78th day of Autumn, Year 196
Maiden’s Drink, in the barony of Moraeth
The sky, always with a slight tint of red in Moraeth, is growing more crimson by the minute with the setting of the sun. Its color washes the cliffs before her, highlighting the town of Maiden’s Drink and its lighthouse, towering above the pebbled beach and piers of the port below.
Leona Belree is standing on the prow of The Stalwart as she pulls up to a dock, busy with merchants and sailors and townsfolk. As she’s bidding farewell to the crew, friends formed over the long years upon the ship, a messenger arrives.
“Ma’am, I was instructed to bring this to you upon your arrival.”
She tips him a copper piece, and opens the small scroll. It’s from her sister, bidding her to meet her not at their home outside the village, but at a house in town.
The lanterns are being lit, as Leona makes her way from the wide main road down a smaller street, winding up a hill, where it becomes more narrow. After another turn, and a few stairs, she arrives at a modest home towards the edge of town.
She’s greeted at the door by a young man. Handsome, with features common to the Morathi people. Dark hair, his eyes a bright blue, fair skin that’s as much the consequence of the short days and long nights in the region, as it is of any inherited trait. He seems distracted at first, but his face lights up when he sees her, despite her being a stranger.
“Oh! It’s you! Leona, right? I’d recognize you anywhere, you look just like her.” He turns from the door, and calls out into the house. “Leda! She’s here!” Returning his gaze to the person at his door, he invites Leona inside.
With supper comes light conversation, and a wealth of information of the events over the past 5 years that led to the marriage of her sister Leda to one Ardenn Key, an up and coming silversmith. Her sister is a talented artisan herself, and employs silver thread in her needlework, embroidering the circle symbol widely viewed by Morathi as a method of protection against dark spirits. Naturally their professions had brought them together.
Leona gives her sister a pointed look as they finish their plates. It has not escaped her notice that Leda is clearly with child, and her sister knows that a conversation best held in private is due.
The opportunity presents itself as Ardenn excuses himself to return to his workshop. He mentions something about working on a complex new design, and kisses his wife goodbye.
After he leaves, she sighs, and leans in towards Leona. “Go ahead. I know what you’re going to say. So just get it off your chest.”
“Yes. You do. How could you do this? You swore an oath, no—WE swore an oath, TOGETHER! And now,…”
Leona trails off and gestures angrily at Leda’s swollen belly.
“I know. I KNOW. I’m sorry. I just… I fell in love, ok?”
“Falling in love is fine, and getting married is…fine. But we swore to each other never to bear children. WE SWORE. Why?!”
Leda covers her face with her hands. “I know. It’s just…. he wanted a child so badly. And I wanted to give him one.” She looks back up at her sister’s exasperated face. “Listen. I just know it’s going to be a boy. I can tell. And even if it’s not, even if it IS a girl, maybe it will skip her too. Maybe it will be fine! Either way, it’s too late now!”
“We got lucky. Very lucky. I don’t understand how you could do such a thing. After everything that happened with Mother… and the way Father died… I just…” She looks up and sees the look on Leda’s face, nearly in tears. Her own anger breaks, and she sighs. She crosses to the other side of the table, placing an arm around her sister’s shoulders, resting her head on hers. “I’m sorry. You’re right, it is too late now. Maybe it will be fine, and this child will be safe too. I did as we planned, and threw the stone into The Serpent’s Deep. It’s gone forever now, halfway to Kharakhan. Whatever happens, I will be here to help you. Ok?”
Leda nods, and holds her sister close.
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