Lunamae (27 page)

We weren’t sure how long Angharad would be
gone, so we prepared ourselves for at least a few months. The clans
weren’t so heavily dispersed or populated, but you could never be
sure how long they each thought it proper for a guest to stay.
Offending a clan was something Angharad wouldn’t want to do.

Presently, I was in my home resting. I only
had three more months until I would give birth and I was
experiencing some discomfort which was mostly isolated to my back
and ankles. I did notice an increase in head pain with the changing
weather. Theron was off with Lunamae and Marcus and I didn’t want
to bother him to make me feel better.

During times like these, I wished I had my
own copy of the Text of Illumination. I knew it would take some
time for the monks to prepare a copy for me and it was not a simple
request. The Text require much funding for preparation of inks,
paper, gold leaf, and the time the monks would need to dedicate to
it instead of other tasks required of the Creator.

As I was strewn haphazardly in bed, one leg
over the side, and my head propped up with a pillow, I heard a
knock on the door. I pulled myself up from the bed and went over to
it. It was not a long walk, even though our home was quite large
given Theron’s status. It was a two-story house complete with
thatched roofs and a wooden floor (which I delighted in as it was
so much easier to clean). As our living quarters were on the second
floor, I had requested he move the bed down one level so I could be
closer to the eating area. Theron wasn’t too pleased with the
thought of sleeping downstairs, so we came to an agreement. He made
me what he called a “day” bed, which looked more like a one-person
bed, with arm rests on each side and a wooden back. It was
comfortable enough for the day. When he came home, he’d hold my
hand which seemed to ease the pain from my back and we would walk
up the stairs to our room together.

I pulled my shawl around my shoulders and
opened the door. There, standing before me, was Angharad. I gulped,
wondering why she was back so quickly and without any type of
announcement from the guards. Was this a deceptive work from a
mage? Magic was only practiced in the southern regions where the
reach of the Creator had not touched. Some women, like those who
guard Harper Wood, use a sort of magic, channeled through prayer to
the Creator. Miracles are what come of this magic.

“A word, if I may?” Angharad asked me,
welcoming herself inside the home. I bowed slightly, though I kept
my head up a little. I was skeptical. “Do not fear niece, I am
truly your aunt.”

“There was no mention of your arrival. No
sounds from the watchers,” I said to her, taking a seat on the day
bed. Typically women always stood until the chief dame sat, except
in cases of pregnancy or status. I qualified under both now.

“It was not hard to send some merchants back
into the city and give the guards notice of my return. I wanted to
speak to you specifically and alone. I am not entirely sure of my
daughter at present. I did not want her to see me with you,” the
chief dame said, sitting down next to me. “You see, the journey did
not take long because all of the clans had heard about it, that
rhyme, and came to meet with me all at once. They are unified, or
will be, if I set Lunamae to be wed. I do not take marriage
lightly. I do not like using it for power or greatness. It was the
way of the original kings and queens of Aelisonia, you know, when
Orinda was one.” I looked at her with a puzzled expression on my
face. I didn’t know what she seemed to be getting at. She seemed to
understand my puzzlement from the look on my face. “My point, dear
niece, is that Lunamae
shall
be wed. She shall be wed to a
Kyrian, to one of the families in the Dominar Delegate. I want you
to tell her. You’ve been more of a mother to her at times, and I
think she would take the news better if it came from you. I know
she has been increasingly in the company of the Kyrian emissary,
but that relationship must end. It wouldn’t be proper for a bride.
I have talked to the clans and Oydfyr seems to be the perfect time
for the unity of our peoples. Hopefully Lunamae will have enough
time to recover.”

“Is that all?” I asked Angharad. Truthfully,
I didn’t want to tell Lunamae and break her heart. It was my own
fault for allowing her affections for Marcus to continue unchecked.
I knew she wouldn’t take kindly to the news.

“There is one more thing.” Angharad nodded as
she stood, walking to the door. “We shall present Lunamae and her
groom to each other in the arranged tradition. She shall not know
who he is until he lifts the veil from her face during the
ceremony. I do not wish to spend the next several months hearing my
daughter complain about an ugly or old husband. She will marry as
it pleases the populace. Safety and the people come first.”

Angharad let herself out and my heart
dropped.
Can I imagine how I would feel in her shoes? No, I
can’t. Lunamae would most assuredly gripe in fear and
trembling.
I decided I would let Lunamae leave the rest of her
fifteen years in peace and I would tell her on the eve of her
sixteenth birthday. Much preparation would be required, and they
would need to begin in advance.
Who would manage it all?

I knew I would need Theron. He was my rock
and could always assist with sound advice when needed. I would just
have to wait until he returned home. Eclipse managed to calm my
nerves down as I sat in wait, springing forward the moment he
walked in the door.

I think Eclipse had a fondness for Theron
that surpassed his love for me even. Perhaps it was because Theron
was a healer. The cat stretched and put its paws up on Theron’s
leg, begging for a little cuddle. Theron picked him up and petted
him as he walked over to me.

“Hello, my love,” he said as he sat down and
addressed me, putting the cat on his lap. I’m sure Eclipse loved
that Theron actually
had
a lap, unlike me. “How was your
day? Did you get enough rest?”

“I tried,” I started, about to tell him about
the encounter with the chief dame. I wasn’t sure whether it would
be a good idea to let Theron know. Then again, I didn’t think
Angharad would mind. Theron and I had no secrets between us
anymore. The two secrets he did keep from me were plenty enough to
last for a lifetime. “Theron, I have something important to tell
you.”

“What is it?” he asked, his eyebrows wrenched
together in concern. “Is there something wrong?”

“Not wrong, exactly,” I told him, gulping
nervously. “The chief dame came to me today.”

“She’s back?” Theron wondered in surprise.
“Why were there no announcement?”

“I am well aware. She told me her reasons,” I
explained. “The issue is she wants Lunamae to be married to someone
in one of the Dominar families. I don’t know whether or not she has
arranged who the union will be to. I’m supposed to tell Lunamae she
can’t be seen with Marcus anymore. You know how much that would
devastate her. She has grown increasingly fond of him.”

Theron lowered his head. Of course he knew
how the two felt about each other. He’d been chaperoning them long
enough. You’d have to be completely blind to not notice. “How are
you … when will you?”

“I think sooner rather than later would be
for the best. I thought waiting until after her sixteenth birthday
would be appropriate. The wedding will not take place until Oydfyr.
There would be a lot of planning involved.”

“Don’t stress yourself out with it,” Theron
soothed, allowing me to rest my head on his chest as he moved
Eclipse off, much to the little cat’s dismay. Theron put a shoulder
around me and I calmed at his touch. “What will be, will be.”

“I suppose it’s all up to the will of the
Creator,” I said with a yawn as my eyes became increasingly more
burdened. After that, to be honest, I’m not sure if Theron said
anything else. The next time I opened my eyes it was morning and I
was in my bed on the second floor, alone.

I waddled down the stairs after waking up and
getting dressed in a maternity shift. The babe I was carrying was
most definitely growing outwards like one of the balls of string or
yarn the children play with to make bigger and bigger. I yawned and
rubbed my eyes. The smells woke me up. I could definitely tell
someone was cooking below. As I got closer, I heard the clang of
eating equipment and my face brightened at the sight of Theron
attempting to make breakfast.

“Oh no, you’re not supposed to be up,” he
said, turning around to catch my eye and blushing. “I was going to
give this to you in bed.”

“It’s the thought that counts,” I said with a
smile. He was crouched over the fireplace, a cast iron skillet was
on the spit, and I could see some eggs on it along with sliced
potatoes. I sniffed the air once again. Not only did my stomach
growl in anticipation, but I felt the babe within move. “Our
addition seems to like what you’re doing.”

“I hope
you
will like it,” Theron told
me as he stirred the contents around in the pan. “I added some
garlic to it for your heart’s health, and a little pepper. The
pepper I bought off a Chalosian merchant. I wish we could grow it
up here, but it’s too cold. Maybe I can talk to my father about
trying to grow it in Fanarion. The sea air might have some effect
on it.”

“You’re rambling,” I said, giggling. Theron
sighed as he gathered two plates and scooped out the contents of
the skillet onto each and I sat down at the table.

“You know, if you wanted to come downstairs
you should have said something to me. I would have been happy to
help you down.” He handed me a laden plate and offered me a
utensil. I took it and prodded the food hesitantly. It smelled
good, but garlic and pepper? It was a combination I had never
considered experimenting with. Then again, Theron was the
apothecary. It served him well to experiment with different
concoctions.

I tentatively drew the utensil to my mouth
and took a bite. Theron looked at me all the while, patiently
waiting for a response. I wasn’t sure how to answer with all of the
flavors in my mouth fighting for attention. They didn’t really
compete with each other, but I would get hints of different spices,
almost like I would if I were to drink a glass of wine.

“It’s wonderful!” I said, still through a
mouthful of food. Theron chuckled at me and smiled. I’m sure he
could tell I was surprised. “I might have to keep you in here
longer to teach me how you made that. We could experiment with
other foods as well.”

“Certainly, but I’d like to wait until the
baby arrives. I want to keep you off your feet as much as
possible,” Theron said as he began to put out the fire. I shrugged.
“I know you don’t like to be confined, but it’s for your own
good.”

“We have another three months!” I whined.

“Joyai can’t come soon enough for me,” Theron
said, coming over to me for a quick snuggle. I breathed in his
scent as he put his arms around me. It was a mixture of woodsmoke
and sweat and I absolutely loved it.

“Unless the babe comes earlier,” I said,
turning to him with a sly smile. It was certainly possible as I was
due, according to Theron, around the very beginning of Joyai. I
could have the child in Julna.

“I relent,” he said, letting me go and taking
my plate from the table to place in the pile that required cleaning
at the river. “Would you like to accompany me today? I have some
deliveries to make at the apothecary shop. My new apprentice is
learning well. A traditional apprenticeship is seven years and he’s
getting the accelerated version. I’ve decided to let him carry on
alone when you deliver and I’ll be available for emergencies.”

I nearly jumped out of my seat. I had not
been involved with the apothecary in years and I was eager to
assist my husband with preparations for the village. “Do you even
need to ask?”

“I suppose not.” Theron chuckled and assisted
me up as Eclipse came bolting in through the window.

“Did you enjoy your morning hunt, little
one?” I cooed to the cat as Theron scooped him up so I could give
him a little pet. “You may follow us if you’d like.”

I put on a few more layers of clothing which
Theron recommended and brought down for me from above. It was
Ebril, mildly warm, and I thought it silly. If I were to catch
anything, Theron could just heal me. He wasn’t sure on how well
he’d be able to heal the baby as he could not touch him or her
directly.

Theron offered me an arm as I left the house
with him. We walked down the dirt road through the village to go to
the apothecary shop. Even in the distance I could see shadows from
within. The business had picked up once people knew who was running
it. Some visitors didn’t believe it was one of the royal family
members from Fanarion.