~An age-old war?~
"Your Grace," I asked for Altan's attention as he steered me down a long hallway of the palace.
Everything had become a blur after I heard Altan talking about ending a war by marrying me... Which meant, not only was I marrying against my own will on a planet or dimension that I didn't even know existed a couple days ago. But, I was also a part of a strategically important political marriage that would apparently end an age-old war...
"Your Grace," I said again when he didn't turn to me.
He hadn't released my hand since we were on the balcony. And now, even, he held it tightly as he guided me who-knows-where.
Finally he looked over his shoulder to me, "Is that what I told you to call me?" he asked.
I ignored his question and his stupid dimple.
Yes, he had insisted I call him by his first name. But something about it felt far too intimate, especially considered that I hadn't heard a single other person use it since I had arrived in Kiziljer.
"I-" I stuttered, unsure how to ask the question, "You know that-" I looked around at the personal guards, Dilera, and Amah that were following close behind us. "My memories" I whispered, "And I don't know anything about a war."
Altan took a sharp left and pulled me into a room that I was certain was not a part of Amah's tour. Or perhaps we had just never got to it.
"Please leave us," Altan turned to the small crowd that seemed in toe wherever we went. "Except Amah."
Amah bowed her head and Dilera and the guards exited the room silently, closing the door behind them.
"Your Grace," I was basically begging him for answers, "You have to explain this to me. I cannot take part in a political marriage if I do not understand the politics."
Finally, Altan gave me his full attention. He turned toward me and tilted his chin downward so his eyes would be level with mine. The only thing this did effectively was hood his amber eyes with his dark eyelashes and made him look ridiculously handsome. "Can you not just trust me?" he asked.
~Trust you? What the hell does that mean? It sounds like you don't want to tell me stuff.~
I shook my head, "Your Grace, I-"
"Here she is!" a man entered the room from an adjacent door. He was an older-looking fellow with a greying beard that was braided down to his bellybutton. He wore long flowing black robes and when he entered the room, he carried with him the scent of smoke and medicinal spices.
"The future duchess of Kiziljer!" he continued toward us, "Please have a seat in my chair." the old man said.
It was then that I noticed we were in an apothecary of some sort. The walls were lined with shelves of different spices, herbs, and medicines, and in the center of the room was an uncomfortable looking black chair. This was also the chair that the old man was asking me to sit in.
Suddenly, I felt far less worried about the war Altan had mentioned, and far more worried about what was going to take place in this archaic looking doctor's office. My eyes subconsciously searched the shelves for leeches, and I was the tiniest bit relieved that I didn't find any.
"Your Grace," I turned back to Altan, "If this is about the cold. I'm all better now, you healed me and I don't need-"
"It is not about the cold." Altan squeezed my hand, and I realized he was still holding it. "C'mon," he began toward the chair, taking my hand with him, "You'll have to trust me for now."
I followed reluctantly and found myself sitting in the chair with Altan on one side of me and Amah staring dead-pan at my face from across the room.
~I really get the feeling that lady doesn't like me~
"Alright," the old man came up on the other side of me and I felt my body stiffen, Altan moved his thumb across the back of my hand and I decided to focus on that feeling instead of my fear. "You can call me healer Gobi." The old man spoke in a voice that sounded even older than he looked. "We are just going to give you a checkup to see if you are fit to be our next duchess."
~I don't like the sound of that.~
Healer Gobi proceeded to pull out my tongue, tap on my teeth, look in my ears, and listen to the ways my knuckles cracked before he stepped back and deduced that I was in good health.
"Her body is healthy," he told Altan, who ran another thumb across my hand. I was grateful for the small distraction. "But I will have to use some of my healing magic to check on the state of her brain. And, lost memories?" he turned back to me as he asked this question.
My eyes widened in response, and I turned to Altan. He had told this man? And, by the looks of it, Amah as well? Or at least she showed no sign of surprise at this news.
"There is nothing to worry about M'lady," Healer Gobi said, "It'll only sting a bit and then it will be over."
"No, wait!" I spoke for the first time since I had sat in the chair, and I found myself clinging to Altan's arm.
The healer had been reaching toward me with his hands but halted at my protest. I turned back to Altan, "Your Grace, please." I pleaded, "Why do we have to do this?"
I was naturally skittish in doctors' offices. But being here where the medicine looked far less advanced than in my world and they apparently also used magic to look inside people's brains.... I.... Nope....
~I can't do it. There is no way in hell this old man was looking in my brain~
Altan looked pained at my protest, his eyebrows pinched together leaving three creases between his brows. "I have to know if it is the truth that you have no memories." he answered, "If you are lying to me...." he shook his head, "you could be a spy of the Water Mages."
"What?" I mustered, "You think I'm a spy? That I've been lying to you?"
"No, I don't think that," he sighed, "It's just for precaution."
"If I have to trust you..." I said quietly in an attempt for only him to hear, "Why can't you trust me?"
Altan released a long sigh and stared me in the eyes. Finally, he looked back to the Healer, "We won't do the scan of her brain and memories today." he said.
My hand loosened on his, as relief flooded through me. I wasn't entirely sure what a brain scan from a magical healer would show. But if it somehow showed the memories of my past life...
~How could I explain that to the duke?~
My relief only lasted for a short moment. Because shortly after the healer agreed to Altan's command, I felt a presence beside me.
Altan was there, his head leaning near to mine, and his hot breath whispering in my ear. "I will trust you." he spoke in a low growl, "But if you betray my trust, you and anyone you love will pay the price."
Every hair on my body stood at his threat. I had never heard Altan speak like that. And even though I had only known him a short while, I never imagined he was capable of being so... scary.
I nodded my head, unable to form words. And somewhat pleased that, at least, it was not my intention to betray him.
Run away before we get married? Maybe.
But, betray him? Nope.
And after that threat? Never in a million lifetimes.
"Then the only thing we have left to check is your fertility." The healer began again as if he hadn't noticed the tension in the room that was so thick one could slice it with a knife.
"My wha-"
"If you are to bear the Duke an heir." Amah spoke for the first time since we had arrived, "We need to be certain."
"That's right," the healer agreed, "So when was your last menstrual cycle?"
"Uh," I suddenly found it difficult to still be holding Altan's hand. Was this something people talked about lightly in this world? "I- I can't remember." I shook my head, "I only remember up until three days ago and I haven't had one since then."
"I see." Healer Gobi petted his long beard as he thought. "Then, Your Grace, it may be wise to postpone the wedding until we are certain that she is not barren."
Altan shook his head in response, "That won't do," he held up my hand and I realized he was gesturing for me to stand. A wave of relief followed, I had survived the checkup and hadn't seen a single leech. "I have already announced our wedding date to the public."
"But if perhaps she is barren," the healer contemplated, "Would it not be a waste to take her as a first wife? Water Mage or not."
~Yikes, this is quite the patriarchy~
"It is not for you to judge the worth of my marriage." Altan spoke dully.
The healer's mouth snapped shut at Altan's words. "Yes, Your Grace."
"For now, this is all we need from you." Altan continued and began walking toward the door. Although he paused before we left, still holding my hand he looked to the healer again, "Perhaps the next time we come to see you, it will be with news of an heir."
"That would be a delight and an honor, Your Grace."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~I feel sick... first, talk about ending a war with my marriage. Which is unwilling, by the way. And now, talk about me having a child? And not just talk about it, but implying that it would be soon?~
"Before we part," Altan brought me from my thoughts, although my stomach rumbled uncomfortably.
We were standing in my chambers alone at last, and for probably the first time the entire day I didn't feel like a million eyes were on me.
"I want to discuss our deal." Altan continued. He had let go of my hand after we entered the room and found his way to a soft bench that was at the foot of my bed. And although I was completely fine with the idea of never holding his hand again. There was something very disappointing about the feeling of him letting go of me. My body felt cold and alone.
"Our deal?" I didn't recall making any deals with him.
Altan raised an eyebrow at me, "You said you wanted to postpone the wedding because you wanted to get to know me better." he answered, "and you wanted to learn more about Ot Ulut."
"Oh." to be honest, that was just an excuse to put off the wedding. I didn't think he would actually follow through with it...
"I will find at least a few hours to spend with you each day before the wedding." he crossed his arms and spoke casually although the idea of spending time with a person just for the sake of it, appeared to seem odd to him. "In that time you can get to know me however you would like."
~However I would like?~
"I will also arrange" He went on and I tried to focus on a painting on the wall instead of the way his the veins in his arms were visible when he crossed them like that. "for a scholar of the palace to meet with you daily to help you learn more about the history of..." he paused, "Anything you want to know."
~that's right, he's probably aware that not only do I not know about Ot Ulut, but I don't know about anything from anywhere.~
"I will tell the scholar to answer all of your questions," he continued, "So feel free to ask him anything, no matter how simple." Then he paused again, "You may ask to learn about anything except the War of Old."
~The War of Old?~
"Is that the war we are ending with our marriage?" I asked.
Altan sighed, "Yes, and I promise you will learn of it, eventually. But not until after we are married."
I pinched my lips together. ~Why the hell can I not learn about this war now?~
"In the meantime, all you need to know." Altan ran his fingers through his hair, "Is that you should stay away from all other Water Mages, although I doubt there are any in 1000 li of here."
"Why?"
Altan looked like he wasn't sure if he should say it but then did anyway, "They will likely kill you before you can marry me."
My eyes widened. ~But shouldn't other Water Mages be my friends? We have the same power...~
"Don't worry," he assured me, "you'll be safe as long as you stay in the palace."