Marin, Book 1 (The Xortha Chronicles)

Chapter 26: A Long Walk

Marin

Chapter 26: A Long Walk

    The end of term was tomorrow and Marin, Abby, and Verina were all packing. Abby's parents were in town and she didn't know what they had planned.

    "Do you think they will try dragging you back to Glenford?" asked Marin.

    "That would put a damper on your little arrangement, wouldn't it?" teased Verina.

    "Well, if that's what they have planned, I have some bad news for them." said Abby. She wanted to travel this summer. After her trip to see Kazak Deep, Abby wondered if there were other dwarf settlements.

    Abby took Marin and went to the inn where her parents were staying. Mr and Mrs Sadira gave Marin wary looks.

    "So what kind of plans do you have for the summer, Papa?" asked Abby

    "Well, I thought I'd turn the business over to Uncle Gar, that way I can spend more time at home. I've already saved up all I need for us to live, that way you don't have to do your... um.. work." said Mr Sadira.

    "I'm sorry Papa but I'm continuing with my line of work." said Abby, "I'm a battle mage. I put my skills to good use. I bring villains to justice. Over Mid Winter I helped save a dwarven city from freezing to death." she paused, "No, I'll keep what I'm doing."

    Mr Sadira's face turned bright red, the anger boiling over, "I have had enough of your rebelliousness! You will come home and stop this nonsense immediately! Do you hear me?"

    The image of calm, "No, Papa, I won't. I'm not going to spend my life setting at home doing nothing. Since learning magic, I have seen what I can do with it. I have traveled a little and seen some of the world. And I have found the person I intend spending the rest of my life with. You will not take that from me." Abby crossed her arms in front of her chest.

    "Get out! Both of you! I never want to see either of you again!" shouted Mr. Sadira.

    Marin and Abby left.

    Abby didn't speak for awhile. Marin wanted to go to her but thought it best to leave her alone for a bit.

    "You know Marin," said Abby, "you were right. My parents have been bullying me my whole life and I didn't realize it. When Papa realized I wouldn't let him control me anymore, that's when he blew up."

    "I wish things could have turned out better Abby," said Marin, "I don't want to see you lose your parents. I'm sure they love you. Maybe, in time, they will learn to let you live your life your way."   

    Abby smiled, "That would be nice. I know you said you hated your home life but do you think maybe there is a way of fixing things with your parents?"

    Marin sighed, "That's a life I'm trying hard to forget. My Ma loved me and often said so, but if Pa loved me he never showed it. I do wonder how my older brother is doing though. He was supposed to marry a girl named Meryl. I don't know if they ever married."

    "Was his marriage arranged too?" asked Abby.

    "Yes," said Marin, "It's funny but the people who arrange marriages had no choice of who they married either, so they are putting the same arrangement on their children because they themselves had no choice. Since I started traveling, I've learned that arranged marriages are something nobles do to form alliances with other nobles, so it makes no sense for farm people like me to do it." Marin paused, "do you know, I had three different boys wanting to marry me?" Marin laughed. "If only they could see me now! I wonder what they would think?"