| Dredrick, Champlaine and the three lovers have found a room where they
can talk in private. Dredrick is trying hard to be polite, and to keep
his gaze fixed on the face of the young woman - Annafrid, she'd said her
name was. It isn't easy, as there seems to be some unseen force trying
to drag his gaze downwards all the time. His adopted daughter, Joan, is
busty enough, but this girl is even more so. Three of his daughters-in-law
- Astras 3, 4 and 6 - are perhaps larger still, but only marginally, and
then only as the result of magic. [1857] (The Astras had originally expected
their "enlargement" to be temporary. However, when Probe had introduced
them to the concept of the bra, and their husbands had confessed that they
liked them as they were, they had decided not to undo the change.)
He and Champlaine had always assumed that their 'son' Jarlath would
marry Astra 9. The two were obviously made for each other, and anyway it
seemed to be a law of nature that D'Honaires would marry Thessamars. It
also made sense for a Champion to marry another Champion, for to marry
a mortal would mean seeing your spouse age and die whilst you remained
forever young, something that would be very hard for both parties. Now
here was Jarlath saying that he wanted to marry Astra 9 and this
other girl, who though she seemed a very nice girl claimed not to be able
to remember her past life. Apparently she had become a Champion too, though.
"Well," Dredrick sighs at last, "it's certainly very unconventional,
but it's not actually illegal, and if all three of you are happy with the
arrangement then who are we to interfere. You're old enough to know your
own mind, Jarlath. But have you spoken to Astra's 'mother' about this yet?
As Astra lacks a father, shouldn't you be asking Anina's permission?" Before
Jarlath can reply, Astra 9 says: "You must remember, sir, that Aqualaria
has traditionally been a matriarchal society, and we do such things in
reverse compared with Allaria. The prospective bride is supposed to ask
the man's mother for his hand. I know that under Allarian customs I am
not obliged to do this, but I would feel much happier if I did. So, Lady
Champlaine, please may I have Jarlath's hand in marriage?"
-
 Lady Champlaine
looks startled at being asked. Eventually she says...
Go Back
|