In a little while, not long, the poet from the east came into the wagon. He crossed the space quietly, sat down across from me, and waited, his eyes lowered. Though he was ten winters my elder, and a poet besides, he did not say anything, but waited for me to speak first.
He was certainly well to look upon. I decided any woman would think so. His face was broad and his bones strong. The slight reddish tint to his hair was unusual. I suspected a woman would like that too.
I took care to keep my tone steady and unconcerned. “You knew what she intended to suggest. How long have you known?”
He raised his gaze to meet mine. “For many days. As I have had all those days to consider the matter, may I speak?”
“Yes,” I agreed. With some effort, I set aside the astonishment I still felt and the anger I was beginning to feel, and prepared to listen carefully to his words.
“You are the son of the lord of the inGara and also the son of a great singer, perhaps the foremost singer among all the tribes where the inKarano rule. Among the inPorakario, my father was respected, but he did not hold an important position. My mother was respected among the women, but she was not a singer. You are related to everyone in this part of the winter country. I am not related to anyone here. Even though I am ten winters older, I will yield precedence to you.” He paused.
I nodded to show that I was listening, but I did not answer. I wanted to see what else he would say, and I was not remotely concerned to make him feel more comfortable. If he had not shown deference to me, I might have risen to my feet and walked out already. I might not. But I might.
He went on, speaking with calm self-possession I might have liked in someone else. “You are a warrior. I am not. We both know that if we fought seriously, you would have everything your way. You showed me that, but you did not have to show me. I knew it already. I will never challenge you. If we quarrel, I will step back. But I will try not to quarrel. Whether Darra sets her tent among the inKarano or the inGara, I will take a husband’s place with her. But when you come to her tent, I will step back. If you prefer, I will leave the camp entirely. I will go somewhere else and stay away as long as you are present in the camp. I will set jealousy aside. I will not permit bitterness to come into my heart. I ask that you resolve to do the same.”
I nodded a second time.
“Children will come, if there is no serious mischance. They will say they have two fathers. We will both say a boy is our son. We will both say a girl is our daughter.”
This was the only possible way to handle that matter. I nodded once more. I could see a different problem. Whatever Darra's children said, whatever anyone said of them, there was every chance that Elaro would be here in the winter country and I would not. Our children would know him as a man, but me they would know at a distance, almost as a story. This thought did not make it easier to calm my temper. But that problem was not Elaro's fault. It was no one's fault. If he had never come from the east, that problem would be the same.
“These are my thoughts,” he finished. “I ask that you take forty breaths to consider my words. Twice forty. I will count.”
I made a gesture of assent. But I did not have to think very hard. When he signaled that the pause had ended, I said, “Some of your suggestions seem good to me. If we both decide to marry Darra as she suggests, then I agree I will take precedence, for all the reasons you say. I also agree with your suggestion regarding children.” I paused to let that part stand in the air long enough for both of us to agree that those matters were settled.
Then I said, “I mean no offense when I say that some of your suggestions are much less wise. You say that in any quarrel, you would step back. That is not a just way to manage disagreements. You are right that you cannot fight me in any serious manner. It would therefore be wrong for me to fight you. If you offend me, I will strike you. If I offend you, I will accept a blow. If we quarrel in a manner that cannot be settled that easily, then we will ask Koro inKarano to judge between us.”
“Yes,” Elaro agreed. His mouth crooked up. “If we must go to the king of all this part of the winter country for judgment, I am certain we will both try hard not to quarrel.”
I nodded. “You have realized that is a reason I suggested this. You are right. That is one reason. Koro would not be patient with any kind of stupidity.” There was another reason. If I made any serious mistake, I was absolutely certain Koro would not hesitate to say so and correct me. I thought if I agreed to this uncommon kind of marriage, my certainty in that regard would serve to check my temper. I thought, if I agreed to this, that might be a very good thing.
I did not say that. I did not say that I was having difficulty checking my temper even at this moment. I said, “You suggest that when I come to Darra’s tent, you will step back. I think you mean this
