Page 22 of Beguiled
“I concur.”
“You said nothing of marrying.” She continued to ignore me and directed her glare to Irontooth. “Only of returning with him to Scania.”
“How else did you suppose you could travel with him?” the albino woman said kindly. “Surely you know there’s no other way it can be done. And surely you know that’s the best way of securing Ruby.”
Pearl pursed her lips. I guessed Ruby was her younger sister, the one she’d spoken of so fondly from time to time during the last week. Even so, no matter her desperation to escape from the clutches of her mother and find a new home, I couldn’t marry her.
“But the law”—Pearl’s tone rose—“prevents marriage until the age of twenty, and I am only nineteen. Any marriage made before that is illegal, punishable by death.”
“That is the law in Warwick, not here in Norland.” Irontooth crossed his arms, the clear sign that he refused to accept any excuse Pearl might offer.
Pearl’s forehead creased with panic.
“Law or no,” I cut in, “I am not at liberty to get married.”
Irontooth glared at me. “Then I’ll tell everyone who you really are, and your Testing—possibly your life—will be over.”
My mind scrambled to find a way out of this dilemma. “As a prince and the future king, my father and his advisors must determine my bride. They are, in fact, already making arrangements. That is the way of things, and I cannot change it.”
“Think nothing of Irontooth’s offer,” Pearl stated. “I would not marry you even if your father and his advisors asked for my hand.”
“You needn’t worry.” My ire rose much too swiftly. “I don’t want to marry you either.”
“Good.”
“Yes, good.” Even if I wanted to marry her, I couldn’t make so binding a commitment to a woman who must wear a veil to hide her deformities. My people would never accept her. In fact, many would accuse her of being a witch.
As though seeing the direction of my thoughts, hurt flared within Pearl’s eyes. “I would never bind myself to a man who places so much value on outward worth.”
“I cannot disregard it—”
“Enough!” Irontooth thundered. “You will wed Pearl, or the deal is off.” The look in his eyes told me he was serious.
“Please try to understand...”
The silver-haired leader moved away from the fire and stalked to the door.
“This isn’t a decision I can make so quickly or lightly.” My tone was now laced with desperation.
He reached the door and began to swing it open.
My pulse sped, and I struggled to my feet. “Wait!”
He didn’t stop, merely pushed the door wider and shouted outside, “I have an announcement—”
“I’ll do it.”
With a glance at me over his shoulder, he arched his brows.
“I shall marry her.”
“It doesn’t matter whether he will or not.” Pearl stomped her foot. “I refuse to consider it.”
“Do you vow it?” Irontooth asked without glancing at Pearl.
I squelched my trepidation. I would figure a way out of this quandary at some point. For now, making the promise was the only way I could stay on the island and continue my Testing. Moreover, Pearl didn’t want to marry me any more than I did her. No matter the vow Irontooth might extract from me, Pearl would refuse to pledge herself to me.
Irontooth turned his attention to the camp and addressed his people again. “I’ve discovered the ident—”
