“Are you happy to be going?”he said softly when we reached my door and he released me to open it.
“No,” I said without stopping to consider whether this was the truth.“Only I am happy that, since I must go, he seems a polite and gentle man.”
Dayne nodded to himself.“It does seem so.”
I thought again of how carefully Loric had helped me up, my cheeks heating.I wanted to ask after my price, knowing one tenth would go to the order and hoping the arrangement would appease them, but it was a sore subject for Dayne, and he looked so sad already.In a few short days, I would leave him and travel across the Isle to my new home.
We would see each other a few times each year, if at all.
My sleep was interrupted by chaos in the halls, and I rose in haste, clamouring into my weighted gown without taking even a moment to stretch the ache out of my muscles.I thought only of the vault, of seeing that all was still protected.But when I entered the hall, I found a servant on her way to me.“To the courtyard, Gentlewoman.Your beloved is leaving.He wishes to see you first.”Could it be a trick of some kind?Were they distracting me while they robbed us?
I ignored the servant, rushing as fast as possible in my weighted gown through blacked basalt corridors.My mother was at the vault.Elfrith arrived one or two heartbeats after I did.
My mother hissed.“Go see your betrothed off.”
I buried my urge to scowl.“I came to see the vault was well—” I could tell she was angry at me, perhaps still bothered I hadn’t hidden Loric’s first coin in my mouth.
“Don’t make him wait?—”
I was already on my way, following the din down to the kepen’s welcoming hall and out the open door to the cold, misty courtyard where people were rushing about despite the early hour.
“Gentlewoman.”Loric approached me, walking quickly.“There has been raiding in the countryside near the Hard-Won Kepen.We will go ahead of you to clear the sea dogs out.”
In the near-morning darkness, I could make out the hurried preparation of horses and a messenger, red in the face, hastily drinking from a goblet.
“I am sorry to part so soon after our betrothal.”
The words were sweet, but I was unbothered.He was to be a grainkeeper one day.It was his role to keep the fields clear of those who would harm the harvest.He had to go.
He walked away, briefly digging from his packed bags on his horse, before returning with a small oaken lockbox.“Should you need anything in my absence.”He presented it to me, and I knew by how he bore the weight, that it contained coin.“This is not mine for you to guard.It is yours for you to spend.Don’t spare yourself comforts, please.”
I took the box in my hands, suddenly embarrassed by how dry my skin must have looked.I wore no oil at all.
“My brother has left a small portion of gold for you to watch over, to deliver to us.To please our orders.Hopefully, not so much as to burden your travels.We will send word with a messenger when the threat has been cleared.”
And then he was getting on his horse.His father and the broken-nosed man and the younger boy were all mounted.And then Loric was gone, riding to the east where his family’s knights were battling without him.
Six
Nineteen days after Loric had rushed home to make battle with the sea dogs, my own travels were set to begin.A carriage had been packed with my few belongings—order members were not to indulge in too many possessions because collecting and caring for possessions could be a distraction from duty.I had tools for my work, a cloak, two day dresses, and a new nightdress.It was made of a particularly smooth fabric, pale blue, and much shorter than I was used to.It would do nothing to keep me warm in the night, which was intended.I would be more apt to press against my new husband for warmth.More apt to have a womb full of future goldkeepers or grainkeepers.
My family and all those who lived and worked in the kepen gathered in the misty courtyard to see me off as my personal chest—the gold Loric had gifted me—was lifted into the carriage.The other gold—the gold I was meant to guard and return to him—was nestled in the hundreds of pockets in my gown.
I kissed baby Dinah on the top of her head before she began fussing, and my mother took her back.
My mother’s face was stern.“If they used the old locks with a second pick hole?—”
I nearly rolled my eyes.“I’ll know what to do.”
Her lips pressed into a straight line as she took her free hand and set it on the back of my head, pulling me closer to kiss my crown.The gesture was cold and lacking entirely of feeling.
My father was next, and it was his face that turned the morning into a challenge.There was water in his eyes, not falling, just resting there.He hugged me almost too tightly, digging the gold in my gown into my skin.
Elfrith, Hamon, and Emery likewise hugged me tight, tight enough to hurt and tug at my heart.
“You will be the most beautiful bride in all the Isle,” Elfrith said.
My stomach dropped a little.She would be our mother’s sole focus now that I was leaving.As annoying as she was, I wouldn’t wish that on her.
