Snowblind {complete}

Wet - Seizure

Lanna rolled her eyes. There he was again. How long would he keep this up?

She lifted her basket of laundry higher on her hip and placed her feet with care as she climbed the muddy riverbank. Another tub of scrubbing awaited at the hut. She had no time for a persistent male. Her rejection should have been the end.

Lanna picked her way up the slick slope and admired the terraces above her on either side of the valley. The rice grew well. Green had taken over to such an extent that she could hardly see any mud. Imperial people didn't know what a blessing it was to be able to grow food rather than need to hunt for it. Did they ever know hunger here?

Her family took pride in farming even though they didn't own any land. Though even if they had coin nothing would change – Southerners were barred from land ownership. If she married, however, that could change.

Lanna huffed and tossed her head to move some stray curls from her eyes. The basket, heavy with water-soaked bedding, made her arms complain.

Regardless, she couldn't show weakness while that annoying boy watched. She glanced at the blue sky. In the distance clouds hung, black and gloomy. The hot day indicated the dry season would soon be upon them. She wasn't sure how she would cope with more heat.

Hemil stood at the top of the rise, pruning the peach trees, but Lanna wasn't fooled. That was an activity for the late dry season, when the sap in the tree was low, but the peaches had only fallen last month, and the trees wouldn't blossom again until the next rainy season.

The matchmaker had been incensed at Lanna's flat refusal to accept Hemil's offer. Called her a foolish brat – at least that was how Lanna had translated it. Mika had been upset also but remained on good terms with Lanna.

Yet Lanna hadn't reckoned on how stubborn Hemil would be. She became suspicious when she had chance meetings with him nearly every day. She had never seen him so frequently before his proposal. He had offered a sincere apology many times, once in the centre of the village during the market, providing a wonderful spectacle.

Lanna cursed and marched straight past Hemil with only a nod, but she should have known he wouldn't let her walk by without some acknowledgement.

'Fine day, is it not, Lanna?' he called out. He turned from his pointless task and dropped the shears, which she noted were rusted shut. Her lips quirked up despite her affronted pride.

'It is,' she responded. 'As it was the day before and the day before that when you asked me.'

He hesitated, dark eyes darting over her. She steadied herself, ready for what he would try next to tempt her to relent.

'You seem to enjoy the laundry.' He narrowed his eyes. 'I wager because it lets you spend time alone. It must be very cramped in your hut.'

Ah, so pointing out her poor accommodation was the tactic? Well, he'd left her an easy opening she would happily exploit. She wouldn't even have to be rude.

'Yes, time alone. I do so value it.' She gave him a gleeful look, taking no small amount of delight in goading him. 'So you'll appreciate that you're intruding and I have much to do.' Her Imperial had improved over the previous month.

Lanna turned but not before she saw his face fall. She winced. Why would he not move on?

Mika shared every detail of the matchmaker's further visits to her household. Girls in other villages were available. None would turn him down. Some wouldn't even bother to meet him before the marriage.

Lanna shook her head. The Empire was moons touched, not her. She walked down the main street, her muscles straining, acid stinging in her upper arms and shoulders.