dressed.
A short while later, the three of us leave the cabin and begin our trek down to the village. It’s about a half hour walk, and I’m worried Isla will get too cold or over-tired. We have no idea what the terrain was like where she lived before, so I’m not sure if she’s used to the elevation up here in the mountains. It’s pretty obvious she’s not used to snow. She looks like a newborn calf every time she steps foot in it.
“Maybe I should just carry her,” I say to Caelan when Isla falls down for the second time.
My brother laughs and grins down at our wife fondly as he helps her up. “She looks so happy though. Besides, she’s going to have to get used to the snow sooner or later.”
She does look happy, and her excitement is contagious. Once she realized we were leaving the house, she lit up and started babbling away in her confusing language. I’m certain she’s wondering where we’re going, but I have no idea how to begin explaining. Cael just talks to her normally like he would anyone else, even though she can’t understand a word he says. Reule seems to know how to communicate with her the best so far, but I’m sure that’s only because Isla’s spent the most time with him.
I’ve never been great with words. Even if Isla could understand me, I have no idea how I would explain who Runa is to us or that we’re going to the village I grew up in before I became a Guardian. It’s always bittersweet visiting my childhood home, even while it’s comforting knowing that my old family is close by in case they ever need anything.
When Isla falls down again, giggling the entire time, I give Caelan a look. He smiles at her and chuckles. “On second thought, it will probably take us all day to get to the village at this pace.”
I crouch down in front of Isla and awkwardly gesture for her to climb onto my back. I would cradle her to my chest, but I’m worried that might seem too forward. I’m still not even sure if I should be touching her much at all until she’s more comfortable with us.
Isla climbs onto my back without any hesitation and leans forward to kiss my cheek. I’m grinning like an idiot as I stand up and settle my hands under her knees to keep her stable. When I catch Caelan’s eye, I expect him to tease me, but he’s grinning just as widely as I am. I think this might be the happiest I’ve ever seen my brother.
“She’s incredible, isn’t she?” Caelan walks beside me, reaching out to stroke Isla’s hair.
Her arms are wrapped around my neck and her legs are around my waist, and I’m warm all over from feeling her body against mine. I nod in agreement. “We’re really lucky. I thought she’d be angry or distant with us. Do you think she feels the effects from the bond the same way we do?”
Cael hums thoughtfully. “I think so. She definitely felt it last night, right? I want to make her happy more than anything in the world, and I know you and our brothers feel the same. I’m sure Isla feels that about us too, at least a little.”
Part of me is glad for it, but mostly I hope Isla might someday fall in love with us because of us and not just the magic bonding us together.
As if he can read my mind, Caelan grins at me again and says, “Don’t get me wrong, we’re still incredibly lucky. If she’s feeling the slightest effects from the bond, that means she’s accepted the bond. I’m sure that’s why some of the Guardians in other kingdoms have so many issues with their wives—because their wives never fully accepted them or the bond, and they continue to fight against it. Isla may have been brought here against her will, but she’s embracing us and our world. Our wife is an amazingly strong woman.”
I ponder over my brother’s words and realize he’s right. Hearing stories about some of the other Guardians’ wives has always been the biggest reason we’ve held back from claiming a wife for ourselves. In our closest neighboring kingdoms, they have a sort of lottery system where a girl is chosen from a drawing and given to the Guardians on Guardians’ Night when the Beasts’ Moon is present. It’s easy to understand why