“You didn’t think that Sophia and I were just going to help you talk about your feelings, did you?” Liam said. “It’s time to put the work in.”
Sophia sighed, like she thought her husband was being too harsh. “What Liam means to say is the Hawkei believe in learning through experience. We aren’t talk therapists. We’re religious counselors, and in Hawkei culture, the counselors place mentees into real-world situations they must figure their way out of. It’s the only way to learn where you stand.”
Ava sighed. “Well, if we must. Might as well get it over with.”
I didn’t want to climb another mountain, but I’d do it for Ava a hundred times over. I didn’t know what Liam had in mind, but whatever it was, I was up for the challenge.
I stood to follow. “Then let’s get started.”
Liam led us to a carriage outside the palace. I helped Ava inside before placing her all-terrain wheelchair in a spot at the back. The driver cracked the reins, and Oberi stuck his head out the window as we made our way across Ilamanthe.
The sounds of the city quieted as we came upon a large inland lake. The air was different here— cool with the breeze from the lake, but without the scent of saltwater from the ocean.
We emerged from the carriage, and Liam led us to a rowboat tied to a dock. I helped Ava in, along with her chair, which Liam promised would not be too heavy to capsize the boat, because he’d be using his Toaqua magic to steady us. The old man still made me row, though.
“So what trial we’re going through, exactly?” I wondered as I rowed into deeper water.
“There’s a small island up ahead,” Liam explained. “We’re dropping you and Ava off there. How you get back to the mainland is up to you.”
“So you’re taking the boat and want us to… what? Build a raft?” I said.
“We aren’t going to leave you empty-handed,” Sophia assured me. “The alone time should do the two of you good, and once you come to understand each other, you’ll find your way off the island together.”
“How long is that going to take?” I wondered.
“That’s completely up to the two of you,” Liam said. “The quicker the two of you decide to work together, the faster you can get off the island. Hopefully by then you’ll be ready to get Ava’s stuff back.”
I furrowed my brow. “What stuff?”
“Daddy!” Ava protested. “You weren’t supposed to say anything!”
“For fuck’s sake, Ava. You didn’t tell him?” Liam demanded.
“No, but thanks so much for letting it slip,” Ava said harshly.
“Well, I ain’t gonna tell him, so might as well spit it out before we get to the island,” Liam grumped. “Sweetheart, you’ve been wearing that same dress for weeks now, and I’ve never seen you repeat an outfit twice. It’s odd. If I have to break the rules a little to get you to move your ass, I’m going to. This is part of your counseling, too.”
“I didn’t want him to know! I wasn’t ready!” Ava burst.
“You weren’t going to be ready until the ancestors came down and told you to do it. You need a push, so I’m throwing you off the cliff.”
My rowing faltered. “What is all this about?”
“Nothing,” Ava mumbled, but I was certain that wasn’t the truth.
I stopped rowing for a second. “Ava, we can’t work this out if we’re still lying to each other. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
I dared to lightly place my hand upon hers. “There’s no reason for us to be doing any of this unless you want to get vulnerable with me. You can tell me anything. I promise I won’t freak out.”
Ava’s words bit with frustration, and the edge of tears. “I guess there’s no hiding it now. In Hawkei tradition, when a woman wanted to divorce a man, she moved all of her things out of his home. If he wanted to bring her back, he would climb a mountain to show her the hardships he was willing to go through for her. If she accepted his offer and wanted to live with him again, the woman would give up all her personal belongings, signifying her trust in him to provide for her. To prove himself, the man would have to go get her belongings back.”
So much for me promising not to freak out. “You moved out… and I climbed that mountain. So that means?—”
“I gave up all my stuff,” she finished for me. “Everything I had, all that was valuable to me. My clothes, my jewelry, my wedding dress, I donated everything. All I kept were the clothes on my back, my journal, and a few of our things. Everything else is gone.”
Her wedding dress. That had been a precious gift from her grandmother, and she’d given it away for me.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I can’t get your things back for you if I don’t know what’s going on.”
