Page 14 of Firebird

Chapter 7 – Lay of the Land

Luella

For the first time in my life, I was with a man who did not care much about me or how I looked. I was dressed in my purple dress, velvet with embroidered hem in gold thread. I had specially asked Francilia to help me look my best. My hair was even coiled above my head, with curled strands framing my face. I was used to men scanning me from head to toe with unmasked desire. They would only slowly retreat into themselves when informed about who I was and what I could do. Even those who knew about me all along would still watch me from afar.

“Your Highness, are you sure about this? Are you not supposed to be as undesirable as possible to the Prince? You said so yourself,” Francilia had asked, while twisting my hair into a bun.

Francilia, you know me. I always want to look my best.”

“Yes, I know, your Highness, b-but -,” my lady-in-waiting started then, but I gave her a stern look. She had resumed her duties silently.

The result was glorious, if I must say so myself, if only I was meeting a man who would actually notice the difference.

Metheus did not seem like a man to retreat. He walked close enough to me as if giving me a challenge. He was probably thinking, “Burn me, witch, if you can.” However, I did not see anything close to desire. Nothing. He was colder than ice for a man from the deserts of Arrowspear, who walked around with his bare chest out. In the tunic and breeches prepared for him, he was even worse. He looked like he would bless me with holy water. I probably needed a good dousing.

In my room, he had only given me an almost taunting smile, but that was it. Knocking on the door to his room was dangerous, I knew. However, I realized nobody needed to worry. He did not like me at all. It was not what I expected. I thought there would be hints of disappointment, knowing that our arrangement would never include physical love. I saw nothing of such kind on his face. My face was long all throughout our walk.

Metheus barely looked at me when we reached the fields. He surveyed the dry remains of the crops with sorrow. Then, he kneeled to touch the ground as if he was caressing a lover.

“Can you heal the land, Metheus?” I asked.

He looked at me, possibly startled that I was still there. I tried to hide my irritation.

“Yes, it is possible. Your land is beautiful. There is so much that can be done. We will begin something today. Then, I will leave in two days’ time to bring more men with me.”

“You will begin right now?”

He was quiet again, his fingers feeling the texture of the soil. He had retreated into his own world, still on his knees. His breeches would be dirty, but I did not think he cared. I stood behind him, gingerly lifting my long dress to keep it clean.

His men gave me more attention, looking at me with sheepish smiles. The youngest, Eli, scratched his head and turned away when I glanced at him. They were respectful, though, knowing I would be their Master’s bride. The woman was different. When she knew I was watching her, her face was solemn. In the corner of my eye, I could see that she watched me with dislike.

Who was she to Metheus? Perhaps she was why the Prince showed no signs of attraction towards me. I gave her a scrutinizing look, more open than the ones she had been giving me. She was a beautiful woman with light-brown skin and dark hair. Her lashes were long and curly, and her mouth was full and ripe for kissing. She was also voluptuous, making me self-conscious about my slim figure.

I felt Francilia’s hand on my arm, comforting me. Of course, she could almost always read my mind. I almost forgot that she was there, always my little shadow.

Suddenly, my throat felt tight at the thought that I was to be married to someone who not only would hate me for the no-bedding rule but who was also possibly in love with another woman! My pride would not allow me to be the second choice. At that moment, I wanted out of the contract.

“Look at this, Luella,” Metheus suddenly said, his voice surprisingly gentle.

I bent down and ended up falling to my knees. Hells! Never mind the velvet. It was already dirty. The Prince wanted me to look at something in the soil.

“What is it?” I asked, annoyed at getting my dress filthy but curious about what made him call me.

“It’s a seedling sprouting leaves,” he said, showing me what he had found beneath the soil’s surface.

“What does it mean?” I asked, hoping I did not sound foolish.

“It means that underneath the soil, it is not as dry as we thought it was. Whatever is spreading has not really affected the soil. Yet. We can start by planting the seeds of plants that could survive with little water. Then, when I am back, we can solve the rest of the problem.”

I could be wrong, but I felt the soil looked less dry than when we arrived. I looked at Metheus suspiciously, but he seemed too happy, putting the seedling in a cloth pouch like a specimen he needed to observe later. Another pouch, in leather, was tied next to the cloth one.

People often consider Carolina the most brilliant sibling and Samuel the bravest. I was the most dangerous, but people did not see me as clever. But I saw what I saw.

“Metheus, do not laugh at me, but I remember the soil was slightly drier when we arrived. Now, it looks like it only missed a few sprinklings of rain.”

Of course, he laughed. His braids moved as he did, the metal beads tinkling. The movement and sound hypnotized me. Were they even just any kind of metal? I could swear they were made of gold.

“No, Luella. When I told you that the soil has a chance to recover, your mind saw what it wanted to see.”

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