Page 121 of Forbidden Letters
“Yeah, I know the feeling. That’s how Tyton feels to me too.” Frederick laughed at his own joke and it lightened the situation, but Emmerson wasn’t prepared to back off.
“We’ve never had a situation like this in the Northlands and there will no doubt be protests that Tyton gets to claim you without fighting for you. Other men will feel cheated.”
“But I don’t want anyone but Tyton.”
Lucas grinned and shoved at Tyton’s shoulder while I added, “We’re in love.”
Emmerson narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, but that’s the thing. Marriages here don’t require that the couple be in love. That part comes later once the couple gets to know each other.” He shifted his stance. “It’s not a valid argument to marry you two and besides, from what I understand you haven’t spent much time together, so how can you say that you love him?”
“We got to know each other through our letters.”
“Hmm… I’m searching for an argument that will justify letting Tyton marry you without a fight.”
Tyton groaned. “All you have to tell them is that I’ve already claimed her and that she’s pregnant with my child. Now, stop grilling my woman with all your questions. She chose to be here and you can see that I’m not forcing her.”
Emmerson’s eyes traveled between Tyton and me and he scratched his beard.
Tyton was losing his patience. “Come on, man, just say the words that will make us man and wife, so I can relax a little.”
Emmerson held up a hand. “Be patient, my friend. We have to do this right.”
Tyton was jumpy and with a deep frown he got testy, “What do you mean? You said there would be no tournament.”
“Will you just listen?” Emmerson arched a brow. “I mean we’re going to announce it to the whole fucking country. That way no one will question the legitimacy of your marriage.”
“I don’t know… I mean what if the Motherlands has a spy on this side? They would find out about Devina being here and ask to have her back.”
The men all laughed at Tyton’s paranoia.
“Who the hell would spy on their own country for the Motherlands?”
Tyton still looked troubled. “I had contact with Devina without anyone knowing it. Someone else could be talking with people on the other side of the wall and rumors could spread.”
William turned to me. “Devina, do you think the Council in the Motherlands would ask to have you back if they found out that you are here now?”
I thought about it and then shook my head. “In a way I think that they’ll be relieved that I’m no longer around to stir up more trouble.”
“What are you talking about?” Lucas frowned with confusion.
“It might sound strange to you people, but the Council saw me as a troublemaker because of the book I wrote with Tyton. It was a love story about a man from the North and a woman from the Motherlands and it caused quite a controversy. To be honest, I suspect they’ll use my suicide note to justify why they banned my book and made it illegal to even mention you Nmen.”
“They did what?” Lucas who hadn’t said much scrunched up his face.
“After the book came out the News has reported about women trying to climb the wall and getting injured in falls. The Council members know that you men are dangerous, primitive, and violent. That’s why they’re trying to protect everyone in the Motherlands from you.”
“We’re not primitive or dangerous…” Emmerson gave an offended snort.
I turned my head to the window in the direction of the spears outside. “But you are.”
He shifted his weight and shrugged. “Okay. Fair enough, but we’re not dangerous to women.” Pulling Wilma closer, he added, “We protect them.”
“Just like we protect you men,” Wilma interjected.
“The thing is…” I began and avoided all the eyes of the men. “In the Motherlands there’s nothing to be protected from. Crime is rare, and men are gentle and kind. That’s why the Council considers anyone who wants to come here as naïve and unable to make good decisions for themselves. Right now, they’re doing damage control and trying to eradicate all versions of my book and making it illegal to even mention the men of the North.”
“Huh.” Frederick placed his hands on his hips. “That’s fucked up.”
“You have no idea.” Tyton nudged my shoulder. “Tell them about the ban on emotionally disturbing things.”
