Vadde inched forward in line. It was the first time in nearly three weeks that she felt confident. But it was the first time in nearly six months that she checked her nails.
They were a far cry from that of a Princess's soft hands. For a moment, she worried that Wyrn would mind.
"Concerned about your looks again, I see," Shaza teased. In the time Vadde'd known her, she'd discovered several things about the woman. One was that she was in constant need of Aggu's approval, going through great lengths to even cause a problem to solve in order to get it. Vadde supposed that was what happened with her and the business with the bitters. And the other thing was that Bonn merely tolerated her.
Now, as they moved in line, carrying various weapons, Vadde with hers close to her chest, picked her nose up and walked on.
She felt sorry for Shaza because even Vadde knew of Bonn's wife's grave, and that was because the man visited it so often, crying.
Vadde wondered if anyone would ever love her that much—ever should. Thoughts of Wyrn calmed her because at least his affection had conditions and did not come from a lovesickness. He was fair-minded, though. She couldn't think of any other reason he'd allow her to stay.
And despite his previous words, there was no signs of Prince Orm. That was why today mattered. Her month was almost up and she was far from perfect.
The Jaffo were a strange breed of people. And they were pagan. All great acts required a ceremony. So, too, did the hunts.
Hence the line of women offering their husbands weapons and protections for good luck.
Vadde had never seen anything like it, but she was thrilled all the same. Her only regret was her outburst about him rejecting her naked form.
Shaza walked close and leaned in to whisper, "Have you tried touching the hump yet? Had a cousin, worked in pleasing men. That's what she'd do."
The rude line of questioning wasn't one Vadde appreciated. "Thank you. I'll bear it in mind."
"You can try rubbing oil on it. That way it'll probably feel less lumpy."
She wore a fat grin and Vadde came to a stop and turned to her, fed up. "You know, I'm starting to believe there is no 'cousin.'"
That shut her right up and Vadde, more than satisfied, waited for her turn to offer up her husband's weapons.
Wyrn had his hair pulled out of his face for once. Instead of forward, it rested back in one braid atop his head, the sides shaved. The war paint on his cheek and brow made him look sweet rather than fierce. And despite the tepid fall air, he wore fur—even a fur loin cloth. He was the most adorable looking savage.
She hurried to him, handing over the bow and arrows. "Here. I got the best one."
His hesitation was what worried her.
"What's wrong? It's the best one, isn't it?"
Once Wyrn took the bow and tested it, he nodded.
Bonn, standing beside him, leaned over, surprised. "You're going to kill a bear with a bow and arrow?"
Vadde nearly dropped the leather armor. "A bear!" she asked.
Wyrn cursed under his breath.
They were hunting a bear? And he wasn't planning to tell her?
She wanted to scream at him about being smaller than everyone else. About being physically limited. About not being able to outrun a bear. About not being able to climb or escape like others could. About...about not telling her something so important.
All that, she meant to say and more, but instead, she asked, "Should I get a sword?"
He considered her words and said, "No. This way I don't have to go close."
That answer satisfied her, and she boasted, "And I'll dress whatever you bring back."
He slowed then asked, "Yeah? You know how?"
Vadde scoffed. "If I know how... Of course I do."
Initially, she'd asked Shaza for help but now decided to do it by herself.
All wives kissed their husbands on the mouth as a goodbye so Vadde closed her eyes and pursed her lips. She received a hand patting her forehead for her trouble.
It was better than nothing at all.
Bonn was the first to turn and meet the others and that was when Vadde saw the strangest thing, a thin sheet of metal hung from is shoulders down his back. And not just him. His entire upper body was bare save for that nearly black metal. And everyone had it on their back but not the front.
Wyrn was the only one who wore a light coat, hiding himself.
"What is that?" she asked, nodding at Bonn.
"What?" Wyrn looked up from the quiver of arrows he looped over his shoulder. It fit awkward but held true. "What? The seal?"
"Seal?" Vadde met his gaze, pleading with him to not let her reveal her ignorance with so many people around.
"Iron is the only thing that works against magic. It keeps things from sneaking up on us. Everyone has it. We hardly ever take it off. You just never see it below the shirt. Don't worry, it's not too heavy."
She longed to ask about it—maybe inquire if he had something similar. But how could she? So instead, she stepped aside and allowed him to join the other men. Some came from the village, bringing the numbers to a good fifty.
Soon they were gone. For the entire day, Vadde couldn't think straight until the horns sounded, signaling the men's return. Fear ripped through her with each body that emerged from the woods. She expected to find Wyrn injured, or...or worse due to what she understood from the horns.
But it was Bonn, however, not Wyrn who was carried out. The moment Wyrn emerged, unharmed, Vadde was the only one and she didn't care how it looked, she gathered up her skirt and raced toward him.
He held an animal carcass with his left but caught her around the waist with the right. As was her habit, instead of holding his neck, she pressed her arms against his chest and buried her face in his throat.
The fact that he held her was why she noticed she was shivering.
"You don't have to be scared. I'm with family."
"I wasn't," she lied. Once she caught sight of the dead rabbit, she took it from him and hurried away.
She'd prove herself. No matter what. This was the last thing she needed to learn—dressing the animal carcass.
But she worked hard, and by dinner time, she was more than ready.
Wyrn was taking his hair out when she found him heading to his front door. She grabbed his hands to still his action.
"What?" he asked.
"Leave it in." She stood bold and confident when she said, "I think I'd rather like it if you wore it like that for our first time."
His brows narrowed. He said nothing for so long that she cleared her throat instead.
"So, you've finished with the rabbit?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. And now that I've done all the wifely things expected...." Her face warmed, her entire body warmed, but she was ready, more than ready now. "Then I'd like to consummate...tonight."
He opened his mouth as he twisted free, but she was ready for that and leapt before him.
"Why are you so reluctant? I've checked. And now everyone thinks me strange because when the women bathed together, I stared at literally everyone. They're all uneven!" she shouted, "even your mother's."
Jaw dropped, Wyrn scowled. "Please, stop."
Vadde put her hands on her hips and challenged, "Will you consider my request in earnest?"
During the hunt, a lot of the war paint had fallen off. It still fit him well. A part of her didn't want to wait or give him the chance to change his mind. Maybe she was an inadequate wife in all sense. And she certainly was a cursed princess. But she was also determined.
His pained expression broke her resolve.
"Do you really hate the thought of me so much?"
"No." It came out in a whisper, one he hadn't intended. Finally, he stared at her chest and said, "You're required to stay with me for one year. But you can leave if we don't consummate. You need only set one foot before the other and walk down this hill."
Each word past his lips came with a sense of panic welling up inside her. He was serious. He was more than serious.
Doubt crept into her mind, but she forced it back.
"Very well, if I've failed, then I'll leave tomorrow. And never look back."
The fact that sorrow shaped his expression next did little to take her worry away. At least he was showing some regret for dismissing her.
"You won't need to leave, Princess. I'll deliver you right to your prince's doorstep by the afternoon." His words cut her in two but at least he sounded gentler when he said, "Fine. You clean up and I'll clean up. And I'll redo my hair and after you've shown me your brilliant efforts, I'll...I'll do my best."
She didn't meet his gaze. It was an awful way to say it and it wasn't all that romantic, but she nearly forgave him when he held her face and kissed her on the forehead.
When he went to wash, she let out a held breath and hurried back into the house to double check her dressed rabbit. She couldn't fail in this.
It was set on the table, and she brushed its fur one last time. The ribbons she'd used to tie both ears came courtesy of her favorite dress but it was worth it. The animal still bled but she'd managed to hide the kill wound very well with some flowers, too.
All in all, it was a beautifully 'dressed' thing.
And at least it wasn't cut up. With it being still intact, the prettying of it was rather simple.
She moved from right to left, making sure none of the blood still spilled out. And it smelled but so long as he saw it quickly, she supposed that'd be enough.
"Why in the world would they dress their animal up like this after killing it though?"
No matter, she patted the fur one last time, then pulled her hand back and made a mental reminder to wash extra thoroughly before coming to see the pleased look on Wyrn's face when he saw how pretty she'd made his catch.
For a moment, she debated making a few more bows, or maybe shoes, and perhaps a few flowers by the mouth but that would be too extreme, she decided. No. She needed nothing else.
It was perfect.