Dark Realms 10: Obligations
Dec. 21st, 2016 09:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sidhe_faerieDark Realms 10: Obligations
Word Count: 3446
Brought to you by puzzleprompts
Nellis walked down the hall to his room he noticed that Jace had left his door open so he decided to stop and see if Jace wanted to play some cards. He knocked on the open door and smiled as Jace looked up from the bed where he was sitting.
“Hey Jace! Do you want to play some cards?” Nellis realized that Jace seemed out of sorts. “What’s up? You seem down.”
"It’s nothing.” Jace put something in his pocket. “I was just thinking about my mum.”
Nellis pulled over a chair. “You were close with your mum?”
“Yes. We were all each other had after my dad died. He was a police inspector like me. He died saving someone. I guess I wanted to be like him.”
“At least you knew who your dad was. My Mother hadn’t a clue. She was a bit of a free spirit, I think you would say. She had several boyfriends all at the same time and she liked to have a good time.” Nellis frowned and looked sad for a moment. “She was killed by one of her boyfriend’s in a jealous rage when I was in high school. Izzie was there for me. I think that’s when we started up.”
“My mum was a good woman. Never drank or had a lot of men friends. I was her world.” Jace smiled. “Dallys and I were talking about our homes recently. It got me thinking about her.”
“What did you put in your pocket when I came in?” Nellis asked. “Was it a picture of her? Can I see it?”
Jace reached into his pocket and brought out a ring. “No. It’s the family ring. Every first born son has put it on his bride’s finger on their wedding day for generations. She was the last to wear it.”
Nellis looked at it and shrugged. “So you give it to the one you bond with and follow tradition.”
“I can’t because she is going to marry someone else.” Jace sighed. “I never even got to tell her how I feel. I was stupid to think she would have any feelings for me.”
“I thought you said you didn’t leave anyone behind on Terra.” Nellis was starting to get worried about Jace.
“She was never on Earth.” Jace looked at the ring one last time then he shoved it in his pocket. “Now I can never tell her how I feel.”
Nellis realized who Jace was talking about. “Tona? You are in love with Tona. Are you out of your mind? She’s an elf and she’s a dangerous one at that.”
“I know that.” Jace pulled a pillow into his lap. “I’m so stupid.”
“I was going with crazy but I can get with that too.” Nellis sighed. “She‘s bringing her husband here after the wedding. Are you going to be okay with that?”
“I suppose I shall have to be.” Jace hugged the pillow. “Nellis, you can’t tell the others and especially not Izzie. All of the women here are close and they tell each other everything.”
“So I’ve noticed.” Nellis rubbed his chin. “Izzie never really had a lot of friends so I have no idea how that happened.”
“They’re women. It’s in their nature to travel in packs.” Jace shrugged.
Nellis frowned. “It doesn’t bode well for us, does it?”
“Not a bit.” Jace leaned his chin on the pillow. “I’m just going to hide out in here until she leaves.”
“Sounds like a firm plan.” Nellis looked toward the door. “But I think she has other ideas.”
“What?” Jace sat up and looked at the door.
“She’s coming. I better go.” Nellis smiled and left the room.
Jace looked in the mirror and checked his hair. “What is she coming down to this end of the hall for anyway?”
Tona knocked on the open door. “Jace, I wanted to speak to you before I go. May I come in?”
“Of course.” Jace motioned to the chair Nellis had vacated. “Have a seat. What did you want to talk about?”
Tona sat down. “I wanted you to know that I’m going to be okay. I know you are worried about me going home and getting married to a stranger.” Tona hesitated then she decided to tell him the truth. “Jace, if I don’t marry Barth then my parents will be arrested for stealing. They kept the money from the marriage contract that they signed before I left. I’m doing this for them.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Jace asked. “Why not Wincet or Dallys?”
“I’ve already told Wincet and he tried to give me money to pay Barth off. I refused it because I have my own money. Besides, I tried to pay him off myself but he won’t take it.” Tona hesitated. “I’m telling you this because I thought we were getting close and I didn’t want you to think that I didn’t care about you.”
Jace nodded. “I understand and I care for you too. I will do whatever you need me to do. Tona, if there is any way to get out of this for you, please try.”
Tona smiled. “I thought about killing Barth after I bring him here but you know how Wincet frowns on that sort of thing.”
Jace shook his head and sighed. “That’s true. He doesn’t like us killing people at all. It makes him rather cross.”
“I better go finish packing.” Tona looked at the door. “You can come back in, Nellis. I know you’re out there. I can hear you giggle. Izzie says he’s always been a sneak.”
“I am not a sneak.” Nellis peeked into the doorway. “Are you two going to kiss or something because I can just wait out here until you’re finished?”
“No need.” Tona stood up and went over to Jace. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Still friends?”
“Yes. Always.” Jace smiled.
“Good.” Tona turned to walk out. She punched Nellis on the arm. “Izzie just arrived and I am going to tell her that you were sneaking around in the hallway and eavesdropping.”
“She’ll probably just laugh.” Nellis rubbed his arm. He watched Tona go down the hall for a minute then came into Jace’s room. “That went well. I guess she wasn’t as clueless as you thought.”
“Shut up Nellis.” Jace pulled the pillow back into his lap and hugged it. “I want to be alone. Do you mind?”
“No. I should go find Izzie anyway.” Nellis got up and patted Jace on the shoulder. “Who knows maybe we’ll like this guy.”
Jace sighed and put his face in the pillow. “Go!”
“I’m just saying.” Nellis walked out of the room and closed the door. He headed down to the other end of the hallway where the women had their rooms.
Two hours later, Tona stepped through the portal onto Tolkarian. Barth was there waiting for her.
“You are Tona?” Barth asked.
“Yes. You must be Barth. My mother said you would be the one to greet me.” Tona smiled.
“Hmph!” Barth looked her up and down. “Your hair is too short and you are dressed like a man but I suppose you will do. Come. My parents are waiting to meet you.”
Tona rolled her eyes as soon as he turned and followed him into a well-kept garden. Her parents along with another older couple were sitting at a table in the middle of a courtyard.
Tona’s mother Stara smiled at her daughter. “There you are. I told them you would come.” She stood up as Tona approached and hugged her. She whispered in Tona’s ear. “You should have stayed where you were. We would have been alright.”
Tona pulled back and smiled. “It’s good to see you, Mother, and you, Father.”
Tona’s father, Manse stood up and hugged her. “You look well.”
“Really? Because she isn’t what I expected.” Barth said. “I waited all this time for a wife and I get a… a… whatever she is. She is not the way you described her during the negotiations.”
“That was many years ago. I am a warrior now.” Tona turned and looked at Barth. “It is a respectable vocation.”
“For a man but not for a woman.” The other man at the table spoke up. “She is not as you said. Our women are to serve us and make our homes not go to war.”
“Helis, we raised her to be independent and self-reliant.” Manse responded. “I did not force my child to be invisible to the world. I wanted her to find her place in it.”
“Well that will all change once we are married.” Barth gave Tona a dismissive look.
“Oh no! The agreement was that you come back with me to Centra. You will hold to it.” Tona stepped up to Barth.
“If I refuse?” Barth challenged her.
“Then I will leave and not come back.” Tona glared at him. “I have obligations on Centra that are more important than being your wife.”
“Nothing is more important than being my wife to you now.” Barth met her glare with one of his own. “You are mine and you will do as I say.”
Tona laughed. “I will do as I please unless; you wish to try to force me to do otherwise. In which case, I will have to make my point to you with one of my blades. It will be a very bloody discussion. You can be sure of that.”
Barth raised his hand to slap her and Tona grabbed it and twisted it behind him as she shoved him down on the table.
“Helis, this wasn’t a good idea.” Barth’s mother Patra pulled on her husband’s sleeve. “She is hurting him!”
“Silence!” Helis pushed away her hand. “He is a grown man. He must learn to handle his wife by himself.”
“Tona!” Manse grabbed her by the shoulder. “I think he sees the point. Now let him go.”
Tona released Barth and stepped back. “I pray that is so, Father. Maybe,he is beginning to regret not taking the currency I offered him.”
“I need a wife not more currency.” Barth straightened his clothes. “I will see you in the morning for the ritual.” He turned to Manse. “See that she is on time and properly attired.”
Barth’s parents walked with him out of the garden.
“That could have gone better.” Manse looked at his daughter. “If you must rough him up, please, do it in private from now on.”
Tona chuckled. “I will try, Father. I promise.”
“Tona, you need to calm down. Barth is a very powerful man.” Stara warned her. “You should just do as he says and not be any trouble. You and I could see each other every day if you stayed here with him.”
"Mother, I would love to stay here with you and see you every day but I am part of something special.” Tona smiled gently at her mother. “We are called the Dark Army and we help people around the universe. It’s a noble calling and I won’t give it up to be some invisible slave to that buffoon.”
“You must watch your temper with him. He could have you beaten for not obeying him.” Manse warned her. That law is still on the books and no one seems in a rush to repeal it.”
“I would love to see him try it.” Tona said defiantly. “I would make him regret it.”
“Come inside I have the perfect gown for you to wear on your wedding day. I made it myself.” Stara pulled Tona inside.
“Mother, all we do is light a candle and sign a piece of paper. It’s not more special than any other day.” Tona sighed in annoyance. “It’s not like we are royal and he wants the marriage bed witnessed because that will not be happening.”
“Tona, he will be your husband.” Stara looked shocked. “He will expect his rights.”
“He can expect them but that doesn’t mean he will get them.” Tona scowled.
“Humor your mother. Wear the dress.” Manse said as he followed them inside.
Tona looked over her shoulder at her father and sighed.
The next morning as the sun shone into the ancient temple Tona and Barth were married. It was quick and simple. The words were spoken by the priestess, a candle was lit, and the contract was signed.
Barth took Tona’s hand. “Now you must perform your duty to me. I expect you to be a willing participant in our first joining.”
“No!” Tona pulled her hand away from him. “I married you today and that is all you will be getting. If you want a release, go do it yourself.”
Barth’s parents looked shocked. Manse dipped his head down so that they wouldn’t see him smiling. Stara glanced around at the others nervously.
I will be leaving tomorrow at sunrise. I see no reason to stay the time that I had planned.” Tona told them all. She turned to Barth. “If you’re coming to Centra, be where the portal opened before. I’m going to spend some time with my parents before I leave.” She put her arm around her mother and steered her out of the temple. “Come along mother. Tell me all about your garden this year.”
Manse glance at them then turned to Barth. “If I were you I wouldn’t bother to show up. My daughter hasn’t been knitting for the last few years. She has been working as a mercenary. If you anger her she might just kill you. If she doesn’t then her friends just might on her behalf.” Manse left the temple and caught up with Tona and his wife.
Barth stood there not sure of what to do until Helis grabbed him by the arm.
“Go get your wife and make her submit.” Helis pushed him towards the door. “She obviously needs to be taught her place.”
“I know you’re right, Father, but I really don’t want make things worse.” Barth said. “Let her calm down tonight. I will wait until the morning to show her who is in control. She won’t be leaving this world any time soon.”
The next morning Tona went to where the portal opened and looked around. “Please see me, Wincet. I know you’re watching. I want to come back now.”
The portal opened and Tona was about to step through when Barth walked up.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Barth folded his arms across his chest. “You are my wife and you are going to stay here by my side and fulfil your duties to me from this moment on.”
Tona looked at the portal then at Barth. “Fine! You want me to be by your side then I shall be.” Tona grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the portal. “But we will be on living on Centra, not here.” Tona shoved Barth through the portal then stepped through.
On Centra, it was a cold snowy winter night. The stars were hidden by the snow clouds and there was a brisk breeze.
Wincet has been standing on the travelers bridge waiting for Tona when Barth landed face down in the snow at his feet.
Tona pointed at Barth. “Wincet that excuse for an elf is my husband. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to turn him into something that I can squish under my heel?”
Wincet scowled. “That bad?”
“Worse. He’s going to need his own room because he sure as hell isn’t staying in mine. I believe there may be room in the shed next to Nellis’ motorcycle.” Tona walked down the Traveler’s Bridge to the living quarters.
Barth looked up at the sorcerer. “Who are you?”
Wincet reached down and pulled the elf to his feet. “I am Wincet. I command the Dark Army. You are Barth?”
“Yes.” Barth brushed the snow off his clothes.
“Hmph!” Wincet looked him up and down. “You’re not at all what I expected Tona’s husband to be. You’re not even used to working with your hands it seems. They’re soft and not calloused. That will change soon enough. We all share the upkeep of this place.” Wincet started to walk away. “Follow me. There is a room next to Borne’s you can take until your wife says otherwise.”
“My wife and I require a private suite of rooms.” Barth said as he followed the sorcerer.
Wincet laughed and kept walking.
“I don’t understand. What is so humorous about that?” Barth frowned and started walking.
“I wouldn’t want to be alone with her when she’s in the state she’s in.” Wincet laughed again. “You might just wake up dead.”
Barth blinked and shook his head. “She is my wife and she will do as she is told.”
Wincet looked over his shoulder and shook his head. He stopped and looked at Barth with pity in his eyes. “I can’t even get her to do what I tell her to do sometimes and she likes me. You have no idea of what she is capable of, do you?”
“Cooking. Cleaning. Laundry.” Barth shrugged.
“Fighting, killing, and bomb making is more like it.” Wincet started walking again. “However, you will be expected to help with the cooking and cleaning now that you live here. We all do our own laundry.”
When Wincet and Barth walked into the common room, everyone was waiting for them. They were all standing aggressively with intimidating looks on their faces.
“So this is the husband?” Nellis squinted at Barth. “He’s short. He looks more like an imp than an elf. Can you spin straw into gold like the story Jace told us one night? Jace says that all imps can do that. Are you sure your name isn’t Rumpelstiltskin?”
Izzie buried her face in Nellis’ arm to keep from laughing.
“Borne show him to the room next to yours. He can stay there for now.” Wincet looked at Tona and winked.
“I thought I said to put him in the shed.” Tona pulled her dagger out of her boot and looked at it.
“Oh no! Not with my motorcycle! She deserves a better roommate than him.” Nellis pointed at Barth. “He looks a little hinky to me. What do you think Jace?”
“Tona doesn’t seem to like him.” Jace frowned. “Maybe he is a little hinky as you say. He looks like his mummy pampered him. Wouldn’t you agree, Borne?”
Borne nodded. “He shows no signs of manual labor. There are no callouses on his hands and his posture is not stooped or altered in any way.”
“Well, she can’t kill him. We don’t have any space in the garden to bury him. The turnips would taste off.” Dallys sighed. “Izzie?”
“Wincet could send his body into space through a portal. That would solve that problem.” Izzie grinned.
Tona put her dagger back in her boot. “He can live as long as he stops being an ass. Besides we could use a housekeeper and cook.”
“Has everyone finished?” Wincet asked. “There is something that I need you all to do. Isadora, we will need you as well. Borne, show him to his room then come back for the briefing. After you settle in Barth, we could use some sandwiches.”
“Welcome home, husband.” Tona smirked.
Borne grabbed Barth by the arm and led him down to the men’s end of the hallway in the living quarters.
“Why are you all against me?” Barth asked.
“Tona is well respected.” Borne told him. “We will not allow her to be treated the way you expect to treat her. It would be best if you kept quiet and let us do our work.”
“You mean act like some invisible servant?” Barth was stunned at the thought.
“Yes.” Borne stopped in front of a door and opened it. “This is your room.” He walked off leaving Barth standing there speechless.
In the common room, everyone looked at Tona with sympathy.
Wincet reached out and put his arm around her shoulders. “Are you alright my dear?”
“No. Maybe.” Tona shook her head. “I thought I could deal with a demon like him but I was wrong, oh so wrong. It’s like he has his hands gripping my soul and they’re only going to get tighter until he leaves or I kill him.”
“We are all here for you.” Jace said. “We are all your friends.”
“Thank you.” Tona smiled at them all. “That means everything to me. Let’s hear about the mission, Wincet.”
Wincet nodded and started to lay out the plan for the next mission.
Word Count: 3446
Brought to you by puzzleprompts
Nellis walked down the hall to his room he noticed that Jace had left his door open so he decided to stop and see if Jace wanted to play some cards. He knocked on the open door and smiled as Jace looked up from the bed where he was sitting.
“Hey Jace! Do you want to play some cards?” Nellis realized that Jace seemed out of sorts. “What’s up? You seem down.”
"It’s nothing.” Jace put something in his pocket. “I was just thinking about my mum.”
Nellis pulled over a chair. “You were close with your mum?”
“Yes. We were all each other had after my dad died. He was a police inspector like me. He died saving someone. I guess I wanted to be like him.”
“At least you knew who your dad was. My Mother hadn’t a clue. She was a bit of a free spirit, I think you would say. She had several boyfriends all at the same time and she liked to have a good time.” Nellis frowned and looked sad for a moment. “She was killed by one of her boyfriend’s in a jealous rage when I was in high school. Izzie was there for me. I think that’s when we started up.”
“My mum was a good woman. Never drank or had a lot of men friends. I was her world.” Jace smiled. “Dallys and I were talking about our homes recently. It got me thinking about her.”
“What did you put in your pocket when I came in?” Nellis asked. “Was it a picture of her? Can I see it?”
Jace reached into his pocket and brought out a ring. “No. It’s the family ring. Every first born son has put it on his bride’s finger on their wedding day for generations. She was the last to wear it.”
Nellis looked at it and shrugged. “So you give it to the one you bond with and follow tradition.”
“I can’t because she is going to marry someone else.” Jace sighed. “I never even got to tell her how I feel. I was stupid to think she would have any feelings for me.”
“I thought you said you didn’t leave anyone behind on Terra.” Nellis was starting to get worried about Jace.
“She was never on Earth.” Jace looked at the ring one last time then he shoved it in his pocket. “Now I can never tell her how I feel.”
Nellis realized who Jace was talking about. “Tona? You are in love with Tona. Are you out of your mind? She’s an elf and she’s a dangerous one at that.”
“I know that.” Jace pulled a pillow into his lap. “I’m so stupid.”
“I was going with crazy but I can get with that too.” Nellis sighed. “She‘s bringing her husband here after the wedding. Are you going to be okay with that?”
“I suppose I shall have to be.” Jace hugged the pillow. “Nellis, you can’t tell the others and especially not Izzie. All of the women here are close and they tell each other everything.”
“So I’ve noticed.” Nellis rubbed his chin. “Izzie never really had a lot of friends so I have no idea how that happened.”
“They’re women. It’s in their nature to travel in packs.” Jace shrugged.
Nellis frowned. “It doesn’t bode well for us, does it?”
“Not a bit.” Jace leaned his chin on the pillow. “I’m just going to hide out in here until she leaves.”
“Sounds like a firm plan.” Nellis looked toward the door. “But I think she has other ideas.”
“What?” Jace sat up and looked at the door.
“She’s coming. I better go.” Nellis smiled and left the room.
Jace looked in the mirror and checked his hair. “What is she coming down to this end of the hall for anyway?”
Tona knocked on the open door. “Jace, I wanted to speak to you before I go. May I come in?”
“Of course.” Jace motioned to the chair Nellis had vacated. “Have a seat. What did you want to talk about?”
Tona sat down. “I wanted you to know that I’m going to be okay. I know you are worried about me going home and getting married to a stranger.” Tona hesitated then she decided to tell him the truth. “Jace, if I don’t marry Barth then my parents will be arrested for stealing. They kept the money from the marriage contract that they signed before I left. I’m doing this for them.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Jace asked. “Why not Wincet or Dallys?”
“I’ve already told Wincet and he tried to give me money to pay Barth off. I refused it because I have my own money. Besides, I tried to pay him off myself but he won’t take it.” Tona hesitated. “I’m telling you this because I thought we were getting close and I didn’t want you to think that I didn’t care about you.”
Jace nodded. “I understand and I care for you too. I will do whatever you need me to do. Tona, if there is any way to get out of this for you, please try.”
Tona smiled. “I thought about killing Barth after I bring him here but you know how Wincet frowns on that sort of thing.”
Jace shook his head and sighed. “That’s true. He doesn’t like us killing people at all. It makes him rather cross.”
“I better go finish packing.” Tona looked at the door. “You can come back in, Nellis. I know you’re out there. I can hear you giggle. Izzie says he’s always been a sneak.”
“I am not a sneak.” Nellis peeked into the doorway. “Are you two going to kiss or something because I can just wait out here until you’re finished?”
“No need.” Tona stood up and went over to Jace. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Still friends?”
“Yes. Always.” Jace smiled.
“Good.” Tona turned to walk out. She punched Nellis on the arm. “Izzie just arrived and I am going to tell her that you were sneaking around in the hallway and eavesdropping.”
“She’ll probably just laugh.” Nellis rubbed his arm. He watched Tona go down the hall for a minute then came into Jace’s room. “That went well. I guess she wasn’t as clueless as you thought.”
“Shut up Nellis.” Jace pulled the pillow back into his lap and hugged it. “I want to be alone. Do you mind?”
“No. I should go find Izzie anyway.” Nellis got up and patted Jace on the shoulder. “Who knows maybe we’ll like this guy.”
Jace sighed and put his face in the pillow. “Go!”
“I’m just saying.” Nellis walked out of the room and closed the door. He headed down to the other end of the hallway where the women had their rooms.
Two hours later, Tona stepped through the portal onto Tolkarian. Barth was there waiting for her.
“You are Tona?” Barth asked.
“Yes. You must be Barth. My mother said you would be the one to greet me.” Tona smiled.
“Hmph!” Barth looked her up and down. “Your hair is too short and you are dressed like a man but I suppose you will do. Come. My parents are waiting to meet you.”
Tona rolled her eyes as soon as he turned and followed him into a well-kept garden. Her parents along with another older couple were sitting at a table in the middle of a courtyard.
Tona’s mother Stara smiled at her daughter. “There you are. I told them you would come.” She stood up as Tona approached and hugged her. She whispered in Tona’s ear. “You should have stayed where you were. We would have been alright.”
Tona pulled back and smiled. “It’s good to see you, Mother, and you, Father.”
Tona’s father, Manse stood up and hugged her. “You look well.”
“Really? Because she isn’t what I expected.” Barth said. “I waited all this time for a wife and I get a… a… whatever she is. She is not the way you described her during the negotiations.”
“That was many years ago. I am a warrior now.” Tona turned and looked at Barth. “It is a respectable vocation.”
“For a man but not for a woman.” The other man at the table spoke up. “She is not as you said. Our women are to serve us and make our homes not go to war.”
“Helis, we raised her to be independent and self-reliant.” Manse responded. “I did not force my child to be invisible to the world. I wanted her to find her place in it.”
“Well that will all change once we are married.” Barth gave Tona a dismissive look.
“Oh no! The agreement was that you come back with me to Centra. You will hold to it.” Tona stepped up to Barth.
“If I refuse?” Barth challenged her.
“Then I will leave and not come back.” Tona glared at him. “I have obligations on Centra that are more important than being your wife.”
“Nothing is more important than being my wife to you now.” Barth met her glare with one of his own. “You are mine and you will do as I say.”
Tona laughed. “I will do as I please unless; you wish to try to force me to do otherwise. In which case, I will have to make my point to you with one of my blades. It will be a very bloody discussion. You can be sure of that.”
Barth raised his hand to slap her and Tona grabbed it and twisted it behind him as she shoved him down on the table.
“Helis, this wasn’t a good idea.” Barth’s mother Patra pulled on her husband’s sleeve. “She is hurting him!”
“Silence!” Helis pushed away her hand. “He is a grown man. He must learn to handle his wife by himself.”
“Tona!” Manse grabbed her by the shoulder. “I think he sees the point. Now let him go.”
Tona released Barth and stepped back. “I pray that is so, Father. Maybe,he is beginning to regret not taking the currency I offered him.”
“I need a wife not more currency.” Barth straightened his clothes. “I will see you in the morning for the ritual.” He turned to Manse. “See that she is on time and properly attired.”
Barth’s parents walked with him out of the garden.
“That could have gone better.” Manse looked at his daughter. “If you must rough him up, please, do it in private from now on.”
Tona chuckled. “I will try, Father. I promise.”
“Tona, you need to calm down. Barth is a very powerful man.” Stara warned her. “You should just do as he says and not be any trouble. You and I could see each other every day if you stayed here with him.”
"Mother, I would love to stay here with you and see you every day but I am part of something special.” Tona smiled gently at her mother. “We are called the Dark Army and we help people around the universe. It’s a noble calling and I won’t give it up to be some invisible slave to that buffoon.”
“You must watch your temper with him. He could have you beaten for not obeying him.” Manse warned her. That law is still on the books and no one seems in a rush to repeal it.”
“I would love to see him try it.” Tona said defiantly. “I would make him regret it.”
“Come inside I have the perfect gown for you to wear on your wedding day. I made it myself.” Stara pulled Tona inside.
“Mother, all we do is light a candle and sign a piece of paper. It’s not more special than any other day.” Tona sighed in annoyance. “It’s not like we are royal and he wants the marriage bed witnessed because that will not be happening.”
“Tona, he will be your husband.” Stara looked shocked. “He will expect his rights.”
“He can expect them but that doesn’t mean he will get them.” Tona scowled.
“Humor your mother. Wear the dress.” Manse said as he followed them inside.
Tona looked over her shoulder at her father and sighed.
The next morning as the sun shone into the ancient temple Tona and Barth were married. It was quick and simple. The words were spoken by the priestess, a candle was lit, and the contract was signed.
Barth took Tona’s hand. “Now you must perform your duty to me. I expect you to be a willing participant in our first joining.”
“No!” Tona pulled her hand away from him. “I married you today and that is all you will be getting. If you want a release, go do it yourself.”
Barth’s parents looked shocked. Manse dipped his head down so that they wouldn’t see him smiling. Stara glanced around at the others nervously.
I will be leaving tomorrow at sunrise. I see no reason to stay the time that I had planned.” Tona told them all. She turned to Barth. “If you’re coming to Centra, be where the portal opened before. I’m going to spend some time with my parents before I leave.” She put her arm around her mother and steered her out of the temple. “Come along mother. Tell me all about your garden this year.”
Manse glance at them then turned to Barth. “If I were you I wouldn’t bother to show up. My daughter hasn’t been knitting for the last few years. She has been working as a mercenary. If you anger her she might just kill you. If she doesn’t then her friends just might on her behalf.” Manse left the temple and caught up with Tona and his wife.
Barth stood there not sure of what to do until Helis grabbed him by the arm.
“Go get your wife and make her submit.” Helis pushed him towards the door. “She obviously needs to be taught her place.”
“I know you’re right, Father, but I really don’t want make things worse.” Barth said. “Let her calm down tonight. I will wait until the morning to show her who is in control. She won’t be leaving this world any time soon.”
The next morning Tona went to where the portal opened and looked around. “Please see me, Wincet. I know you’re watching. I want to come back now.”
The portal opened and Tona was about to step through when Barth walked up.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Barth folded his arms across his chest. “You are my wife and you are going to stay here by my side and fulfil your duties to me from this moment on.”
Tona looked at the portal then at Barth. “Fine! You want me to be by your side then I shall be.” Tona grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the portal. “But we will be on living on Centra, not here.” Tona shoved Barth through the portal then stepped through.
On Centra, it was a cold snowy winter night. The stars were hidden by the snow clouds and there was a brisk breeze.
Wincet has been standing on the travelers bridge waiting for Tona when Barth landed face down in the snow at his feet.
Tona pointed at Barth. “Wincet that excuse for an elf is my husband. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to turn him into something that I can squish under my heel?”
Wincet scowled. “That bad?”
“Worse. He’s going to need his own room because he sure as hell isn’t staying in mine. I believe there may be room in the shed next to Nellis’ motorcycle.” Tona walked down the Traveler’s Bridge to the living quarters.
Barth looked up at the sorcerer. “Who are you?”
Wincet reached down and pulled the elf to his feet. “I am Wincet. I command the Dark Army. You are Barth?”
“Yes.” Barth brushed the snow off his clothes.
“Hmph!” Wincet looked him up and down. “You’re not at all what I expected Tona’s husband to be. You’re not even used to working with your hands it seems. They’re soft and not calloused. That will change soon enough. We all share the upkeep of this place.” Wincet started to walk away. “Follow me. There is a room next to Borne’s you can take until your wife says otherwise.”
“My wife and I require a private suite of rooms.” Barth said as he followed the sorcerer.
Wincet laughed and kept walking.
“I don’t understand. What is so humorous about that?” Barth frowned and started walking.
“I wouldn’t want to be alone with her when she’s in the state she’s in.” Wincet laughed again. “You might just wake up dead.”
Barth blinked and shook his head. “She is my wife and she will do as she is told.”
Wincet looked over his shoulder and shook his head. He stopped and looked at Barth with pity in his eyes. “I can’t even get her to do what I tell her to do sometimes and she likes me. You have no idea of what she is capable of, do you?”
“Cooking. Cleaning. Laundry.” Barth shrugged.
“Fighting, killing, and bomb making is more like it.” Wincet started walking again. “However, you will be expected to help with the cooking and cleaning now that you live here. We all do our own laundry.”
When Wincet and Barth walked into the common room, everyone was waiting for them. They were all standing aggressively with intimidating looks on their faces.
“So this is the husband?” Nellis squinted at Barth. “He’s short. He looks more like an imp than an elf. Can you spin straw into gold like the story Jace told us one night? Jace says that all imps can do that. Are you sure your name isn’t Rumpelstiltskin?”
Izzie buried her face in Nellis’ arm to keep from laughing.
“Borne show him to the room next to yours. He can stay there for now.” Wincet looked at Tona and winked.
“I thought I said to put him in the shed.” Tona pulled her dagger out of her boot and looked at it.
“Oh no! Not with my motorcycle! She deserves a better roommate than him.” Nellis pointed at Barth. “He looks a little hinky to me. What do you think Jace?”
“Tona doesn’t seem to like him.” Jace frowned. “Maybe he is a little hinky as you say. He looks like his mummy pampered him. Wouldn’t you agree, Borne?”
Borne nodded. “He shows no signs of manual labor. There are no callouses on his hands and his posture is not stooped or altered in any way.”
“Well, she can’t kill him. We don’t have any space in the garden to bury him. The turnips would taste off.” Dallys sighed. “Izzie?”
“Wincet could send his body into space through a portal. That would solve that problem.” Izzie grinned.
Tona put her dagger back in her boot. “He can live as long as he stops being an ass. Besides we could use a housekeeper and cook.”
“Has everyone finished?” Wincet asked. “There is something that I need you all to do. Isadora, we will need you as well. Borne, show him to his room then come back for the briefing. After you settle in Barth, we could use some sandwiches.”
“Welcome home, husband.” Tona smirked.
Borne grabbed Barth by the arm and led him down to the men’s end of the hallway in the living quarters.
“Why are you all against me?” Barth asked.
“Tona is well respected.” Borne told him. “We will not allow her to be treated the way you expect to treat her. It would be best if you kept quiet and let us do our work.”
“You mean act like some invisible servant?” Barth was stunned at the thought.
“Yes.” Borne stopped in front of a door and opened it. “This is your room.” He walked off leaving Barth standing there speechless.
In the common room, everyone looked at Tona with sympathy.
Wincet reached out and put his arm around her shoulders. “Are you alright my dear?”
“No. Maybe.” Tona shook her head. “I thought I could deal with a demon like him but I was wrong, oh so wrong. It’s like he has his hands gripping my soul and they’re only going to get tighter until he leaves or I kill him.”
“We are all here for you.” Jace said. “We are all your friends.”
“Thank you.” Tona smiled at them all. “That means everything to me. Let’s hear about the mission, Wincet.”
Wincet nodded and started to lay out the plan for the next mission.