Journey Onward

Naomi did not mind the time they spent traveling. The weather was pleasant and the tents they set up each night reminded her a little of home. Far less confining than the Shermans' home in Klain.

She wasn't yet quite used to horseback. The ladies switched back and forth between riding and sitting in the wagon. Too long in the saddle was painful for her inexperienced body. Still, she was learning and it was entirely pleasant not to worry about where her next meal would come from or when her stepfather would make her leave.

This was better than she'd felt in years, and she relished the reprieve. Once she arrived at the sea, perhaps her husband-to-be would be as old and rude as her stepfather. She would work her hardest to please whatever man she was deemed worthy to have, but she didn't know how difficult that would be at first.

So, this time of simply being herself without worrying was... different. A sort of standing still, despite the fact that every day was spent in almost constant motion. In equal parts, she looked forward to and dreaded its end.

Mayra was less patient. Every chance she had, she was quizzing Naomi on the intricacies of her culture and values, then doing the same to the emissary of the Sea People and comparing notes to judge how a marriage might work between the two.

Naomi had to admit that Mayra's insights were helpful in preparing her expectations for what they would find at Sea. It seemed the men there often spent weeks away on fishing journeys, hunting the large creatures of the deep. Consequently, getting along with the groom's female relatives would be vital to living peacefully amongst the Sea People, who Mayra had learned referred to themselves as Cetoans.

Mayra also kept Naomi informed about all of the traits which were highly valued amongst her future husband's people. Strength and the ability to stand up for oneself was important. With the men gone so much, the women were expected to take much initiative in running the households and lives on shore. When the men were home, the dynamics were mostly of equal partnership with different roles.

Though some women did venture out on boats occasionally, it was widely viewed as bad luck and few had taken extended journeys on the ships.

Naomi was used to a far more patriarchal society. The prospect of being expected to be bold was a daunting one. Things had in some ways become worse the past two years; Titania was the only ruling queen the Rhone had ever had, and she turned out to be an actual monster from another world. It didn't exactly put women in a good light.

She took a deep breath, and hoped the husband chosen for her would be a gentle and understanding one.

______________

Caspian thrust his spear forward into the water, impaling the head of a large fish. With a half-smile of satisfaction, he pulled it out of the water to set in a net with the rest of his catch. That was plenty for today.

He gathered everything up and started the walk home. This was his favorite fishing place along the shoreline, secluded in a cove. The fish weren't as plentiful as some of the other places, but he liked that because it meant that fewer people visited it.

Caspian wasn't one to talk all that much. Chatty people irritated him. He would probably get stuck with a chatty wife, with his luck. A chatty foreign woman with an unbearable accent. Perhaps his father would let him go to sea more often and spend months away from her.

He would be out there now, except his father had forbidden it. He was doomed to wait for his bride to arrive. He was told it would be terribly rude to make her wait for his return for their initial meeting.

It was his personal opinion that she should get used to waiting for him, since much of her life would be spent doing just that. For some reason both of his parents disagreed with his very sound reasoning.

He thought he would earn at least some leeway once he agreed to take on this ridiculous marriage, but apparently not. So, he had come here for a time of mature and solitary reflection as he fished. His brother had called it a childish fit, but clearly his perception of the situation was terribly skewed.

After all, he wasn't being asked to commit the rest of his life to a woman he'd never met with no veto power. Caspian was.

The thought gave him a moment's pause. The official agreement stated that both parties to a proposed marriage could veto the arrangement. Maybe he could convince his bride that she had better options.

He would have to be subtle about it, or his parents would figure out what he was up to. Still, it wouldn't be his fault if she chose to reject him in favor of someone else. It might even make the Rhone women seem more desirable if they were seen as having incredibly high standards.

Getting one for a wife could be a point of pride instead of a mark of desperation for the Cetoan men.

The forming plan made his step a bit lighter as he returned across the sand to his home. It would be a good thing for his people, and an escape for him personally. It really was the best possible outcome, wasn't it?

He fixed his expression into a neutral gaze that would give away none of his thoughts to anyone. Inside, he was smiling for the first time since he'd found out about his arranged betrothal.

The best course of action would be to take an active interest in the traditions and expectations of Rhone. If he studied, he should be able to find out the most subtle ways to thoroughly offend his bride.

There were only a few people he knew of that had met anyone from Klain, let alone Rhone. He frowned. It would be difficult to get any sort of reliable information. For perhaps the first time in his life, he regretted the isolationist bent of his culture.

Almost twenty years ago, after his grandfather's failed treaty with Klain and subsequent death, his father had decided not to pursue diplomatic relations with any people outside themselves. While occasionally a brave merchant or a local forest dweller would approach them for trade, for the most part they subsisted entirely off the efforts and work of their own people.

He cleaned and left his catch in front of the hut he occupied by himself when he stayed on shore and went in search of the messenger the emissary had sent back. Surely that man had met someone from Rhone before returning.

Unfortunately, he came across his brother first.

"Cas!" Edmar threw his arm around his younger brother's shoulders and walked beside him. "What are you up to? Is your hissy fit over so soon?"

"Hello, Ed," Caspian replied evenly. He'd learned long ago that his brother would break off his teasing more quickly with minimal engagement. Ignoring didn't work, but staying calm could.

"Only a few hours. You're slipping. You used to be able to stay angry a lot longer. You must be mellowing out, now that you're a betrothed man and all." Edmar continued. Caspian gritted his teeth.

"I'm looking forward to meeting my new sister-in-law. I'm sure she'll be fantastic," He gave what Caspian supposed was meant to be a dazzling smile, but came across as gloating.

"Of course," Caspian continued forward.

"I was just about to go ask Firth about her." Edmar said of the messenger who had returned from Klain. "Perhaps he met her during his journey. Would you like to come along?"

"Whatever you want, Ed," Caspian wasn't about to let his older brother know that's where he was heading anyway. He was continually tempted to shrug off his brother's heavy arm, but the gesture would likely invite further teasing.

It was best to quietly endure Edmar's too-happy mood until it passed.

"Marvelous!" The older brother declared. "He can't be far. I've been looking for him a while and-- FIRTH!"

His sudden yell made Caspian want to flinch, but he narrowly avoided the gesture. The messenger turned from where he was untangling a fishing net and leapt to his feet.

"Yes, sir?" He smiled at the two sons of his leaders. "How can I help the both of you?"

Edmar grinned wickedly at Caspian as he spoke. "We want to hear every little word you know about Cas's future bride. If this woman's going to be bearing my nieces and nephews, I need to know every sordid detail!"

Firth's face crinkled with a polite but wary smile.

"I can understand the desire, of course. I'm ashamed to report that I know very little about her."

"Tell us what you do know," Edmar urged, leaning forward conspiratorially and dragging Caspian with him.