CHAPTER ONE
Rynna is not your average young woman, living in the town of Tirrah. Living in the slums, she lives with her parents as well as ten siblings. She works hard with her mother to see that her family is provided for. When her parents inform her that they have chosen a husband for her, she is surprised. With no dowry to offer, she had yet to receive any offers for marriage. However, the truth of the matter ends up being much more insidious. Sold for a bag full of coin, Rynna is thrust into the life of a slave. Though she makes some friends along the way, she can only wonder if she will find safety. The answer seems to come in the form of an elaborately dressed man. Finding herself among a dozen others, she realizes that she has only found herself with another question. Would she be chosen by the Dragon King?
The cries of my youngest sister wake me from what had been a restless slumber. It seems that most of my sleeping hours are restless, but this is no surprise. It's hard to get a good night's sleep when you're stuffed in a two-room home with over a dozen others. My mother offers me a weary glance from across the room, holding a finger to her lips to silence me. She attempts to soothe my sister, and the infant soon calms down. It seems that I'm the only one who has been disturbed from their slumber, mother aside. Such is usually the case. While most of my siblings are too young to work, my parents and I are the primary providers for our large family. My eldest brother is working as well, but his money is devoted to his newly formed family. At the age of eighteen, it's no surprise that I've been working for so long. Such is the state of things in our poor village. The one thing that is peculiar about me is the fact that I've yet to receive a single marriage proposal. By age eighteen, it's nearly unheard of for the girls in my village to remain with their parents.
I shake off this thought as my mother waves to capture my attention. I notice that she's placed my youngest sister back in her crib. I rise from the dusty floor of our home, shuffling over the various sleeping forms spread across the room. My mother gestures for me to follow her outside, where the sun is just beginning to rise over the horizon. I trail behind her, a pit of concern settling in my stomach. Though we've increased our workload as much as we can manage, we still aren't making enough money to keep everyone fed. I know that if I were to find a man to marry, that would be one less mouth to feed for my parents. However, with no dowry to offer, men are reluctant to claim me. It would be enough to give me a fair amount of doubt regarding my appearance if I didn't have young men constantly propositioning me for sexual favors. Of course, I've never obliged any of these boys. A woman is worthless to her husband without her chastity.
“Rynna, your father and I have something we need to discuss with you,” my mother says, drawing me from my reverie. I glance up, only just noticing my father watching me with an almost guilty expression. I draw my lip between my teeth, reaching out to grip my mother’s hand. She draws away, looking at me with a scornful expression. “Honestly, you’re a woman now. You need to stop acting like a child. Then perhaps men would consider you as their wives,” she says bitterly. I feel the familiar sting of shame washing over me, allowing my hands to fall limp at my sides.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. That’s part of what we’ve to discuss,” my father says in a booming voice, stepping forward and resting a hand on my mother’s shoulder. He offers me a kind smile, but the expression doesn’t quite reach his eyes. My mother breathes a sigh, crossing her arms over her slight chest.
“What is it that you two need to talk to me about?” I inquire, my voice tinged with obvious uncertainty. They exchange a look, and my father rests a hand on my shoulder in a manner that I’m certain is intended to be soothing. Instead, it sends a jolt of fear through my heart for reasons I can’t quite yet discern.
“Rynna, you understand how we struggle. To take care of your siblings, each other, you as well…,” my father trailed off, averting his gaze. My mother cleared her throat, not looking particularly sure of herself either.
"Yes, father. Of course, I understand. You know I would give anything to see my family properly fed and clothed," I murmur, my heart aching at how burdensome I feel in that moment. My mother smiles, but there is a sadness in her eyes.
“Then you will understand this as well. We have arranged a husband for you, and he will… he will be coming to fetch you later this evening. I know this is sudden,” my mother begins, and my heart drops into my stomach.
"Sudden? That's quite an understatement," I sputter, glancing longingly at the home my siblings are housed within. My mother narrows her eyes, breathing a sigh of irritation. "Mother, father, how could you not have warned me of this sooner? I understand the burden I place on the family by being unwed, but I would have liked to meet the man at the very least," I manage, tears pooling in my gaze.
“Rynna, you’ll have a much happier and more fulfilling life with your husband. He will love you, and take care of you in ways we can not,” my mother asserts. “Much as your father does for me,” she adds, glancing to my father with a wan smile. I can’t help feeling as if there is something they are not telling me, something that sparks the sadness in their eyes.
“How did you arrange for a husband without a proper dowry,” I inquire weakly, and my father chuckles weakly, reaching out to touch my cheek. I press into his touch, tears continuing to spill down my cheeks.
"You are the most beautiful young woman in the village, my child. How could a proper man not desire you?" He says in an attempt to comfort me. Somehow, however, I feel there is more to the story. However, I realize that there is nothing more my parents can do. This will see that there are fewer mouths to feed, and I am certain that they have my best interests at heart.
“I… I thank you for arranging this wedding for me, father, mother. I am sure it will be the start of something new and wonderful,” I manage, offering them a weak smile. They smile warmly back at me, gathering me in their arms. I am certain that there can be no wrong in this situation, not with how happy I’ve made them.