Five

From what Orel told me on my way here I was suspecting Cale wife to be of questionable character and infuriating at worse, what I never suspected was that she was friends with the noble lady at the hunt, the one who was against Orel claiming me as his.

There is some tension between Orel and the lady and as much as I try to remember what happened, my mind remain blank which I am sure was because of the shock I was experiencing then.

Throughout the course of the meal, the two ladies have done nothing but made me feel like an interloper, like I stole something that was not mine, something I didn’t understand at first and was trying to until I saw Orel getting ready to unleash his anger, I had to handle the situation before he did. With a shake of my head, I told him I could handle myself and he took my warning and settled down immediately.

I needed these ladies to do their worst today. Today I can still act like the naïve little girl. When I lashed out, I want to aim and strike true, for that to happen. I have to know who my enemies were. They need to display their selves fully to me.

“Pardon me for asking Lady Bryman but I noticed that this was not the color of your hair in the clearing where you got away without being burnt on the pyre, did you dye it to stand out more because I can definitely understand your reasons to look something other than...drab.” the lady said as Cale wife tittered at that insult.

I smile as I look at the lady straight in the eye, I was done playing the meek mouse. “No at all lady…” I started only for Orel to grit her name out for my hearing.

“Estrid.”

“Lady Estrid. I dyed my hair brown to avoid the attention before the hunt, you see this remarkable hair color has been in my family for ages, as for looking drab… well I am sure anybody will look like me drown in male clothing bigger than their size, why I believe that the shirt will cover you completely too Lady Estrid even that generous cleavage which you are displaying but still even with it manage to look… oh what is the word, that right. Tacky I mean you are unmarried and if you want to land a husband, I suggest you dress more modestly. Men don’t like the world to see what only their eyes should see.” I finished with a flourish that had Lady Estrid and Cale wife gasping in shock.

“How Dare you give me advice, who do you think you are.” Estrid gritted out with twin spots of red dancing on her cheeks, I am sure she never expected me to talk back to her.

I sipped my tea as I schooled my expression to be one of innocence as I replied. “I am sorry if I hurt your feelings or caused you embarrassment Lady Estrid, it is just that I am was giving my good opinion from a married Lady to an unmarried Lady who age is gradually taking its toll on, you have some wrinkles in your brows, I just don’t want you to end up alone and unmarried.”

Lady Estrid stood up with an outrage expression on her face like she would love nothing more than pull my hair, I suspected that she would have tried it if Orel was not in the room. “I refuse to stand here and listen to this tribal trash talk to me this way.”

Before Orel would do something, I let out a harsh bark of laughter that nobody here has heard from me, since I arrived, I have been keeping my voice flirty to Orel flinty and innocent to Orel grim but this was too much she overstepped her boundary. I stood up and whatever it was that she saw on my face was enough for her to rock back on her heels.

“Nobody is keeping you here, I might be a new bride to Orel but I know the power I hold, I don’t care off your past liaisons with my husband but don’t use it to disrespect me or else you might find yourself at a whipping pole, you are excuse and for your sake, I hope you think twice about any word that comes out of your mouth about me, I am not merciful twice. That is for Orel, not me.”

With that I took my seat as the door slammed close behind Lady Estrid hurried escape. The silence she left was deafening, I took a peek at Orel to see him watching me with an unreadable look on his face, I hate it when he get closed off like that. To break the silence I picked up my cutlery as I took another bite of the pie.

“This pie is so divine, I must get the recipe and probably a cook too, is that okay by you Orel?” I asked making sure to keep my voice sweet and unassuming although, I doubt that they will ever believe that tone again now that they have seen me display a character they never expected.

“Sure wife, anything you want.” Orel mumbled and that broke the ice as Cale started to offer me a lot of things that I would love to have… I can always count on Cale eagerness for a trade to break the ice whenever it forms.

I saw the glare his wife was giving me and I knew that I still have a long way to go in earning her respect or simply just getting her to leave me alone.

“You look fine.” Orel said as he looked at me when I was finally ready, the ladies Lady Lillian sent did their work even though, I could tell that they were the least skilled in her employ.

I blushed at Orel comment because I knew that for him to say something of that worth meant that he found me entrancing but he didn’t know the words to put it in. it was the warriors way, growing up with the kind of father I had made it easier for me to be able to understand a lot of Orel’s mannerisms and come up with ways to overcome them or at the very least not allow them to affect me.

“Thank you.” I replied softly as a strange look cross Orel face but before I could try to figure out what it meant, it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.

“The party has started we are late.” Orel guffaws as I laugh.

“I know, they are going to stare at me anyway, so why not go late so to warrant a real reason for them staring at us.” I replied as Orel looked directly into my eyes.

“Do you make any move without planning for it?” Orel asked as he stepped closer to me and offered his arm for me to hold as we began out walk to the ballroom where the party was being held.

“Not with my life on the line as a result of a move not planned” I replied truthfully as I held to his arm.

Orel pause all of a sudden and before I could make a protest he turned to me and asked “Then why did you scream in the forest?”

I searched Orel eyes but they were hooded, I had to depend solely on myself for me to make a decision and going by choice of never lying to him, I answered again truthfully. “I knew you would catch me but I didn’t know if any other maiden was ahead of me, my scream was meant for those ahead of me, to run faster.”

Orel nodded at my answer and continued our walk like nothing out of the ordinary happen while I was flustered with the reason he asked the question. When we were close to the ball he finally whispered something to me.

His words just before the door was opened was “I am glad that you are the one I got to choose. Your courage is unlike anything I have ever seen”

Within minutes after the first awkward silence has past, we were both separated and carried by two different crowds, I didn’t know anything about Orel crowd but mine was vicious, their comments cutting deeply into me, I ignored their talks the best I could.

I could not let them know that their comments was getting to me and I could not lash out, not without knowing who was fully against me. I was raging but I hid it behind an indifferent mask, when Lady Estrid and Lady Lillian who was the merchant queen joined the group of ladies I was among, the conversation turned more biting but I learnt of something useful.

Lady Estrid was supposed to be the warlord bride but I took her place and now the nobles were attacking me. To them, I stole a well coveted position and I was not privileged enough for my position.

I was angry with Orel for making me vulnerable to these vultures but I decided that it was best I kept the situation pleasant, I will not be caught unaware again.

The small measure of comfort I had was that Lady Estrid never directly referred to me, I could see that she took my warning to heart which was a good thing because without her stroking the flames easily, I could ignore the most hurtful ones.

By the time the party was close to an end, I wanted to do nothing more than to curl up in my bed and cry but I know that my pride will not allow me to do that because Orel will be there.

When Orel turned to escort me out of the room, he noticed my strained expression and I watched as his face Darkened, before he could do something that will make people to treat me as if I have the plague, I quickly walked to him and used my eyes to beg him not to say anything, he got the message but his grip on my hand as we left the ballroom was punishing.

As soon as we got to the room, I left Orel hold as if he was the one with the plague and stood in front of the mirror. “Do I need to force you to tell me what happened that made you look that way in the ballroom.” Orel quiet voice with the barely leashed anger asked.

“No, you don’t. “ I replied quietly too. “I looked that way you didn’t tell me that Lady Estrid was your betroth, you made me look foolish among the ladies with me, you made it so that I could not say anything to defend myself even when they insulted me.” I turned to look at Orel to see his jaw clenched.

“I know that I am here just for a reason for you but you should not throw me to a pit full of snakes and not give me the means to protect myself. Why didn’t you tell me Orel? You knew the reason she was acting that way to me during the midday meal yet you didn’t say anything.”

“I thought she would not try anything that might put her in a bad light.” Orel said more subdued now, as if he was silently apologizing for his behavior.

I released a harsh laugh. What else am I supposed to do? I have to forgive him. He owns me. “You knew, in the end that is no excuse.” With that I turned away as I started pulling the gown, it was beautiful but tonight had tainted it, and I didn’t want to wear it again.