Unexpected nerves caused Rydak to chuckle to himself. Today was the day. At last Lissi would be his Chosen but he couldn’t stop himself from thinking of was all the things which could go wrong. He found himself pacing as his agitation increased, the towel about his hips hindering the large steps he wanted to take.

Three hard raps on the door pulled him from his worry about how the Presentation would go. He opened it to his Unit Leader standing on the other side, Torkel’s face unusually solemn. “Greetings, Rydak.”

“Torkel.” He should have known Torkel would wish to have a conversation before such a momentous event. Rydak stepped back and Torkel took it as the invitation it was and entered.

“How are you feeling?” No words came to mind and Torkel grinned. “It is a big commitment but one every Enotian looks forward to.”

“Yes.” Nothing meant more than claiming Lissi.

Torkel extended a wrapped box. “I do not wish to take up your time. I was given very firm instruction to give you this when the day came that you walked the sands with my sister.”

Rydak accepted the package. Puzzlement creased his brow. “From who?”

“Nabella Jaard.”

Of course his nonja would have known. She didn’t always share with him her insight. Especially if it pertained to something as important as this.

“I will leave you alone.”

He barely nodded as Torkel left. Rydak opened the box with trepidation and peeled back the layers of white silk. As soon as he revealed the contents inside, he stilled. Every breath stuttered in his chest and his throat locked at the sight of the smooth brown leather. Rydak fingered the heavy chains suspended across the waistband in descending loops. Each strand was made of siil, an expensive metal for his nonja to have selected to adorn his loitte.

Rydak removed the rest of the packaging in the box and sat the loitte to the side, unable to accept what it represented yet. He picked up the vid-cube nestled at the bottom. Palms damp, he removed his gloves knowing the device needed a direct heat signature to activate. With fear and care, Rydak picked up the message box, which instantly activated showing a holo image of his smiling nonja.

‘My sweet, Rydakichi.’

He flinched from the familiar endearment and swallowed.

‘I have always been grateful that my sister shared her family with me. You are the child of my heart and my niece’s greatest joy. I wish I could be there for your Chosen presentation more than anything.’

The thickness in his throat grew tight and Rydak’s fingers clenched on the vid-cube but the image never wavered. His nonja’s blue eyes shone with the same happiness she had exhibited in life. Eyes which had never seen anything but the future in flashes of brightness. Eyes which kept her from having a Chosen of her own because none would have the blind beauty and her uncomfortable premonitions.

‘I hope you don’t mind an old female’s sentimental gesture.’

Rydak snorted, ignoring the way his eyes burned from hearing his nonja’s voice again.

The image on the holo smiled and Nabella pushed back loose strands of blonde and silver hair. ‘Wear this loitte with pride and faith. Love is yours for the taking and so well deserved my sweet, sweet boy. Know I have always loved you.’

Her frail hand extended, palm up. ‘Son of my heart.’

The image winked out. 

He was alone in his room. No family for support. No papan to wish him well. No maman to prepare him by lovingly rubbing oil over his body to draw the eye of a female.

Rydak’s gaze fell to the loitte on his bed and his chest contracted with remembered pain. His last family member left him with a gift that had no price. The leather garment would hang low on his hips, the chains of siil announcing his worth and value to a potential Chosen. In recent times, the rules stated only the loitte needed to be worn for presentation. But like every male in his family line, Rydak would follow the tradition of his ancestors. 

The towel dropped with a firm tug. Releasing a heavy breath, Rydak reached for the loitte and slid it over his bare thighs. The oil he’d applied earlier added to the ease of the motion. He fastened the siil side closures. Next, he slid the wrists braces onto his forearms, the gleaming brown leather passed down through generations of Jaard men. Rydak closed his eyes as feelings overwhelmed him. Not his own but the weight of those before him.

When he had his emotions under control, he opened his eyes and finished dressing as fast as possible. Then he faced the last item on his bed. In the past, the gloves taunted with the memory of who he was, what he couldn’t have.

No longer.

He snarled and jammed his fingers into the black leather. To not wear them would be a foolish risk. If a female other than Lissi...his mind shied away from the possibility. He would have faith and believe that for once he’d get what he wanted and not suffer for it.

***

The speech and instructions about the Presentation was one repeated many times. Lissi didn’t need to listen as she was well aware how the process worked.

She pulled up the hood of the brown cloak and avoided the gazes of the other females gathered beneath the tunnel that led to an open arena where males waited with hope and bated breath to be chosen. Conversation blurred around her. The door swung open letting in blinding sunlight and the women leaped forward.

Lissi kept her pace sedate, feet sinking into the rich sand with each step. Bare male torsos gleamed, women squealed as they selected men who would share their lives. None of it distracted. None of it broke her intense concentration.

Furthest from the center of the melee, Lissi spotted him and came to a halt. She’d tried to prepare but nothing came close to the sight of Rydak with his blond hair loose about his shoulders, body oiled to perfection and dressed in a knee length brown loitte which revealed muscled thighs and calves for all to see.

Matching braces covered the lower half of his arms from wrist to below his elbow, the ever present black gloves standing out. He stood with his legs spread apart and a determined tilt to the smooth jaw angled toward the entrance of the tunnel. And her.

The crowd roared as the announcements and accepted pairings began. Lissi locked gazed with Rydak. His stern look served as a warning to no effect. The Jaards had money and prestige. It was all some considered when they took the sands.

Females one after another formed a direct line for him. This was what he’d feared and warned Lissi about. She shoved her concern down deep. She’d planned for this occurrence.

Lissi moved forward and pushed back her hood revealing her features and allowed the front of the cloak to part. The drab customary dress beneath clung to her frame. Rydak’s gaze dropped and widened, his mask slipping.

The women noticed his distraction and turned. Seeing Lissi’s state, they walked away from Rydak one by one. His mouth curved as a smile grew and spread.

She draped the Chosen medallion about his neck and stated the ritual words. “I choose you Rydak Jaard.”

“And I accept.” Before lifting her hand to declare their status, Rydak tugged off one of his leather gloves. He clasped her delicate fingers in his own and held their arms aloft. “Lissi Alonson has chosen and Rydak Jaard has accepted.”

The cheer from the crowd was the loudest Lissi ever remembered hearing when she’d attended to watch others. He led her to the three members of the Commission but bent his head as she spoke. 

“I can’t believe you’re wearing full tradition Chosen garb and not just the loitte.” Lissi continued to admire his oiled body on display.

“You forget who my family is. This was expected. The Commission would have been surprised if I didn’t.”

She hadn’t considered. Before she could tease him, Rydak’s lips twitched. “You are sneaky, Lissi.”

He referenced the small bulge of her growing belly in the tight drab brown dress. Her own smile bloomed bright and wide. None would dare claim a male expecting a child. It was considered dishonorable. Once Lissi realized she was carrying Rydak’s baby, all her fear of fighting other females to claim him had faded away.