Empire's Reckoning by Marian L Thorpe

Author:Marian L Thorpe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, historical fantasy, alternate history, medieval, gay, lgtbq, male romance
Publisher: Arboretum Press
Published: 2020-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 32

Later I spoke alone with Dugi, for more information on the men involved with Jordis and Elsë. I should tell Cillian and Lena as much as possible, so Lena could make an appropriate decision. He had little to add about the man who had taken Jordis, but much more about the bridegroom and his family. “There’s a daughter,” he said. “My father is considering offering for her; he thinks a connection to Varsland’s fish trade could be valuable.”

“For you or Gefen?” I asked.

“Gefen. I inherit the torp; he'll need something.”

Always the way, for second sons; sometimes there was a torp with only daughters to make an alliance with, or the army, or for some the path of a scholar or a scáeli. And some crossed the narrow sea to take the coin of the Marai.

I wrote my letter. Then I went to find Jordis. “She has eaten and bathed,” Helvi told me, and she’s sitting quietly now, resting.” She opened the door to a small sitting room. “In here.”

Jordis was watching Gwenna combing Elsë’s hair in front of the fire, her movements gentle. I supposed she had done this with the other girls at the Ti'ach, or at the White Fort. “Sorley,” Jordis said as I came in. “Of all the people to find. Why are you here?” She looked tired, but much of the tension had gone from her. “I am so glad you are.”

I sat beside her. “Do you remember me saying I am a scáeli now? The Ti'acha are expanding, Jordis, into Sorham and into Ésparias.” She frowned at that.

“Ésparias?”

“The land south of the Wall. Casil renamed it, when they reclaimed it as a part of the Eastern Empire. One of many changes there.”

“You are going to explain all this?”

“In time. But to answer your question, as scáeli to the Ti’ach na Cillian, I am travelling north to the newest Ti'ach, to ensure the music program is properly organized. I had business with the Teannasach, so we stopped here for a day or two.”

“The Ti'ach na Cillian,” she said. “It sounds so strange. Do not mistake me, Gwenna,” she added, seeing her look up. “I can think of no one better than your father to succeed Perras. But I have thought of it with its previous name for all these years.”

“I must ask, Jordis. Will Elsë’s father come after you, or her?” I asked. “Or the bridegroom?”

“Eluf? No. Not after me. But perhaps after her. It was a good marriage.” We were speaking Linrathan, so the girl could not understand. “There are two boys, too: younger, and Eluf thought perhaps one would be taken into the business.”

“Where are the boys?”

“At the farm. They’re not mine. Something went wrong after Elsë. I was ill with a fever and a flux that caused great pain here — “she touched herself, low on her belly — “and after that I did not conceive. He has another woman.”

“Are you his wife?” I asked.

“There was some ceremony, so in his eyes, yes.

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