Family revelations, news withheld…
It took almost a full week for Rita to arrange a few months off. While many of her colleagues found her haughtiness rude, most valued her knowledge and ability as a healer. She was not sure she could persuade Sarita to see this chance as an opportunity and not a dangerous leap into the unknown. Tony met her at the airship park and drove her to Farm Twenty-Two.
After Rita was settled in the Woman’s House, she asked everyone to join her in the main house meeting room. “First,” Rita said, “I want to introduce my daughters to your uncle, Antonio Pesch. I am of the family Pesch, but when I left your father, I decided we would not use his family name or mine. But now, you must know your father’s name. He is Alam Nanna Pesch, of a dependent house of Pesch.” She stood tall and regal as she introduced her brother to his nieces.
“I knew it,” Sarita said with a grin. “Didn’t I tell you, Rhonda? The trade representative reminded me of Mother? The day after you visited us for last meal, I told Rhonda you reminded me of mother, but I was not sure why. She said it was just because you were of Refugio.”
“I don’t know if that is a compliment to your mother that you see a family resemblance,” Tony chuckled. He patted his broad stomach and laughed.
“I greet you, uncle of my bonded,” Nathan stood and bowed in the formal way of the NeoEspania.
“Nathan, you have been studying the formal manners?” Rita said.
“Papa Simon suggested it, Lady Rita. He also had Sarita transcribing Refugio news reports because he thinks she might be a good adjudicator for trade.”
“Come, everyone get a cup of juice and settle,” Morianan said. “I know there is much to talk about.”
“Tony, tell us about the situation in Refugio,” Rita said after they were all settled. He explained that the family of the Overlord had to have both a son and grandson acceptable to the Council of Houses, or there must be an election for another Overlord.
Tony motioned to Morianan for more juice. “The present Overlord had three sons and believed he was safe. The scandal about his oldest son was widely reported. So he arranges a bonding for his second son, Marianel. He and his wife died in a fiery explosion just a few weeks ago. Francos now has only his third son, Megal. The Overlord has appealed to the House Pesch for a woman of our house to become the bonded wife of the new First Successor. He wants a woman who can absorb a lot of power and bear children easily.”
“So, it is true. The men of Refugio don’t believe women have power,” Sarita said. “Mother had told us this, but it was so hard to believe. All the women I know here in Utopia have power of some sort.”
“Sarita, you know our history here,” Simon said. “We struggled with how to control the power manifestations. We struggled just as much as the Refugio settlers before we discovered both sexes had power.”
“Dealing with the power here has been hard for all humans,” Morianan said. “We didn’t have it when we first landed, and it was such a shock to all the first settlers. I have the journal that a woman of my family kept when they first arrived. When the first children born on the planet began to manifest psychic power, it was a very scary time for all of them, especially when so many of them died.”
“At least here they didn’t isolate the women like they did in Refugio,” Rhonda said.
“Refugio didn’t isolate them at first. It is not as evil as you take it,” Tony said. “In the beginning, the women of Refugio were just as much a part of our society as the men. In fact, Pesch was guided in the journey out from Terra by Sarita Owens Pesch. She was head of the family.
“Mother, am I named for that ancestor?” Sarita asked.
“Of course,” Rita beamed at her youngest. “Alam forbid me to name any of you until he registered you with the Keepers. Since he refused to accept the daughters born here, each of you was listed as born but not shown to the Keepers.”
Morianan had long wanted to talk to Tony about why his people were so different when it came to their women. “I know how Utopia handled the men and women injured by their manifestation, but I have never heard how Refugio did it.”
“Part of setting up the customs,” Tony said, “came because of so many deaths on landing. We had many more women than men survive, so to increase the population, some men took more than one wife. More females survived the Keepers than males, so it became accepted. If the man was not a virgin when he went to his bonding night, the woman was more likely to survive — but, unfortunately, with brain damage. That is when the harems were introduced. The women who survived had to be cared for like damaged children.” While Tony took a sip of his juice. Rita spoke up.
“At the medical school, they have been researching how the power works and why it affects everyone like it does.” Rita immediately had everyone’s attention. “The research was started because of the rape of several young girls by pirates from Port. It will need much more research, but it seems the more compatible the joining, the stronger the power manifest, and the more kinds of power an individual may be able to control. I only wish they would understand this in Refugio.”
“I agree,” Simon said, “but I don’t think that will come in our lifetime. There is just too much conservatism.”
“Uncle Tony.” Sarita grinned impishly. “There, I’ve said it. What is the rest of the story about the First Successor?”
Tony looked startled, then smiled. “It is about you, Sarita. The House Morales has asked for a bride for the new First Successor from the House Pesch.”
Tony’s audience sat in stunned silence. Simon read the emotions of those around him. Nathan and Rhonda were shocked and worried. Rita was strangely excited, but Sarita’s reaction was one of wonderment and almost joy, but then Sarita has always been an adventurous one.
“So you want me to be bonded to the First Successor?” Sarita said softly, her voice belying the excitement her face and eyes revealed.
“It is not quite that simple, Sarita,” said her mother. “If you agree to this, first you will be required to give a blood sample so you can be screened and insure you are who we claim you are. Then Tony must negotiate with a representative of Morales for a bride price. We will be in the advantageous position, since I don’t think there are any women of Pesch currently available or else we would not be having this discussion. Am I correct, Tony?”
“Yes, all the daughters of Pesch are either too young or bonded. Few females in this generation, mostly sons.”
“So, I can say no?” Sarita asked quietly.
“I will not force you,” Rita said, “though I think this could be a wonderful thing for both our countries and our families.” Rita did not add that it would be to her advantage as well. That was too much pressure on her daughter. “I have been told you will manifest with multiple powers and very strong ones. With my help, and perhaps Nathan and Rhonda, we can guide you so you will be fully functional when you are fully a wife.”
Rhonda looked imploringly at her sister. “Sarita, have you considered this will be a stranger? You won’t even get to meet him before the bonding ceremony.”
“You would want Rhonda and me to go with you, Lady Rita?” Nathan asked. “I don’t know if would be wise. Rhonda and I are not certain, but we may be expecting our first child.”
“Oh, that was quick,” Morianan teased. Their wedding ceremony had been during the beginning of the spring season, only a few weeks past.
“I am just a week past due for my monthly, so it is still tentative. But Nathan is convinced he can sense the baby’s mind already. Mother, is that possible?”
“Some women can,” Rita said. “Given your husband’s power as a telepath he may just be sensing the first developing brain waves of the fetus. We have scanned many women at the medical school, and it is amazing how early we can sense the presence of the growing fetus.”
“Would it endanger the child if we were to travel in the first trimester, Rita?” Tony asked anxiously.
“No. Rhonda might not enjoy a sea voyage, but the travel will not hurt her or the baby.”
“Now wait, all of you are talking as if this were a done deal,” Simon said. “What do you have to say, Sarita?”
Sarita realized all eyes were on her. What did she want? She had longed for someone out of the ordinary for her life, someone special for her anamcara. Perhaps this was it, this young man of Refugio.
“Perhaps this Megal Morales is my anamcara,” Sarita said softly. “I will never know unless I try.”
“I hope you understand what you are agreeing to. Once done, there will be no turning back,” Simon said with a worried frown. Rita let out an audible sigh and relaxed back into her chair.
“I do believe it will go well, Sarita,” Tony smiled at his niece. “I will contact the marriage broker and begin the negotiations.”
“We must move to your house, Tony,” Rita said. “Here I can teach some of the things Sarita needs to know. But she needs to be in a Refugio home with a harem to understand what is expected of her.”
“Would it not be better to wait for a final decision from Sarita until after she understands what life is like for a woman in Refugio?” Morianan asked. “This will be very different for her if I understand how Refugio women are treated.”
“Momma Morianan, my mother has told us a lot about life in Refugio,” Sarita said. “I know some of what to expect. It is a more sheltered life, with little freedom to move around and few things to do other than spin, weave, and care for children. But much of what she described is women who are brain damaged, and I won’t be. I will have to create my own life because I will not be damaged by my first encounter. Perhaps I might even bond with Megal.”
“Well said, Sarita, well said. I think she understands quite a bit already, Morianan. I didn’t expect she would remember the stories I told them when they were small. When can we move to the city, Tony?” Rita was anxious to return to the leisure of the harem.
Simon spoke up. “I will need to contact the Assembly office on population, Rita. Sarita is a member of Family Kearney, and I have to account for her to the population and gene bank. I am afraid having her leave for Refugio will need permission of that office.”
“Why didn’t you mention this before?” Tony snapped.
“I apologize Tony. I didn’t think this would go this far. Sarita has been noticed by the discerners and reported as having extremely high potential when her power manifests. She is considered a national resource, and they may not give permission for her to leave.” Simon looked embarrassed. “There are also some rumors of an arranged marriage if she does not find an anamcara soon. I am not happy with that, but it will be taken into consideration.”
Sarita was angry. “What, you mean all these sessions with the discerners have been discussed with the Population Office? Have I no right to privacy?”
“Now Sarita, don’t take it that way,” Morianan said. “It was with your best interests in mind.”
“You have not been the object of it, Momma. Each time they would argue among themselves it was as if I was not there. Talking about what power I might manifest, and always making it clear I was some kind of freak because I might have more than one power. Now, they think they can limit my freedom just because I might have more than one power. It’s not fair.”
“No one promised you that life was fair,” Simon said with a resigned shrug. “You will have to have my permission and that of the Population Office before you can immigrate to Refugio.”
Rita was angry. “But if I decide to go back to Refugio, I should be able to take my daughter with me. Isn’t that right, Simon?”
“No, you didn’t formally claim the girls, and you allowed them to be raised in the crèche. They are citizens of Family Kearney. As Lord, I am required by law to account for all my citizens.”
“You know these are my daughters,” Rita snapped. “You know why I didn’t formally claim them. I didn’t want to marry again, and I could not keep a house the way you expect women to do here in Utopia. This is ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous or not, I have to abide by the law,” Simon said softly. “I never expected it would go this far. I was sure that either you would say no, or Sarita would. I should have told you sooner. I only received word of the discerners report to Amaurot yesterday. They are concerned Sarita will burn herself out if she is not bonded soon.”
Morianan wanted to diffuse the growing tension. “It is time for midday meal. I’ll go check to be sure the staff have it all in hand. Then let’s eat, and we’ll discuss this more afterwards. Do you want to eat in the main room, or shall I have a meal brought in here?”
“We’ll join you there, Morianan,” Rita said. “It will cause less talk if we are all at the meal together.”
After the meal, Rhonda and Nathan excused themselves. They had an assignment later in the week and had to meet with the couple before the bonding ceremony. Sarita also left to go to the library to supervise the younger children with their reading that afternoon.
Simon warned them not to discuss the morning’s revelations with anyone. “The fewer who know, the less complicated this will get,” he said.
The rest of the group went into Simon’s office so he could use the main messaging unit and contact the Population Office. Tony insisted it be done immediately.
“Simon, if Alam gets wind of this, it could get nasty. I had hoped to keep Sarita in my home and present her to the Overlord as from my part of the House Pesch. If Alam can claim her, it will be done as if she were a woman of his harem, and she will have no say in what is done.”
Rita paced across the room and stood staring out the window. “It could have diplomatic repercussions too. He could claim she is a citizen of Refugio and demand her immediate surrender.”
Tony shook his head dejectedly. “I had not thought it through.” He slumped in a chair.
“None of us did. We’ll do the best we can,” Simon said. “I have a good friend in the Population Office. I’ll message him first and see what he suggests. Rita, while we are waiting, why don’t you go over to the workroom and visit Tamara? She has taught a group of women how to do that beautiful thread work and they are making banners for Lughday. I think she would like to see you.”
“That would be better than brooding here regretting what I did, even if I know I did it with the best of intentions. If you need me, I’ll visit with Tamara and then visit the arms yard to work off some of this frustration.” She left the room without looking at her chagrined brother.
“I had better check in with my office,” Tony said. “May I use the other unit?” He moved to the second message unit on the side study table.
“Go ahead,” Simon said. “I suspect it will be a while before Ian can get back to me with an answer.”
“Does she really know how to use weapons?” Tony asked.
“Of course, all citizens of Utopia receive arms training if nothing more than self-defense. I have seen her work out. With her height and long arms, she is quite good with the stave and a bow. The arms master says she is an excellent archer.”
“Oh, to use an old phrase, my father must be rolling in his grave,” Tony said with a chuckle. “To think Rita knows how to shoot a bow. He married her off to Alam in part to get her out of the harem. She was too large and too loud for a woman, to his way of thinking. Women were supposed to be small, docile, and timid. Rita took after our father, big, noisy, and bold.”
Simon returned Tony’s laugh. “No wonder Alam was afraid of her!”
Should you want to read the whole story…
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