"Well? Has my bride her own voice?" Caspian asked again.
His father shot him another sharp glare, but the younger man ignored it. This was a test, Naomi realized. Cetoan women were assertive, partners in life. If she fell into her silent, subservient nature now, she would not make the Rhone brides seem appealing to any of the men here.
"When is the wedding? I must make my preparations." Naomi put all the strength and volume she could muster into her tone.
Caspian's mouth fell open slightly. It was clear that those were not the words he expected to hear from her.
"Why don't you and your... matchmaker..." Cora tried out the title, "come to my hut. We can make the arrangements together."
Mayra smiled at the older woman graciously in consent. Naomi noticed her matchmaker couldn't resist a withering look at the groom, but his gaze was contemplatively following his bride.
If he was against it, why didn't he just veto the marriage? She would have to find a way to ask Cora as politely as she could.
Cora led the two younger women to a hut in the center of the settlement. The citizens touched their chins in respect as the wife of their leader passed. Naomi wondered what the different greetings meant, but refocused on her own marriage. Mayra would surely investigate all of these things and share her findings.
"Welcome again, please sit," Cora gestured to benches that surrounded a large table as they entered the dwelling. "I am sure you are tired and thirsty. We will have a meal together this evening." She retrieved cups filled water as she spoke and set them before the women.
Both drank deeply and gratefully. The journey had been a long one, and it was nice to be still. Naomi wondered about the strange white material the cups were made of, but didn't voice the question. There were more important things to discuss.
"If I may begin," Mayra spoke with deference and waited for Cora's permission to continue, "I think it best that we get to know the cultures involved here a little bit. It should help build a mutual respect and understanding that will be vital for all marriages that emerge from this unusual situation."
Cora nodded. "You speak wisely. I hope our emissary conveyed some basic facts about our customs. We know some of Klain, but almost nothing of Rhone."
Mayra turned to Naomi and waited for her to speak. Though it pained the Rhone woman to do so, it was necessary to secure her status as the daughter-in-law of this woman by asserting herself strongly. She took down the face covering and smiled at the woman.
"The Rhone were and are a primarily desert-dwelling people, who were trapped for generations in another world called the Darkness. Much of our culture is shaped and informed by our experiences there. The face coverings, for instance, represent in part how you are hidden from everyone, both physically and metaphorically, in the Darkness.
"It is part of our wedding ceremony that the bride and groom remove the other's covering as a symbol that they will not hide their true selves from each other. The coverings are torn into strips and braided into a rope, which is then used to bind the couple together. The groom is also to bring ingredients for the bride to cook a meal for them to feed each other, which is symbolic of their partnership in life."
Naomi hoped Cora would like that part. Although in many instances it was taken as less of a symbol of partnership and more indicative of the wife subservience to her husband as he provided for her, it was nonetheless originally intended in the spirit of working together.
Her future mother in law was pleased both by the speech and the symbols involved.
"I will send Caspian for ingredients!" She smiled warmly. "What a marvelous custom. I take it that you would like the wedding to proceed quickly? Our Cetoan customs will fit easily alongside yours. We also make use of rope to bind the couple. How fortuitous!"
"The groom, if I may say so, did not seem enthused by the idea of a rapid wedding." Mayra tried to broach the topic gently, but there was no real way to do so. "Will he exert his right of refusal?"
"He will not," Cora said. "I will speak plainly. As the second son of Haf, he was chosen as the first groom to one of these foreign brides as an example. The Rhone women will be accepted and treated well. The men of Ceto will see that their wives are not 'less than' because they were not originally of our people. Caspian will abide by his duty to help lead the people well."
"So he's only marrying Naomi out of duty?" Mayra seemed skeptical about the match.
"What else is an arranged marriage, may I ask? There is no love, yet. With time, and luck, it will grow, but one must take the step of duty first in these situations."
"I agree," Naomi said. "I do not expect love. So long as he is willing, so am I." Cora seemed an excellent woman. Surely she had raised a fine son. One could not judge the man by a few moments of having a sour attitude.
Besides, if he were to be gone for weeks or longer at a time, the relationship with Cora would surely have equal or greater importance. On the other hand, rejecting the son of Ceto's leader was sure to bring ill will on her head. No other man would likely dare take her on after that.
Her best choice was to press forward and hope for the best. Cora's eyes shined with approval.
"You are brave and steadfast, Naomi. It will be my honor to call you daughter." The woman stood to hug Naomi, who softened quickly at the motherly touch.
"Thank you," She said. "I would like to know more about what to expect as a wife and woman here among your people, and what will be expected of me."
Cora's mouth twisted as she thought. "That's a difficult question, I think, since we do not know all of the differences our cultures may have. You and Caspian will be the first such marriage, and will likely face many hurdles as you come to understand one another. I hope that you will keep me apprised so that we might smooth the transition for future brides."
"Of course," Naomi nodded.
"Perhaps," said Mayra, "It might help if you walked Naomi through a typical day? Your chores, tasks, recreations?"
"We wake with the dawn, or before," Cora began, keeping her eyes on Naomi with an evaluating stare. "A wife will cook a morning meal comprised of fish, vegetables, and fruit if it is in season, for her husband, or just for herself and any children, if he is away at sea. Of course, what you eat when he is gone is purely your own decision," She paused here for a smile.
"The morning consists of one of various chores which I'm sure are similar across many people. Clothes are washed at the mouth of the river. Fruit and vegetables that grow nearby are gathered in season, and the seeds replanted. The women who are the best swimmers arrange days of diving for abalone, oysters, and clams during appropriate weather."
Naomi blinked at the last sentence. She was not a swimmer at all and did not recognize several of the words used. Cora tilted her head in acknowledgment of this unease but continued.
"Of course, there is housekeeping. Sweeping, dusting, raising and education of children. The education is a community effort, and women take turns imparting wisdom to all the young ones. I'm sure you will have some of your people's history or knowledge to share."
That bore consideration.
"There is also tending to the animals. Caspian tends his own, but when he is gone, of course you will learn to take over that task. There are pigs, a horse, chickens, and some cattle."
Naomi's eyes widened. The Rhone did not keep large animals as a rule. She had some experience with chickens, goats, and sheep, but nothing bigger than those. At least her experience riding a horse on the journey here gave her a measure of bravery that she would not instantly die approaching such a beast.
"There is a small midday meal and a larger evening meal. We have some festivals," Her voice became oddly sad, the younger girls realized. "But we can discuss those another time. If you would like to move forward with a wedding, I think sooner might be better. The men are anxious to leave on a fishing expedition, but have delayed for the prominence of your arrival."
"I can have a wedding meal cooked by this evening if I get the ingredients soon enough." Naomi said. "Is there anything traditional to your--our--people I should add to my attire?"