him like a servant, or a dog! No wonder the kid’s jealous !
Chapter Four
Page 21
«^»
It had been decided that the marriage would take place four days hence, a quiet one, with only Leoniefor honored guest, and a few neighbors who lived on nearby estates to celebrate with them. The briefinterval allowed just time for word to be sent to Dom Esteban’s heir, Domenic, at Thendara, and for oneor more of Damon’s brothers to come from Serrais if they wished.
On the night before the wedding, the twin sisters lay awake late, in the room they had shared as children,before Callista went to the Arilinn Tower. Ellemir said at last, a little sadly, “I had always believed that onmy marriage day there would be much feasting, and fine gowns, and all our kinfolk to celebrate with us,not a hasty marriage with a few countryfolk! Well, with Damon for husband I can manage without therest, but still…”
“I am sorry too, Elli, I know it is my fault,” Callista said. “You are marrying a Comyn lord of the Ridenow Domain, so there is no reason you should not be married by the catenas , with all the festivity and merrymaking you might wish. Andrew and I have spoiled this for you.” A Comyn daughter could not marry di catenas , with the old ceremony, without permission of Comyn Council, and Callista knew there was no chance whatever that Council would give her to a stranger, a nobody—a Terran! So they had chosen the simpler form known as freemate marriage, which could be solemnized by a simple declaration before witnesses.
Ellemir heard the sadness in her sister’s voice and said, “Well, as Father is so fond of saying, the worldwill go as it will, and not as you or I would have it. In the next Council season, Damon has promised, weshall journey to Thendara and there will be enough merrymaking for everyone.”
“And by that time,” Callista added, “my marriage to Andrew will be so long established that nothing can
alter it.”
Ellemir laughed. “It would be just my ill fortune to be heavy with child then, and unable to enjoy it! Notthat I would think it ill fortune, to have Damon’s child at once.”
Callista was silent, thinking of the years in the Tower, where she had put aside, unregretted becauseunknown, all the things a young girl dreams of. Hearing these things in Ellemir’s voice now she asked,hesitating, “Do you want a child at once?”
Ellemir laughed. “Oh, yes! Don’t you?”
“I had not thought about it,” Callista said slowly. “There were so many years when I never thought of marriage, or love, or children… I suppose Andrew will want children, soon or late, but it seems to me that a child should be wanted for herself, not only because it is my duty to our clan. I have lived so many years in the Tower, thinking only of duty toward others, that I think I must first have a little time to think only of myself. And of… of Andrew.”
This was puzzling to Ellemir. How could anyone think of her husband without thinking first of her desireto give him a child? But she sensed that it was otherwise with Callista. In any case, she thought withunconscious snobbery, Andrew was not Comyn; it did not matter so much that Callista should give himan heir at once.
“Remember, Elli, I spent so many years thinking I was not to marry at all…”
Page 22
Her voice was so sad and strange that Ellemir could not bear it. She said. “You love Andrew, and yourchoice was freely made,” but there was a hint of question too. Had Callista chosen to marry her rescueronly because it seemed the simplest thing?
Callista followed that thought, and said, “No, I love him, more than I can tell you. Yet there is anotherold saying, I never knew till now how true: no choice goes wholly unregretted, either way will bring more,both of joy and sorrow, than we can foresee. My life had seemed unchanging to me, already settled, sosimple: I would take Leonie’s place in Arilinn and serve there
Chapter Four
Page 21
«^»
It had been decided that the marriage would take place four days hence, a quiet one, with only Leoniefor honored guest, and a few neighbors who lived on nearby estates to celebrate with them. The briefinterval allowed just time for word to be sent to Dom Esteban’s heir, Domenic, at Thendara, and for oneor more of Damon’s brothers to come from Serrais if they wished.
On the night before the wedding, the twin sisters lay awake late, in the room they had shared as children,before Callista went to the Arilinn Tower. Ellemir said at last, a little sadly, “I had always believed that onmy marriage day there would be much feasting, and fine gowns, and all our kinfolk to celebrate with us,not a hasty marriage with a few countryfolk! Well, with Damon for husband I can manage without therest, but still…”
“I am sorry too, Elli, I know it is my fault,” Callista said. “You are marrying a Comyn lord of the Ridenow Domain, so there is no reason you should not be married by the catenas , with all the festivity and merrymaking you might wish. Andrew and I have spoiled this for you.” A Comyn daughter could not marry di catenas , with the old ceremony, without permission of Comyn Council, and Callista knew there was no chance whatever that Council would give her to a stranger, a nobody—a Terran! So they had chosen the simpler form known as freemate marriage, which could be solemnized by a simple declaration before witnesses.
Ellemir heard the sadness in her sister’s voice and said, “Well, as Father is so fond of saying, the worldwill go as it will, and not as you or I would have it. In the next Council season, Damon has promised, weshall journey to Thendara and there will be enough merrymaking for everyone.”
“And by that time,” Callista added, “my marriage to Andrew will be so long established that nothing can
alter it.”
Ellemir laughed. “It would be just my ill fortune to be heavy with child then, and unable to enjoy it! Notthat I would think it ill fortune, to have Damon’s child at once.”
Callista was silent, thinking of the years in the Tower, where she had put aside, unregretted becauseunknown, all the things a young girl dreams of. Hearing these things in Ellemir’s voice now she asked,hesitating, “Do you want a child at once?”
Ellemir laughed. “Oh, yes! Don’t you?”
“I had not thought about it,” Callista said slowly. “There were so many years when I never thought of marriage, or love, or children… I suppose Andrew will want children, soon or late, but it seems to me that a child should be wanted for herself, not only because it is my duty to our clan. I have lived so many years in the Tower, thinking only of duty toward others, that I think I must first have a little time to think only of myself. And of… of Andrew.”
This was puzzling to Ellemir. How could anyone think of her husband without thinking first of her desireto give him a child? But she sensed that it was otherwise with Callista. In any case, she thought withunconscious snobbery, Andrew was not Comyn; it did not matter so much that Callista should give himan heir at once.
“Remember, Elli, I spent so many years thinking I was not to marry at all…”
Page 22
Her voice was so sad and strange that Ellemir could not bear it. She said. “You love Andrew, and yourchoice was freely made,” but there was a hint of question too. Had Callista chosen to marry her rescueronly because it seemed the simplest thing?
Callista followed that thought, and said, “No, I love him, more than I can tell you. Yet there is anotherold saying, I never knew till now how true: no choice goes wholly unregretted, either way will bring more,both of joy and sorrow, than we can foresee. My life had seemed unchanging to me, already settled, sosimple: I would take Leonie’s place in Arilinn and serve there
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