[Complete] Eroh has reached his seventeenth spring and has finally become a man. With manhood comes a gift: marriage to the woman he loves. But when a strange new woman from another world enters his life, he is stuck with the decision to honor his...
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"Aqule? Your father can see you now," waved my uncle Malos.
I walked through the door, lip trembling, trying to hold back the tears. When I reached the midpoint of the room, I looked upon my uncle in his vibrant blue robe. The white hairs on his chin pointed. And eyes were a blue ice.
At the bed, I halted and looked down upon father. He looked up at me, smiling. "I'm alright … the arrow hit my shoulder. Had I not dipped, it would've pierced my heart."
Uncle looked between us both. "Mirr Martuss will defend the caves … and I have the wives attending to the wounded. Brother, if they break our defense I'll need to use Frostsap."
Father slowly nodded and winced. "Do what you must, Malos. If they breach the castle we'll need to retreat to the pools. Make sure you have soldiers readied if it comes to that."
Malos bowed his head, "they already are, my King."
"You're a good brother … loyal … reliable … and useful. Not like Mar'acuda
Malos snickered. "I appreciate the compliment, Kharsos, but it best not to speak illy against those who are not here to speak."
Father chuckled, winced, and groaned, grabbing at the wound.
"That is my que to leave," Uncle Malos smirked, bowed, and then glided out of the room.
I sat down on fathers bed and stroked his long, white hair, smooth as silk. "I'm glad you were not too injured."
He nodded and kept silent for a time. His eyes staring blankly through me. "If only I'd killed their Chief, the war would be over. Wars can be one if you take the eels head."
I frowned, "seems their Chief had the same thing idea."
Father sat up slowly, clenching his teeth against the pain. I grabbed him and guided him into position. He turned and found my eyes. Inside his blue iris, I saw the worry and I saw the sadness.
"Why did you let the boy go?" Father asked. "We could've used him …"
I shifted, pulling myself away. "Father, they're not our enemy—"
"And who decides that?" His face reddened. "You? Are you the King, Marina?"
My fingers rolled into fists and I wanted to scream. Scream that I was not Marina. That I was Aqule. And that had he listened in the first place I wouldn't have freed the boy. We wouldn't be at war. And that none of this would've happened.
I lifted my chin and said, "No. But I had been I would've made the right decision."
Father leaned back, eyebrows raising with his eyes. "Excuse me."
My tears fell. "I said I would've made the right decision, father! Now our fate is up to the surf God's."
