“I’ll think about it.”
“Think faster, will you?” He had only just said it when my friend Cameron came walking around the house.
“So, this is where you’re hiding. Why the hell aren’t you opening the door?”
“Cam, good to see you.” My dad stretched out his hand and pulled Cameron into a manly bear hug. “I’m trying to convince Tyton to sign up for Tamara’s tournament.”
My friend frowned and moved on to hug me. “Why is that even a question? Of course you’re signing up.”
“Areyou?” I asked.
“No.” He slammed my arm with a laugh. “I won’t have to when I win Wilma in a few weeks, will I?”
“See, one less competitor for Tamara,” my dad pointed out but we both knew Cam’s chances of winning Wilma were slim. Only one out of fifty thousand men in this country would marry a woman in their lifetime and there were many warriors stronger than Cameron.
“I’m not trying to be a pain here, but I want all my children to be blessed in the same way your mother and I have been. To have a family and children of your own is a fantasy for most men, but we could help you raise the money you need to enter the tournament and you’ve already proven that you can fight your way to becoming one of the five champions.”
I was quiet, so he continued with another argument I’d heard a hundred times before.
“It’s been three years since Starr’s tournament and by the time we reach Tamara’s tournament next year, you’ll be thirty. Your time is running out, son.”
“I said I’ll think about it.”
“But why? What is there to think about? Most of the fighters have never met a woman in their lives and that gives you a huge advantage when you stand in front of Tamara. She’ll know that you’ve been raised by a mother and that you have sisters. You’re as rare as she is, almost.”
“She’s a spoiled girl,” I muttered low and kicked at some gravel on the ground. I had met Tamara a few months ago when she had just turned fourteen, and from the way she spoke to and about people, I’d found her insufferable.”
Cameron leaned in. “What was that?”
“I’ve met her and she didn’t seem very nice.”
My father and Cameron exchanged a glance and my dad raised his hand as to gesture,I’ve got this.
“She’s young and she’ll need a strong man to help her find her role as a good wife. I would have thought someone like you would be up for that challenge.”
“That’s right. A few good spankings to let her know you’re the boss.” Cameron was finding this conversation amusing but I didn’t.
“Is that what you plan to do to Wilma if you win her?” I took a step closer and narrowed my eyes.
“Relax, son. It’s normal for a husband and wife to have to smooth things out between them. I had to demand respect when I won your mother. Women of the North are strong and they don’t want weak husbands.”
“I know that. It’s just that the thought of anyone laying a hand on Wilma bothers me. I don’t want her ending up like Marni.”
My dad gave a single nod and sighed. “No, we don’t want that.”
Marni was only eleven months older than me and growing up she’d been charming and cheeky. Now, she was defensive and bitter, and her sense of humor was almost gone.
“It’s like for every year she’s married to Henry, her spirit breaks a little more.”
“I know.” My dad’s chest rose and fell with another sigh.
“Wait, is Henry beating Marni?” Cameron’s eyebrows rose up in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me? We should fucking kill him if he’s abusive.”
“It’s not that kind of abuse,” I muttered. “There are no bruises or cuts. If there were, we would have taken care of him long ago.”
“Henry is more subtle and refined in his way of controlling Marni,” my dad added. “The problem is that we can’t get her to talk to us about it. And without any information, we can’t help her.”
Cameron shifted his balance and groaned. “Argh, it’s not fair that men like him should be blessed with a wife. Why the fuck did she pick him anyway?”
