Talya and Yutton arrived at Harkon Hall not around the back of the island like the night she had slipped away and been reunited with her sister, but instead right up to the main dock. Truth be told it was the only one that was still in good repair. The family had to have at least one suitable mooring when their Blackwell landlords came to call.
Perhaps the Harkons supposed that's who was approaching when they first saw the sail in the distance. It wasn't time for the semi annual visit to collect whatever tribute might be had but the Blackwells might have gotten wind of Talya's disappearance and then they would surely have a thing or two to say about the second Harkon daughter to flee the family island.
It was Harron who met them with his largest female norcog pulling at her leash. "Back, Brona! Let them down the gangplank." He grinned crookedly at his sister. "I have to admit I never thought we'd see you again and with…"
"My husband." Talya supplied the moniker. "Yutton and I were married on Bralyk Keep. We've just come to tell everyone."
Yutton held out a hand to his new brother-in-law and Harron shook it, still staring in wonder before he remembered his manners and motioned for them to follow him back up to the house.
…
To Talya the house felt even colder than she remembered, even colder than the outside weather that had definitely taken a chilly winter turn. She had known that there wouldn't be much to offer her new husband to welcome him.
He acted like he didn't care a bit about any of that. They had already given him what he wanted most in the world. He beamed at Talya as if she was a precious jewel.
"Auntie Talya!" Betha ran to her and nearly knocked her down with a hug. "Guess what! Momma said I'm going to be a big sister!"
"Are you really?" She acted surprised for the little girl as Dalla entered the sitting room.
It was impossible for her sister-in-law to hide the fact now that she was indeed pregnant again. She looked tired but she smiled when she saw that Talya had succeeded in making her match and catching herself a husband who obviously adored her. "It's good to see you." Dalla kissed her on the cheek and then dropped into a slight curtsy. "Welcome, Lord Bralykburn."
"Oh, none of that's necessary." Yutton took Dalla's hand awkwardly. "We're all family."
"Did I hear you say family?" Mother bustled in then and at the sight of her daughter returned and at the side of the Bralykburn heir she pressed her handkerchief to her face and burst into tears.
Talya rushed to her side. "That's right, Mother. We came home to tell you and that…" she looked back at Yutton wondering if she should even mention it and then pressed on, "We've seen Sanya."
The Harkon matriarch dropped into a chair in shock and fanned herself with her handkerchief. Herron and Dalla descended on her in case she swooned and needed to be revived.
"Well this certainly is a day for surprises." Dalla attempted to continue a normal conversation.
Herron's voice was more callus. "How is our dear sister?" He hadn't spoken much of Sanya since her disappearance, choosing, like mother, to pretend that their youngest sibling had died or had never been there to begin with.
"She seemed… well." Talya was flustered now and didn't know exactly how to explain.
Yutton tried to help. "She met with a… small accident and was injured but seemed to be recovering well. She and Jamos Blackwell were talking about following us here for a visit."
"Blackwell?" Mother gave a visible shiver. "Your sister is in the company of your intended?"
"Mother, he's not my…" Talya blushed and then pressed on. "Sanya and Jamos have formed an… attachment. They've been sailing together for quite some time."
Herron perked up at that. "If she finally delivered his ship to him, then Lord Blackwell can't hold the theft of it over father's head anymore!" He smiled at his wife and she rubbed her belly.
Talya didn't think it was the time to bring up the fact that it was her twin sister who really wore the pants in that relationship. Something else was bothering her. "Where is father?" She asked with apprehension. "I would have thought it would be him who came to meet our boat at the dock."
Yutton squeezed her hand as they waited for the answer. The happy expressions from a moment before had melted from the faces of all three.
"He's surely in his workshop," Betha piped up with childlike innocence. "Grandpapa likes it there."
"Your father has spent most of his time tinkering away down there since you left." Mother looked at her hands clasped in her lap and then glanced up at her daughter, trying to smile. "Perhaps now that you have returned with such good news he'll see fit to join his family in the Hall once again."
The workshop was down by the old shipwright's warehouses off the docks. They weren't attached to the manor house at all.
Herron seemed to read her thoughts. "I go down and check on him often enough, bring him meals and ask him if he'd like to come back up and join us in the dining room. He says he's too busy. He's made a bed for himself on the sofa in his office. I was down there when I saw your ship come in but I didn't want to tell him in case it was the Blackwells coming with more demands."
Dalla stood suddenly. "Betha, why don't we go and practice your music lessons so you can play something for Auntie Talya and Uncle Yutton after supper."
"But momma, my hands are cold." The child rubbed them together.
Dalla ushered her out. "Playing will warm them up."
Lady Harkon shook her head and waited to speak till her daughter-in-law and granddaughter were out of earshot. "It gets awfully cold in your father's workshop as well."
Talya glanced up at her new husband, silently asking him what they could do to help.
Yutton nodded with a reassuring smile. "Why don't I take my ship and sail to the Fartrad's to retrieve a load of fuel?"
Herron was glad his wife and daughter had left the room. "I thank you but we couldn't possibly afford it."
"I'll pay for it," Yutton insisted. "After all we're family now and…" He squeezed Talya's hand once again. She was wearing the warm green dress he had given her on the journey to the Keep along with a fur coat that was a wedding present. He wished he had thought to bring more for his Mother-in-law and sister-in-law and niece. "I won't have my family suffer if I can help it."
"Salt gods, bless you!" Talya's mother cried.
…
Talya resisted pulling up the collar of her coat against the chill. She didn't want her husband to worry about her while he was away on his errand. He cupped her cheek and she leaned against his gloved hand.
"You'll be back soon and I can't thank you enough for doing this for my family," she told him.
"They're my family as well." Yutton would do anything for this woman who had captured his heart. "We'll make sure that they have the supplies they need and then we'll go home to the Keep."
She nodded. "And perhaps Sanya and Jak will have arrived by then." Talya still hoped that her sister might have taken her advice and that she might see her again. They hadn't parted on the best terms.
Yutton was not in such a hurry to see either the captain or the quartermaster of the Bloody Galia but he didn't voice his personal opinion on the subject or his doubt that Sanya would ever set foot on any one of the family islands ever again if she could help it. Instead he changed the subject. "Spend some time with your father. Surely seeing you will cheer him right up. I know I should stay and speak to him myself…"
"When you've returned with the supplies," Talya interrupted. "He can't help but approve of our marriage when he sees how you are willing to provide for me."
"And for our family." He looked deeply into her eyes and she blushed at his intensity. They both knew that it was essential to provide an heir to house Braylkburn as soon as they were able. Seeing Herron and Dalla with their daughter and expecting again brought the fact to the forefront of both of their thoughts. And although they both enjoyed the process that entailed, it would have been nice to just spend some time learning to be husband and wife first.
And now he had to leave so soon after their vows had been said. He bent down and kissed her deeply before resting his forehead against hers. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I love you." Talya breathed the words.
He gazed at her for a moment before he repeated. "I-I love you."
Neither of them were sure if having said it made it harder or easier to let go and have him sail away.
…
"Papa?" Talya had knocked on the door of Lord Harkon's workshop but there was no answer. It was unlocked so she opened it and cautiously let herself in.
He was circling his drawing table. A mess of flimsi plans were spread out over the surface. He seemed to be busily studying the project from every angle with great interest but he looked up at the sound of her voice and grinned a boyish grin. "Sanya! You're just in time! I know this is your favorite part!"
"Papa, it's me Talya. I'm sorry I went away with so little notice but I'm back now and I have something wonderful to tell you."
He gestured for her to come and look at the plans on the table as though he hadn't heard what she said. "I think you were right about repositioning the mast, my girl. Come. Come look at this!"
She stepped forward but she really had no idea about anything he was trying to show her and his manner disturbed her. "It's a very fine design, Papa but I wanted to tell you about why I left and what's happened. I got married, Papa. Yutton Bralykburn agreed to marry me and everything is going to be alright now."
The man glanced up at her, confused for a moment, his brow creased. He looked so much older than he had even a few weeks ago. And then his features slipped into that vague humor again. He patted her hand. "You needn't worry about your engagement, Sanya dear. We'll just enjoy our little project and take that as it comes, Aye?"
He didn't wait for her to answer and went excitedly back to the plans. He was talking about ropes and sails and deck planking.
"Papa?" She tried again. "I'm Talya. I've seen Sanya. I hope she'll be coming for a visit soon, but I'm here now. I was away for a few weeks but I'm back now and my husband, Yutton, is going to get fuel and supplies for the winter."
"Supplies! Aye! We'll need to see about a good strong timber for this mast!" He made a scribble on the flimsi with his stylus. He didn't know her at all.
Salt gods! She prayed silently. Please come back, Nya!
…
Talya couldn't just go straight back to the house after her visit to Papa's workshop. She walked the paths for a while remembering the days when she and Sanya used to play here as children, back then they had been inseparable and she had been sure they always would be. Back then this was the only home she had ever known and she couldn't imagine ever leaving the island.
Now she had a husband of her own and he was the one she couldn't stand the thought of being parted from. She looked out over the waves but the sail of his ship was already out of sight over the horizon. When he returned as he said he would, as soon as possible, he had promised to take her away to their new home.
Anywhere with Yutton felt like home now however. Their cabin on his ship had been like an oasis for them to share. And even though she knew the importance of giving him an heir, she hoped that they might just remain the two of them for a while.
Dalla cornered her as soon as she entered the Hall just as Talya had known she would. "You know I didn't really believe that this little plan of yours would work but you've surprised me, dear sister."
"I think we'll be very happy together." Talya agreed.
"Now you just have to set about getting pregnant so that you can hang on to him. You are doing all the things I told you about, aye?"
"Well, I guess so…" Talya cleared her throat, uncomfortably. "It hasn't been that long, just our wedding night and sailing here from the Keep. But we said our vows before witnesses. I really don't think he would…"
"He's a man." Dalla rolled her eyes. "They're all the same: short attention spans. What did you tell him when he left on his little mission?"
Talya hardly wanted to admit it to her sister-in-law. "I told him I loved him."
"Hmm…" Dalla paced, rubbing her belly and visualizing the way the couple had acted for the short time she had seen them together. "That could go either way if he's unsure, that might have been moving a bit too fast. Could have scared him away or you might have just sealed the deal."
"He said he loved me, too." Talya asserted, or maybe she was just trying to convince herself. She hadn't doubted his words for a moment until Dalla had said something. "He said he would be back soon and that we would be going home to the Keep after we made sure that the family here were taken care of."
Dalla turned to her with a smile and grasped her shoulders. "Of course, he could have already made you pregnant and then it wouldn't matter if he came back immediately or not."
"Do you really think he might not come back?" This possibility on top of the recently obtained knowledge of her father's downward spiral was almost too much.
"Well he'll have to eventually if you were lawfully married before the salt gods and family witnesses like you said, even if you're not carrying his heir yet. As I said it would be best if you were." She paced away and looked as if she were calculating. Then she spun back with a curious gleam in her eyes. "Did your sister actually stand up with you as your family witness?"
"She did." And then whether because she actually cared or because she was so starved for any sort of gossip from of shore of the island where they had so long been under siege, Dalla sat in rapt attention while Talya told her the whole story about Sanya answering the signal that she had meant for Yutton and then Sanya impersonating her twin so that she could try to go to his ship and murder him.
"And after all that he still took you to the salt formation?" Dalla asked a bit wistfully. She was rubbing her belly and perhaps remembering her own long ago girlhood fantasies about a lover coming to carry her away from all of her family obligations.
"He had everything prepared." Talya nodded with a smile. "I was whisked off to the dressmakers as soon as I arrived on the island. And she fit me into a lovely gown before Sanya and Jak walked me to the salt formation where Yutton was waiting with the minister and Lord Braylkburn. We didn't have to ask the way because nearly the entire town lined the streets to cheer and welcome me."
"Jak? You mean Jamos Blackwell, your betrothed? He practically gave you away to another man?" Dalla leaned forward in her chair.
"Aye. I've always thought he would be a better match for Nya than for me. And I was right. He loves her. They…" she lowered her voice to utter the scandalous words. "They had been sharing her cabin for months."
" Her cabin you say? And you called it her ship and her crew!" Dalla could hardly come to grips with the notion. "They've been together for months and he never assumed command? What exactly is his situation aboard this floating…" she sought for a word, "brothel?"
"Oh, it's not that!" Talya hurried to amend. "It's all very organized and democratic. Jamos or Jak rather is what they call a quartermaster. He's something like her first mate. He was voted into the position. I don't think Nya cared for the idea in the beginning but after they…" she blushed.
"Became lovers?" Dalla supplied and urged her sister-in-law to continue.
"Aye, after that, he moved his things into her cabin and the rest of the crew didn't see anything wrong with it."
Dalla fanned herself with her hand even in the chilly room. "They must surely be a swarthy band of pirates to allow such a thing."
"One of them was a woman who used to be a… a lady of the night." Talya had never been the storyteller her sister was but she was warming to the occupation. "She joined the crew so that she could escape that life and Sanya made a rule that none of the men were to bother her. But she and the on board nurse, his name is Jon. They're always making eyes at each other when they think the other isn't looking." She giggled girlishly.
"Can you imagine," Dalla sighed, "leaving everything and just sailing away."
I will when my husband returns, Talya thought to herself. It didn't matter what her sister-in-law suspected of him. Talya was sure that Yutton loved her and he would be back on the next tide.