Chapter 2

"Betrothed, what do you mean I'm betrothed"

"Now, son, as Crown Prince of Batialu, it is your duty to be married. And besides the Duke's daughter is a lovely girl."

"Exactly, she is just that, a girl! For heaven's sakes how old is she, eight?"

"Ten and three-quarters, thank you very much" a voice sounded from the doorway. Prince Jerrard was suddenly embarrassed. "Ahh, Lady Izgeba, I uhh, didn't see, that is, well just how much did you over hear?"

"What exactly does betrothed mean? And why does it matter that I'm almost eleven?"

Prince Jerrard sighed. He looked at his father "Would you like to answer this one, or should I?" he asked sarcastically.

King Jarrett looked uncomfortable. "Well you see..." he paused, "how to answer your question."

Prince Jerrard looked at Izgebe. "Come here Lady Izgebe," he patted his knee.

"I'm to big to sit on laps anymore, Mama said so" Izgebe said coming to stand in front of Jerrard, "and you don't have to call me Lady, that's my mama."

"Very well, La-Izgebe. Betrothed is" suddenly he stopped aware that the child was not paying attention. She was staring intently at a piece of paper, with a slightly befuddled expression on her face.

"Izgebe," He said sternly. Izgebe looked at him. "Betrothed means that you will be married. Your father and my father wish for us to be married. Izgebe looked at him. "Why?" she asked, "can't you just be my friend? Besides I don't want to get married, our cousin Keoko got married last year and ever since he's no fun to play with. All he does is frown, or tell me I should act more ladylike."

Jerrard looked at his father, who was trying not to laugh. "I would love to just be your friend Izgebe, in fact, I think that's a marvelous idea. Don't you father?"

King Jarrett looked at his son, "Izgebe, why don't you go outside and play?"

"But I wanna stay here and watch you yell at Prince Jerrard. My friend Aimee sys that you never yell at him, 'cause you're the king and he's the prince, but I told her you do. So please can I stay here and watch, please?" Jerrard laughed and picked Izgebe up. "Next time I get in trouble you can listen, just not right now" He set Izgebe down outside the door and shut it tightly. Then he turned to his father.

"The marriage would not take place for several years. Of course she is to young now, but in five or six more years..." He trailed off.

"Father, I think this is one discussion that can be put aside for later."

"Yes, I think that would be very wise. Oh, I had forgotten, this came for you." He held out a small piece of folded paper that Izgebe had stared at.

"What is it?" Jerrard asked as he broke the seal and began unfolding it. "I don't recognize the seal."

He looked puzzled as he read it. "White Night, the Namowa Community, who are they?"

King Jarrett smiled. "Son this is truly an honor, that you have been chosen for. The Namowa Community is a society of women who live somewhere in the middle of the forest. Noone is quite sure where, no man has ever found them and surived. However once a year, for the Spring Equinox, a small selection of men are chosen for their White Night. These men are the strongest, bravest, fiercest, and often smartest warriors, noble and peasent alike. They are chosen from all over for their 'task'. Oh it is an honor you were chosen"

"What task?" asked Jerrard, "and why is it called White Night?"

"It is called White Night because you will be presented to a girl who will be dressed in all white. This is to symbolize her purity. The men are then taken to a special tent by their girl, and must spend 14 days with them, and then are returned home."

"14 days?"

"Something about the moon. I believe, if I remember correctly, they worship a moon goddess."

"So I'm to spend 14 days with a girl, and then at the end of it just go home? What happens if she conceives during this time? I get stuck supporting some whiny women and a child for the rest of my life? And when I do marry, that woman is going to remember every day that I had a child with another woman, and our children will have to worry that this illegitimate half sibling of theirs might someday harm them, in order to become ruler?"

King Jarrett laughed. "You will probably never know if the woman you were with does concieve. After you are returned you won't see that woman ever again, most likely never see the Community again. As for any child that could possibly result as of this night, if it is a girl it is kept and raised in their community; if it is a boy, it is either traded in one of the neighboring villages for a baby girl, or.."he paused and shifted uncomfortably.

"Or.."Jarrard prompted.

"Well there has been tales of babies being left in the forest, but that doesn't happen very often, many villagers are only to willing to take a boy child of the Namowa Community, for there is only a slim chance that he will grow up to be small and weak."

Jarrard was beginning to like the sound of things. "So when do I go?" he asked.

King Jarrett laughed. "At the Spring Equinox, in two weeks." he replied; "so be ready."