“I’m going
to my own quarters. You have a lot to discuss with your clan.”
At last, Briel’s haughty control
wavered. “But—”
“You said it would be fine.” Maryam
addressed Kels, since as the clan leader, he spoke for the rest. “It will be
fine? You’ll handle this with the understanding she’s young and, um, energetic?”
Immature and irresponsible were
more like it, though Briel had a good heart. That was why Maryam had agreed to
be present when her clan showed up, to help blunt the immediate anger the men
must feel for their runaway bride. With the situation as good as it would get
under the circumstances, Maryam was ready to let them figure their situation
out. Without her.
As she stood, she noted the
interested gaze Kels leveled on her. “I don’t know what my Matara has told you
about us, but we have gone out of our way to be understanding of her energy.”
“That’s exactly what she told
me. In fact, she’s been complimentary of the patience of her much older
clanmates toward her attempts to gather more life experience. I commend your
tolerance for youthful drives.”
With that not-so-subtle hint of
her regard for men who married—or clanned, as it was with the Kalquorians—a
woman decades younger than themselves, Maryam winked at Briel. “Make sure to
say goodbye properly before you leave. I’ve been working on a special present
for the baby.”
No release date set
Not sure of the whole scene, but it sounds interesting.
ReplyDelete