"I cannot apologize enough for my part in the treaty's failure." Lysander finished his tale to Cora, with Dierdre by his side.
He did not want to tell it twice, but with Haf still gone, and days passing, he felt he could keep the Commodore's wife in suspense no longer.
Ashley and Riley sat on another bench at the table, listening raptly. Though it had been before her birth, Lysander's daughter was still shocked she'd never heard the fullness of this tale.
"The matter has long perplexed us," Admitted Cora. "You both were cordial and kind during your visit, and the treaty benefited both our peoples. My Father-in-law Jacob, may his name be remembered, spoke highly of you and of Klain after your departure."
"I regret I did not get to convey my apologies during his lifetime," Lysander hung his head. "I was under the thrall of evil, and I would change much about my life if I could."
"How we move forward is more pressing than what is past. Still, it does answer many questions for us to have this explanation." Cora said thoughtfully. "Haf, too, was approached long ago with such an offer as the one you described."
"What?" This surprised all four of the foreigners.
"He told me once that while gathering wood in the forest, a white-haired foreign woman offered him great power in exchange for his obedience. He bid her begone, that her promises were useless. She smiled and said she could be very patient. He never saw her again, and waved it off as some strange daydream or trick of the light.
"We were newly married at the time, and I was afraid he might have had heat stroke, so the memory was a strong one." Cora finished.
"Your husband is a better man than I was," Lysander lamented, but he was also worried. "I wonder how many offers she made over the years."
"Don't worry about that," Riley said. "The Void was banished because it had no more followers in this world. Duncan vowed to execute anyone who seemed at risk of following it again. There is no one in this world who follows it now."
"Can you be so confident?" Cora tilted her head. "Two years have passed since the wave that marked the end of your war. Perhaps it has gained a foothold once more."
The thought made a tense silence fall over the little group.
"Do you have particular reason to worry?" Ashley asked after a moment. She sensed something behind the older woman's question.
"Dierdre, you spoke of Lysander changing, as he was affected by the pull of the Void. Many Cetoan men have been plunged into despair after the tragedy of the giant wave that swept away so many of our women. There is much change within our people now, and not for the better. I am hoping the influx of Rhone brides will quell the unrest, but if the Void already has anyone in its grip, can they be pulled away?" If Cora was thinking of anyone in particular, she kept this to herself.
"How would it have gotten here?" Ashley reasoned. "It was banished."
"It was let in before. Once a toddler finds their way out of a crib the first time, he is rarely contained for long thereafter." Cora maintained.
"This is a lot of worry for something that we don't have any evidence for," Riley tried to break the tension. "What does the Commodore think about this? Do we know when he will be back?"
"He should have been back long before now," Cora admitted, with worry creeping into her voice. "Three days ago."
"How serious is the situation, at this point?" Deirdre cut in. She would have been highly anxious by this time, but Cora still seemed level-headed and calm.
"It is not unprecedented, except that Naomi is with them. Sometimes voyages take unexpected turns, but they should have avoided those turns with her aboard." Cora responded.
"I don't understand," Riley admitted, "But then, I know nothing about sailing. I can barely even swim." Ashley elbowed him as he couldn't resist the light quip at his own expense.
Cora sighed.
"We Cetoans have long kept the secret of our seafaring ways. We have access to the means to travel between worlds, albeit somewhat unpredictably. With the extension of the ship's time away, and no ill weather to explain the delay, I fear that they have done so now.
"If Klain, or Rhone, have any way to search for them, I would ask that you tell me."
"If you can go, why do you need our help to search for them?" Riley asked a little rudely.
"We rely upon the appearance of a rare creature to do so, and we know not to which world it will take the ship." She explained. "My understanding is that the Rhone could come and go from their other world at will."
"Those ways were destroyed, and it was only to that one world that they could travel," Lysander tried to think out some way to be of aid. "If your ship has traveled to that world, it would be impossible to find them. It is too difficult to navigate."
"I see." Cora replied. "Then there is nothing more to say on the matter."
Her tone closed the topic for the moment, despite the many questions she had sparked amongst the others.
In a hut nearby, but fully occupied with her own thoughts and deeds, Mayra prepared another bride for her wedding. Apparently there was some replacement officiant who could perform the ceremonies in Haf's absence, and one such ceremony was planned for tonight.
"I want to reiterate, as gently as I can, that there is no rush. You can stay here as long as you need to make sure you are choosing the correct man for you," Mayra counseled softly to the girl.
"More brides will be here soon," The girl, called Portia, insisted. "I can't risk Whalen finding someone else he likes better."
Mayra thought the worry was an absolutely ridiculous one. Portia seemed a sweet girl, and Whalen should count himself lucky to get a bride at all.
"You are beautiful and bright. If he turns away from you, he doesn't deserve you," Mayra said. "If you're sure you want to move forward with this today, I cannot and will not stop you. I just want to make sure that you understand you will be taken care of regardless of your choice."
"I understand. I think I'm doing the right thing." She smiled at Mayra before putting on her head and face covering. The girls had been doing their hair so that there might be a dramatic moment when it was revealed.
Mayra had not planned so far ahead for Naomi, and while her cascading curls certainly attracted attention, she had some minor suggestions for the other girls.
They talked through the ceremony's proceedings, which like Naomi's would blend the traditions of the two peoples. At nineteen, Portia considered herself old for a bride, and Mayra wondered whether that factored into her decision to be one of the first married.
Mayra's thoughts wandered back to Naomi, fretting for her safety. Why hadn't they been back days ago, on schedule? Cora had given her a strained smile and brushed her off whenever she expressed worry.
Mayra shivered, and glanced over her shoulder. Something was bothering her. Why couldn't she figure out what it was?
Her days had been so full of arranging meetings between the brides and the men who desired to meet them, making sure everyone was treated with respect, wasn't bullied or pressured in any way… the tasks were exhausting, but Mayra was determined.
And this was only the first wave. Many, many more were sure to come soon. These first several would be a litmus test for how capable she was to get everything settled well. The Bridal Hut had much space for many more, but would it be filled to the breaking point soon?
Would she feel the pressure to get the matches arranged quickly to alleviate cramped quarters and prevent potential infighting amongst the brides?
She swallowed, and then smiled into Portia's face.
"You're beautiful, and your wedding will be lovely." She paused, and put her hands on the young woman's shoulders. She'd watched Naomi tear up after being blessed by her mother and was determined to do the same for each bride that passed through her care.
"May your day be blessed, may your husband's love follow you for your whole life. May your children be many, and your joy abound. May your hard times be few, and your strength be sufficient to see them through."
"Thank you," Portia returned her smile. Though Mayra was younger by two years, she appreciated the motherly gesture.
"Let's go now, the ceremony will start soon." She patted the bride's hand and let her lead the way out of the hut.
Peter waited outside, always present lately to make sure the ladies were left alone when they wanted to be. Playfully, he offered his arm to Mayra.
"May I escort you to the wedding?"