By the time the performance had ended, Subira's feet had gone to sleep, despite her best efforts to curl and uncurl her toes within her turquoise-studded leather sandals, and even the cushions on the seats couldn't keep her buttocks from aching after sitting still for so long. She looked around furtively at the rapt theatergoers around her, wondering how they could sit in reverent stillness for so many hours. It was impossible to think that they could be listening to the protracted, exaggerated songs and arias. She couldn't keep her mind on it for more than a minute.
At one point, a black fly buzzed close to her ear, circling around the ornate braids that her long-suffering lady's maid had so carefully arranged atop her head this morning. Subira twitched and repeatedly shook her head in an attempt to dislodge it, but the fly only grew louder and more persistent. At last, losing her patience, Subira slapped furiously at the fly and clapped at it with all four hands. She finally captured it between her palms and let out a crow of triumph, only to cringe when a dozen Eypharian faces turned toward her, glaring and hissing softly in disapproval. Brushing the fly's remains from her lower left palm, Subira subsided into embarrassed silence and hastily tilted her face toward the stage, willing her unruly muscles not to fidget or grow restless.
The slanting rays of the sun had taken on a distinct reddish tinge when the last Semhu performers had taken their bows and retreated from the stage. Subira rose thankfully and rubbed the pins and needles from her thighs. Beside her, her younger sister Tesha was doing the same. They exchanged amused grins when Tesha pointed to the snoring forms of both their father and older brother, who had apparently fallen asleep during the performance.
Muttering under her breath, Subira's mother woke the former with a gentle caress on the cheek and the latter with a curt slap on the shoulder. They waited respectfully as the North Winds were the first nobles to leave the amphitheater, as was custom. Subira thought of the gathering to take place afterward in the open courtyard with dread, though her stomach grumbled plaintively at the thought of the food and drink sure to be offered there. A cool evening breeze brought the aroma of delicately spiced lamb stew to her nose, causing her to inhale appreciatively.
As soon as they reached the courtyard, though, Subira's mother never gave her the chance to even look for any tables bearing food or beer. Though she stood half a foot shorter than her tall, robust daughter, her mother always seemed to dominate Subira effortlessly. She took her daughter's left wrists in a firm grip and led her over to the edge of the crowd.
With a start, Subira recognized the tall figures toward which her mother was inexorably steering her. One of them was the tall, dignified older man that she had seen her mother signaling during the show, and beside him was the young man who must be his son. They both seemed even taller at close range, with clearly defined muscles that wouldn't disgrace even the hardest-working oarsman. With a start of horror, Subira realized the younger man looked to be close to her age, if somewhat younger.
Like a stubborn desert cow, she tried to plant her feet and dig in her heels to keep from being moved any further. Her mother wasn't having any of it, though.
"No, mother! Not another young man to meet," Subira whispered fiercely, trying to pull her left hands free. "No more suitors! I thought I told you, I don't want to marry anyone, not yet."
"Oh?" her mother replied in a voice just as low and vehement. "And when do you plan to marry, Subira? When you are old and weathered, your looks have faded, and no one will want you? I have told you time and again that it is your duty to marry well and bring honor to the South Winds. I even offered to let you choose, if you'll remember, but I've since learned I have to choose for you. You're fortunate that I was able to find anyone at all who'd consider accepting a spinster as old as you as a potential wife for their son!"
"I don't feel fortunate..." Subira muttered rebelliously.
"Hush!" her mother hissed angrily.
She all but dragged Subira toward the two men. In a transformation so swift and so complete that it seemed almost miraculous to Subira, her mother's face softened into a gracious smile and her voice rose to a melodious, courteous trill as she addressed the men. No one could have guessed that a moment ago, she had been admonishing her daughter for her failure to marry well.
"Lord Direnc, it is so good to see you this evening," her mother said, inclining her head politely to the older man. "And this handsome young fellow must be your son! What a pleasure it is to encounter you both like this, after that delightful Semhu performance. I have never heard Rumati sing so beautifully."
Subira cringed inwardly as her mother nudged her forward. "If I may," her mother continued in those sweet, trilling tones so different from her real voice, "I would like to introduce my eldest daughter to you gentlemen. This is Subira, the pearl of my little family. Subira, my dear, do say hello to your mother's good friend Lord Direnc of the North Winds and his younger son."
"Hello," Subira murmured reluctantly, glancing sidelong toward the younger man. She nodded stiffly in greeting, every line in her body betraying her desire to flee. "It's a, uh, honor to meet you both." |
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