“Kya Kya,” Maezii speaks in her quick, Outland accented voice. We’ve spoken Uthilsuven on the road so she could practice, but she slips into her native Gaithean dialect when worried. “We just arrived. You said we’d stay off the roads for at least a month. It’s Sorting season and the vultures are out.”
“If we could go unnoticed or get work.” I hadn’t even had a chance to ask around about the midwifery situation in town and the outlying farms.
“What happened?”
I worry at one of the beads in a braid hanging over my shoulder. “My ex complication is complicating.”
“Sounds complicated.”
She said that with a straight face.
Ignoring her, I leave the kitchen and enter the living room, eyeballing our already unpacked belongings set on the sturdy wood frame couch. The cushions are freshly stuffed and clean, of fabric I know has to come from a City. At least we don’t have much, so packing won’t take long.
A day. They kept saying Rath would be home tomorrow. But I know them. . .they were probably lying. Stalling. He’s already here. Maybe.
Maezii follows me. “To the Sorting then?”
“We need work and protection. The towns and settlements are crawling with slavers.” Though I hadn’t seen evidence of slavers here. “We’ll be captured sooner or later.”
“So maybe staying here and dealing with bullies is safer. You say Orcs won’t kill.”
I blink. I’ll need to qualify that statement ifthat’swhat I’d said. “Iloni was worried about her mother.”
She scrunches up her face. “Fiiine, Kya. But can we at least stay the night before we head out to sell our souls? I don’t think it will work out as well as you think it will work out. Sorting. Slavers. Same same.”
I cross my arms. “It’s based on a contract.”
“Oh, spirits of my ancestors, I didn’t know you were still this naive.”
“I’m not naive. We’ll hold out for an offer we like.”
Maezii paces the room, tugging on her woven prayer necklace. “No problem. Except when youenter the Sorting, you can’t leave without a contract in hand. All anyone has to do is wait and offer terms based on your increasing desperation. Immortalssmelldesperation.”
“We’re midwives, and we’re young. We’ll get competitive terms. There will be a bidding war.”
“I said I’d follow you and I will, but I think Plan S needs a Plan BCD.”
“It’ll work out.”
“That’s why the mothers like you. Your breezy optimism.” She grimaces, letting go of the necklace. “Then we go to the Sorting. I just don't think we're going to find better options there versus sticking it out here.”
I can't bring myself to tell her I’m afraid of Rathhur, not his parents. She sees me as strong, competent, decisive. I was none of those things growing up and as soon as I see him again, everything I’ve built myself into will crumble now that I know he’s. . .waited for me.
Knowing he’s waited, didn’t repudiate our oath, has changed everything.
Knowing he considers me his by my willing oath removes every leash a Uthilsen male is forced to wear when dealing with any female. If submitting to his torture was bad before, now that we’re adults and he’s feels justified to enforce his claim?
It will be worse.
I force myself to believe it will be worse.
“I’m afraid he’ll hurt me,” I hear myself say, “but that this time, I won’t have the strength to run away.”
She throws her arms around my waist and cuddles against me. “Then we go.”
I send Maezii off for a nap while I finish repacking, not that there’s much to pack, but I want to go through Da’s belongings and write up a deed for whoever finds it first, giving over rights to the cabin. After, we need to sneak into town and replenish our supplies, see if there are any overpriced charms to be had. We’ve survived the roads this long, and it’s been some time since we’ve had to fight off anything more ominous than a Human slaver, but life and carelessness aren’t compatible.
I step outside to take in the evening air, resigned, staring up through the trees.
