Memories Part Two
"You're going to be Selected," Thomas stated with dread.
Baron Humbert von Gikkingen blinked before turning from the carriage to look at his nine-year-old son. "That's not decided, my boy. There's a rough ten bachelors on our side that are being summoned; that's one tenth of a chance that I'll be Selected."
Little Elly's lip quivered in fear. "You won't let her be mean to us, will you, Father?" she begged. "Humans are so scary and angry when they come to live here!"
"Now, now," Baron laughed, waving his hand at the guard to assure him that he wasn't trying to make an escape before gathering his three children into his arms for a tight embrace. "Even if I'm Selected, I'll make certain whoever I bring home understands that you three are my jewels, and I will not tolerate anything but the best towards you."
Lillian wrapped an arm around her little sister's shoulders but looked just as worried as her siblings. "Please be safe, Father. Don't bring back a wicked stepmother."
"I promise I won't," he assured her, still acting perfectly calm as he collected one kiss each from his children. Then he forced himself into the carriage before the guards were obligated to tear him out of his family's arms.
It wouldn't be the first or last time they had done so, no matter how little they enjoyed the task of collecting every single noble of Bastet for the Selection.
At least the driver for the carriage was kind enough to stay silent until long after they were out of earshot of the baron's little ones. "You can't really guarantee that, you know," he noted over one shoulder as the guards rode around the carriage to discourage escape. "There is literally no way to predict who will be Selected."
"I know," Baron stated simply, letting his mask of calm cheerfulness fade into a worried frown. "But the chances are still low, and I'd rather run the risk of some human over Countess Sai any day. The children more than understand that."
The guard riding on his left shrugged. "Suit yourself, as long as it isn't me."
ooOoo
Everything was much the same as last time Baron was forced to come here. He remembered being absolutely terrified that the three months between his birthday and his late wife's had been just enough to keep them apart. He remembered feeling horrified and guiltily relieved when it was a grouchy viscount that had been forced to bring home a Human wife after five whole Selections of being determined to stay a bachelor.
At least this ceremony was only conducted once a decade, but he knew full well that all he could do was stay calm and dignified regardless of what happened.
They were at the border of the Human kingdom of Alsdea and the Cat kingdom of Bastet. Trees now disguised the fact that this soil had once been a battleground, but little could disguise the tall stone wall that marked the edges of the two kingdoms. There was a tall wide gate that kept the two kingdoms apart, though it was groaning with the urge to open and begin the ceremony.
The single women were wearing gowns that could easily do for a wedding dress, and on one side of a line made in the very stonework of the road leading up to the gate. The men were similarly dressed in finery, though it was clear to see who was prepared for The Selection and who had either made a run for it or had hoped to be forgotten. They were on the other side of the line, neatly compartmentalized so that the ritual could take as little time as possible.
"It's still not too late, Baron," Countess Sai hissed from her side of the line, though the chances of keeping the exchange private were hardly in her favor.
"I'm afraid it is," the lord countered without batting an eye or even glancing at his unwanted suitor. He once against sent up a prayer of thanks that as a man and a lord, it would take the king lounging on a nearby throne to force him into marrying the harpy.
Thankfully, even his king wasn't that cruel. While Countess Sai was lovely enough, it was hardly enough to convince him that she wouldn't become a wicked stepmother to his children the second his back was turned. Even if he had any interest in marrying again, he could pick a better wife if he was blindfolded.
The gate shuddered, forcing him to forget his troubles for now and straighten up his stance.
He may not care for humans, but there was no point in presenting anything less than his best manners.
The gate slowly rolled upward, revealing that instead of a single gate on their side, there was actually a separate gate on both sides of the wall to create what would be an open space with only one thing within.
He spared only a glance at the shabby well that had started the tradition before scoping out how many humans had been lined up in a similar fashion, with their men facing the Bastet women and vice versa.
Three men, seven women. The oldest male, he remembered from last time; clearly a grouchy bachelor similar to the duke that had taken the human bride last time. Another was in black and clearly in mourning, a recent widower. The third might have been an ambassador that didn't know he would be forced to participate in The Selection since his style of clothing was different than the other two, and was easily the most scared looking.
He wanted to do a similar inspection of the women, but his eyes were immediately drawn to what he could only guess was the youngest of the lot.
More than one Human tribute had admitted that it was a tradition to look as disheveled and unflattering as possible in hopes the well would notice and pass them over for a different woman, but this one didn't appear to know or care about the tradition. Her hairstyle was simple but elegant compared to the rat nests that surrounded her on either side, and there were no obvious marks of disarray or dismay to be seen. Even her gown was the perfect color to suit her complexion. Her face was a careful mask of emotionless patience, and her eyes…
Baron was a bit unnerved by her large brown eyes. It was surly his imagination, but her eyes seemed far too old for her face. They were as carefully guarded as she slowly took in the ten gentlecats on the Bastet side, resting on him at the end. In acknowledgement of their eyes meeting, she gave one slow, subtle nod before turning her attention to the well that would decide all. Baron swiftly did the same as he fought against the cold chill trying to crawl up his spine.
Something was not right about that girl.
The well had been foaming with grey mist, which grew after allowing each side a good long look at each other. The mist spilled out of the simple stonework before flowing out and touching each of the nobles on both sides by their feet or dress hems, as if a mere touch was all that was required to know everything about the potential tributes.
Without much warning, Countess Sai was lifted up as if by a giant fist made by the mist. "NO!" she wailed in despair, reaching out for Baron to help her, though he didn't lift a finger or move a single inch.
Instead, he watched with quiet satisfaction as the grouchy old man was also lifted up by a similar fist, roaring demands and clearly enraged that he hadn't been passed over again. The fists stood them side by side facing the Alsdean border, and the arms closest to each other briefly glowed gold before rings became forged onto their fingers.
Baron felt a great sense of relief that due to the Selection's rules, he'd never have to even look at Sai again, even if her husband died. She was now an Alsdean citizen in the eyes of both kingdoms.
The human girl he'd scrutinized before was the next one lifted into the air, but she did not struggle, didn't make so much as a sound. Instead of consternation, her mask fell away to reveal relief.
'She wanted to be Selected?!' Baron had just enough time to register before feeling a pressure on his legs and being lifted up in the air with the same gentleness as if Toto were taking him for another ride.
'Stay calm, don't panic,' he told himself, even as his heart raced almost loud enough to drown out Sai's second cry of chagrin. 'If she can be Selected with dignity, I can do the same.'
Not that it stopped him from feeling like a figurine one would put on top of a wedding cake, to be set on his feet next to the young woman that slightly terrified him while facing his homeland. The mist at the sides closest to each other turned gold, and he could feel a second ring brushing against the one his first wife had lovingly slipped onto his finger.
His second wife raised the hand to look at the simple gold band with delight. "It worked!" she breathed happily.
Baron blinked. "You wanted to be Selected?" he asked aloud, even though her strange behavior matched with the wish perfectly.
"I have my reasons that I'll be happy to explain in private. Shall we then?" she asked cheerfully while gesturing at the waiting carriages that were held ready a bit further down the road.
"Wait, you cheated!" a woman that wasn't one of the contestants wailed behind them, but his new bride barely blinked as she gently tugged on Baron's arm and her trunk was scooted across the border.
"No, he's mine! Mine!" Sai howled, making the lord agree to tuck his second wife's hand into a comfortable position on his arm and lead her to the carriages without a care about the chaos the former countess was instigating behind them.
"Would you happen to have any children I can be a doting aunt to?" the human asked hopefully.
Baron blinked, feeling a mixed amount of relief and trepidation. "Triplets, nine years old."
She beamed happily at the news. "That was my wicked stepmother that protested earlier. I promise that if your children find me lacking, I will make myself scarce as long as I have sewing supplies and access to books."
Baron struggled for words as he tried to keep up with how accommodating she was willing to be. "Our dialect is different from yours, but I'm sure a tutor won't be any trouble if you're unafraid of lessons."
"Fearless," she responded with a wide grin, so unlike how lifeless she had appeared before The Selection.
He helped her into the carriage they were directed to and closed the door after them. "I'm afraid my curiosity won't bear a wait. Why are you so eager to wed a Bastet stranger?" he asked in a tone that wasn't to be denied.
She gave him a relaxed smile. "I have done thorough research into the matter. There hasn't been a single child born to this kind of union since the first Selection."
He nodded, though confused as to why that was the deciding factor.
"Women in my family die in the first childbirth. It's been going on for over a century at the least."
Baron started at such morbid news. "If it happens with such regularity, why hasn't your line been allowed to stay celibate yet?"
"Because of The Selection, money and rank, never mind selfish grooms. If things aren't too different on your side, that should explain everything," she stated with a shrug, still grinning from ear to ear.
Baron shuddered as one of the guards fastened her trunk to the back of the carriage. "Not a single father or suitor in all that time cared enough to take precautions?"
"Obviously not. The idea of a husband that finds me physically repulsive and doesn't need or want any heirs from me is a dream come true. The only reason I made it to The Selection is because I deliberately arranged for my stepmother to get the idea that being Selected was the only thing worse than the predicament my line was already stuck with." At that, the young woman grinned wickedly. "She can't even claim I lied to her, because the maid swore she wouldn't tell a soul."
The orange cat stared at her. 'So that's why she was so careful with her expressions before.' "We can leave whenever it's convenient," he announced loud enough for the guards outside the carriage to hear.
Since it was clear that no guard was needed to prevent his Human bride's escape, the driver clicked his tongue and flicked the reins to take them away from the border.
Baron thought carefully over what to do next. He'd been well-instructed on what he's meant to do if the lot fell to him, and he hadn't felt like explaining that he took precautions of his own a long time ago. He glanced once at his nervous wife and decided that she would be thrilled to bend the rules a bit. He leaned closer to her since they were on opposite seats in the carriage and began whispering so that she'd also lean in to hear him.
"You can never tell a soul about this. When the physician told us my wife would have a difficult birth, I arranged for a potion that would render me sterile so that I wouldn't endanger her twice. I didn't care how many children she bore me, I wanted to raise them with her. While I am still bitter about losing her, I'm a bit more sympathetic to your plight as a result."
The woman looked ready to cry at his admission, but her eyes turned wide as he pulled a tiny vial from his breast pocket.
"Behold. The true reason no child has resulted from a marriage like ours, mostly a precaution. Everyone on our end is given one in case they're Selected. Since I'm already sterile, please consider this my wedding present."
She stared at the tiny vial in her hands like it was a treasure she could have never dreamed of imagining. "I just drink it?" she asked eagerly, making him nod.
"You'll feel lightheaded for a day's worth and have the same symptoms as a cold for a week, but you researched for yourself how effective this brew is. I have no intention of putting it to the test, but I'm sure the peace of mind will be well worth the side effects," Baron informed her.
In the time it took him to say it, the human had already unstopped the tiny vial and hungrily swallowed the contents. She didn't even make a face at how bitter the potion was.
"Thank you," she rasped, still smiling like she'd never done so before. "I'll never be able to match the gift you've given me, but I will try."
He smiled and gave her a formal bow from his seat. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Baron Humbert von Gikkingen. While I will love my first wife until the end of time, I think I will enjoy having you for a companion and helpmate."
Still beaming, she curtsied from her own seat. Her eyes still seemed too old for her face, but the vial had seemed to free her from a terrible weight. "The pleasure is all mine, my lord. I am Haru, daughter of Duke Hasho Yoshioka, and I will be delighted to be both companion and helpmate."