“Excuse me. What did you say?” Dasen had been so absorbed with thoughts of his pending time alone with Tethina that he had barely been listening to his father’s seemingly endless stream of words. The last few had been enough to penetrate his fog, but he could not believe that he had heard them correctly.
“So that got your attention, did it?” Ipid replied. “You have been around Rynn too long. You seem to listen without actually paying the slightest attention. It is a very bad habit, you know.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not you. I can’t focus on anything today. I can barely keep my own thoughts straight.”
“Hmm,” Ipid mused. “I suppose I was the same way when your mother and I were joined. I still don’t remember a thing about the ceremony. It’s as if I woke from a dream only that night and found out that it was all somehow real.” He chuckled to himself. “And that is exactly what I am talking about. Your mother and I had known each other a long time when we were joined. We had been counting the days in anticipation rather than anxiety. We were very much ready for that first night. Don’t get me wrong. We were nervous as lambs at a sheering, but we were ready.”
Of all the things Dasen did not want floating around his scattered thoughts right now, his parents’ joining night was near the top. He looked at his father, appalled.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear about that,” Ipid admitted, “but I think it’s important to see the difference. Now, we have never talked about the things that a man and wife do on their joining night, but I’m sure it’s no mystery to you by now.”
Dasen nearly choked. He looked at his father with wide eyes then scanned the surrounding buildings to be certain that no one was watching or, worse, listening. “Father, we . . . we don’t have to talk about this. I’m not a child.”
“That is what I had guessed.” Ipid’s voice carried a strange mix of disappointment and relief. “I have to say I had hoped for better but can’t blame you for partaking in some of the services offered around the university. When I was a young man, I was drawn into those establishments more times than I care to admit, but I was also well older when I joined your mother. In any case, I know the desires and pressures that lead to that, but you should not expect Tethina to be like the women you found in those places.”
Dasen pulled up short as he realized what his father was implying. He stammered as his mind tried to process the revelations that his father had once frequented brothels and that he might have done the same. In all his time, he had never even realized that there were active brothels near the university much less considered visiting one. Thinking on it now put some of his fellow students’ comments into context, but he was nowhere near popular enough for those boys to invite him along on their exploits. As it was, he had never even kissed a girl, much less what his father was suggesting.
Obviously taking his son’s silence for some kind of confirmation, Ipid sighed and continued, “As I said, Tethina doesn’t have that kind of experience. As far as I know, she has never even kissed a boy. She’s not going to know what to do and may not even be ready to give her body to you. Are you listening to me, Dasen? This is important.” Dasen could only stammer and nod. “Good. Now I know it is your right as her husband, but not all rights need to be exercised. Do you follow me? Just because I have the right to cut down every tree in this forest does not mean that I should. Sometimes you have to wait until the trees are tall enough, straight enough to be useful. If you cut them down too soon, you may get some boards but not as many as you could if you waited. Does this make sense?”
Again Dasen nodded, simply hoping to end the conversation as soon as possible. They had stopped walking and stood in the empty road. Every living creature in the village, including the dogs, cats, and mice, were in the village green partaking in the food, drink, and entertainment that had been prepared for the ceremony. They were in the middle of the village and had as much privacy as if they were lost on the other side of the river.
“Good. So you will have to judge Tethina. Even if she says she wants you, even if she asks you to take her, you have to remember that you are responsible for her. You have to decide when the time is right. I know you must want to take what is now yours but just like cutting a tree, you will never be able to take that decision back, so be sure it is right. Do you understand?”
Despite his father’s intentions, the lecture had made Dasen’s thoughts turn uncontrollably toward the very thing his father was urging him to avoid. The possibility of what would happen when they reached Lake Mithrel simultaneously enthralled and terrified him. He knew that he and Tethina should wait – what if she caught a baby? – but seeing her in that ill-fitting dress, being with her, touching her – even so innocently – had left him wanting so much more. He subtly adjusted himself and thanked the Order for the loose pants he now wore. The tight wool slacks he had worn for the joining ceremony had left him decidedly uncomfortable in that area far more times that day than he cared to admit.
Ipid cleared his throat and glared – obviously Dasen had not been as subtle as he thought. “Have I made myself at all clear?” he asked.
“You have,” Dasen finally managed. He felt the blood rise in his face.
He drew the breath to continue, but his father exhaled sharply and spoke over him. “Good. Then let’s forget all about this. I don’t want you to think I’m telling you how to run your house. You are a man now in the eyes of the Order, but advice is one of those things you never value until you’ve wasted it. Now, let’s get to the coach. It would be terribly rude to leave Tethina waiting for us.”
From Across the Clouded Range Page 22
