Page 124 of Warrior of the Wild
“He is to be banished,” I say. “And if he can survive three months in the wild, just like I did, then he is free to return. Havard will share his punishment, for he is just as responsible for what happened to me.”
“Wise decisions,” Father says. “Kachina, you are free to go, but should you disregard Rasmira’s edict, you will be banished yourself. Torrin, you will collect your things and prepare to leave Seravin. Do not seek refuge in another village, for they will be notified of your treachery.”
Torrin hurls curses and hateful words my way, but Father hauls him up and shoves him in the direction of his home.
“Hurry, or I will change my mind about allowing you time to grab your things.” Then Father stands before Soren and me. “All has been put to rights. You may take as much time as you need to healbefore joining the warriors to retrieve our belongings from the mountain. You will now join me in village meetings to further your preparation to rule. I am proud of what I made you. You will do great things, Rasmira.”
“I already have, Father. And you may have helped shape me, but I made myself. I’ve become whatIwanted.”
He seems confused by my response, but he says nothing of it. “As for you,” Father says, turning to Soren, “are you courting my daughter?”
“Yes, sir,” Soren says.
“You haven’t asked my permission.”
“You sent your daughter to die out in the wild. Why should I ask you anything where she is concerned?”
It is with great effort that I manage to keep my face still at Soren’s audacity.
Father looks down at the ground. “Well answered. I thank you for being there for her when I was not. Will you be returning to Restin? You know Rasmira cannot leave. She is to stay here and rule.”
“Father! I am a woman now. What I do is no longer your concern!”
Soren says, “I wouldn’t dream of taking her away from here unless she wished it. I’d like to stay in Seravin, if that’s all right?”
“It is,” Father says after a moment. “You may join the ranks of warriors in the village.”
“Thank you.”
“Go get some rest. Both of you. There is much to rebuild.”
Father walks away, the circle of elders following after him. I take Soren’s hand in mine and tug him back toward home.
“Rebuild?” Soren asks. “Nothing was broken.”
“Our way of life was,” I answer. “No more Peruxolo. The village will need to adjust. And we can improve things! Just wait until we introduce everyone to strong trees, to building with wood!”
Soren doesn’t appear to share my enthusiasm. He kicks a loose pebble from the road. “You know, your father is right. You will make a fine leader, but I have to ask, is that even what you want?”
I’m taken aback by the question. “No one has ever bothered to ask me if that’s what I want. My father assumed that because I took after him with the ax, I would also become the next ruler and carry on the Bendrauggo legacy. It has been expected of me for as long as I can remember.”
“Do you want it?”
Without pause, I answer, “I do. I want to change things. I want to cease punishing failed trials with mattugrs, to save them only as punishment for the gravest of crimes. I can’t change things if I’m not ruling, but I will do things differently than my father. I hope that I will better listen to those around me and use the advice of others before making decisions.”
Soren grins, but it looks forced somehow, as though his thoughts are somewhere else. I pull him off to the side of the road, away from the busy traffic, down a side street that is much more quiet, before bringing us to a stop.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I’m sorry for presuming with your father back there—I didn’t actually get a chance to ask you first. Are you all right if I stay in Seravin with you?” He watches my face carefully, as though he doesn’t want to miss any physical reaction to the words.
Is he serious? “Soren, we already talked about this. Yes, of course!”
“But that was back when things were only possibilities. Now this is for real.”
“I want you here, for real. For always.”
He pulls me to him and brushes his lips against my forehead in just the way I like. I close my eyes against that touch, savoring it.
