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Chapter 8 – Gathering the Seeds
Metheus
I was surprised that I enjoyed my first day in the Mogochislenian fields. At first, the villagers were suspicious of my people. The Queenspell farmers’ bodies had gone rigid as if gearing for a fight. I ignored what I saw and adopted the carefree tone Luella used on them. I knew it did not make sense to start any trouble.
My bride had dressed up in velvet for a trip to the fields. I did not know whether to laugh or cry. It was probably a jest from the gods to match a practical man like me with such a foolish woman. Then again, we were complete opposites from the very start.
However, as the afternoon drew near, I found myself warming up to her. I reasoned that it was the proximity to the soil that did that. The land had always called to me since I was young. Hot temperatures especially made me tremble with expectation. Razuku had once said that if I reacted that way to women, I would have already bedded many. He still could not understand me. What he did not know was that I struggled to understand myself.
So, the soil called upon me. My hand touched it, and I felt the heat starting to drain away. Then, I realized that Luella was not as stupid as I thought. She noticed what happened, but I played on her sense of perception. Her eyes had wavered in uncertainty, making me feel guilty all of a sudden.
I was ready to be her friend by the end of the day. One, the guilt ate at me. Luella was not as confident as people thought she was. When it came to her beauty, she was imperious, but she faltered when it came to everything else. Luella soon forgot about the soil on her dress or how more tendrils had escaped her bun, some even covering her face. For a moment there, I did see the beauty everyone was raving about, especially when she started talking to the villagers as if they were equals.
Luella thanked me profusely for the gems as if her family was not the wealthiest on her continent. She had a considerable dowry, doubled after her sister married a foreigner from even further away. I remembered how my father was insulted when the amount was offered, and yet he used that same amount to tempt me.
“Metheus, Luella has vast lands, gold, and a lot more,” he had said gravely.
“I do not care, Father. I can take care of my wife with my own blood and sweat,” was my reply.
“You do not even care about having a wife,” he had murmured sadly, shaking his head at what he thought was my shortcoming.
“Whether I want a wife or not, it seems I do not have a choice. I could at least have a choice about other aspects of the contract. I do not want her money.”
“Ah. Proud. It may just be your pride that is keeping you away from women. Well, this one is your equal, at least, Metheus. Maybe, she is the woman you have been waiting for.”
I had scoffed at what he had said.
“Father, you know that they do not expect love to factor in the marriage. They just need our help. They need everyone to know that the princess could safely marry anyone so that people could forget she once torched a lover.”
“Ah, Metheus.”
As soon as I remembered the conversation, I turned cold again. I remembered that I was here not to make friends with the princess. I was not here to make love to her. We should be clear about that from the very beginning. But was not that what she wanted? Someone safe. Someone who would willing to take on the role as a eunuch for her.
My thoughts went to her young lover. I heard he was a servant of some sort. I wondered how many times they had met before he got burned to ashes. Suddenly, I felt unwelcome anger inside of me. I could not understand it. So, I started walking a little faster, leaving Luella behind.
“Hey, why are you rushing so?” she asked breathlessly.
I did not answer. My jaw was clenched, and my eyes narrowed. Hopefully, she would get the message. I was in no mood to talk to her.
“You gave me diamonds and other jewels. Then, suddenly, you are stalking off. Did I do anything wrong? Was it a test, and I failed it by taking the jewels?” she asked, seemingly eager to please and appease.
It was not what I expected from the Luella I had heard about. The Queenspell heiress was supposed to be vain and arrogant.
“You did not do anything wrong,” I muttered.
I half-expected her to whine and ask more questions, but she had gone quiet. Soon, the temperature between us had become chilly even as the sun beat down on us. On my other side, Cora had caught up. She was up to the same foolishness as before, attempting to wipe me with a cloth. I tried my best to be gentle when I took her hand off my face. She retreated.
Luella remained quiet for the rest of the walk. Soon, we were back at the castle. She walked further and further away from me without saying goodbye. She and her lady-in-waiting had rejoined each other and had started walking to the castle. So be it, then, I thought.
I had no time to wonder if I had hurt her feelings. We were not supposed to share any of that. Tomorrow, I would be setting off to Arrowspear to gather more men, seeds, and tools. Razuku and the rest would be building little huts near the fields. Cora? There was no way I would be bringing Cora back to Prozeus. She had chosen to come here. She would stay here with the brother she said she could not let go alone. Only Emir would accompany me.
They would be working on the fields we had just gone to. They were the nearest to the castle. However, Mogochislenia had a lot to tend to. I still had not gone to its famous forests.
From what I had heard, while the fields and farm areas had dried, the forests were better preserved. I was told it was magic that kept the forests alive. However, many people were too afraid to live there. They said many creatures inhabited them: werewolves, werepanthers, and more.
“They still need help,” King Adrian had said.
I was not sure what he meant by “they.” Was he talking about the forests or their guardians?
