From Across the Clouded Range (6 page)

So this is how it will
be
, Dasen thought,
a fight from the first word
. He
pushed down his rising anger. He had to stay in control, especially
with Di Valati Alsance in the room. He took a deep breath to calm
his nerves and plunged in. “Father, I am sorry to be late and in
such a state.” He acknowledged his crumpled clothes, lanky unkempt
hair, and days of patchy stubble. “Your letter seems to have been
lost. I was in the library at my studies when Elton found me. I had
spent the night there and did not have time to prepare myself
properly. Still, if I had known Di Valati Alsance was joining us, I
would have insisted on at least changing my clothes and combing my
hair.”

“
Your appearance is of no
concern to me, Dasen,” Di Valati Alsance said. He rose from his
chair and held Dasen’s hand in a firm grip. “May you find peace in
the Order.”

“
And you,” Dasen responded
automatically.

“
What is of concern to me
is your choice of accommodations. I thought we spoke about sleeping
in the library. The university provides you with a perfectly
acceptable room and I expect you to use it. The Order holds no
secret so urgent that you need avoid sleep to find it. As an old
man, I can assure you of this.”

“
Yes, sir, I will try to
remember that,” Dasen replied.
If I ever
see the library again.
“I suppose I lost
track of the time. I will be more careful in the
future.”

Di Valati Alsance slapped Dasen on the
arm and smiled. He returned to his seat and looked to
Ipid.

As if impelled by the old man’s
example, Ipid finally rose and embraced his son. “I am happy to see
you, Dasen. I am sorry to arrive on such short notice.”

“
Of course, father. I . .
. I am glad that you are here and certainly would not have kept you
waiting if I had known of your arrival.”

“
It is done,” Ipid brushed
the indiscretion away and returned to his seat. “You are probably
wondering why I have come. I wish that I saw you often enough that
my arrival was not a point of great intrigue, but I suppose that is
the path the Order has set us upon.” Dasen was surprised to see his
father looking nervous. He shifted in his chair and studied his
hands before bringing his eyes back to Dasen’s. “Well I might as
well get it out, so we can all start breathing again. Dasen, I have
decided that is time for you to be joined.”

“
Father, I believe my
place . . .” Dasen cut himself off.
What
did he say? Joined?
Dasen shook his head
and reordered his thoughts, but he could not get past the idea.
“Joined?” he finally asked.

“
Yes,” Ipid sighed. He
folded his hand in his lap and looked at them for a long moment.
Dasen was shocked by his father’s demeanor almost as much as the
purpose of his visit. He could not ever remember seeing his father
unsure or troubled. “I have decided that it is time for you and
Tethina to be joined. We will travel to Randor’s Pass and hold the
ceremony as soon as it can be arranged.”

“
To . . . to Tethina?”
Dasen’s mind swam. He had enough political and commercial savvy to
know the value that any number of powerful families would place on
a blood connection to Ipid Ronigan – hadn’t Lily Harbisher just
proven it. Yet his father was proposing that he travel to some
remote logging outpost to marry the orphaned daughter of a
blacksmith?

“
Of course to Tethina, who
else could it be? Surely you know that has always been the Order’s
plan for you.” Ipid looked aghast. “When you and Tethina were born
just weeks apart, a boy and a girl, after Marin and your mother had
both had such troubles, we knew it was the Order seeking to
solidify the bond between our families. Until the . . . the
accident,” Ipid stuttered then paused to cough. He pulled a
handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his mouth. “Excuse me. Until
the accident, you and Tethina were inseparable. I don’t think you
ever spent a day apart. I think that when we left Randor’s Pass you
were more upset about leaving Tethina than . . . than anything
else.” Ipid tried to smile but could only manage a sick
imitation.

“
I’m sorry, father, I
barely remember Tethina,” Dasen managed around his still
considerable shock. He had expected his father to try to end his
time at the University, but he did not think he would do it with a
joining ceremony. And even if there had been a promised bride, he’d
have expected it to be the daughter of a trading partner,
politician, or Liandrian noble. “It has been a lifetime for both of
us. How is it that she is not already joined? Don’t girls in
villages like Randor’s Pass get joined much earlier?”

“
They do,” Ipid confirmed.
“But Tethina has been promised to you since your birth. She has
been waiting for you, and I have decided that the wait should go no
longer.”

“
Why . . . why didn’t you
ever tell me about this? You . . . you can’t do this. It doesn’t
make any sense. It . . . it isn’t fair.” Dasen felt his confusion
turn to anger. What was his father thinking, promising him to some
uneducated village girl, who had probably never even been to a
city? What was he supposed to do with such a creature?
He
barely managed in the
aristocratic circles he was forced to occupy. Being joined to some
bumpkin would make it impossible. He would be a laughing stock.
What’s more, Tethina would never be accepted. In the best case, she
would be an outcast. And that was if the Lily Harbishers of the
world didn’t hold a grudge. As it was, they would tear her apart
like a pack of wolves descending on a rabbit.

“
I didn’t tell you because
you should have already known,” Ipid snapped. “My mind has never
wavered in this. Burke was like a brother to me. Your mother and
Marin were closer than any sisters. You and Tethina were the link
to bring us together. The Order has never made a clearer indication
of its purpose.”

“
I can’t read your mind,”
Dasen fired back. He felt himself losing control of his
emotions.

“
You don’t need to,” Ipid
growled. “I am your father, and this is well within my rights under
the interpretation of the Order here
and
in the Kingdoms.” Ipid gestured
to the man sitting behind him.

The tall, dapper young man cleared his
throat and sat forward. “Your father is correct, Dasen,” he
assured. His voice was gentle as if trying to soothe Dasen away
from the pending confrontation. Dasen had no idea who he was. He
could only imagine that he must be an Order advisor, but he seemed
too young to be advising his father this closely. “Since the
Reinterpretation removed the choice of partners from the Church, it
is deemed that parents, in particular fathers, are best placed to
see the match that is most consistent with the Order. The recent
trend toward men and women finding their own partners is a social
rather than Order-based phenomenon, and even so, the matches must
be approved by the fathers.”

“
I . . . I understand
that,” Dasen stammered. “I have read the full accounting of
responsibilities as established by the Reinterpretation, you need
not remind me. My dispute is not with my father’s right but rather
his choice.”

“
What is wrong with
Tethina?” Ipid shouted. His face tightened in anger, flushing past
red almost to purple. He sat forward in his chair and extended his
finger to drive home the pending tirade. Then something seemed to
dawn on him. He relaxed, released a long breath, and lowered his
voice. “There’s someone else, isn’t there? I should have known that
something would eventually happen, especially with all the women
roaming around here looking for matches. And you the best available
catch. So who is it?”

If anything, this new line left Dasen
even more rattled. “There isn’t . . . I mean . . . I don’t . .
.”

“
It’s alright, Dasen. You
can tell me. Even if the relationship has gone too far to be
proper, it can be fixed. I expected more of you, but what’s done is
done. Just tell me who she is and what expectations she has, and
we’ll work out how to fix it.”

“
There isn’t . . . I mean
you don’t have to . . .”

“
I know you probably have
strong feeling for this girl, but it is the will of the Order that
you be joined to Tethina. I have never been so certain of anything
in my life. I deeply regret that you were ever separated, but that
was the Order’s will as well, and I could not prevent it. Now, you
have to give up this other infatuation so that the Order can be
fulfilled.”

“
There is no one else,”
Dasen finally managed. “There are some girls who have expressed an
interest, but my studies have always taken priority. I have not
made promises or even courted any girls while I have been
here.”

“
That is my understanding
as well,” Di Valati Alsance assured Ipid. “I asked after Dasen when
I learned of this meeting. I can confirm that he is entirely
dedicated to his studies. He has not been seen in the regular
company of any of the women studying the matronly side of the
Order.”

“
Thank you, Petr,” Ipid
said and relaxed noticeably. “I am sorry that I jumped to
conclusions. But what then could be your opposition to Tethina? I
know that you have not seen her in a long time, but I have kept a
regular correspondence with her and can assure you that she is an
extraordinary girl.”

“
That may be, but how can
you think we are still a good match? The Order has given us
entirely separate paths. I mean, has she ever been to a city? Has
she been trained in proper etiquette? Can she socialize with the
aristocracy? With the wives of your business partners? Can she
manage a house? Can she even read? Taking her from the village and
throwing her into this world would be like throwing a pig from a
tree and expecting it to fly. You are only setting her up to fail
in the most dramatic possible way.”

Each question seemed to strike Ipid.
By the time Dasen tapered off, his father looked truly troubled.
“She can definitely read,” Ipid mumbled to himself, “and she is an
adequate writer with a clear hand. Some of the other things you
mention will . . . undoubtedly be a challenge.”

Ipid thought for a moment. When Dasen
drew a breath to continue, he held up a hand to stop him. “Dasen,
you make a valid argument. Yet I think you underestimate Tethina.
Believe me, she is definitely not the typical village girl. She is
the strongest, smartest girl I have ever known, with the possible
exception of your mother. I must admit she is not likely to fit
into society but neither will she be cowed by the challenges of
this new life. Nonetheless, you are correct that it would be cruel
to throw her into it without some preparation.” Ipid sighed deeply
then mumbled to himself.

There was another pause. Ipid’s lips
moved as if calculating in his head. When his attention returned,
Dasen tried to speak, but Ipid held up a hand to stop him. A small
smile crept onto his mouth. “As I’m sure Di Valati Alsance would
agree, the Order provides a solution to every problem, and I think
I have found one here.” After another moment of contemplation, he
turned to Dasen. “Dasen, you were right to think that I came here
to take you from the university. It was my plan that you be joined
to Tethina and then return here to represent our growing interests
in Liandria. I knew that you would oppose me on this, which is why
Petr is here. I feared that your commitment to study was such that
you might choose the Church over your duty to your family. However,
Di Valati Alsance agrees that your place in the Order is not with
the Church.”

Heart pounding, Dasen spared a look at
the di valati. He met Dasen’s eyes and nodded solemnly. Dasen felt
his hopes crash. He struggled to keep himself from shaking. That
had been his exact plan, and he had been certain that the Church
would accept him. He was the perfect candidate for the Hall of
Understanding, had proven himself in every way. But, apparently,
his father’s money could even buy the Church. There was no escape
from his ambitions.

“
However,” Ipid continued,
“you have also shown me my mistake. It would have been cruel to
pull Tethina from the only life she has known and force her into
this new one without any support. Like a flying pig indeed. So here
is my proposal. It is six months until the winter term begins. You
and Tethina will be joined as we discussed. We will leave
immediately. The ceremony will be held as soon as possible, but you
will take your time returning to Liandrin. You will make several
stops along the way back, including extended stays in Thoren and
Wildern. Your only duty during this time will be to reacquaint
yourself with Tethina and help prepare her for this life. I am sure
you will be the best possible tutor.

“
Then when you arrive in
Liandrin, you
and Tethina
will enroll in the university. This will give
Tethina the opportunity to formalize her education and ease into
this world. As a fellow student, you will be here to help her. You
will live in this manor. I will give you two years. After that, we
will see. I think that will serve everyone’s needs.”

Before Dasen could answer, Ipid seemed
to remember himself. He turned his attention to Di Valati Alsance.
“I am sorry, your Excellency. I have just promised a great number
of things on your behalf at least a few of which are in clear
violation of your policies. Could I seek admittance to the women’s
school on behalf of my to-be daughter, Tethina? Further, could you
provide a dispensation from your policies excluding those who have
been joined and requiring all students to live within the
university grounds? I am very confident that this proposal is
consistent with the Order. However, if more study is needed to
determine the nature of the Order in this area, I would be happy to
provide any resources necessary to complete it.”