“Come, girl,” her new husband said abruptly. “I wish to leave this benighted planet and never come back here again. But I think we must first go to the Song House before I’m allowed to take you with me.”
“Yes.” Allara nodded, swallowing back her sobs. “Th-that way,” she said, pointing towards the corner where the Song House was located.
“Come.” he took her by the hand, his enormous black-gloved hand swallowing up her much smaller one.
Just as Brand’s used to do, Allara thought and had to choke back another sob.
Her new husband pulled her along to the Song House, where they were greeted in the doorway by a bored-looking Song Leader in a black, hooded robe.
“Halt,” he said, holding up a hand to them. “You must first sing your songs to each other before you may be considered married and leave the planet. You…” He looked at Allara. “Must sing your Song of Submission.”
“Yes, Song Leader.” Allara bowed her head.
“And then you…” He looked up at her very tall husband. “Must sing your Song of Dominance.”
“What song is this?” Allara’s new husband growled. “I have no time for nonsense.”
“Look, between the two of us, just sing any song you like,” the Song Leader told him. “It doesn’t really matter what it’s about—but you must sing a song in order to declare your Dominance over this woman and take her away.”
“I can do that,” Allara’s new husband nodded.
“Good. Then go get in line behind the others from the auction,” the Song Leader pointed to a group of alien males and their new Q’ess brides. They were standing to one side of the long, hard pews, waiting their turn to ascend to the altar and sing their Songs.
Allara’s new husband walked over to the back of the line without further comment and Allara followed, having to trot to keep up with his long strides.
Waiting didn’t take long. All of the Q’ess brides sang the same, traditional Song of Submission and the grooms, without exception, grunted a few words of half-hearted song in return and then they left.
None of their notes were true, which caused Allara to wince with pain. She wondered what her new husband’s Song would be like and hoped he was not a Voiceless one. It was difficult to tell, since his voice seemed to be somewhat distorted by the shiny black helmet which made him look so menacing.
At last it was their turn to ascend to the altar. It gave Allara a feeling of hopelessness, knowing that she was walking up the wooden steps to marry a man she didn’t even know—and would never love as she had loved Brand.
Maybe he will kill me on our wedding night, she thought hopelessly. Then at least I would be out of my misery!
Standing by the altar—which was no more than a rough wooden railing in the center of the stage—she placed her hand upon it and began to sing.
“From this day forward, to you I belong
Husband, husband, please hear my Song
To you I belong—to you I belong.
“From this day forward, I am not my own
Take me to your home
I am not my own.
Husband I beg you, do as you please
I plead on my knees,
Do as you please, with me.”
She sank to her knees as she sang, as was the tradition, and looked up at him as she finished her Song of Submission.
“From this day forward, to you I belong
Husband, husband, please hear my Song
To you I belong…
Forever.
It was, of course, impossible to tell what her new husband thought of her Song of Submission since his shiny black helmet was completely blank of emotion. He simply looked down at her for a long time—so long, in fact, that the Song Leader at the door noticed something amiss and snapped at them.
“Come now, move the line along! You must sing your Song of Dominance before you can take your new wife home.”
“Very well,” her new husband growled. He pushed something on the side of his helmet and the shiny black visor lifted, but only far enough to bare his mouth. Allara wondered if now she would be able to hear his true voice—his true Song?
Submissively, she looked down at his booted feet, waiting to hear his Song of Dominance, as was the proper way for a new bride.
Suddenly a voice as deep and resonant as a moun horn swept over her.
“You feel the wind against your cheek
It is my love.
You see the stars in space so deep
It is my love…”
With a gasp, she looked up at him. Could it be…? But her new husband was still singing.
“Deeper than the ocean
Wider than the sea
My love will always
Bring you back to me…”
“Brand?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “It…it can’t be!”
“It’s me, baby.” Leaning down, he swept her into his arms and pulled her close to his chest, just as he had so many times in the past three weeks. “Come on—we’re going home.”