Chapter 8: The Market
Days turned into weeks that my birthday was closing in and I had nothing to fight back with. He'd came when my dad was not here every time and I just tolerated him. Every night I sat in my bed as I opened the box looking at the ring. It was beautiful, but I had to ask him why a flower at the top of it? It did seem a bit big but the color was clear and I knew once he had me in the little palace he'd put me in a black Kefta. Then there was the matter of Nico, once my birthday came we'd be separated again.
I..I don't want to do this. I thought
Two weeks, that's all I had left when I was out and I had left my grandma's place to go with Nico to the market. I knew that it would not do me any good on what was happening but I wanted to do normal things. As long as I was escorted I could do whatever I wanted and people never stared at me so that was good. A woman who knew my grandma stopped by "Amira, I see you're in the market. How is your grandmother?" The woman asked as I looked at her with a smile. "She's doing good, how are you Ma'am?" I asked as I always was polite with grandma's friends. "I am doing well dear, say do you have a boyfriend perhaps? My nephew is single." The woman asked
While it was secret that my family, my whole family was Grisha I knew that it was not uncommon for people to ask this. I was seventeen and Nico with me so people assumed he was my boyfriend. "No, sadly I don't..but my hand was promised to someone already." I answered as she seemed to noticed the look in my eyes "You don't seem happy about this.." The woman said as I shrugged and finished my picking. "I don't know him..he's quite busy." I answered as she looked at me, I could tell that she was curious. "If I may, who is he?" The woman asked as I went to answer but I felt the tingling on my arm as I looked seeing his initials.
No, you can't expose my family like this. I thought
"Amira, this is where you are." Aleksander's voice was clear as the woman looked as if she was shocked and I looked back seeing him. "Hello General." I said as if we'd never met before then picked the last fruit I needed. "General? I think as your betrothed you owe me a better greeting then a title." Aleksander said as I looked at him then I looked at the woman. "As I said. I don't know him..he's normally busy." I said as she looked between me then the General. "Oh my, Amira are you Grisha?" The woman asked
I wanted to say no but before I could Aleksander pulled his sleeve up to show my initials on his wrist which proved I was. "She's my grisha soulmate." Aleksander said as I slightly glared at him. "Not for another two weeks." I reminded him as I knew that it was the two weeks that kept him from coming closer. "Oh my, so why is she not in the little palace?" The woman asked as if I wasn't there. "I said no." I answered as she nod in understanding. "You've been taking care of your grandfather. I hope his health is improving." Grandma's friend said as I nod. "It is, but he still needs care." I said "Excuse me."
When I walked away I went over to pay for the things I had with the money Grandma had given me for the items. I loved doing this to be free to choose but as I watched out of the corner of my eye I noticed the woman talking to the General. I could hear some of the things she said like how I was such a good girl to take care of my grandparents and she hoped when I went to the little palace that I'd fit right in.
If only you knew..I'm a Sun Summoner and a Tidemaker..I'll never really fit in. I thought
After I was done I went to grab all the bags since we had to transfer it into bags from the market baskets yet before I could grab all the bags Nico had taken some but then Aleksander took the others. "Come on." Aleksander said as he put his free arm around me as if he was shielding me and I had no choice but to walk with him. "I hate you." I said as we walked but he didn't seem bothered by that. "You'll come around Amira..we have eternity for you to get over your hatred that's not even yours." Aleksander whispered in my ear
I realized he was right the anger was not my own feelings it was influenced by my father but that did not make things any better. According to father this man was the heretic and that was enough reason for me to use hate to keep him at a distance. I hated feeling it though as I wasn't a hateful person and this was just because of a story. When we arrived Nico took all the bags in I sighed as I looked at him.
"Come on, can we talk about this?" Aleksander asked as I clenched my hand in a fist and I actually tried to hit him but he blocked my fist with his arm. "Quite a powerful punch, I'd expect nothing less from Amara's daughter." Aleksander said as I knew this was the only way I could get my anger out. I tried to hit him again that he kept blocking my punches while I aimed to hit him and he never once made a move to hit back. "Come on Amira, get your anger out. You'll be easier to talk to once your done." Aleksander said as I kept going until I finally fell to my knees.
"You took every hit by blocking it instead of fighting back.." I said through pants as I knew that normal people would have fought back. "It wouldn't have helped you if I just dodged your blows. Do you feel better?" Aleksander asked as I looked at him. I did feel better, I didn't feel so much pent up anger with nothing to do as he offered his hand and I took it when he helped me to my feet.
"Now then, I don't plan to force your hand right away..I only ask you wear the ring to show the royals you are taken." Aleksander said as I looked at him skeptical. "Why is there a flower on top of it?" I asked as he smirked letting my hand go before putting a hand on my cheek "Because your kind of Grisha has never been heard of Sun Summoner and Tidemaker that makes you a rare flower...if Grisha were flowers." Aleksander said as I blushed.