Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 35: The Weak

Time past, and eventually, another face appeared in the water next to hers.

She spun around. "Rory!"

He had his arms crossed angrily. "Why did you run off like that? Why did you continue avoiding me if you want to see me?

Pollyanna clasped her hands behind her back. "Because I'm married... Because I have my mother to think about."

"Then why are you seeing me?" Rory challenged her. "You said you wanted me to save you, why don't you let me?"

Pollyanna didn't know what to say. She didn't know what she wanted out of this meeting.

She just knew she was alone in her suffering.

"Because it's lonely... Can you be my friend? Even if you can't be my lover?" Pollyanna asked. "I... I can't let you be killed for running off with me. It—it would be far too dangerous..."

Rory stepped closer and closer to her until her back was against the flowing river behind her.

She was scared he was going to push her in for a moment.

But he merely kissed her hand. "Of course I'll be your friend. What brought this on?"

"Kline..." Pollyanna took a deep breath. "Kline struck me across the cheek. He—he tried to lock me outside and make me sleep outdoors last night. I was so frightened."

Rory had a look of utter disbelief on his face. "God..." Was all he could say.

Pollyanna knew he wanted to argue with her more; she knew he wanted to convince her to leave with him, but she also knew that he knew that he couldn't convince her.

All he could do was throw his arms around her in compassion.

She pressed her cheek into the top of his head and felt warm and safe for a second.

After a moment, he sat by the bank and she sat next to him.

There was peaceful silence for a time as she leaned her cheek on his shoulder.

Eventually, he asked, "why did he slap you? Why did he try to make you sleep outdoors?"

"Because I spent his gold on something I shouldn't have..." Pollyanna whispered.

"What was it?"

"An amulet that prevents pregnancy. Promise me that you'll never tell him. I told him I spent it on vegetables." Pollyanna answered.

Rory couldn't help but laugh at that, and Pollyanna couldn't help but join him in his laughter.

"I think you should pick a day and time for us to meet here each week. I want to be here for you as much as possible." Rory said kindly. "As a friend, since you won't have me as a husband."

Pollyanna screwed her eyes shut and tears were squeezed from them. "You don't have to do this for me if you don't want to. I want you to at least find a wife of your own if you do."

"I told you; you're the only one I want for a wife." Rory said determinedly.

Pollyanna was taken aback by his kindness; she simply couldn't comprehend why someone would lay down logic, their own happiness, and their future, to chase the ghost of a relationship with the least desirable girl in the town.

"But why?" Pollyanna asked breathlessly.

There was a long breadth of silence, and then...

"Because there's no one else on Yharos like you. In many ways, we both blend in with everyone else; we're just products of our parents—we're what everyone wants and expects us to be—but deep down, there's a piece of us that our parents didn't instill within us—a piece that's all our own—and I know that my piece will fit with no other but yours." Rory explained as well as he could. "I know we'll do great things... Things that the world would never expect of us."

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"He was right about one thing; I did end up doing great things that the world never expected of me." Pollyanna murmured with ice in her voice.

"You think butchering innocents is something great? Something worthy of praise?" Eory contested.

"I think whittling out the weak in favor of the strong is something worthy of praise." Pollyanna countered. "I whittled weak Pollyanna out and replaced her with someone strong; someone who can contribute something to this world."

"I'm weak." Eory said with brutal honesty. "Would you whittle me out, too?"

Pollyanna had no answer for a moment.

No. She screamed on the inside.

On the outside she said, "yes. I see the potential for you to become someone strong; someone more worthy of the Arrozan name than any in the past."

Eory looked disappointed, but he changed the subject. "Tell me the rest."