Ever by Gail Carson Levine Read Free Book Online

children.”
    Everyone sighs with relief, except Mati and Pado and me. We’re part of the wedding and not part, here and not here.
    A priest enters the circle, bearing a clay tablet. On the tablet rest two ripe dates and two balls of barley soaked in vinegar. The dates represent the joy in marriage. The sour barley balls represent the difficulties. The marriage contract has been written on the tablet in tiny wedge letters.
    I’ve seen my parents’ marriage contract many times, although I can’t read it. I can write only my own name and can read only the names of my parents and Aunt Fedo and Admat.
    The priest intones three times over:
    â€œThe omens are favorable ,
    But the outcome is with Admat .
    As he wishes, so it will be.”
    Belet pops a ball of barley into her mouth. “I will endure any trouble that comes.”
    I taste the vinegar in Belet’s mouth. I’ll never be a wife.
    Uncle Damki holds a date up to Belet’s lips. She opens her mouth and takes it in. I taste the date too.
    â€œI will be a sweet wife. I am your wife.”
    Next, Uncle Damki eats the barley and the date. “I will endure the bitterness. I will welcome the sweet. I am your husband.”
    They are married. I cheer with everyone else.
    Belet begins to dance. Uncle Damki backs away from her. The women circle her and dance too. At last! Mati and I join in. Pipes and a lyre accompany the rattle. A singer begins to wail.
    Several men stand outside the circle and watch. A few step from side to side, snapping their fingers.
    Right foot behind my left. I dip, my eyes half closed, losing myself in pleasure. Left knee raised, higher than the other dancers’, higher than the bride’s, I point my toes in my felt slipper. Bend at the waist. Three steps back. Straighten. Raise my arms. Toss my hair. Make mybracelets and earrings jingle.
    The song ends, but the singer starts another one, and the musicians join in. Mati can’t catch her breath. She squeezes my hand and drops out of the dance. I continue.
    Elon is among the men who are watching the women. His eyes follow me. I blush. A slave is sweeping and watching me too.
    My blush deepens. The slave is flawless, without a blemish. Majestic, taller than Elon, more muscular. I am only peeking at him and looking away and peeking again. But since the slave wears no tunic, I see that his muscles are powerful but not blocky. He stands straight, and he is clean shaven so I see his square jaw and his wide mouth.
    Aunt Fedo says a wide mouth means deep feelings. I think Admat gave me Aunt Fedo’s owl eyes today, because I see humor and sadness in that mouth.
    The slave shouldn’t stare at me. While he stares, he sweeps across Elon’s foot.
    Elon kicks him hard in the shins, and he almost falls. I stumble. The slave regains his footing. So do I. He bows to Elon and says something, which must be an apology. He glances at me to see if I was watching. I lower my eyes.
    I am glad I will never marry Elon.
    Elon ignores the apology and looks back at me. I turn my head to the right and lift my chin. The rhythm of the rattle becomes faster and more complex. I forget both Elon and the slave.

15

    OLUS
    S HE’S SEEN ME! Except for the young man who kicked me, no other guest has noticed me, and I’m certain the young man forgot me as soon as he finished applying his foot to my legs.
    She saw me! I wonder if she thought about me longer than the young man did. I am thinking ridiculous thoughts, but I hope she liked me. She had no time to form an opinion, and she has much more to think about than me,but I hope she liked me.
    If I sweep much longer, someone will find it odd. The slaves and servants have noticed me already. I don’t think I’m in danger from them, as they are unlikely to speak to their masters. I slip back into my wall recess and look for something else to do.
    Merem is at the edge of the circle of female dancers, watching Kezi. Aunt