“No. It’s an antique way of thinking from back in the day when women needed men for protection, financial security, social standing, or procreation. Women don’t need men foranythinganymore.”
“But who protects you then?”
“There’s no crime in the Motherlands – we don’t need protection.”
“But being married isn’t a bad thing. Is it because you don’t like Boulder?” Laura asked and looked so young.
I ignored her question and asked my own. “I suppose this means that Magni is your husband then?”
She smiled vaguely. “Yes, I was lucky that he fought for me.”
“Lucky?” I said incredulously.
“When he was one of the winners, I had no doubt that he was my first choice,” Laura explained. “I think he’s very handsome and I like his name. Did you know Magni was the name of Thor’s son?”
“No.”
“Among the old Norse gods, Magni was the god of strength.”
“Really?” I shook my head. “I don’t know, Laura, I think it’s all a bit silly how they name their boys after heroes and gods.”
Laura’s eyebrows shot up. “But it was Erika, their mother, who named Khan and Magni.”
“They have a mother?”
“Yes, they are some of the few who grew up with a mother. Erika is one of the ancestors of the original women, just like me.”
“And Erika lives here?”
“Yes, she’s been under the protection of Khan ever since her husband died, and she’s very respected by all us women here.”
“All? How many women are there?”
“Only she and I live here at the Gray Mansion. But there are other women in the area. The rest are spread out around the Northlands.”
“Do you know exactly how many women live in the Northlands in total?”
She nodded. “Currently we’re one hundred and seven.” A smile erupted on her lips. “But Laila Michelle is pregnant and expecting a girl.”
“Is she a friend of yours?” I asked.
“Yes, she’s a close friend.”
“But doesn’t it seem strange to you that the males are all named after heroes and gods and the women…” I trailed off. “You’re named ordinary names like Laura, Erika, and Michelle.”
Laura bit her lip. “Actually, Erika means eternal ruler and my name means the favorable one. It comes from the old traditional in the Ancient Rome where they created victors’ garlands from leaves of the laurel tree.” She looked up as if thinking hard. “I can’t remember what the meaning of Michelle is; I’ll have to ask her.”
“It’s okay,” I said and grabbed her hand, a more urgent question pressing on my chest. “Laura, what does marriage mean here?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well, I have no experience with marriage and I’m scared. Will he expect to have sex with me and if so will he demand to have me circumcised?”
“Circumcised?” Laura scrunched her face. “I don’t know what that is.”
“When part of your womanhood is cut off.”
That only confused her more, so I chose to say it without a filter. “In parts of the world men used to refuse to marry a woman with her clitoris still intact. They considered her unclean, promiscuous, and they would suppress her sexual desire by cutting away her clitoris.”
