Tarashana by Rachel Neumeier (little red riding hood ebook TXT) 📕

and hands showed me that she was upset as clearly as though she had said so aloud.

She said, “Everything you say is true. Elaro is a fine man and a good choice and I do wish to marry him.”

Careful of my expression, I nodded.

But she went on as though I had not. “But I wish to marry you as well, Ryo. Please do not answer yet.” She leaned forward urgently. “Please permit me to finish speaking.”

I had not even drawn breath to answer. I was far too astonished to say anything. I had not expected anything of the kind; what man would? But I gestured that she should go on.

Darra sat back a little, still tense, but not as much now that she had begun to speak. She said, “When a man takes a wife, and then some years later a second wife, and later again perhaps a third, everything is easy. That way, everyone knows which of his wives should take precedence. When two women wish to marry one man at the same time, that is unusual, but not that unusual, especially if the two women are sisters or cousins and do not care as much which of them takes precedence over the other. When one woman wishes to marry two men, that is different. When the two men are neither brothers nor friends, it is very different.” She looked at me earnestly.

I did not know what to say. But she went on. “Please do not speak yet, Ryo. Listen. I would understand completely if you refused. This is an extraordinary thing to ask of any man. I understand this. But I would like to marry you. I wish to bear your daughters. Any daughter of yours and mine will probably be a singer of great renown. I would also be pleased to bear your sons. My father would be glad to consider your sons among his possible heirs. Some tribes would not like to see the son of an inGara become the king of the winter country, but many would be pleased. Many would say that the sons of a man who went into the land of the shades and returned will be lucky and strong and wise. I think your sons would be all those things. Also, besides all those considerations, I would like to marry you because I have the greatest regard for you.”

I nodded to show I was listening. As I recovered from my first astonishment, I might have begun to feel angry, but her words made that impossible. I was not angry. I was not even certain whether I was upset. Probably I was still too surprised to be upset.

She went on. “But what you say is true. You are seldom here in the winter country. Also, your life has become very unusual. Life is uncertain, and only the gods know what the coming years may bring. But your life has become more uncertain than most. Perhaps when next you leave the winter country, you will never return. Perhaps a long time might pass before I even knew of your death. I do not want to wait and wait and wait, not knowing whether my husband walks in the land of the living or the land of the shades. But there are other considerations as well. The daughter of a king should not wait in that way. She must have sons, or all the important tribes will begin to argue too much regarding the king’s choice of heir. I do not want that. I will not let that happen if I can prevent it. I want my father to have many grandsons. I want my sons to be strong and forceful and honorable and wise, so that when he says This is the one I wish the tribes to accept as their king, all the tribes will agree with his choice.”

She stopped, sitting back, breathing deeply. Then she said, “I mean no offense by this suggestion. If I have offended you, I apologize and ask your pardon. If you do not want to consider this idea, I ask you to pretend that I never spoke these words.”

“I am not offended,” I said. “You owe me no apology.” I was silent for a little while. Then I asked, “You do wish to marry me?”

“Yes,” she said steadily. “I would like that very much, Ryo.”

“You wish to marry Elaro inPorakario as well.”

“Yes. I think that would be better. And, though I hope very much this does not offend you, Ryo, I would like to do it.”

I was silent for a little while again. Then I said, “I understand your reasons. All your reasons are good ones. I cannot argue that my life is not uncertain. I thought ...” I stopped.

“You thought I would say I could not marry you.” She gripped her hands together, then made herself set her hands palm-down on her knees, relaxed and calm. “If you do not agree to what I suggest, then you are right, I cannot marry you. I hope very much you will agree, but I will completely understand if you refuse.”

She had said that twice now. She might be trying to make me believe that, or she might be trying to make herself believe it. I spoke slowly, my thoughts finally beginning to come more smoothly again. “Elaro inPorakario probably knew what you would ask me. He is probably waiting somewhere not far away, ready to come into this tent and discuss this matter. Perhaps you might go to him and say that he may do that now. Perhaps you will not come with him, but permit the two of us to discuss this privately.”

“Yes,” Darra agreed. She rose, moving with her customary grace. She tried to look unconcerned, but I saw she was anxious. She had never looked more beautiful to me, but I did not like to see her