Bride of the Sea (The Prophecy of Sisters #2) - Hayley Faiman Page 0,36
I find out that they aren’t that little. Sylvi is twenty and Oili is eighteen.
“Aaric has arranged for their marriages, they will be leaving in a few months’ time,” Runa translates.
“But they’re so young,” I gasp.
The seeress translates to them what I’ve said while she continues to fiddle with my hair. The girls let out cute girlish giggles.
“They aren’t. Most girls are married by fifteen, at the latest. Aaric has taken his time, ensuring that they have a good life after their parents died. He has also given them the childhood and a life of no worries for as long as he could. It is time,” Runa murmurs.
I want to ask a million questions, but I decide not to. Instead, I think about what I want to say and choose my words wisely.
“Are they happy with the choice?” I decide to ask.
Both girls nod enthusiastically. “Mine is a handsome warrior from Faraway Isle, he is the head of the army,” Sylvi says through Runa’s translation.
Oili is a bit slower to give her answer and she is not as enthusiastic. “The man that Aaric has chosen for me is very handsome. He is strong and brave, but I’m afraid to be so far away from everyone. He is from Vanishing Isle,” the seeress translates.
Pressing my lips together, I can’t help but think of how strategic Aaric’s plan was. His brother lives on Serene Reef, his sister, Faraway Isle and his other sister, Vanishing Isle. I don’t know how many other places are part of his kingdom, but it seems as if he’s placing his family on all of them. All except his brother, Fiske.
The girls are scooted out of the room a few moments later when it is time for me to put on my dress. Runa and Hillevi help me. I’m thankful for their help, but I know that it will not last long, a few days until I’m acclimated to my new life, then they will need to do their own thing.
Turning my head, I look back over my shoulder at Runa. “There is no way you can send me back?” I ask in a hushed tone.
Runa’s eyes widen and she shakes her head. “I cannot interfere with the gods’ fate, Liv. I would not.”
I let out a sigh, of course she wouldn’t and the seeress can’t. Basically, I’m fucked. I’m being forced to marry this douchebag who thinks I’m some dried up old hag now that he knows I’m thirty-one and not twenty-one.
“You look like a goddess,” the seeress says with a small smile.
Shaking my head, I try not to let my eyes fill with tears. I am sad, really fucking sad that this is how things have turned out. I don’t have a choice.
My choices have been stripped from me.
Although I’m about to become a queen, I have a feeling that the price for all the luxuries that I’m about to have, is going to be too high to pay.
Aaric doesn’t want me, and I’ve read enough history books to know what kings do when they don’t want their wives. That Isolda will wiggle her way back into his bed. He’ll cheat and I’ll be shuffled off to some little cabin at the edge of the woods to live a solitary life and become a crazy Viking-type cat lady.
AARIC
Pressing my lips together, I look over to Hagen. His expression is dark and hesitant all at once. I know that he has some bad news to give me, but I’m just not sure what it could be. His gaze shifts to Kjeld, then back to mine.
“There could be a problem, Aaric,” he rumbles.
Arching a brow, I don’t respond, instead I wait to see what he is going to tell me. “Your bride is asking Runa for help in returning to her home,” Hagen rasps.
Immediately, I stand, narrowing my eyes on him as if it is his fault. He is only the messenger and I should not be angry with him, but I am.
“The völva and the seeress did not agree with her demand. Runa outright refused, but Aaric, I worry that she is not stable.”
He is right. She is from the gods, sent to me from another world. I do not know anything about her, aside from the way her skjede and mouth taste. Then there’s the little fact that she is over the age of thirty. How the gods could have sent her to me, I do not understand.