Sarley's greeting made me flinch, and not just because it made Noth's finger crack from the pressure of his closed fist.

After all... such a thing was quite painful to hear. Even though it was he who was being teased... it still felt as if I was too.

They all knew it was fake. False.

So that meant, to them, I was far from worthy. It was a joke to them, because I becoming his wife was a joke all in itself.

And that hurt a little.

“Did you just end all trade?” Sarley asked as she came over and sat in a chair next to me.

“Huh? No? Why. What'd they say?” Noth asked, becoming serious.

“Oh nothing. They left quietly, and diligently... they just were all very pale in the face. The type of pale one gets after being told their days are numbered or something,” Sarley said with a laugh.

“It was indeed quite a sight,” I said, enjoying the memory... even if it was muddled now thanks to the drink and my own issues at the time.

“Do tell,” Sarley said, and I was about to but Noth tapped the desk to get our attention.

“I just told them to stop bickering, and warned them. The whole situation is ridiculous... the moment we got what we want, we're out of here,” Noth said.

“Well, shouldn't be too long now. Jamthi said he's preparing for immediate trade, so if you're lucky in a few days you'll be free... regrettably,” Sarley said.

A few days? They were going to be done that quickly...?

“We shall see,” was all Noth said as he stared at his desk, and the mess upon it.

“Who made the mess?” Sarley asked, noticing it finally.

Noth didn't say anything, he just glared at me.

“The room shook,” I said plainly.

“Ha!” Sarley laughed, but I had been completely serious... or at least, about the shaking. It had mostly been me, but the room really had shaken earlier...

I didn't know if I should try to convince her, or if she'd think I was insane.

Noth sighed, and he sounded more exhausted than annoyed as he stood and knocked on his desk. “Clean this up. I'm going to the bridge,” he said.

Before he rounded his desk, I had stood as to join him.

“You stay with Sarley,” he ordered as he passed me.

Although his tone clearly implied he meant his order… while he left, I debated following him anyway. “He's just going to make the rounds,” Sarley said.

“But...”

“Stay with her!” he growled, leaving the room.

With a huff I sat back down.

I knew that while within the Line... except during special moments, no one else from the Households would be here. So I knew I didn't need to be next to him all the time, but I still felt conflicted.

“He is quite against this...” I said.

“Of course he is, he voted nay for crying out loud,” Sarley said.

“Voted?”

She nodded, smiling at the memory. “His was the only nay. I don't think he knows yet... I had them tallied, since there were so many bets on it.'

“I don't understand...?”

Shifting in her seat so she positioned towards me, and not the desk. I quickly did the same. “On some Lines, the crew is allowed to vote. Usually it's for little things, like where to dock next or something. But here on the Front-Line, nearly everything can be put to vote. We voted on if Noth should play along and marry you as to continue peaceful trade or not,” she explained.

“Ah... the whole Line voted on this?” I asked.

“Yep. Six thousand and thirty four votes to one,” she said with a huge smile.

“Not a single one voted in his favor?” My tone was riddled with confusion. After all... he was the Lord. Why would he allow a vote if it was so one-sided?

“Nope. In fact, there were actually no nays, since he himself didn’t put in a vote. We know that’s what he’d have voted though. A few people are regretting their votes now though, since that would have gained his favor if there had only been a few voting for him. Oh well,” she said.

“Is he not the Lord?” I asked.

“Noth? Yea. I know it sounds weird, but that's just how he is... how the Front-Line is. He can override votes if it means life and death, but for most things he just goes along with them. I'm glad we voted for it, this is so entertaining. Plus we're getting paid for it to boot!”

Was it possibly a part of the magic of the Lines? Or was it purely Noth's character, which allowed such things?

“So... if you can vote... Does that mean he was being honest?” I asked myself.

“Who?”

“Jamthi. He had said the Front-Line does not possess slaves,” I said.

“Ah. Nope. None here. We have many who were at one time though,” she said.

I had to look away from her proud smile, and not just because I was envious.

If this was true... then I was going to have a harder time in succeeding than I had thought.

It was just my luck that I'd get the one Lord of the Lines that was genuinely a good person. It was just my luck.

How was I going to do this then? If I couldn't anger him directly over pettiness, or insult him into action...

“Want a tour of the Front-Line?” Sarley then asked, probably mistaking my silence for something else.

“A tour?”

She nodded as she stood from her seat. “There's a lot of interesting stuff here, and people. Plus I'm sure you're hungry, so we'll stop by and grab some food too. Noth will be a moment anyway,” she said as she headed for the door.

The promise of food was more than enough to get me onto my feet and to follow her, but the idea of getting to see the rest of this Line was what caused me to hurry.

“Please guide the way!” I said happily.

“The Front-Line is really only a few sections. Everything else is dedicated to storage, parts, or armaments. These of course are the offices,” Sarley explained as we walked down the hall.

“All these doors?” I asked.

“Yep. This floor, and the one below it too.”

“Why is Noth's office so... small?” I asked.

“Not sure. He just likes it that way. Plus it's also in the center of the offices, so maybe it's just his way of being as close to everyone as possible,” Sarley said.

The fact she didn't seem to know a definite answer bothered me. Maybe she wasn't privy to such information, or wasn't as high up on the societal ladder here in the Line as I had thought.

“Where are yours and Jamthi's?” I asked as we passed an open office. I paused for a moment to stare into it, and saw several women standing around a very long and thin table.

“Near his. To the left and right. We're rarely in ours though,” she said.

“Down there is quarters. The first one. Second and third ones are farther down the Line,” Sarley said as we passed a large stairwell.

People smiled and greeted as we passed, but they all seemed too busy to do anything else. “Quarters as in sleeping?” I asked.

“Yea.”

“Are they small?” I asked.

“Our rooms? Well some are, I guess. Most are well sized though. Don't let the drab hallways and offices fool you, the Front-Line is quite luxurious. Personal quarters are large enough that a family can live in them comfortably,” Sarley explained.

“I don't find them drab, I like how bright they are... and the lack of sand,” I said as I looked down to the metal floor.

“Oh, but there is indeed sand to be found now! It'll take forever to get it all out...” she laughed as we rounded a hallway.

“On each side of the Line, there are quarters for warfare, and storage. I suggest just staying out of them. They're boring, kind of dangerous, and sometimes stink,” she said with a point down another hallway.

“Just how big is this place? How many floors?” I asked as we passed another stairwell. They seemed to be everywhere.

“Six floors, seven in some places. Eight at the front, with the bridge,” she said.

Eight floors! There was not a single building in my whole city that tall.

“Aunt Sarley!”

We both paused as a small child ran towards us from an empty hall. The little girl had hair nearly as long as she was tall, and a huge smile peered out from under it as she ran.

“Oh no! Run!” Sarley shouted, causing me to almost panic as the large woman actually spun on a heel and started to run away.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Frozen in place, I stepped back and hugged the wall as the child approached. Was there something wrong here? Should I run too?

While Sarley hurried away from the approaching child, I watched as the young girl ran passed me, all the while laughing.

As she passed, I actually closed my eyes in fear. It made me feel ridiculous, but my body wouldn't obey me. It made sense after all, this was a Line! There could very well be crazy and terrifying things, even dangerous children or...!

Tiny footsteps went past me, and the happy giggling that mixed in with it made my eyes slowly open. The child had ran passed, and was gaining on Sarley.

After a few moments, I realized that Sarley wasn't running at all. She had simply been acting. The child easily caught up to the giant woman, and jumped up onto her back.

With a deep cry, Sarley staggered and fell to her knees in a playful manner. “Ah! Save yourself Miss Noth!” she shouted, carefully rolling over onto the floor and onto her back.

Stuck against the wall, I was flabbergasted. It was clear now that nothing had been wrong at all... but she had sounded so serious, it nearly had given me a heart attack.

My face felt hot, and I took a deep breath as I watched Sarley and the young girl laugh at one another. They were having the time of their lives... and judging by their actions, this was more than a common occurrence between them.

Embarrassed beyond measure, I collected myself and glanced around. Luckily no one was nearby in the hallways, nor had come running to see what was going on.

“Have mercy!” Sarley cried, then abruptly stopped moving as to play dead.

With her enemy vanquished, the young girl stood and proudly put her chin out, as if she had just performed a mighty hunt worthy enough to put her name into legend.

Before Sarley or I could do or say anything about it, the young girl suddenly realized something and turned to look at me. “Oh my gosh! You said Miss Noth! She's the one!” she nearly shrieked in excitement, then abandoned her fallen aunt and hurried towards me.

Leaving Sarley behind as if she'd never even existed in the first place; I braced myself as the young child ran to me. Surely she wouldn't jump up and tackle me as she had done her aunt?

Although she was a small child and undoubtedly meant no harm, I wasn't confident in my ability to fall cleanly to the floor as Sarley had done. The last thing I needed was to fall roughly, and get the young girl hurt.

Sarley slowly got back to her feet, and I mentally pleaded for her to say or do something... but it was too late. The young child ran head first into me.

Thankfully, the child hadn't jumped upward before doing so as she had done with Sarley. I was more than able to soak the blow, and even accept it. Neither she nor I fell to the ground as she laughed up at me.

Engulfing me in a great hug, she squeezed me as I steadied myself. “Miss Noth! Pleased to meet you, I am Veronica!” she loudly introduced herself, without a hint of shame.

“Hello there. My name is Telleya,” I said to her.

She gave me a toothy grin as she nodded, then released me and stepped back. After a few steps, she collected herself then suddenly gave me a quick and haphazard salute... the kind they gave to Noth.

“Uh...” Unsure of what to do or say, I had to look to Sarley for help.

The large woman had reached us, and patted the child's head as she smiled down to her. “Sorry about that. My niece, you see. Where's your mother at Veronica?” she asked the child.

“Home. I'm going to school,” the girl said as Sarley ruffled up her hair.

“Oh! Then let's go. Miss Noth and I shall be your valiant guides!” Sarley declared.

“Onward!” Veronica ordered, as if suddenly in command.

The child quickly took Sarley's hand, and then reached out for my own. Although I was unsure if it was alright or not, I still readily took it.

How could I not? The child meant no ill will, and was adorable.

“You have a school on the Line?” I asked.

“Several!” Veronica answered.

“Many trips are long... and many families join on them. So we need such necessities. Like little Veronica here, she was born right after we left for here,” Sarley said.

“I'm a Line-Child!” the girl happily and proudly declared.

It was a good thing I was being dragged along by the girl, or else I would have come to an abrupt stop.

A child born on the Line? She had to be...

She wasn't that old... maybe seven or eight... but...

“How long did it take you to get here...?” I asked Sarley.

“Oh no. It only took a few years to find your city. There were a few stops along the way. Her parents rejoined us in the Knives Forest, she turns six soon,” Sarley said.

“Nine! I'll be nine!” she protested.

“No way!” Sarley teased her, and while the two bickered I tried to imagine just what kind of distance there was between here and there.

I firmly tried not to imagine just what this forest of knives was... since I knew I'd never get to see it. I didn't want to fantasize about such things.

It took them nearly nine years to get here...? “So... it'll take you another nine to get home?” I asked.

“Nope. A Line can travel faster where it's been before, so it should only take us one or two. Unless we have more stops planned that our wacky Commander hasn't mentioned yet,” Sarley said.

“Shush! She's his wife!” Veronica hushed her aunt, chastising her as if she was worried she'd get in trouble.

Maybe the young girl didn't realize that his and my relationship was purely a facade... it'd make sense, since she was but a child.

Rounding a corner, I was startled to see a bunch of children. Several dozen were scattered around in the hallway, and farther down the hallway seemed to open up into a larger room. Within that room, I could see even more people and kids.

“And here we are! The wondrous place of school!” Sarley said, declaring it loudly enough that many of the children looked over towards us.

Unlike myself earlier, none of the children nearby found anything wrong with her large outburst. They simply returned to their own conversations.

“Indeed! Well done guiding me here. Your services were orderly and proper!” Veronica suddenly took on a haughty tone as she turned to each of us and gave us a small bow.

She still held out hands as she did so, so her bowing was far from proper... but I somehow felt far more sincerity and earnest within it than I had from any bow I've ever seen before.

After she released my hand as to give Sarley a small hug, I went ahead and kneeled and lowered my head.

“The honor was all ours, I assure you,” I said to her, repaying her bow with a proper one.

“Aha! I knew you were a princess!” Veronica squealed in delight at the sight of my genuflection.

“Princess...?” I was surprised by her sudden declaration, but didn't get a chance to correct her or to find out why she had thought such a thing. She continued squealing happily as she ran off away from her, joining the other children.

Standing back up, I watched as she ran into a small group of girls... nearly as hard as she had done to me. She then began to regale them with what most likely was the story of meeting me, since she pointed my way.

“Sorry. It's hard to explain to children certain things, as I'm sure you know,” Sarley said as she and I waved to the young girl and her friends.

“I don't mind. Though I will say I am the farthest thing from a princess, or anyone important,” I said.

Sarley said nothing, and seemed to even keep her eyes away from meeting my own as she nodded.

Although I kind of wanted to see more of the children, and wanted to see just what kind of schooling they received here, Sarley had other plans. She turned and left, heading down a separate hallway without even saying a word.

Hurrying after her, I wondered if all of their children attended such things.

My people also had schools... but they were only for a few years, and not every child got to go. I myself had only gone for a year.

Even the wealthiest Houses couldn't afford to let their children sit around and do nothing for too long. If Veronica had been born in the House of Derri, she'd already have several years of working under her belt.

Better she was born here then, and not in my House.

If only I had been born here instead...

Gripping the end of my shirt, I had to steady myself as a horribly sick feeling ran through me.

This was never a feeling I knew before. I hadn't known it.

I hadn't even thought of it.

The idea of possibly being born elsewhere.

The mere idea that somewhere else... anywhere, out in this vast world, could have been better...

It was such a foreign concept, that it took me this long to realize it.

Being born to another House? Most of my childhood was of such fantasies. But this was...

“Teaching children is a wonderful thing,” I said softly as we passed another hallway. There were some people, and a few kids in this one as well, but not as many.

“Indeed. We're lucky Noth allows it, considering most Line's don't,” Sarley said.

Smiling at that, I wondered if they had put it to a vote. Wonder if he had voted in support or not.

Rounding another corner, I flinched when the world suddenly became much brighter.

It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust, and when they finally did I was at a loss for words.

The world itself was laid bare before my eyes. Not too far away, was a giant window... so large, that I couldn't even fathom how they had created it. Or of what material. Glass would break from the weight alone.

“Cool huh? There are several windows like it along the Line on both sides,” Sarley said. She had paused to allow me a few seconds to study it.

Our hallway had opened up, but not to a large room. We were three or four levels up, and the hallway turned into a balcony that rounded around.

The window went from the ground floor, to the ceiling... and it was a myriad of different colors. The bright sun reflected off the sands off in the distance, and it lit up the room in countless colors. It was beautiful because the colors seemed to dance and flow, as if alive.

Down below on the ground floor, were groups of people. They were sitting at tables, and seemed to be relaxing. Maybe some kind of gathering area, or just a place to rest in-between work.

I couldn't blame them for choosing here to rest though, considering its beauty.

“It's beautiful,” I said.

Yes...

This place was as beautiful.

But at the same time...

“Come on, we're near one of the best restaurants on the Line and if you're half as hungry as me we can put them out of business,” Sarley said with a tap on my shoulder.

Her mention of food quickly changed my course of thought, but at the same time made them delve even deeper into the darkness.

“I'm not sure about that, but we can try,” I said as I went to follow her.

Thanks to this balcony hallway being smaller than the others, I was able to stay behind her as we walked. Hopefully, before we reached our next destination, I would be able to calm myself... so she wouldn't notice my internal discord.

After all, I was doing my best not to smile in giddy apprehension.

I was about to get to enjoy a wonderful meal! A real one... maybe even an exotic one, from lands beyond...

If the food was even a fraction as tasty as that earlier drink had been... Then...

Feeling the excitement, I nearly hurried up enough to walk alongside Sarley. The only reason I was able to stop myself, was the cold fear deep inside of me.

This wasn't good.

I needed to hate this place. To... despise it.

If I fell in love with it, then I'd not be able to do what had to be done.

To destroy what I hated, I needed to stop myself from falling in love with this place.

Hopefully it won't get any harder than this...

“Oh, it's the boss,” Sarley stopped walking as she peered over the railing.

Unlike her, I had to get up next to the railings to see over it. I wasn't as tall as her.

Although we were no long near the large window, we still overlooked a large sitting area. Most of the chairs here were empty, but people were walking to and fro... or some of them were. The rest were all huddled around someone else.

“You can tell from here?” I asked.

“Easily enough. He's being teased by the looks of it,” she laughed.

“So everyone does it, not just you and Jamthi?” I asked.

Echoes of laughter reached us, and Sarley chuckled alongside them as if she had heard whatever joke had been given.

“Mostly. It's his fault, always making himself an easy target. Come on,” Sarley said, and returned to walking away.

“So my presence is just another tool used against him then,” I said.

“Somewhat... You're rather unique in that regard. This has never happened before, not just since I've been here but ever. I've never even heard of a Line Commander marrying randomly on the spur of the moment, let alone like this,” Sarley said, her voice telling me clearly how much she was enjoying this.

“Glad to humor you,” I said softly.

“Keep it up! You have my full support!” she said loudly.

I knew my smile was as fake as could be as we rounded a hallway and headed for a stairwell. I didn't even try to mask it with a real one.

“So please keep teasing him,” she then said softly, stopping a few feet from the stairs.

The large muscular woman seemed softer, almost weaker, as she smiled at me.

A request, or a hope, I wonder?

Either way... it was something I couldn't fulfill.

Since after all... I'd not live long enough to do so.