Sephtis

41. Broken pledge.

I am in shock, my breath catching in my throat. Eleutheros grabs the priest by his robes, and forces him against a wall. There is a stunned silence, no one has ever dared to touch the priest like this. Eleutheros is shaking with rage, and when he speaks, his voice is soft, his words slow, as if he is choosing his words with great care.

"Kill the wolves, and I swear I shall renounce this clan, and I will blame you for the broken pledge. And by my wings, I swear my fathers men will come, and set fire to your houses and your lands in lawful retribution. This I swear, on my fathers wings, and my own."

No one moves, and no one speaks. Eleutheros releases the priest, and takes my hand again. He is breathing heavily, and his hand is hurting mine, for he holds it so hard. Suddenly he turns and walks out, pulling me behind him.

When we are outside Eleutheros takes me to the house where he lives. It is smaller than Droug's, and there are more beds along the walls, because his foster parents have twelve children. Inside the house he lets go of my hand and begins taking clothes from a wooden chest and putting them on his bed. Fine tunics he throws down, and leather belts with gold clasps, and many rich fur coats. He ties it all into a bundle with one of the belts, drawing the leather tight for he is furious, and then he stands, looking at me.

"Are you ready to go?" He asks.

"We must talk," I say in reply.

"About?"

"I do not want to be your wife Eleutheros."

He swears, dropping his bundle on the floor and turning to stare at the cold fire pit, his face his hard. After awhile he speaks.

"You tell me one thing with your kisses, and another with your words. Make up your mind, wolf-woman. Else I shall make a huge mistake, and a desperate fool of myself."

"My mind has always been made up Eleutheros. And if kisses are a marriage vow, then you have many wives. I have never deceived you, I have always told you the truth. Always have I said what was in my heart, but you choose not to listen. Try to understand my words now, the only happiness I will ever have is with the wolves. Marriage to you would alter that."

He looks at me, and his face is soft again.

"It would alter your life Sephtis, but it would also give you great pleasure. I swear I would honour you, would love only you, and I would be true and gentle with you. This is no sudden thing I ask, my heart. Always I have loved you, and I cannot believe that you are not drawn to me. Tell me I am ugly, tell me you are repulsed by me, and that you never wanted me."

I shake my head, looking at my hands, and away from his beautiful face.

"I want you," I say, "but I also want peace, and the harmony of my other life. At the moment, what I have with you does not cancel that out."

"I would never stop you from visiting the wolves," he says, striding over to me and taking my face in his gentle hands, his eyes implore with mine. "Just tell me you shall be my wife, and we will leave now."

"Do not push me Eleutheros, else I will only run."

"Then I shall tell the village I am only going on a visit to my father, and will return after three nights. Come with me, and meet my people, Sephtis. When I come back here, you are free to go to the wolves, if thy is what you still wish. And I, I shall remain here as pledge-son, and you will know I am here should you ever change your mind. Can I offer you no fairer a thing than that?"

"It is fair."

He grins and kisses my hair before picking up his bundle of clothes again. He kisses me on the lips, and we head outside, back to the funeral feast. I wait outside while Eleutheros talks with the priest, and the we leave.