***
When Ran-Del awoke the next morning, he found Francesca beside him, as naked as he was himself. Shyness struck him, and he didn’t speak a single word as he put on the everyday clothes his grandmother had left for him. He and Francesca packed away their betrothal garments for his grandmother to retrieve later, when she fetched the bed linens and cleaned the room for the next betrothed couple. Ran-Del wouldn't let himself think about whom that couple would be.
Francesca seemed more at ease, but she didn’t speak, either. Only once she was dressed in her more familiar trousers and shirt did she give Ran-Del a tentative smile. “Ready?”
He nodded, then followed her out the door. He saw at once that the sun was well above the trees; they had slept late. People were out doing chores, but none of them were close as Ran-Del and his betrothed approached the village.
Only the rustling of blackwood branches and the snapping of twigs underfoot broke the silence as they walked toward Ran-Del’s great-grandfather’s house. He wanted to say something to Francesca so he wouldn’t feel so awkward, but he couldn’t think of anything to say.
His grandmother greeted them fondly at the door, directing them to come and eat breakfast. Ran-Del followed her to her great room. There was no sign of his great-grandfather, but the rest of the betrothal party was there.
Ran-Del sat down between his mother and his grandfather and across from Stefan Hayden, while his grandmother bustled around putting food on the table. Francesca sat beside her father, who gave her a quick, subtle, head-to-toe review and smiled with satisfaction. Francesca gave Ran-Del an anxious glance but said good morning to Laiza, Mina, and Isayah as well as her father. After taking a sip of tea, she spoke mostly to her father.
From their conversation, Ran-Del deduced that Stefan Hayden planned to return to Shangri-La as soon as possible. Ran-Del looked down at his plate of fried bread and ground vegetable patties. This was his last meal as a Sansoussy.
His grandmother patted his shoulder and advised him to eat his breakfast. Ran-Del looked away so he wouldn’t lose control. When he glanced at his betrothed, she was watching him with anxious eyes. Ran-Del could feel her concern as strongly as his mother’s beside him.
“You should pack your things, Ran-Del,” his mother said. “You’ll need to take all your clothes.”
Francesca’s concern melted into something close to worry. “We can get you new clothes.”
“I don’t need new clothes.” Ran-Del made himself eat, even though he wasn’t hungry.
When everyone had finished, Mina cleared the table, brushing away Laiza’s offer of aid with polite firmness.
Stefan stood up first. “That was delicious, Mina. Thank you.” He looked down at his daughter. “Ready to head home, sweetie?”
She nodded, then glanced at Ran-Del. “I am if Ran-Del is.”
There was nothing to be gained by delay. Ran-Del stood up. “I’ll be ready as soon as I can pack my things.”
Stefan oozed relief. “I’ll wait outside, then.”
Ran-Del went to his room. Buster was lying on the bed, head resting on his front paws. The Sansoussy hound looked up and watched intently as Ran-Del began to pull clothes from the clothes chest and pile them onto the bed. He didn’t have many possessions—some woodcarving knives that had been his father’s, a small statuette of a tree bear his father had made for him, his pack, and his weapons.
A scratching at the door made him look up from his packing. “Come.”
His mother ducked into the room. She looked at his overstuffed pack. “Can you carry it all?”
Ran-Del nodded. “I expect Stefan Hayden will summon one of his flying vehicles.”
Laiza moved closer. “I haven’t seen you that much since you moved back here, but I’ll miss you all the same.”
Ran-Del embraced her. “I’ll miss you, too, Mother.”
She clung to him for a moment, then let him go. “Your grandmother is right. The outland woman cares for you. If you treat her well, she’ll come to love you, and you can be happy together.”
Ran-Del nodded dutifully. “Yes, Mother.”
She held him at arm’s length. “You look so much like your father.”
Ran-Del could feel sorrow well up in her. “I’ll see you again,” he said to distract her. “I’ll come back to visit when I can.”
She hugged him again. “Don’t forget me—or your brothers and sister.”
“I won’t.”
She let him go, then rushed from the room.
Ran-Del laced his pack shut, pulled it behind him, and headed for the door. Buster jumped down from the bed to follow him. Ran-Del started to tell him to stay, but changed his mind. After all, Buster was his dog. No one had said he had to give up his dog.
“Come, Buster,” Ran-Del said, and ducked through the doorway.
He straightened up to find his grandmother waiting outside his door.
“I didn’t want to come in while that woman was here,” Mina said. She held her arms wide. “Goodbye, Ran-Del.”
He hugged her tightly. “Goodbye, Grandmother.”
“You can be happy with her sweetness,” she whispered in his ear, “if you work at it.”
He let her go. “I will.”
She brushed a tear from her eye. “They’re waiting for you outside.” She glanced down at Buster. “You’re taking the dog?”
“Do you need him?” Ran-Del asked.
She tisked with her tongue. “Of course not.”
She led the way outside. Ran-Del took in the scene. Stefan Hayden stood beside Francesca, radiating impatience. Francesca herself seemed in less of a hurry. She was conversing with Isayah about something, but she stopped when Ran-Del came outside.
Isayah nodded at Ran-Del. “Good, you’re ready. You can leave the pack here while you say goodbye to your great-grandfather.”
Ran-Del tossed his pack to the ground. “Guard, Buster!”
The dog moved to sit beside the pack.
Stefan lifted his eyebrows. “Do you think we’re going to steal your belongings?”
Recalling his abduction, Ran-Del repressed a snort of indignation. “Buster minds that command better than ‘stay.’ ”
“Ah!” Stefan made no other comment.
Ran-Del exchanged a brief glance with Francesca, then turned to go back into the house.
The old man sat in his great room by himself. When Ran-Del came into the room the shaman sat up straighter in his chair.
“Come here, Ran-Del,” Ji-Ran said, not bothering with a greeting.
Ran-Del approached slowly. He wished he could cut this interview short, but he knew it wasn’t up to him to say when it would end. He stopped several paces away.
“Come closer,” Ji-Ran said. “Give me your hand.”
Ran-Del walked two steps closer and held out his right hand reluctantly. There was only one reason Ji-Ran would ask for it.
Ji-Ran snatched Ran-Del’s hand and held it firmly in his grasp for a few moments. When he let go, it was with a sigh of satisfaction. “I’m glad it went well. I’ve chosen better than you know. You’ll find out in time, but meanwhile, at least you have the satisfaction of physical gratification.”
Ran-Del felt his face flame.
“It was time,” Ji-Ran said serenely. “Even your grandfather knew it. It’ll be best to proceed with Francesca and forget about Bettine.”
Ran-Del gritted his teeth. “You gave me no choice.”
“That’s not true. You could have chosen to be cast out. Being a Sansoussy meant more to you than the selection of a mate, but the choice was yours, Ran-Del.”
Ji-Ran peered at him. “In three day’s time,” he said suddenly, “Bettine and your grandfather will stand here and recite the names of their ancestors. I’ll bless their union, even as I blessed yours and Francesca Hayden’s. They’ll go to the betrothal lodge, and your grandfather will do his duty, even if I have to lace his tea with acorn flower. But through it all, no one will have to persuade Bettine Wa
lloon of anything. She’ll have what she wanted, whether you’re the one to provide it or a gray-haired old man. Do you understand that, Ran-Del?”
Ran-Del ground his teeth together and didn’t answer.
“Do you understand, Ran-Del?” Ji-Ran demanded.
“Yes, Great-grandfather. I understand that Bettine wanted only one thing from me.”
Ji-Ran smiled a wry smile. “And you wanted only one thing from her, also, Great-grandson. Remember that when you judge her.”
“I don’t plan on judging her.”
“Good. And always remember that it was no action of your grandfather’s that led Bettine to his bed.”
Ran-Del couldn’t bring himself to comment.
Ji-Ran let the silence hang in the air for a second, and then he frowned. “I’ve done what I’ve done because it was necessary, Ran-Del. All the same, I should be very sorry if I thought I’d caused a rift between you and your grandfather.”
“You haven’t,” Ran-Del said, almost painfully. “There’s nothing you or Bettine could do that could make me stop loving Grandfather.”
“I’m glad to hear it. See that you let your grandfather know it, also. He’ll worry when you return for a visit and find Bettine living in this house, her body swollen with his child.”
A small stab of jealousy stung Ran-Del, but thankfully it was already less sharp than it had been. “Are you speaking generally, Great-grandfather, or have you seen it?”
“I’ve seen it quite clearly. It’s time to go now, Ran-Del. Your father-in-law is getting impatient.”
“He’s not my father-in-law yet.”
Ji-Ran’s shoulders shook in a silent laugh that ended with a faint wheeze. “You’ll cut your hair soon enough. Come here and give me a parting kiss, Ran-Del. I’m an old man, and I might die tomorrow.
Ji-Ran must have felt Ran-Del’s skepticism because he let out another burst of silent laughter. Ran-Del approached him dutifully, kissed his cheek, then held his great-grandfather’s hands between his own in a farewell gesture.
When Ran-Del came out of the house, Stefan Hayden did look impatient; he tapped his foot as he waited. Mina was telling Francesca that Ran-Del always liked his tea hot, even in summer.
Stefan’s brow cleared as Ran-Del walked briskly from the house. It wrinkled again as Ran-Del called Buster to him. “You’re taking the dog?”
Ran-Del gave him a level stare. “Is there a rule against it in your House?”
“Of course not,” Stefan said. “You might want to keep him away from the guard dogs, but that’s your business.”
Isayah approached, calm, but grave, and pulled Ran-Del aside, speaking in low tones. “At least this time we’ll know where you are, and that you’re well.”
Ran-Del could feel his grandfather’s sorrow as he embraced him.
“Keep well, Ran-Del,” Isayah said sternly. “Don’t forget that you’re still a Sansoussy. Live your life in an upright manner so that when the day comes, you face your death with a clean conscience.”
“I’ll try my best, Grandfather,” Ran-Del said with equal solemnity. “Thank you for caring for me when I was growing up, and for teaching me the Disciplines.”
Isayah embraced him again, and sighed deeply. “Now I know what Laiza felt, all those seasons ago when I came to take you away from her.”
Ran-Del could believe him. Part of him felt very much as his ten-season-old self had those long seasons ago. “I won’t be gone forever, Grandfather. I’ll come back sometimes.”
“Let us know what happens in thirty days.” Isayah glanced at the braid in Ran-Del’s hair. “I hope all goes well.”
Ran-Del hoped so, too. He just wished he knew what going well would mean. “I’ll send word, or I’ll come myself.”
When he said goodbye to his grandmother, Mina could do no more than hug him fiercely and cry wordlessly. His mother was more resolute, reaching up to kiss his cheek and wishing him happiness. Ran-Del returned her kiss, then let her go.
“All set?” Stefan said.
Ran-Del nodded. His mother and grandparents each gave him one quick embrace, and then he followed the Haydens as Stefan led the way to the northwest path out of the village. Ran-Del glanced back one last time and then turned to face his future.