Mate of the Dragon God

Chapter Two: Preparation for Ceremonies

Her brother ate with them as he was yet to wed his fiancee. He helped Auria cook the pork that they had brought from the butcher, and he even helped clean the dishes after the meal was eaten. Dinner had been tense, nobody speaking to Auria as she picked at the meal. Her father only quizzed Peter on his apprenticeship with the butcher, where the pork had come from. At the end of the meal, buzzing from mead, her father let out a bellowing laugh and smacked Peter jarringly on the shoulder.

"That is my boy, you make your father proud". Peter had blushed and beamed, dropping his smile when he considered Auria. He swallowed his food quickly and nodded.

"Thank you, Father, I hope to make you proud," Peter said quickly. Auria knew it was more than that, the woman that Peter was to wed was the daughter of the butcher and Peter had been pining for her for years. Animals kept better than most crops in the cold, long winters of Pangoria, and the butcher's family kept many animals. They were a family that was not rich or noble, but well off and likely to never go hungry. Peter planned to get the apprenticeship for security, but the marriage was not for financial gain, it was because of his fawning of Priscilla.

Long after their parents had gone to bed, the two children of the family sat in the kitchen by the hearth simply stewing in their thoughts. Peter interrupted the silence first.

"You know, Priscilla will be journeying into the city tomorrow for things for the wedding. Maybe it'd be good for you to attend to her?" Auria shuffled her weight.

"I suppose that I could, though I'm sure that Mother would miss my help in the bakery." Auria was almost certain this was another ploy to encourage marriage. She also did not doubt that her mother would gush at the opportunity to send Auria into the city rather than be disappointed at missing out on her clumsy assistance in the bakery. Still, the more she thought, the more she was beginning to realize her place in the world and that she couldn't childishly escape from responsibility forever. As unfortunate as it was, she was alive and well in the world she abided in and had to exist according to its rules. Upon hearing her answer, Peter beamed.

"Priscilla is quite lovely, really, I am sure you will get along well." He nodded enthusiastically at each word, his mind drawing him away from his conversation with Auria to ways he could praise his fiancee. Auria simply gave him a tired smile trying to avoid the feelings his happiness spurred within her. She knew that he was trying to make her feel more included. Sometimes she felt isolated from the events of the village, even her family. She appreciated Peter and everything that he tried to do.

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The next day, Auria woke up before the sun. She ran water and soap through her hair, wrapping it with a shirt to dry as she cleaned her face. She tidied herself up and put on a reasonable dress to go into the city. When she finished, downstairs Peter was already waiting for her. Her mother and father sat at the table eating breakfast.

"You look suitable today, Auria," her father said gruffly, picking at the leftover pork.

"Quiet, Igor," her mother hissed at her father.

"I was complimenting her, can't a father compliment his daughter?" Her parents continued to glare at one another while Peter grabbed two rolls.

"I am going with Auria to meet Priscilla and take them to the city. I hope that is fine with you, Mother." She quickly wiped her mouth of pork fat and gave a large loving smile.

"Of course, of course, go and have fun you two, but be back before dark!"

"Are you sure that you will be fine running the baker-"

"-Absolutely, my dear, go, go." Her mother shooed the two out the door and they walked quietly for a few paces before Peter snickered. "I don't envy you," was all he said quietly under his breath as they walked. Auria could only nod, as she was worried about the appearance she would have to give in the city.