July 25, 1177
"So," Searle began as the two finalists readied themselves at opposite ends of the arena, "anyone care to make this fight a little more interesting?"
Rona ground her teeth to keep her tongue from lashing. She'd promised Leara that she'd be pleasant with the spectators--or at least, not unpleasant--but the very idea of someone gambling on her future was hardly a courtesy in turn. Searle had been making bets all day, winning them all. Every time he asked again, her blood boiled just a little more and it couldn't have been much longer until the steam burst through her skin.
A few seats down, her stepfather frowned. "Searle, gambling can be quite a dangerous vice."
An oddly sneer-like breath shot from Searle's direction; Rona's knuckles twitched. "Only if you lose, Uncle--and I never do."
Rona ground her teeth to keep her tongue from lashing. She'd promised Leara that she'd be pleasant with the spectators--or at least, not unpleasant--but the very idea of someone gambling on her future was hardly a courtesy in turn. Searle had been making bets all day, winning them all. Every time he asked again, her blood boiled just a little more and it couldn't have been much longer until the steam burst through her skin.
A few seats down, her stepfather frowned. "Searle, gambling can be quite a dangerous vice."
An oddly sneer-like breath shot from Searle's direction; Rona's knuckles twitched. "Only if you lose, Uncle--and I never do."
"You might if I pick first."
It was Bernardo's voice, from Bernardo's seat. Annoyed, Rona shot Hilla a pleading pout, but her friend didn't notice. Or maybe she had pretended not to; Hilla did have a taste for fancy things, after all, and if her husband was taking an opportunity to gain the required money...
"I'll put twenty on del Marinos. My father was a knight and my stepfather is a knight and my brother's been training his whole life--and he's damn good at what he does. If del Marinos can beat him, he should have no problem with some scrawny commoner."
It was Bernardo's voice, from Bernardo's seat. Annoyed, Rona shot Hilla a pleading pout, but her friend didn't notice. Or maybe she had pretended not to; Hilla did have a taste for fancy things, after all, and if her husband was taking an opportunity to gain the required money...
"I'll put twenty on del Marinos. My father was a knight and my stepfather is a knight and my brother's been training his whole life--and he's damn good at what he does. If del Marinos can beat him, he should have no problem with some scrawny commoner."
The key still chained around Ashe's neck, Rona took to fiddling with the excess length of her belt instead. Little as she'd expected to take sides she hoped he was wrong. She wasn't sure what she thought of Ashe but she knew she didn't care for Neilor, not after his obnoxious visit days after his arrival and certainly not after he'd presumed to approach her before the match, smug and self-important like she'd asked for him. She didn't want to fall asleep beside a man who thought so highly of himself, nor wake before a man she thought so little of, and certainly none of what would happen in between.
She glanced over at Ashe, who seemed to sense it and shot her a small smile in return. She waved, but her heart wasn't in it. He might have been preferable to Neilor and he might have been kin to her dearest friend, but that didn't mean she knew him or wanted him. She hadn't known or wanted any of these men. Why had she been so silly before, always obsessing over who she might marry, clinging to any possibility even if it wasn't such a possibility after all? She didn't want to get married. Not now, at least--not when she wasn't ready, not when it was some stranger who'd won her in a contest. Damn Lorn for forcing her. Damn Ashe and Neilor and all the rest for trying and damn everyone else for not putting a stop to it. And damn herself for being so stupid before.
She glanced over at Ashe, who seemed to sense it and shot her a small smile in return. She waved, but her heart wasn't in it. He might have been preferable to Neilor and he might have been kin to her dearest friend, but that didn't mean she knew him or wanted him. She hadn't known or wanted any of these men. Why had she been so silly before, always obsessing over who she might marry, clinging to any possibility even if it wasn't such a possibility after all? She didn't want to get married. Not now, at least--not when she wasn't ready, not when it was some stranger who'd won her in a contest. Damn Lorn for forcing her. Damn Ashe and Neilor and all the rest for trying and damn everyone else for not putting a stop to it. And damn herself for being so stupid before.
"Very well. I was going to bet on Torgleid anyway."
Rona stiffened. Searle's voice had become a nail and slate to her ear and she hated to hope he was right but she wanted his logic. She knew to brace herself, but she had to know the extent to which it was necessary. Ask him why, ask him why...
"Why?" Bernardo gave a slight chuckle and Rona hated him for it. "He's a good fighter, for sure... but you have to admit that overall, his opponents weren't as skilled as the men del Marinos faced. And while the talent is there, it's certainly not polished. He doesn't have a chance."
"He may not be the better swordsman, but there's more to it than that." Searle's boot scuffed against the floor. He did that when forced to explain something he thought obvious; Rona wasn't sure what to make of it. "You're a Spaniard; I trust you've heard of the infamous Sir Kaldar and Lady Elarys? Their son's not so different, you know. If the only thing he could win here was a pretty girl, he wouldn't be here. Sure, she's a nice bonus, but he wants the money and the title and the connections. Torgleid, though? If he's not looking at his opponent, he's looking at Rona."
Nice of you to remember that I have a name.
Rona stiffened. Searle's voice had become a nail and slate to her ear and she hated to hope he was right but she wanted his logic. She knew to brace herself, but she had to know the extent to which it was necessary. Ask him why, ask him why...
"Why?" Bernardo gave a slight chuckle and Rona hated him for it. "He's a good fighter, for sure... but you have to admit that overall, his opponents weren't as skilled as the men del Marinos faced. And while the talent is there, it's certainly not polished. He doesn't have a chance."
"He may not be the better swordsman, but there's more to it than that." Searle's boot scuffed against the floor. He did that when forced to explain something he thought obvious; Rona wasn't sure what to make of it. "You're a Spaniard; I trust you've heard of the infamous Sir Kaldar and Lady Elarys? Their son's not so different, you know. If the only thing he could win here was a pretty girl, he wouldn't be here. Sure, she's a nice bonus, but he wants the money and the title and the connections. Torgleid, though? If he's not looking at his opponent, he's looking at Rona."
Nice of you to remember that I have a name.
And yet--in spite of all her bitterness--she looked over at Ashe again, just to confirm. His eyes were so damn green she swore she could make out the color from here.
NEXT CHAPTER:
NEXT CHAPTER:
5 comments:
I may or may not have to skip one update this weekend, just because I have a scene due for one of my creative writing classes. I do have a good start on it, though, and a decent idea of where it's going, so I'm not expecting it to get in the way of an update... just thought I'd give the heads-up just in case :P
I have to admit, when I saw the title I was kind of hoping that Rona would do the damning out loud. She'd probably feel better afterward -- and knowing Searle-the-No-Longer-Dying,she'd probably gain the respect of at least one of the spectators.
I am also sooo happy that his money is on Ashe! He's the resident brain, so hopefully he's right! Plus, of course, Ashe has the super-secret-weapon Isidro gave him. :D
*bites nails in anticipation*
And good luck with your scene for your class!
Yeah, Searle probably would have appreciated a good damning. I think Rona's trying to go the ice cold route rather than the hot-headed, though.
Among his other uncanny talents, Searle does seem to have an affinity for picking fight winners. And Ashe does have Izzy's underhanded meddling too. But there's always the possibility that Bernardo's right and Neilor's training will pay off. We'll find out in the next post ;)
Thanks Morgaine! :)
I'm sorry but I wish she would stop fucking complaining! Seriously! Yes, i get it, being a woman in the 12th century is just not a good place to be but there are ways of dealing with that that aren't 'bitch bitch whine complain!'
I really just want to take her by the shoulders, give her a good shake and say "Look, regardless of the bonuses these men are competing FOR YOU, if they'd married you out right there would have been a dowry anyway. They are fighting and getting hurt to marry you. And besides that you are the one that was getting impatient for a man. You said you had one requirement. Life sucks and you can't change it but you can at least hold your head high and woman up."
She has a right to be upset. She has a right to be nervous or sad or whatever. I just wish she was a bit stronger and stopped being the victim. Like I said life sucks and you can't change it but there is strength in accepting and holding ones head up high.
ugh, I'm just ranting now, it's much harder to type out what I want to say I just wish she could understand that this situation isn't that bad and that she is a woman in the 12th century and there is much pride in faking a smile. If a man can walk into war for his family with his head high, she can walk into a marriage the same way.
Some people do have more effective coping mechanisms than others. In this case, it's a societal failing, and she's still very young, so I'm not going to begrudge her too much for not wanting to suck it up.
That said, I imagine the people in her life are annoyed with her at this point too.
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