantonne (25 page)

“Father, what does that have to do with me? I won’t be able to convince her.”

“Nothing at all. They have asked if I can find a way to keep the girl from causing more trouble than they can manage. As you can imagine, having a son and daughter both seeking glory in combat is unsettling to them and they wish to give the girl a reason to be more careful, as she has a penchant for getting into battles that her bonded brother knows better than to face. As such, they wish a husband for her. Asha agreed that it was a good choice for him. She cannot force the matter, but given the situation, I believe she will apply more pressure than would be normal. I certainly don’t wish to argue with her.”

Ilarra laughed lightly as she realized her father meant Raeln…then the mirth choked her as she thought the consequences through. Bonded pairs were always of opposite gender and if one married, the other did too by tradition if not by rule. They generally chose their partners carefully for that reason, since it was four lives being affected, rather than two.

“Wait…no!” she exclaimed, her skin suddenly clammy. “Father, I can find another trade. Please don’t push me to marry. I know you can suggest suitors by tradition, but please let me find my own way. Let me find a trade so Raeln isn’t forced into this.”

Her father smiled and patted the paper on the palm of his hand.

“Then do so, child,” he advised. “I will be introducing Raeln to his potential wife within the next week, when the family agrees to the meeting. If you want to avoid the gentle prodding of Asha, then you have that long to find a reason to be unsuitable for marriage at this time. Do we understand one another, Ilarra? In a week, this is entirely in Asha’s hands. She can’t make you do anything, but I can’t make her stop trying. She wants grandchildren and Raeln isn’t helping his case with this incident. Whether you wiggle your way out of this or find a better match, I don’t honestly care.”

“Yes, father.”

“Good.” He stood and patted her leg as he walked toward the desk where he normally studied. “It’s good to have you home.”

*

Over the next week, the village became Ilarra’s home once again. She settled into the daily routine with a new determination in the hopes that one of the people would offer to take her on as an apprentice for just about anything. She had helped the clothing-makers and launderers, the farmers, and even spent a day assisting several stable hands mucking stalls. None had offered to take her on to learn a trade, essentially sealing her fate. She was her father’s problem and that meant that he and Asha could “suggest” she visit the potential suitor.

The rules were simple. If Raeln agreed to marry, she would have to marry by proxy. Should she find a purpose in life, such as a profession, Raeln would be free as well. It created a drive in her that she knew was new, but she had no time to really contemplate it.

Ilarra had not found the heart to tell Raeln of her conversation with her father, nor had he asked, unsurprisingly. The topic had been avoided, and Raeln had grunted and walked away the one time Ilarra had inquired about what his mother had said to him. Given his reaction, she doubted it was much different from what her own father had said.

Twice during the week, Ilarra had checked in on Corth. The first time, he had sworn at her and tried to go after Ilarra by scrambling over the hunter that had been assigned to watch him. The next day the halfling was gone, sent back to Lantonne by her father. While her father had hoped that releasing him would save Hyeth from the king’s anger, Ilarra worried it ensured that, sooner or later, Corth would manage to have troops sent to arrest her. At least she knew the timeline now, giving her no less than three weeks before the first soldier could arrive at her doorstep. With a threat of marriage laid out before her, three weeks was an eternity.

On the seventh day, Ilarra practically ran across the village, ignoring the sting of sharp stones that bit into the soft soles of the boots Raeln had stolen for her and the snow that rolled over the tops and down to her feet. She made her way from the main well to a baker on the east end of the village. She had been carrying and fetching all morning and her hair was matted flat from sweat even in the bitter cold, but she could not bring herself to stop. If she just managed to convince him of her dedication…

“Ilarra!” called out her father’s voice, somewhere behind her.

Sliding to a stop and nearly spilling the two buckets of water that she was carrying on a pole across her shoulders overtop of her cloak, Ilarra fought back tears and struggled to find the strength to turn around. She took long deep breaths, trying to calm herself, only to see Raeln coming over from a wooded area with Asha behind him, more or less herding him in Ilarra’s direction.

Raeln looked confused, which made Ilarra feel even more sick. It was hard enough to think that she was being put through this, but having Raeln surprised by it was a betrayal Ilarra had hoped to avoid. She just could not find the strength to tell him. Given that it was his decision that would trap her, she knew she should have talked with him long before it got to this point.

“It’s time,” Ilarra’s father told her as Raeln stepped up alongside her, rubbing his shoulder where his mother had repeatedly poked him with a claw to keep him moving. “Have you two talked at all?”

Brows sinking in realization that his sister had more information than he did, Raeln stared at Ilarra. He clearly had no idea what was coming, but he was going to be mad at her for a while.

“No matter,” her father said, patting Raeln’s arm. “We’re going to meet some of the farmers at the edge of the village lands. Nice people. I think you’ll like them.”

Raeln’s eyes narrowed farther. He knew a trap and his body language told Ilarra that was exactly how he was treating this.

Asha led the way out from the middle of the village, occasionally giving Raeln an even-tempered stare that made him hurry up. Despite being two feet shorter than her son, there was no doubt that Asha was still able to give Raeln any orders she wished without any question from him at all. The whole way, Raeln kept his head low as he followed right beside her.

By contrast, Ilarra was looking all around for somewhere to run. She knew Raeln would track her down if she did take off, but she could not help herself. She had no desire to be married off and knew that Raeln was equally averse to the idea. Ilarra could certainly refuse the “suggestion,” but if Raeln was bullied into it by his mother, Ilarra would be expected to marry the brother of Raeln’s spouse sooner or later. She could probably buy herself a few years, but the questions about when and not if she would marry would eventually be too much. The whole thing was demeaning and Ilarra wanted to cry, run, and vomit…maybe all three.

The group passed through the sparse woods, following one of many paths through the snow that came and went from the village. All such paths went to the various farmsteads in the area, though given how little traveling the villagers did even between the center of the village and the farms, the paths were easy to lose. Only the fact that it had not snowed recently allowed her to see the direction they were going by watching the footprints of whoever had passed through last.

They eventually came out to another area where the trees thinned and mostly ended at the edge of the plains. Long rows of corn grew between them and a small farmhouse, where Ilarra could distantly see someone waiting for them.

Farms like this one were some of the most difficult to maintain and were largely abandoned in favor of ones farther into the trees, where raiders would have to look for them. Out here on the plains, a farm was an easy target, so anyone living on one was generally trained to fight for their lives or assist those who could.

The location certainly explained the situation her father had explained, as any children of the family—wildling or elven—would want to be able to defend themselves and their family. Both children wanting to be warriors would be a natural desire if they had the inclination to fight for their family’s safety.

From the house, an older elven woman began walking in their direction. The woman was stocky, likely having worked her own farm for decades.

“Greetings, elder,” the woman announced as they neared, walking up to Ilarra’s father and clasping his forearm. “I trust the journey was uneventful?”

“It was, in no small thanks to scouts like your children,” he answered, smiling. “Are Rolus and Ishande joining us?”

Ilarra popped her head up and stared at the woman, before looking at her father. He smiled but did not look back at her. She suddenly felt stupid for not having asked. Now, the prospect of a marriage did not seem so bad, after all.

Raeln gave Ilarra a sidelong glance that gave her no indication of his thoughts, though she felt torn between vague relief and even more panic. She had dreamt of marrying Rolus since she was a child, but having it become an obligation for both of them was hardly what she had hoped for. Worse still was the idea of Raeln feeling trapped into marrying Ishande, who still terrified Ilarra. Nonetheless, now she wanted to argue in favor of the arrangement.

Ilarra’s father turned to gesture toward Raeln and Ilarra, saying, “My bonded’s child, Raeln, and my own daughter, Ilarra. Assuming they are not inappropriate for some reason, I believe we can begin introductions between them and your children. They have met before, but it would be best if they reacquainted themselves under the current discussions.”

Glancing over, Ilarra saw Raeln’s eyes widen. He took a very slight step back, only to be shoved forward again by his mother. Raeln closed his eyes and took a deep breath, shooting a glare at Ilarra. Whether he knew beforehand exactly why they were there or not, he knew for certain now.

The farmer nodded in agreement and motioned toward the home. A second later, Rolus and Ishande appeared and began walking their way.

Both warriors had cleaned up and donned simple clothing they appeared incredibly uncomfortable in. For the first time that Ilarra had seen, neither carried weapons, though both occasionally touched their hips where a weapon should have hung. From what Ilarra could see as they got closer, they looked very nearly as nervous as she felt, with Ishande’s sagging ears and whiskers hinting at near-nausea, which was a perfect match for Raeln’s expression.

Once the two got closer, Asha stepped up and motioned for Raeln to go with Ishande. She gave Ilarra a similar look, gesturing for her to scurry off with Rolus. It was not so much a request as an order.

“Go talk with him,” her father suggested, softening Asha’s orders. “I’ll talk with his mother a while and see if this is a good idea or not. No pressure, you know that.”

Ilarra tried to believe him, then saw the way Asha was watching Raeln and Ishande. The old wolf might not be able to make Raeln marry, but Ilarra could understand if he did not say “no” to her suggestions. When Raeln did not move fast enough, Asha actually shoved him toward Ishande, who smirked and seemed to relax somewhat at Raeln’s dismay.

Snarling half-heartedly at his mother, who did not so much as blink, Raeln’s ears soon drooped and he motioned with his head toward the south. Ishande nodded and set off in that direction with Raeln several steps behind. They both gave several nervous glances back at Asha as they went, dragging their paws in the shallow snow.

“We have a hot tea inside waiting,” the older woman told those remaining, as she eyed Ilarra. “The children can go walk and join us shortly.”

Ilarra followed Rolus as he trudged off through the snow, making a slow circuit around the edges of the untouched snow in their fields. They said nothing for the first few minutes, but when they did, the conversation was short and to the point, neither comfortable with the position they found themselves in.

He asked at one point, “Did you know they were going to push for this?”

“Maybe a week ago.”

Rolus nodded and continued on, then finally stopped as they came around the last portion of the field, facing the farmhouse again with a section of the scrub trees off to their west. The mountains were visible high over the trees, but much of the horizon was lost to the snow and young evergreens.

“My sister considers him the best match in this village,” admitted Rolus, glancing off toward where Raeln and Ishande had gone. “She wants nothing to do with marriage and children yet, but if she has to marry, she would choose him over anyone else here.”