Music recommendation: Devil town- Cavetwon
Khendal's pov
"High priestess, what do you have to say concerning the girl who ran away?"
"Your highness, I have nothing to say." Freidka adjusted herself on her seat. "I can not control the actions of a human. Besides, her running away signifies something. "
Kael groaned behind me. He was annoyed.
"Go on.." I urged.
"There's nothing to go on about..." She paused, "Well, about our discussion, if you do not promise to do as I have said, the girl stays back. And from what has happened, it's clear that it will not be hard to convince her to stay behind here."
She stared me dead in the eye.
"Why do you want her to come back?"
"Let's just say the will of the gods aren't your own. Your wisdom and understanding of the world is so minute. You wouldn't even understand if you were told."
I shook my head in disbelief. I had more understanding of the world than she ever could, but here she was telling me I had no understanding of the world.
"If she requests to come back every time something doesn't go her way, surely you know I can not do that."
"The time to let her come back will be known to you. As a matter of fact, it'll be glaring at you. It is at that moment you must let her return."
"Okay. I'll do as you have asked, but I am leaving with my wife tomorrow."
.....
Her home looked cozy and full of love.
Too bad for her then.
The doors were opened, and a beautiful woman poked her head out the doors.
She wasn't surprised to see me.
The doors were fully opened, and she curtsied to the priestess, not to me. As a matter of fact, she stared me down as I walked into her home as if I'd come to take away a treasure of hers.
Well, she wasn't wrong. I was basically doing just that.
Freidka was still clad in all white, with Varena standing patiently behind her.
"Where is she?"
The mother's eyes darkened immediately.
"Rivetti." Freidka called.
"My little girl has never been so sad all her life, even when the baby tortoise she took as a pet died, she wasn't this sad. She really doesn't want this."
Freidka pursed her lips.
"I can understand what you're saying." Varena spoke up. "Avery was always talking about how she wouldn't get chosen and how she would explore the world, but the way of the gods aren't our ways."
Rivetti's voice broke as she spoke. "Avery's been smiling, and that's the worst part. She's going to leave this place heartbroken, and we won't get to see her again."
She turned to me and gave a glare, I glared back at her, but she didn't back down, at least, until her husband tapped her. What was wrong with all these people? They had no idea who I was.
"How am I to know that this man will treat my girl right?"
"You will address his majesty properly and address him respect!" Kael interjected.
"If he's taking my child, he's my son, and I will address him however I want. He's your king, not mine ,and he's my son- in -law, not yours."
She said those last words with disgust.
"Where is the girl?" I finally spoke after sighing.
"Her name's Avery, boy.." She scoffed. "You don't even know the name of the woman you'll be taking away from me?"
Freidka stifled a chuckle, Varena smiled softly, her husband pursed his lips, and Kael was fuming behind me.
There was seriously something wrong with the new generation of women here.
"I'm sorry.."
"Your Majesty, you aren't supposed to apologise!"
I raised my hands to silence him. Of course, I didn't want to apologise, but I wanted to leave more than I didn't want to apologise. Accepting the lesser evil, I guess that's what I did.
"I bet she isn't even that pretty, and they're all speaking like she's something special." Kael muttered under his breath.
"Please, where is my wife?"
She appeared shocked. I smiled at her.
That was a win for me.
"Your wife is here!" A voice echoed from behind.
There she was. The running bride.
This time around, she wasn't wearing an all white dress but instead wore a black dress. Her pale face looked touched up and a little pink. Her lips were slightly pink and set in a straight line.
Kael was wrong.
I scanned her body, and although she looked gaunt, she had a good body shape. That was what I thought until my gaze settled on her chest. Where was it?
"Your Majesty, she's beautiful, I'll admit, but where is it?" He asked the same question on my mind.
"My name is Avery Clouds, and I am the woman.." She paused and flinched. "I'm the woman you'll be marrying."
I noticed her actions. Why did she do that?
"Avery, you didn't have to come out. I was going to deal with it."
"It's fine, Mama. I'm the one getting married after all." Her lips stretched into a smile.
It wasn't a happy one. She didn't make it look like she was happy, but instead, it was a sincere one. A smile of sincerity.
She had accepted her fate.
Leading everyone to their dining, she asked her father to get us drinks.
"Welcome,Your Majesty." She greeted.
I nodded slightly. Finally.
"What is your name?" Avery questioned, sitting on a chair opposite me.
I was a little taken aback by the question, but I answered nevertheless.
"Khendal."
"Khendal what? Do you not possess a surname, or perhaps a family name?" She inquired again.
"Khendal Venrell."
"That's a rather weird name you have."
"What?"
She laughed softly.
"Avery Venrell then. Normally, in the Riverine Clan, you would have taken up my family name, but since that's not the case, I shall have to take up yours."
"Ah, yes." I nodded, finally understanding why she asked my name.
"Khendal Venrell, do they pay bride price in your kingdom?"
"Yes, they do. The men pay a bride price to the parents of his wife."
"Then I hope you understand what that means. You owe my parents a bride price."
"I shall do that as soon as possible." I replied.
She was acting strange, not like the woman who planned to run away the night before. I was sure that if I hadn't knocked her out, she would not be here by this time.
Her father brought drinks. He served them to everyone on the table gently but slammed the cup on the table when it got to my turn.
Could these people not even hide their hostility towards me?
"You shall be going to Draconu with me today. So, I want you to say your final goodbyes and meet up with me at the gate in the next three hours. You don't need to pack anything. Just the things really important to you."
Rivetti slammed her fists on the table. "Watch how you speak, young man! She's not your servant to order around."
"It's okay, mum." Avery interjected to save the day.
She turned to me and gave me a smile.
Words were stuck in my throat.
"I won't be going with you."