“I did not exactly come here to marry a Tirglasian, so of course not.”
“Once we marry, a child is expected within the next two years. Nae child and the marriage is void. Whoever wins isnae going to be satisfied with a few years. If a child doesnae happen because I refuse to sleep with… me wife.” A sour taste tinged his tongue as he spoke. Hamish suppressed a shudder and continued, “Then her clan has every right to attack.”
“So you choose to throw yourself before a bear to escape all that? Death cannot be your only recourse. You could run without them knowing you live. What stops your brother saying you were mauled to death?”
If only it were so easy. His siblings had considered it in the past, after the incident with the dwarven ambassador. “The clans would demand to see a body.” One with his brown skin and orange-red hair for starters. Factor in his height and build, neither one a bit modest, and it would be nigh impossible for him to fake his death with another in his place.
Darshan glanced over his shoulder. “Even then…” he whispered, the words fading as if he couldn’t bear to think them let alone utter.
There are easier ways. He could’ve thrown himself from a tower or off a wall and over the cliff, but those ways would’ve brought suspicion to his family. His mother would’ve covered it up, as she always did when he acted in any way outside what she deemed appropriate. But her methods often ended with some poor soul dying for a crime they didn’t commit. He’d no interest in dragging anyone else down with him.
“This was me only option. Death, a good clean death, would give me mum an honourable way to end the competition.” Hamish hugged himself, rubbing the chill from his arms. He didn’t want to die, but… “It was the only way I could be free.”
Darshan snarled a few words under his breath. They didn’t sound like any Udynean the man had taught Hamish, but he could guess they were curses. He spat plenty more into the surrounding forest and some in Hamish’s direction.
“Dinnae be yelling at me in languages I cannae understand,” he shot back.
“There is no freedom in death. Just darkness.” In a burst of strength, Darshan all but launched himself across the space between them. He grabbed Hamish’s shoulders, his fingers digging into the torn cloth as his weight dragged them closer to the ground. “Dying is never the honourable option. There must be another way out. I will not accept that it is a choice between that and death. I most certainly will not allow you to just… throw your life away.”
Hamish folded his arms and stared incredulously at the man. “You willnae allow it?”
A flush of colour came to Darshan’s cheeks. “I have grown rather fond of your presence. You being dead would put quite the damper on our friendship. And a rather poor friend I would be if I left you to this fate.” He sat back, combing and ruffling his hair with one hand. “Give me a few days, a week at most. Let me talk to your mother, maybe I can…”
Hamish shook his head. A week would be too late. “She kens about us. It might nae be the original reason she’s pushing for this stupid contest, but it’s likely why she’ll nae back down.”
“Really? Then I think you are wrong in me not being at fault. It would seem that it is entirely my doing. If we—” Darshan frowned. “If I had controlled myself more and not pursued you, willing though you were, then this…” He hung his head, curls of dark brown hair falling to obscure his face. “I am sorry. I never meant—”
“Nae. She’s been sniffing for a reason to do this. It was bound to happen eventually. If it hadnae been you, then something else would’ve seen her force me hand. I just ken what I’m losing now.”
“I refuse to believe this is it.”
“There’s nae avoiding the union contest. It’s designed to have nae way out.” That was its purpose, to herd uncertain or indecisive men and women towards marriage.
“Except a violent, bloody death?” There was something mournful and dark lurking in those hazel eyes as Darshan peeked up from beneath his hair.
Goddess, forgive me. He had given no thought towards what witnessing would do to the man. How much had he seen of the bear’s attack? All of it? What would his reaction have been had their positions been swapped?
Fresh tears rolled down his face. “You should nae have woken up when you did. You were nae meant to until… after.”
Darshan laid a hand on Hamish’s knee. “I am here for you, mea lux, in whatever capacity you may need me for. But if you think I am willing to stand by whilst you throw your life away, then I think you do not know me at all.”
“I thought it would be quick,” he mumbled. More the fool am I. He laid a hand on his chest. The scars would fade, eventually. How long it would take for the image of those teeth and claws to leave his nightmares was another matter.
Nothing but forward now. He couldn’t stop the union contest. The only hope he had of being rid of this nightmare was to ride through it and find a means to escape being forced to live a lie after the victor had been decided. For now…
“We should head back.” The guards would come for them sooner or later. He would prefer not being in this place when they did. Telling anyone the truth would only serve to restrict his movements further. He’d no desire to spend the better part of two weeks confined to his quarters like a disobedient child.
They limped through the forest, aiming for the castle. It took some time to reach the road they had left behind yesterday afternoon.
