The sun stretched long fingers of light through the branches. Fand sat in her favorite spot, the rock over looking the brook. In two days she, Uncle Wert and Zog would leave for the Ruhe Mountains. In five days she would be married to Gregor Zwart. She shuddered. Zog was still trying to talk her out of this marriage, while Uncle Wert seemed in a hurry to just get the deed done. As for Gregor, she never spent ANY time alone with him. Zog or Mrs. Zwart made sure of that. Once she was married to Gregor there would be no way of escaping him or his presence. She didn't want to think about that, not now, not in her favorite place. Instead she turned her mind to what had happened since she agreed to marry Gregor. Zog had calmed down and seldom frequented The Tavern. These days he was very focused and quiet. He spent most of his time in his room. The peddler woman in the woods was apparently gone. Zog no longer went into the woods alone unless he was hunting. And, best of all Pyre lived! His younger brother Wendon had told her Pyre had successfully completed his Transfferance. He was now doing well and back in classes. She could only thank the Keeper for that and keep her part of the bargain. If she didn’t she feared something terrible would happen to her beloveds.

There was a carefully placed foot step behind Fand. She had been so lost in thought she had not heard any one approaching. She turned expecting to see Zog but it was not Zog, it was Gregor. "There you are." There was a bold look in his eyes. He sat down beside her and asked, “So, out here alone?”

She knew better than to admit she indeed was alone. She shook her head and said, “Zog is just down steam fishing.”

“Is he now? Here I am to marry you in less than a week and I have not gotten even a single kiss.” His breath smelled of ale. So, he had been drinking. He puckered his mouth and zoomed in pressing his lips against hers. He tasted foul. She pulled away from him. It was then that he grabbed hold of her and pulled her to him. His hands bit into her flesh. She felt...she felt...rising against her thigh. She had seen bulls and rams get lusty, but she had never been held by a man in that state. She knew what bulls and rams did to the females. Gregor would NOT take her like livestock! She twisted in his arms and kneed him in the groin. He moved before her knee hit its target. His ankle turned. Cursing he stumbled, but he held on to Fand pulling them both down. They fell into the stream.

The cold water shocked Fand’s system. With all the strength she had she pushed against him. For a moment she broke free of his grip, but only for a moment. He hoisted her up into his arms. Wildly she kicked against him. He would no get her without a bloody fight. He pulled her onto the sandy bank. Instantly he was on top of her. Fand’s sodden skirts wrapped around her, pinning her legs together. She could not move! He started kissing her hard on the mouth. Pyre never kissed her like this. Never. These kisses were violent and selfish. His left hand was tugging at her sodden skirt. She pleaded, "Please don't Gregor. Our union won't be blessed if you take me now. The Keeper will not honor the womb of a bride who pretends to be a virgin."

Gregor said, "Rubbish. Me dad had me mom afore the ceremony and they have eight kids." Had Mr. Zwart taken Mrs. Zwart like this, over and over through the years? What a nightmare! With a hard jerk Gregor ripped the seam in Fand’s skirt. He ran his right hand up her inner thigh. He cursed when it got stuck in her petticoat. Fand squirmed beneath him. He would not have her. He would not taint her womb. With all her might she jabbed him with her knee. Gregor grunted, "Be still bitch."

Inside her, Fand's heart raced. Her breath came in short gasps. He would have her. Desperately she prayed, “Oh Keeper, please, help me.”

From above a voice said, "Get off of her."

Was this the voice of the Keeper? Fand looked up. Jerue stood on the rock.

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Not recognizing the Head Councilman's voice, Gregor shouted, "She is my betrothed and I can have her if I want her."

Jerue said, "Not according to the edicts of the Sacred Text. Get up now or I will have this betrothal nullified."

This time, Gregor recognized the voice. He leapt off Fand like she was poison. Fand rolled away from him and pulled her skirt around her. Gregor stood. He bowed and apologized, "I am sorry Sir."

The Head Councilman did not acknowledge Gregor's apology instead he said, "The Keeper created female flesh to be enjoyed, not abused. I will keep my mind fixed on you. If you attempt this again, you will not live to see another day. Now, be off with you.”

Gregor bowed and awkwardly scrambled up the steep embankment. As soon as he crested the bank, he took off at a sprint toward home.

Jerue turned his eyes upon Fand and came down to the brook. He offered her his hand and helped her climb up the bank. Still holding her hand, he said, "That pig will not abuse you again. I will be in the Ruhe Mountains on the date of your wedding rehearsal. At the dinner I will announce the marriage agreement has been voided by edict of the Council. Share this news with no one.” His pale blue eyes held a strange spark in them that demanded obedience.

The marriage was to be voided? This was an unexpected miracle. Gratitude that was as immense as it was unexpected flowed through Fand. She said, "Thank you, Sir."

Jerue's voice was gentle when he said, "You are welcome. Now, home with you before you catch cold."

“Yes Sir.” She took off at a swift pace.

Zog and Uncle Wert were both in the kitchen when she got home. Zog asked, “What happened to you?”

She lied, “I tripped and fell in the brook.”

“Clumsy you,” said Uncle Wert.

Zog eyed her suspiciously, but he did not ask any more questions. He had known what Gregor could and would do to her.No wonder he had constantly tried to talk her out of the marriage.

Swiftly she climbed up the ladder and stripped out of her sodden clothes. Her heart was still racing and she felt so sick to her stomach. She still felt Gregor’s hands on her, she still felt his body pressed against her. The life of abuse was not a life sanctioned by the Keeper according to Jerue. Another thought entered her head. It had been wrong of her to believe she could bargain with the Divine, to think she could purchase favor from the Keeper. Divine favor could not be bought and she had almost paid for her ignorance with her very life. Praise the Keeper Jerue had intervened on her behalf. Praise the Keeper!

She toweled herself off, put on dry under things and her faded work dress. With a shudder, she sat down on her bed and pulled a blanket around herself. When Jerue showed up at the rehearsal Uncle Wert would be furious and angrier still when Jerue deliver the Edict. Deep down she felt that regardless of Zog’s hatred of Jerue he would approve of the edict. Mr. Zwart and Gregor would not like it at all, but she knew Mrs. Zwart would secretly rejoice that she had gotten out of a bad match. A bubble of joy rose up inside of Fand. Regardless of how the Rehearsal played out, she would be in the land where her mother had grown up and lived. It was a place she had wanted to visit her entire life and she would! As huge as her gratitude was for the dissolution of her marriage agreement, getting to make the journey to the Ruhe Mountains was as great. She hugged herself and prayed this was all not a dream.

*

This leaving of home was only a temporary one. The room in the Zwart home was one she would NEVER share with Gregor. He had been very meek at last night’s meal. Not once did she meet his eyes. He was not smart enough to read a woman, but she did not ever want to look into those eyes that had burned for her.

As she packed the cart, Zog helped. He said, “You look mighty happy this morning.”

“I am happy that I am going to see where my mother grew up. Beyond that, I refuse to think.”

“A wise woman you are, but I wish you were wiser,” said Zog.

A part of Fand wanted to confide in Zog the way she used to, but Jerue had forbidden any mention of what would occur on the night of the rehearsal. There was also the risk that Zog might turn on her and refuse to go once he learned what Jerue had told her. She needed him to go with them. She wanted him to be there to see that miracles could occur.

Once the cart was packed with everything, Fand climbed into the back of the wagon. Zog and Uncle Wert took the seat. The borrowed mule, Lucas, pulled the wagon forward. They were off. Fand rested her chin on her arms and gazed back at her home. It was a shabby place, but it was the harbor of her heart and she would be coming back to it.