his head and takes a step closer to the door. “Shut up, Cael. You know she needs stuff, and it makes the most sense to start there.”
I throw my arm around Isla’s shoulders and go to open the front door. As I turn the handle, I look back at Audun with an asinine smile and wink. “Never said I was complaining, brother.”
The last thing I’m expecting when I finally open Runa’s front door and step out onto the porch with Isla is the deafening sound of cheering and applause. I nearly stumble in surprise and blink several times as I slowly take in the crowded street in front of Runa’s house. In the short hour we’ve spent here, the main street of the village has become crowded with vendors and food carts, and it looks like nearly every single resident of the village is here to celebrate.
Audun looks even more dumbstruck than I do as he stumbles out behind us. Marieke closes the door behind herself and laughs merrily when she sees the crowd. “Wow, word certainly travels quickly! The festival wasn’t supposed to start until later this evening!”
A smile slowly forms across my face. I’ve vastly underestimated the people of Briya, it seems. I suppose I knew there would be some speculation once people realized we’d finally taken a wife, but I had no idea everyone would be this excited.
“Me?” Isla taps her chest and grins as she peers up and down the crowded street.
She’s so damn confident and completely adorable. She looks excited at the prospect of being the center of attention. Any other person would be confused or terrified to deal with something like this in a world where they don’t even know the language.
“Yes,” I say. I pull her even closer to me and proudly lead her down the steps of the porch and into the street. “They’re celebrating you, beautiful.”
“We only spoke to that one couple on the way here,” Audun mutters in disbelief. Marieke laughs from beside him, staying a few steps behind us.
People bow in respect and congratulate us as we walk by. Some of the elder people in the crowd even weep with joy. Nobody touches us, and they give us plenty of room to walk. Isla smiles and says hello to every person she sees. I doubt anyone realizes it’s one of the only Briyan words she knows, and it brings me so much joy to see her interacting with people and to see them look at her with so much admiration.
Marieke gives us directions to the first shop, which isn’t far from her house. It takes forever to get there with all the people and commotion in the streets though, even though they’re moving out of our way. A few people are brave enough to approach us, and some of them offer flowers to Isla. There are only a few types of flowers in bloom since it’s winter, but Isla accepts them all with a grateful smile. Audun offers to carry them for her once she has enough to make a bouquet.
Everyone is careful to keep their eyes averted submissively. Even though it’s clear the people from this village are ecstatic for us, and elated to have a Queen of Beasts to worship alongside us, they’re still anxious and wary in our presence. I wonder if Isla notices or not.
When we finally reach the first shop, I take a quick look around for any sign of Mal or Reule. I thought they’d have met up with us by now, especially considering how much time we spent having breakfast and cleaning the house before leaving and how much time we spent at Runa’s. I’m sure Isla is wondering where they are too. She’s asked about them a few times. As much as I joked around with my brothers that I was going to be Isla’s favorite, it’s a relief to know she’s still thinking of them while she’s spending time with me and Audun.
The shop is vacant of any customers when we enter. I quickly look over the shelves and racks around the small shop, and Audun makes a choking sound behind me. I didn’t realize Marieke was bringing us to a shop that only sold undergarments. Hell, I didn’t know shops like these even existed these days—at least not here in Briya where people are typically more conservative than in other kingdoms. It’s a bit of a slap to the face to realize just how out of touch with the