Islands in the Sky

2.19

“It is not your right to have me,” Cassa said. “Some say so, but that isn’t my family’s way.”

“It was explained to me,” Willem said.

“It is only your right to have me if you can have me,” Cassa said, wanting to be clear.

It was an old, horrible law. A law from long ago, when inheritance had always been through the oldest daughter and sometimes those daughters had needed convincing to make an heir. Now, Cassa’s family was more flexible, and the best of several cousins inherited, and so the actual bloodlines mattered less. Even so, the old, cruel custom was still there.

“That was explained as well,” Willem said.

“You’ll never be able to have me,” Cassa said. “Even in my sleep. Even when I am ill. Never. Not unless you are far better with a dagger than any give you credit for.”

“I know that. I understand.”

“Are you?” Cassa said deliberately, watching his face. “Far better than any know?”

“Not at all. I doubt your family would have let us marry, if I were.”

Cassa was a little surprised by that idea. She was equally surprised by what the Cloudviews, as outsiders, apparently thought of her family’s inner workings. She nodded though, agreeably, and said, “I doubt it too.”

Lying as she smiled at him politely.

Willem drew a breath. He looked around at her chambers. “That is a pleasant desk,” he said. “Is that ancient?”

“I believe so.”

“And that tapestry,” he said. He was being strangely polite, all of a sudden. “Is that a relic of the ancients?”

“As far as I know. Why does it matter?”

“It doesn’t at all.”

“So why ask?”

Willem shrugged. “Why not?”

“So why?”

Willem hesitated. Cassa looked at him, glared at him, until he seemed to decide to actually answer. “I am nervous, I suppose,” he said.

“Because of me?”

“Because of meeting my wife? Who loathes me. To share our wedding night? Why would I be nervous?”

“I have no idea,” Cassa said. “I am an innocent. I cannot imagine of what you speak.”

“Of course,” Willem said, almost by rote. “I apologize.”

Cassa looked at him, puzzled. She had been teasing, but he hadn’t noticed. And his oddly distracted politeness was still there, too. She wondered what was wrong, what was causing his anxiety. She almost felt sympathetic. She was beginning to like Willem more than she had ever wanted to, and that complicated things. She ought not entirely trust herself, now that she’d realized she actually liked him.

She liked him, and she was also stuck with him. She decided she should try and help.

“What’s wrong?” she said. “You may as well tell me.”

“Nothing is wrong.”

“Something is, so speak of it.”

Willem sighed, and looked at her. “In truth, there is,” he said. “I would like to come to some understanding with you. But I am unsure whether I should ask, and risk your anger.”

Cassa wondered if she truly seemed that short-tempered. She supposed she might, from what he had seen of her today.

“Understanding about what?” she said, carefully polite.