“That is why Gabrio will be my proxy,” Alwar says.
I look at Gabrio and then at Alwar. “How can he proxy for you? I thought it had to be a Norfolk.”
Gabrio clears his throat. “Alwar means proxy in the representative meaning—nothing to do with the Proxy Vow.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Woman, what is so difficult to comprehend?” Alwar barks. “Gabrio will stand in for me, which is valid under our laws.”
“Oh. Oh!” My eyes go wide as I finally comprehend what they’re asking. He wants to marry me but have Gabrio seal the deal. I step back from both men. “I don’t know. It just—I think—” I whoosh out a breath. This is a lot.
“Well?” Alwar pushes.
“Just give me a minute.”
“How many minutes do you need? Because my people are being slaughtered at this very moment. It’s a feeding frenzy out there. We must be free to attack, to use our offensive war strategies.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. “I don’t know.” I run a hand over the top of my head.
“It is as I said.” Gabrio places a hand on my hip, an oddly intimate gesture. “This must be your decision. Because this vow of marriage will be binding between you two. For as long as you both live, it will stand.”
So, basically, our vows will be enforced by the No Ones. “What about you?” I ask Gabrio. “How do you feel about…”
He shrugs. “I’m a dead man soon. I cannot complain about one last fuck.”
Fuck? I frown. Why are they making this sound so casual?
“Do not speak about sleeping with my wife in such a disrespectful way,” Alwar protests. “It is an honor. One I may never have.”
Exactly! My head whips in his direction. Wait. He’s already calling me his wife. “I didn’t agree to anything.”
“You will.” Alwar raises his chin. “Because if I can do this for my people, you can do it for yours.”
“But I’m not a king. I’m just a girl from a small town.” Of course, in my heart, I know it’s not so simple. Sometimes destiny chooses you. And then, sometimes, it kicks your door down and slaps you in the face. I’m pretty sure it just bitch-slapped me.
“Where you come from is irrelevant,” he says. “What matters is where you belong—your place, your role—and that you accept it.”
Big words from a big man. “I don’t belong with you. You know I don’t.” Yet I’m not sure I have a choice.
“You think I want to marry a human woman and not my own kind?” Alwar snarls.
“Alwar, you are not making this situation any easier.” Gabrio steps in front of me again, as if shielding me from Alwar.
“Oh, that is right. Yes, yes. She is human. We must all speak like weak, docile men, or she will be offended.” Alwar’s blue eyes twitch with disdain.
“Enough. I’m not weak. I’m…” Heartbroken. Malnourished. In shock. “I’m fed up. And I need a damned shower. And someone needs to go and give Dave a proper burial.”
“Are these your terms?” Alwar asks.
“You have the right to demand terms to the arrangement,” Gabrio says. “It is customary, as you will be giving up your freedom.”
Say what? “How so?”
“You must be obedient. To me. Always.” Alwar sounds pretty excited by that. I’m not.
“That’s part of the marriage vow?” I question.
“Yes, and it is the best part,” Alwar snaps back.
Not for me. “Then here are my terms: I will not be obedient—strike that from the marriage vows. I will not be your property either. You will vow to treat me with respect. And you will be kind.”
“Kind?” Alwar barks. “Do you wish my people to rebel and throw me off the keep?”
I think about what Benicio’s servant Uhrn once told me. Alwar lost the Monsterland throne because Benicio started rumors that Alwar was too soft and allowed the Mountain People to live when they should have been wiped out for refusing to bend the knee and sign up for the Proxy Vow.
“Fine,” I say. “You need to be kind when I ask. And you have to vow to never lie to me again. Not ever.”
Alwar frowns. “This is all you want?”
“Why do I get the feeling that you guys are expecting me to ask for something else?”
They remain silent.
“You either tell me everything, or this doesn’t happen. I lock the door and call it a day.”
“If you do that,” Gabrio says, “the War People will lose the wall, and Benicio will destroy it. Your world will be overrun in a matter of days.”
And he just put me in my goddamned place. “Okay. You’re right. You need to protect the wall. But I want to know what’s customary. What am I supposed to ask for?”
There’s a loud crash, and screaming explodes in the background behind Alwar.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“They are trying to breach the barricade leading to this side of the wall.” Alwar glances over his shoulder. I can tell he’s already tired from fighting. I see it in his face—the dark circles, the dirt, blood, and sweat on his bare chest.