Chapter 3 - A Glimpse of Truth

The sun was almost high in the sky when Lylah got home. She went straight to her room and locked the door behind her, not bothering to wash off the mud stains on her arms and feet or speak to anyone.

She took off her clothes and regarded herself in the mirror. The beauty that she was stared back at her. Her rich, black hair fell in curls around her shoulder, framing her face warmly.

She picked out a few leaf particles from her hair and stared at them, memories of her run with Cormac flooding through her mind. The experience had defied her expectations; Cormac’s demeanour had been surprisingly gentle, stopping to let her catch her breath and inquiring about her well-being. His actions contradicted the cold, harsh attitude he’d displayed during the wedding.

Lylah’s conviction grew – Cormac must have been deceiving her earlier. Before their parents arranged the match, four other suitors had openly declared their intentions. She knew many men desired her, so Cormac’s behaviour seemed suspect. But why the charade? Last night he had been so nice that Lylah felt herself almost developing a soft spot for him.

But No. She told herself.

She didn’t want Cormac, neither did she want the others that would gladly marry her given the chance. She wanted Thane, but Thane belonged to Lunarville, and she to Ravenhurst. Truly, inter-clan marriage was allowed, but not in her case. Her father would never allow her marry outside the clan, she was his prized possession, a pawn to be used for strategic gain.

A knock from the door roused her from her thoughts. She didn’t answer, a visitor was the last thing she needed now, and who would be knocking this early in the morning? Many of the others were still asleep after the long night of festivities.

The knock came again. Lylah still did not answer.

“Lyl, are you there?” Only one person called her 'Lyl,' her best friend Shay.

Lylah hastily draped a loose shirt onto her body, rushed to the door and opened it wide. Shay came in, looking her all over.

“Why are you all drenched in dew and mud?” Shay had a way of asking interrogative questions like a mother.

“I went running with Cormac last night.” Lylah replied carelessly.

Shay’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No you didn’t...”

“Yes, I did. He made me do it. He always makes me do what he wants, and I can’t even dare complain because then everyone would remind me how lucky I am to be getting married to him.” Lylah rattled out the words like a volcano that just got the chance to erupt, then sat on her bed, fuming.

Shay stood over her, hands folded across her chest in a contemplative manner. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, as if searching for the right words. Before she could find them though, Lylah looked up and asked, her voice dropping to a gentle whisper.

“How is your grandmother?”

Shay blinked slowly, “Well, she’s holding up,” she replied. “She wanted me to go to the wedding last night, but I didn’t want to leave her all alone through the night with all the other family members out, her health isn’t getting any better.”

“Nice of you, Shay.” Lylah said sympathetically. “But I wish you were there. Kaida and Odessa were no help at all. For all they care getting married to Cormac is the grandest achievement in the world.” She threw up her hands in mock acclamation.

Shay laughed. “Yeah, they can be like that.”

She sat down beside Lylah and took her hand.

“It will get easier,” she began, “I know this isn’t what you want, but in the course of time maybe you and Cormac will learn to find pleasure in each other’s company and perhaps learn to love yourselves.”

Lylah’s response was adamant. “That can’t ever happen.”

Shay’s soft gaze hardened. “You need to stop sounding like that.” She scolded in a firm voice. “If you’re not willing to at least open up your mind and be prepared to make this work, it really won’t.”

“It’s not about me!” Lylah protested. “It’s Cormac. He doesn’t want this marriage either.”

“How do you know that?”

“He told me so himself, last night, during the wedding.” Lylah could feel the heat rising to her face as she said the words. “He called me an insolent, proud, know-it-all. He said he’s just going along with this marriage so his parents would be pleased, other than that he wants nothing to do with me. Tell me, Shay, how can love grow from this type of union?” Her voice was breaking into a sob.

Shay sat up on the bed, with widened eyes and a dropping jaw in spite of herself. Apparently she wasn’t expecting to hear what Lylah just said.

“He actually said all that to you?”

Lylah nodded slowly.

“But if he doesn’t want the marriage either, what do both of your parents hope to gain from it?” Shay asked.

Lylah glanced at the open door nervously. "I know why my father is doing this, Shay." Her eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and sadness. "It's about the rebellion that happened eight years ago."

"The Rebellion?" Shat gasped in shock. "What has that to do with anything?" 

"Everything." Lylah said, "It has everything to do with it."