Guarded by the Hybrid (Kindred Tales)

“My Lord,” I said, nodding to him. “You have made me so happy.”

“Indeed, as you shall make me, my dear,” he returned. “When you bear me sons that carry on the Le’rank family face and name.” Then he looked at Nana. “I shall send a man with the marriage contract tomorrow—we shall be wed within the month!”

“Wait.” I lifted my chin and Le’rank looked at me in apparent surprise.

“So, the little mouse speaks,” he murmured, not looking very happy about it. “Is there something you wish me to know before we are wed, my dear?”

“Yes,” I said, keeping my chin high. “If I marry you, Lord Le’rank, I want to be certain that my grandmother is well taken care of. She has raised me all on her own, ever since the death of my parents when I was only eight cycles old. I want to be certain she’s well settled financially.”

“Well of course, my little mouse!” he said heartily. “Why, your bride price—”

“Must be paid directly into my Nana’s own account,” I interrupted him. “It must not go to either of my uncles. She alone must have access to the account.”

“Well!” My future husband eyed me with apparent surprise. “That is most irregular, you know. Usually the bride price goes to the nearest male relation of the bride.”

“Not in this case,” I said firmly. “If I am to leave her, I must know that my Nana is well taken care of and no one can gamble away her funds or squander them on low women and vice.”

“Isla! My dear!” Nana put a hand to her heart, her wrinkled cheeks flushing again. “You must not speak so!”

“I will speak how I must to assure your future, Nana—just as you assured mine,” I told her. I looked directly at Lord Le’rank. “I will not marry you unless you agree to this condition,” I told him. “It is of utmost importance to me that my dear Nana is provided for.”

“Well, well…” He looked at me speculatively.

“I’m so sorry, Lord Le’rank,” Nana began. “I promise you that Isla is a good and proper girl—she has not been trained to speak in this way to men. I cannot think what came over her!”

“No, no—it’s quite all right.” Lord Le’rank was giving me that appraising look again and I had a feeling he was weighing me in the balance—wondering if I was worth the trouble. “At least now I know not to lend money to my new relations,” he said, with a somewhat forced laugh. “Very well, little mouse, it shall be as you request—your bride price shall be paid into your grandmother’s account and no one else shall have access to it.”

“Thank you, Lord Le’rank.” I curtsied low, keeping my eyes down on the ground, demure once more, now that I had what I wanted.

“My man will be coming with the papers tomorrow,” was all he said before leaving us with a last look over his narrow shoulder at me.

As soon as he was gone, Nana turned to me.

“Isla, really—you should not have spoken so! What if Lord Le’rank had refused your demands and decided not to marry you because of them?”

“It was a chance I had to take.” I took her hands in mine. “It’s bad enough to be leaving you, Nana—I couldn’t bear it if I thought you didn’t have enough to live on!”

“You’re a dear, sweet girl, Isla.” She drew me down and planted a kiss on my cheek. “I shall miss you so,” she whispered and I heard tears in her voice. “And I am sorry you must marry the first man to make an offer for you. But if you do not—”

“We will be out on the streets,” I said steadily. “And there would be no way to earn our living but for me to enter a House of Ill Repute. Better to sell myself to one man than to many, Nana.”

“Isla!” Her faded eyes grew wide. “How do you know of such places?”

“I heard the maids talking,” I told her. “And besides, you know it is true.”

“I…we…we cannot speak of such things!” Her hands, worn soft and smooth as a baby’s with age, fluttered in agitation.

“We must speak of such things, Nana,” I said firmly. “You heard Lord Le’rank—I am to be wed within the month. There is no more time for shyness and niceties—you must tell me what you know of being a Moonstone goddess. You said there were ways to bring on the Moonstone glow and I see in your eyes there is more to say on this subject.”

“There…there is. But child, you are so young…so innocent…”

“I am not as young as I was—I am long out of finishing school—almost a spinster,” I pointed out. And I will not remain innocent of a man’s touch much longer.” I took her by the shoulders—but gently—I could feel how frail she was. Her advanced years were catching up with her. “Nana, you must tell me,” I begged softly. “Do not send me into marriage unprepared. You were a Moonstone goddess yourself at my age. Please tell me what to expect!”