This chapter goes out to Yutton Bralykburn. (and to my friend who has a birthday today, you know who you are :) )
might be a little wordier than usual but it's National Novel Writing Month so gotta hit that 50,000 words!
Yutton was torn by the proposition of racing his ship ahead of the Bloody Galia to make landfall at the Keep before the other craft. For one he wanted to have everything prepared for his bride. He had set things in motion before he had answered Talya Harkon's distress call knowing that she wouldn't be bringing much with her from the Hall. Even with the short notice he wanted her to have the wedding of a young girl's dreams. Not that he had any idea what that might be but he did have a vague assumption that young girls did set a store of hopes about such things from a young age. At least most girls would. He doubted that Sanya Harkon had anything in her head other than pillaging and violence.
His own bruises had faded during the sea journey towards the Keep but his lip that she had split still felt tender and he was thankful that those little fury filled fists had not managed to break his nose. The only good thing that had come from running into both of the Harkon sisters on his rescue mission, he surmised, was that Talya would have a proper family witness when they went to the salt formation to say their vows.
The both of them however, Talya and Sanya were at this moment on that other ship. Sanya was a piece of work but she was captain of that ship. Her men were loyal to her and only her injuries were keeping her from taking to the deck and ordering that they turn in the opposite direction from Bralyk Keep and taking his bride with them. He was convinced that Talya did want to honor their agreement but what if her sister wanted to 'rescue' her from another marriage opportunity?
He just had to have faith that Talya would stand up to her rogue twin and convince the rest of the crew to continue on to their destination. He called over to the other deck with an amplification trumpet saying that his crew were going to set their sails for more speed to reach the Keep ahead of them.
Then Talya herself called back from the Bloody Galia and his heart squeezed in his chest at the sound of her sweet voice. "We'll be along to follow you soon."
Now being out of sight of the other vessel he could only think of her voice, the touch of her hand, the way she looked in the dress he had given her with the stays pulled tight over her thin frame. Thin she might be from harsh living the last couple of years at the Hall but she still had the curves of a woman that hadn't been present when he attended the twins twelfth birthday. He thought of how his large hands could probably span her narrow waist.
He had a better idea now, having seen her in the dress he had already chosen, of what to tell the seamstress at the Keep about constructing a wedding dress. He wanted her to have something new and beautiful for the occasion although he was sure she would have looked amazing even if she had been forced to borrow something from her sister's wardrobe.
He would make sure she never had to resort to that. That was part of the reason he wanted to arrive ahead of his bride to the island. That and he had to check the progress of the work he had set the Flint masons to.
When the Blackwells had employed the Flint masons to a project a couple of generations ago it had been for a much darker purpose. Yutton and some of the older boys, before they had been suckered into that knife throwing competition all those years ago, had gone out to see the Blackhold sea stairs. The one way flight had supposedly led the entire Shechel clan ceremoniously to the salt gods. At the time they had all laughed and teased and pretended to push each other into the deep. But their joking had only been to cover their horror at the idea of the slaughter that had taken place.
Yutton's masonry project also led to the salt gods in a way but the intent was entirely different. He had commissioned a bridge that would cross the Bralykburn, the river from which their family had taken their name. Or perhaps the river was named after the family, he wasn't sure. The Keep castle was on one side of the river and the island's salt formation was on the other. Soon he would lead his bride to that salt formation to say their vows and if the work was completed as he certainly hoped it was, she wouldn't have to dampen a single toe.
It was all for Talya. And it was the sort of lasting construction that would outlive them. Their children's children's children would walk across this bridge and remember the consideration that Yutton Bralykburn had shown for his wife before they had even sworn their lives to each other.
Their children. He swallowed hard at the idea of making those children with her. She was beautiful and she was passionate and she was loyal. She would make an indominable Lady of Bralyk Keep, the only one he had ever considered.
He was down the gangplank before the ship had been tied off at the dock and raced through the town. First to the wine merchants because it happened to be on the way. He didn't go into the story of how the first bottle he purchased there had been smashed. He only asked for something more innocent and flavorful, not with a great alcohol content to make her think he was trying to intoxicate her, just something for the inexperienced wine drinker to enjoy with a light meal. He paid for the bottle with a smile and hurried on to his next stop.
He hardly wanted to put his unwashed hands on the fabric the dressmaker held out for him to inspect but she insisted he feel its softness. Talya would float like sea foam in such a garment. And he was assured it would be ready for a fitting as soon as she arrived.
He took the path north of the town to see the progress on the bridge before he made his way up to the castle and could not have been more pleased to see the last of the gleaming white stones being fitted into place. Yutton clapped the mason in charge on the shoulder and thanked him personally for the hard work in the time constraints he'd been given.
"So where's the girl?" Lord Bralykburn snidely welcomed his son.
"She's on her way. Her sister's ship should be docking on the evening tide."
"Oh ho! You've managed to get both of the tookas to follow you home. Well, if Blackwell didn't want to give them to the pair of his sons maybe you could just take both!"
Yutton wasn't really listening. At least he didn't honor the comment with a response. He was already headed up the stairs to his rooms.
In no galaxy would he ever want both of Harkon twins. He would content himself with a visit from Sanya if it meant that Talya could have a family witness at their wedding and if it made her happy after being parted for so long. Surely sweet Talya would have had enough of the nexu her twin had become by the time they arrived on Bralyk Keep.
And then he remembered what he had promised his bride to be, that he would apologize to Sanya for punching her in the face. Damn it to Dxun! Why did he have to promise that?
He had promised because he would do anything in the galaxy for Talya Harkon. She was his guiding star. He was sure now that she always had been. And just a few days ago when he had held her hand… he had wanted so badly to pull her more tightly into his arms and kiss her beautiful lips and he would tonight but only if she was ready.
Yutton turned the shower water from hot to cold as the thoughts nearly drowned him in expectation of consummating the vows they were about to proclame to one another.
They had hardly spent any time together. And he hadn't been lying when he told her he would have liked to court her properly. They could still do it that way he supposed. Of course they did need to say their vows as soon as possible. The announcement must go out to the entire north that Talya Harkon and Yutton Bralykburn were wed in the eyes of the salt gods and the appropriate witnesses.
But after that they could take things more slowly. He could provide her with her own room if that's what she wished. They could take walks. He could show her around the island that would be her home, introduce her to her new domain as the Lady of the Keep. And then when she was comfortable with her new home and with him then and only then would he suggest that they lie together as husband and wife.
He never should have even dreamed of sharing a cabin with her on the ship on the way here. It was a scandal and an insult to her good name. He should have slung that hammock up with the crew. That would have been the gentlemanly thing to do. He promised himself that in the future he would always attempt to see to her thoughts and wishes ahead of his own.
That done, he donned his best suit of clothes glancing out his bedroom window at the position of the sun and then at the chrono on his bedside table. The evening tide would be coming in soon and with it… Talya.
He ran from his room and down the stairs, stopping only for a brief detour in the kitchen to wrap a piece of cold luncheon meat in a piece of brown bread to eat on his way to the dock. He ran into the cook who had always had a soft spot for the heir of the Keep.
"Slow down, now. You'll choke yourself."
"She's on her way, Mason." Yutton grinned. With the cook he could show his true feelings more than he ever could with his father. "Will everything be in readiness for after the ceremony?"
"Of course, young master. You don't worry yourself about a thing. Just make sure and bring her 'round to meet us all once the rest of the necessaries have been satisfied." He raised an eyebrow meaningfully.
A bit of color might have risen to Yutton's cheeks but he ducked out of the kitchen with an, "I will." before anyone could notice.
He did slow down marginally as he exited the castle and made his way back through the town to the dock. As Mason the cook had said, he didn't want to choke on the afternoon before his wedding, and he didn't want to allow any of the crumbs to fall on his clean suit, and he didn't want to trip and go sprawling into the dirt before he met his bride and soil her first impression of the island.
Yutton raced to the dock as first one than another villager passed on the news that the Bloody Galia was pulling into the port. It was a sight to be seen and Yutton wasn't the only curious spectator to be heading that direction.
He rode the tide of curious gawkers. That is until someone in the multitude recognized the lord's son. They had all heard the rumors by now of why this particular ship was arriving at their island. So the crowd began to part and they made way for the groom to meet his bride.
Was that her at the rail hoping for her first glimpse of her husband?
She disappeared as the ship came up to the dock and there was a flurry of activity on board with the crew throwing over lines, making fast sails, and lowering the gang plank. And then there she was ready to disembark, Talya Harkon in the green fleece dress Yutton had purchased for her.
He panicked for a moment wondering if it was really Sanya in disguise again. But then he remembered that he had given "the Knife" a few distinguishing features the last time they had met.
Talya appeared small and scared as she first looked out over the sea of faces but then she caught Yutton's gaze at the front of the crowd and her countenance brightened. The sun seemed to break through the clouds just at that moment and bathed her in light. As she descended to the dock she was like an angelic messenger being sent directly from the salt gods.
His heart caught in his throat and he didn't know if he would be able to answer her when she said softly, "Hello."
Yutton wouldn't have been able to hear her if a hush had not fallen over the assembly. He gathered his thoughts, cleared his throat, and prepared to return her greeting and welcome her to the island, to her new home. And then just as he opened his mouth another female, with hat pulled low over her bruised face, shoved her way between them and deposited an armload of cloth into his arms which he had just stretched out to take Talya's hands in his.
"Here," Sanya announced gruffly, "I won't be needing this anymore."
"Sanya!" her twin called after her with angry tears beading at the corners of her eyes for the offence.
"I'm going to get a drink!" Captain Harkon called back. "You can send someone for me when you need your witness!"
They watched speechless as Jamos Blackwell ran after her. And then Yutton looked down. The stench almost overpowered his senses. It was the dress that Sanya had borrowed when she impersonated her twin and attempted to murder him. It was still covered in her dried blood and puke. And after all the work he had gone to to clean himself up for his reunion with his bride.
"I'm sorry," Talya and Yutton said almost in unison and then some sainted soul gestured to take his unpleasant burden so that he could resume his conversation. He was never sure quite who it was but the people of the dockside town of the island of Bralyk Keep were all happy for his finally finding the woman who would be their Lady.
Even devested of his handful, Yutton still hesitated to reach out to Talya with soiled hands. He brushed them against his now not so clean suit of clothes but again his intended surprised him by looking past the filth and taking one of his hands in hers.
"I'm glad to finally be here."
For a moment he couldn't speak he only stared at the small pale hand in his own. Then he smiled. "I'm so glad… I have so much to show you and I have everything planned but first I should really get cleaned up and you'll probably want to too. But first well… come with me."
She uttered a small nervous giggle in response and nodded, "Aye."
It made his heart do flip flops in his chest.
Again the crowd parted and allowed them to pass but neither the bride nor the groom seemed to notice their following. They were too busy staring at each other.
He led her to the dressmaker who's nose wrinkled when she saw the state of Yutton's once spotless suit of clothes. She gestured with a nod of her head to where the groom could find a place to clean up and change into something more suitable.
Yutton really didn't want to leave Talya's side now that they were together and she looked a little worried to be left among strangers as well. Still it was traditional that the groom not see the bride in her dress before the wedding and he wanted her to have as proper a wedding as possible. "I hope you like what I picked out."
"I'm sure it will be lovely. I already know you have wonderful taste." She took the skirt of the green dress she was wearing between her delicate fingers and gave a little twirl.
"And I'd say you judged the size very closely as well. I'll hardly have to do any alterations." The seamstress smiled before she shooed Yutton away.
"I'll see you at the salt formation then?" He asked Talya with a measure of hesitation.
"I'll be there."
…
Yutton was hesitant to enter the pub after he had just cleaned himself up for the second time that day but when he saw the faces of the men sitting at the tables around the dining room he was sure they would take the side of their lord's son rather than the uppity female who sat at the bar. She didn't seem to notice the hostility that surrounded her but then maybe she was used to that sort of thing as the only female captain to ever sail the Onderonian northern sea.
"Sanya Harkon," Yutton called out.
"Aye?" she answered without turning to look at him.
"Your sister is at the dressmaker and will need to be escorted to meet me at the salt formation when she's ready." He said it as evenly and politely as he could under the circumstances.
She didn't speak, taking another swig of her drink.
It was Jamos Blackwell, sitting beside her, who looked back and forth between them and then responded for his captain, "We'll make sure she gets there."
Yutton gave a nod and then thinking of Talya's dream wedding again added. "If you'd like to change into something there as well…"
"I'm comfortable in what I've got on, thanks." Sanya emptied her mug and then turned on her stool to look at him. She removed her hat as if that was all the consideration he was going to get and her long red hair, so like Talya's, fell loose over her shoulders. It seemed she had at least had a bath in honor of her sister's special day but she wanted it plain, in that moment, before witnesses, exactly what the groom had done to her. The skin around her left eye was still dark purple and greenish though the swelling had gone down. And her right hand was still swathed in bandages.
The accusation was loud and clear without her having to utter a word. If he was capable of doing this to a woman, how was he going to treat his wife? It had long been rumored that his father was a wife beater. She had died rather young hadn't she, after only giving him one son? It wasn't much of a stretch to suggest that such a violent tendency might run in the family.
Yutton of course was nothing like his father. He would never lay a finger on Talya in anger. He would worship her like the goddess she was.
It was Sanya who was the special case. She had always wanted to be treated like a man so Yutton had behaved towards her like he would any other captain he might have a quarrel with, especially one who came between him and the woman he loved.
Still, Talya had asked him to apologize. She had made him promise, actually. Whether she was here to witness it or not he knew it was a matter of character and the telling of it would surely get back to her that he had kept his word.
Yutton swallowed down his pride, clenched his jaw and spoke. "I apologise for striking you. What began as self defense became… something more heated and I have no excuse. It won't happen again."
"Aye?" She uttered it as half a question with raised eyebrows. But seeing his sincerity and hearing her sister's side of things Sanya also decided to drown the hatchet. "Likewise," she mumbled grudgingly.
Jamos reached over to squeeze her shoulder in approval but she shrugged him off. What sort of relationship did those two have? Yutton wondered. It didn't take a genius to see who wore the pants.
He didn't comment. He only gave them a slight nod of a bow. "I'll see you both at the salt formation then, in about a standard hour?"
Sanya turned on her stool and went back to her empty mug gesturing for a refill.
Jamos spoke for the both of them, "Aye. We'll make sure the bride is there on time."