I was loved. Deeply, hard, and true.
*
“Congratulations!” Ashanie beamed and gave me a bone-crushing hug when I resumed my duty in the cookery in the morning. “How was it?”
I blushed.
“Lord Veredi told me that your claiming is in two days. We must prepare you. Now, we have to put you on reclusion until the claiming day. You will not see Ronen and Callarn until then.”
“Why?”
“Our custom dictates that the bride and grooms should restrain from joining until claiming day.”
“Too late for that.”
Ashanie giggled. “Well, Ronen and Callarn had to take you first because you were still a virgin. No virgin could handle two Khimerian warriors on claiming day.”
“Oh.”
“Come.” Ashani herded me into my own hut. She carried a wooden box with her and took out a device.
“Chastity belt?”
“You know what it is?”
“My brother had commanded me to wear it before my wedding day. What is it for?”
“So your husbands won’t be tempted to take you until the claiming day, and it prevents you from pleasuring yourself.”
Ashanie lifted my pareo and fitted the belt on me.
“What is the purpose of all this?”
“To save your energy until claiming day. You also won’t see Ronen and Callarn until then.”
“Now you’re being unreasonable.”
“Unfortunately, you must endure this. From now on until the claiming day, you are to stay in your place. You may go out only to relieve yourself or bathe.”
“And my duty in the cookery?”
“You aren’t doing anything other than pampering yourself until your big day.”
“I don’t like this at all.”
“Oh, cease your pouting, girl. And you aren’t to eat anything but ramentha. It will help you with the claiming.”
“I don’t like this at all.”
“You can endure it.”
“Could I at least see them one more time?”
“Absolutely not.”
I cursed. “This isn’t fair.”
*
Miserable.
The next three days without seeing Ronen and Callarn were harder than the account I had to endure during my escape from the hunters. Ashanie left me with a basket of ramentha. I avoided it on the first day. When the hunger became unbearable, I half-heartedly grabbed one and took a bite. I couldn’t stop devouring them afterward. Then, I regretted it. Full-blown lust consumed me and all I could think of was my men. I hated the fact that I wasn’t allowed to talk to them. Though I had constant companions during the day, Ashanie and other women. They prepared me for the ceremony. They scrubbed my body with aromatic oils and washed me with floral water. My eyebrows were plucked and all the hair in my body was waxed. On the third day, Ashanie and the women came and took me for a bath in the Lembanyu spring. Afterward, they ushered me to the great hut.
The place was empty. All windows were shut and enchanted candles floated in the air, illuminating the surroundings. The big table where the masters of Emagari used to sit were gone, replaced with a large wooden pole. It had chains and restraints hanging from it.
I started to suspect the claiming ceremony wasn’t a private affair. “Is this where the claiming takes place?” I asked Ashanie.
“Aye. We have to prepare you for this first.”
“Why can’t it be in my own place, or my men’s?”
“Silly girl. Your place can’t hold all the witnesses.”
“Witnesses?”
“Aye. Our lord and elders must witness the joining otherwise it won’t be lawful.”
“I’m not sure about witnesses.”
“It’s our custom. Just think about Ronen and Callarn. Worry about nothing.” Ashanie tugged me to the pole. She undid my chastity belt. The women chained my wrists to the pole.
“Why do I need to be bound?” I was unhappy.
“So you won’t pleasure yourself until the time.” Ashanie took off my clothes, leaving me naked and chained.
“Is this really necessary?” I protested.
The women giggled. One of them took out a bottle of oil from the basket and started lathering me with it.
The door opened and people milled in.
My hope renewed. But I didn’t see Ronen or Callarn. The women finished their job just as Lord Veredi announced the claiming procession was about to take place.
“Elyra of Drorknar, are you ready?” Veredi asked.
“Yes, my lord.” He walked around, circling me.
“Send her claimers in.”
Callarn and Ronen entered the great hut. Their gait was steady. Their expressions were solemn.
Lord Veredi spoke again. This time he talked in the Khimerian tongue. I didn’t understand it. My men answered briefly when Veredi questioned them. He then gave a lengthy speech that ended with raucous applause and catcalls.