“And what has been joined can never be torn asunder. Not with any sword wielded by the hands of men. For this bond extends beneath skin. To the soul. Unto heaven, and the underworld.”
They turned and he held their arms up, so that the people below could see where they were bound. The cheer rolled through him, and then they turned and walked away, back into the palace.
Her hands were shaking, and she brought one over and began to fiercely undo where they were knotted.
“I… I need to get out of this. I needed to be untied.”
“Stop,” he said. “Steady yourself. Until we are alone.”
He walked with her down the corridor, and into his study, where he closed the door firmly behind them with his free hand, and she continued to attack the knot like she was an ermine caught in a hunter’s noose.
He flexed his forearm, and pulled, snapping the bonds. “There.”
“Those vows are horrendously misogynistic,” she said.
“How exactly?”
“I had to pledge my very blood to you, and you just have to fight for me.”
“Unto death, Fern. I am obligated to lay down my life for you.”
“You didn’t have to pledge your cojones to me, however. I had to promise my womb.” Color mounted high on her cheekbones. This time from embarrassment.
“The vows were for show.”
“Maybe,” she said. “But it feels like a very sacred thing to be taking lightly.”
“How can it be both misogynistic and sacred?”
“I think you’ll find that doesn’t seem to be a conflict in most of humanity.”
“You did well. You did exactly what was asked of you. And now we wait for your father to call.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t already.”
“He did. But I put him off until the last moment. And then expect…”
His phone rang. He went to the desk and picked it up. “King Octavio, it is good to hear from you.”
“What have you done?”
“I’ve married your daughter. And now things will look different between our countries.”
“Put her on the phone.”
She tilted her chin up. “I have no problem speaking to him.”
“English,” he said as he handed her the phone.
She shot him a hard glare. “Hola, Papa. As you can see, I was taken from the convent. But I think that you will agree that the solution is a fine one.”
“You cannot trust this man,” he said.
“I don’t trust him. But I do believe that we would be better served working with him rather than against him. And I did what I had to do to disconnect you from the previous dictator. You’re welcome.”
“He has not harmed you?”
The expression on her face shifted. “No. He has not. But thank you for asking.”
