See Shells | Eabha & Finn
"I mean to marry, soon," announced Eabha, giving her brother a significant look. "If we're to pay for the renovations necessary to move to Calleary, I think it the only option. We can't trespass much longer on our sister's hospitality, and those people are in need. Not just us."
By Lord Calainon's leave, Eabha had secured a trip to Hanthom. It had been too long, but now she felt relatively content, walking side by side with her brother along the beach. Their escort, apparently less accustomed to the terrain than they, had lagged far enough behind that Eabha at last felt comfortable saying all that need be said. With the racing sea breezes, they'd not be overheard from such a distance.
"So, he must be a wealthy man -- preferrably exceedingly handsome as well --" she joshed, to infuse a very serious topic with a touch of levity, though in truth she cared not a touch for that: her only goal was to save her family and her people. If he could do that, well, then he was her ideal man.
She turned sincere again. "I hope, for the good of our people, that he will be a powerful man, too, so I am aiming high," she added, giving him a significant look. There was a reason she had waited to tell him all this alone. First, that she owed it to him, given how much she was asking, that he might be able to speak openly without any concern of other ears...And, secondly, because she imagined quite a fuss would be raised were she to admit such intentions before Fiona. Somehow, she doubted her littlest sister would take kindly to a Varmont-sympathizer (little less a Varmont, himself!) for a brother, yet that was precisely what Eabha had planned. It was a bridge she would have to cross someday, no doubt...But not quite yet.
"I am trusting our cousin, when she is wed, to look after our people here in Hanthom. But with me married and doubtlessly far away, Finn, it must be you to whom the people of Calleary look when you are gone there. Guardians know I love Cormac, but..." she left her words to the breeze. It wasn't as if Finn wouldn't know what she meant. "Fiona is even younger than you are, and a woman who will thus not be trusted by the...current regime, and who will like as not need to marry, herself, to cover our brother's...frivolities, someday more soon than any of us might wish. If I am successful in drawing a prominent enough suitor, Guardians willing, she will have her pick of a partner in life, rather than merely an alliance, but...A marriage nonetheless, I fear."
Eabha paused. "In truth, the same fate awaits you, too, Finn, but you have this virtue which we ladies do not: you may stay with our people when you have married, where we must travel to wed."
She fell silent, once again, her eyes searching his. "I am sorry it's all coming to this, but...I cannot see a way around it." She took his arm. "Please, Finn, tell me what you are thinking. Tell me...Tell me I may rely upon you, when the time comes. You'll have to look after them all, when I'm gone, Finn: Fiona, our people....Cormac...The gods did not give him the same wits they gave you, or...frankly, any of us, I fear." She winced. It was a terrible thing to tell a little brother he must provide for his older one; it was still worse to tell a young man he must provide for his lord.
"Poor Cormac..." she sighed, glancing off to sea with a grimace. Poor Finn, she thought. No one ever prepared you for all this...
