Chapter 12: The World Flipped – Nieka~
Her father's sharp question pulled her from her all-consuming rage and back to being overly aware of the stranger who had no choice but to be at her side. Suddenly she felt horribly ashamed and she felt her face grow hot. She was not one to blush but this… was beyond embarrassing it was utterly humiliating.
"What if…" Tralis faltered as he glanced sideways at his suddenly quiet audience. He leaned towards her father as if that would somehow prevent her and her mother from hearing. "Say, I was willing to marry her"…
Did she hear him correctly? She was too shocked to even sputter a disgruntled sound, but it didn't stop her face from growing even hotter.
When no one said anything he continued much faster. "She could go to the castle, work, and train like she wants; I would be able to protect her from all the rowdy young men like her mother wants. We'd get a new healer like we need and avoid potential trouble we don't need... Do you think that could work?"
"What, no!" Nieka said trying to find her feet in this new and unexpected battle. What was he even saying? It didn't make sense, did the Gods just turn the world upside down along with Tralis' sense? Wasn't he supposed to be overly cautious and rather smart? Not even an idiot would do something like what he'd just suggested.
"Why that's a delightful idea." her mother sang. Oh for the love of the Gods, what had he just started? I knew I'd regret this, but I'd never dreamed stopping for pie would turn into such a mess!
"Why? What's in it for you?" her father asked.
"Thank you!" finally someone sane.
"Just that we end this bickering, everyone gets a little of what they want and we can leave as scheduled tomorrow morning." Nieka narrowed her eyes at him, if there was one good thing about her deceitful habits it was being able to see when others were lying or being purposely misleading. As if he felt her suspicion he glanced at her and then added "And it will solve any potential problems arising with you and the men."
"It wasn't the mention of my dowry or the idea that I would have to honor and obey you that caught your interest?" She asked with one eyebrow raised.
"Well... those things don't hurt" he admitted.
"This is stupid. It's insane I'm not going to just marry you."
"Why not?" her mother asked "He's a strong and handsome young man who clearly has no problem letting you be you, following your dreams of adventure and danger. Someone who cares enough to want you to be both happy and safe. What more could you ask for?"
…God damn her logic. She felt so tricked. Had her mother been orchestrating this from the start? She may be wrong about the caring part but she was right in the sense that she could still do what she wanted to do. Isn't that what her sister had searched for? And yet amongst all her suitors, she'd never found one that would let her truly be free to do the things that she wanted.
She was right, she couldn't ask for more; but wrong too, because she didn't want more. She didn't want anyone or anything to do with marriage. "To be alone, completely free and in peace" She answered her mother.
"I'm not asking you to live with me or give up any more freedom and peace than you will by joining our army; just that you ease your mother's mind by giving me the legal right to protect you from at least the dangers you'll be facing within the confines your new home. Everyone needs a safe place." Safe... she remembered how safe she felt right before falling asleep against him on his horse.
"Fine." she surprised herself by saying "but only if we can draw up a contract that we can both agree on" She bargained. "And we don't agree on much of anything she reminded him." She wasn't giving in to anything she assured herself it would never work, they couldn't agree on anything and it would only give her time to come up with another plan to get herself out of her newest mess.
~Chapter 12: The world flipped - Takal~
"Fine," Takal said flippantly. While inside he was feeling both shocked and giddy... but something about this seemed too easy. He glanced at his cuffed wrist, the result of the last time she'd outwitted him.
"What do you mean a contract?" he asked suspiciously. He looked over at her father who hadn't said anything for or against the idea. A proud but secret, knowing smirk on his face told him he was sided with Nieka and didn't have much faith in him.
"A written pre-set agreement that we can hold each other accountable for."
"What, you don't trust me?" he joked. He was a little hurt but he was used to not trusting people so he understood. Besides, it sounded like a good idea to him.
"No," she said as if this should be obvious.
"Oh goodie! You two can work on your vows over some pie while your father packs your things and gets the priest and I work on finishing your marriage quilt. What does Takal stand for?"
"El'Takal, a jaguar god from my mother's nation. El'Takal River is my full name" he answered.
"Hey now, shouldn't I wait until they actually agree and sign their contract before I go bother the priest?" Nieka's father said. He obviously didn't think the marriage would happen.
"Oh how Fitting River and Stratum, water and earth what could possibly go better?" her mother said completely ignoring her husband.
"Great, we make mud," Nieka muttered low enough so her mother couldn't hear. He couldn't help but laugh. Nieka cracked a smile at him and her mother looked back at them with a satisfied grin.