Chapter 3
For all of them, the next few weeks seemed to take an eternity to pass. They testified in the stifling, airless courthouse for their father's sake–even Amiliana, although she said almost nothing. It had taken her five days to get up and out of bed, and she stayed most silent, even to her sisters. None of them said anything about Gregory, and she didn't bring up the subject. Their excuse for her paleness and absence during the calls from their friends were that the death of Master Bliss had hit her especially hard.
Reiliana had to deal with the curious visits from neighbors, both sympathetic and nosy. She was also subjected to their criticisms of the girls' plans, and they used everything from her late father's wishes to Alexander against her. What she couldn't figure out, and which she told them, was why they wanted to prevent them from leaving. They had nothing to hold them in the town–no relatives, no way of maintaining the tavern, and no way of leaving behind the scandal until several years had passed. She supposed that their conscientious natures prevented them from allowing the Bliss family to depart into what they thought to be the savage, untamed wilderness. But Reiliana still felt confused. Did they think she would lead her sisters and her son to certain death? When she shared the benefit of her thoughts with them, she was met with indignation, but she had expected nothing less.
Minalia found herself besieged by the townspeople whenever she was on errands, and as the youngest, they figured that she was the one who could change her oldest sister's mind. She scoffed at the idea–not only did she want to leave, she was sure that nothing could ever change Rei's mind if she was bent on doing something. However, she was finding it harder and harder to keep a polite smile on her face, her voice pleasant, and her inquiries cordial. When she had time to think, the image and person of Kunshan Bayonne filled her thoughts, but she reminded herself–often–that he was long gone, and that she would never see him again.
Litalia whiled the days away, since there was nothing to fill her days. She absolutely refused to accompany Mina on her social calls, and she was unused to cooking only for the five of them. At first, Nestor had often kept her company, and she had been happiest when spending her time with him, learning more about him than she had known. Then, he too, had left–called away by business. He had promised her that he would catch up with them at their end destination, since it seemed that the loose ends he had to tie up, as well as his last big trade agreement, would take a few months. But when he had gone, he had left her a ring to seal his promise, and she counted it as her most treasured possession. Now, she wanted to leave as soon as possible, so she could pass the time more quickly until she would be able to see him again.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Zoite Skylab was readying to leave his old post and give over the reins to his second-in-command, who was more than capable. In a few months, everything would be set, and he could leave to go West... Although he presented a cool, impersonal face to the world, he had never been able to resist adventure. His old best friend, Kunshan Bayonne, expressed a similar desire to travel, and it was agreed that Kunshan would spend some time with his family until Zoite was ready to leave.
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The tavern was sold at a fairly expedient price, and they left with as little fuss as possible. They made fairly good time, but the long journey itself was in no way easy. Traveling in a large wagon train with people they had never met before caused for a great deal of discomfort and dust until they became accustomed to the trail and each other. There were snakes, wild animals, and dangerous conditions to travel through–through thunderstorms, blizzards, across fallen rocks, and fording rivers. Rivers were perhaps the worst part. Often, their supplies were lost when the caulked wagons overturned. Sometimes, even after the hefty price they paid for the ferry, the ferry could sink into the water. Thankfully, none of their traveling companions died of drowning, but several of them died of disease. The Bliss girls themselves had their fair share of diseases–diphtheria, malaria, cholera, and dysentery. Often, when no sources of water could be found, they had to go days without water. Heatstroke became common when they passed through the great deserts, and the horses often became tired and refused to go on. Litalia worked with the horses most often, and they grew used to her gentle touch along the way. She coaxed them to begin moving again. Their money had to be carefully saved and distributed, and high ferry rates and those of overcharged supplies at the forts along the way didn't help. Minalia handled the money, having long learned how to barter and keep accurate numbers from long experience in town. Ami helped her whenever she needed a hand, and slowly, the color began to return to her cheeks, and she began to smile and talk more often. Reiliana managed everything overall, and she was able to care for Xander more than she would have before–usually, his Aunt Mina was the only one with enough time to spare.
As they traveled, they also learned about the various plants and berries around them, include which ones could help heal injuries. Unfamiliar terrain was still considered dangerous, but they knew what signs to look for if they ever got off the trail.
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They were nearly at the end of their journey when Minalia had the chance to visit a nearby, fairly large town, with some of the other people from the wagon train. She gave her name to the young, fair-haired, friendly storekeeper named Andrew, and his eyes widened imperceptibly. Noticing his surprised expression, she asked, "Is something wrong?"
"No...I mean...you say you come from–where, again?" Feeling puzzled, she repeated the name of her home town, and his unwavering gaze sharpened. "You don't happen to have three sisters, do you?" When she nodded again, Andrew asked, "What are their names?"
"My oldest sister is Reiliana, and then Amiliana, then Litalia, and then me."
Andrew straightened up and dusted his hands off on his apron. He called the name of a pretty, auburn-haired young woman at the other end of the counter, and she came over. "This is my fiancee, Rita. Rita, this is Miss Minalia Bliss. She's part of the wagon train that just came in last night."
"Pleased to meet you," Minalia said politely, although she was unsure of why he wanted to introduce her to his fiancee.
Rita smiled brightly and returned the greeting, but she also looked at Andrew as if she thought he was crazy.
Andrew sighed and explained, "Rita, you remember Artemis and Luna's will? She's one of the girls named in it, and her entire family is here, too."
"Oh...oh! Are you sure?"
"Those names aren't common, Rita. And it all fits. I asked about her sisters, and they have all the right names. And they're from that town."
While the blonde looked on in complete confusion, the auburn-haired woman suggested calmly, "Shouldn't we take them to see their lawyer, then?"
"Oh, right. Can you take her across, though? I'll watch the store."
"Excuse me...Master Andrew, Miss Rita...but what are you talking about?" Minalia asked.
For answer, Rita plucked off her apron and came out from behind the counter. "Come with me, please. You'll want to be speaking to the lawyer of your aunt and uncle. They've left you their house, in their will."
"What? My aunt and uncle? But...I didn't even know I had relatives so far out here. Their house?" Her thoughts flew in every direction, and bewilderment shone plainly on her pretty face.
Gently, the other replied, "Well, they must have known about you and your family. Andrew and I, when we were children, we knew Luna and Artemis well. They were a lovely couple, and very kind. Unfortunately, they died at a young age, around eight or nine years ago. All the servants, including the groundsmen, left, and the place is badly overrun. But it's an enchanting old house. Or, at least, it _was_. I haven't seen it ever since they died, and it's some distance from town."
Minalia nodded wordlessly and continued in step with her across the road. She had a feeling that their fortunes had somehow changed...
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She folded her hands in her lap, her back straight as a sword-blade in the elegantly-carved wooden chair as she listened attentively. When Reiliana had first entered the lawyer's home, she almost sighed in envy. It had been such a long time since she had seen such splendor. Ordinarily, she suspected, she would have been shown into a bland-looking office, but it was after-hours.
Minalia had followed Rita obediently to the lawyer's office, listened for around ten minutes in complete silence, and then asked if it might be better if her oldest sister, who ran the family, was present. He had agreed but asked that Reiliana come to his house, and Rita had returned with the younger woman to the cluster of wagons just outside town.
When Rei had heard, she had been skeptical and even disbelieving, despite her fairly positive first impression of Rita. Now, she was wondering if it was prank–or a mistake. It seemed to good to be true, and Reiliana Bliss had been dealing with hard situations almost all her life. She considered the first of those the decision to let her best friend walk out of her life. But then again, she reminisced with a sour smile, it was the only one she thought she had made a mistake about. Sighing, she focused her attention back on the man speaking to her once more.
The man leaned forward, his kindly old face creased with concern. "Miss Bliss, I know what a shock this has been to you, and it's very late at night. Perhaps you could be so good as to come to my office tomorrow morning? Or in the afternoon?"
She shook her head. "No–no. I have to make my decision tonight, it seems. The wagon train is planning to move out at first light tomorrow morning. Either my sisters and I stay here permanently or leave forever." Looking down at her hands, she closed her eyes, feeling weariness descend upon her. "I'm sorry for keeping you up all night. You've been very kind."
"It was my pleasure to serve your aunt and uncle, Miss Bliss. Do you have any more questions?"
"No, it seems clear, but may I just....rephrase what you've told me, to make absolutely sure?" When he nodded congenially, she began, "My Uncle Artemis was my brother's younger brother, and he married Luna, who was a first cousin of my mother's. They met when my parents married, and they went westward, built a house, and–left it to us? But why?"
"I can only assume that they must have kept in touch with your parents and heard about you and your sisters. Luna and Artemis were very much in love, but they never had any children. Their death was extremely surprising, since they were young and in good health." He bowed his balding head then. "They were very good friends of mine."
Reiliana nodded and paused for a few minutes, letting him collect himself. "So...they willed the house and their sizeable amount of money in the bank to us...but the will also states that in order for us to inherit, that within ten years of their deaths, we must _all_ be married."
"That is correct," he said uneasily, "and it also means that you only have one year to do so. I surmise that they must have expected you to journey here earlier, or that they expected to die at a later age, to give you as much happiness as possible. But really, it is not so strange a request, is it?"
She smiled thinly. If she weren't so tired, she suspected that she might be in a rage by now. It was impossible. ‘Lovely couple' indeed. More like hopeless romantics that she did _not_ want to dictating her life from beyond the grave. "On the contrary. My youngest sister is almost too young to even think of marriage, and I don't even want to think about how Ami would receive the idea. And I myself am a widow. I have a son. I don't suppose these things could be taken into account?"
He shook his head regretfully.
"And if we do not stay here and abide by the rules laid down by the will, what would happen then?"
He frowned. "Surely you aren't thinking of giving up the house and the money, Miss Bliss?"
Rei sighed and resisted the urge to scream. "I'm not quite sure yet. If you please?"
"The house would be sold to the highest bidder, and the money to an appropriate charity."
"I–I–" Her head ached painfully as the pounding in her temples increased. Whatever choice she made would not be for her alone. It would be for all of them. And she had to think of what was best for them, no matter how unsavory some parts of the agreement might be. Her thoughts came to a screeching halt when she thought about Alexander. Rei had always thought that she would never wed again. She had always justified the fact that he would never have a father-figure in his life in her mind with the excuse that her sister's husbands (even though she couldn't imagine them as married) would do. But they would have their own children, their own family. Maybe it would be better if she was forced into re-marrying. And as for Ami, Lita, and Mina...
Mina had no real objections to marrying, at least none that she had voiced. She really wasn't so young, as they all thought. Her lively spirit and tendency towards cheerful sunniness just encouraged her older sisters' disbelief that their baby sister might have grow up, but in truth, she was a young woman now. She had grown more capable and independent during the journey, and Rei found herself relying on her more and more often for her good-hearted advice, freely given, and for the way she had with people. All Mina had to do was smile disarmingly and coax them to see her point of view with sweet words, and they wouldn't even mind helping her.
Lita was already planning to marry Nestor Siriale, and Ami...well, Ami would be able to see how this opportunity would benefit them all. Surely she would be able to cope...
She took a deep breath and let it slowly. "All right. We'll stay."
"Very good, Miss Bliss. I assume that you and your sisters will be contacting me sometime tomorrow, or perhaps in the very near future?"
She nodded, bid him a good evening, and left, feeling more than ever the loss of Janus Aureole. Rei had almost no one she could lean on now. Lita was dismayed that Nestor hadn't found them yet and that he hadn't even sent word to any of the forts, where other members of their wagon train had found letters from relatives and friends waiting for them. Mina was already burdened with communicating for all of them, and she was already growing up too quickly. After Janus had left, she had become accustomed to relying on Ami's good sense and quiet companionship, but now Ami needed her support more than she could give it. And she wished, somehow, that she could turn the hourglass of time backwards, watch its gleaming sands return the way they had come, and see everything restored to the way it had been. But it was impossible.
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The five of them: Reiliana, Amiliana, Litalia, Minalia, and Alexander stood silently before their new domain. The house was a marvel, and what they could glimpse under the ivy scaling the walls promised to be as beautiful as Rita had tried to describe. It looked a bit old-fashioned, compared to the new houses they had seen being built months before at home, but it was a part of its charm. The shutters, now faded, with the wood peeling off, banged playfully in the fresh breeze, and the glass panes of the windows, which they had thought would take years for them to purchase had they followed their original plan to farm the prairie, were laid beautifully in old but strong wood frames. A rather large stable was surely empty, but Litalia's eyes gleamed as she thought about the horses they might be able to own once more, with some luck and a lot of hard work.
Towering oaks, weeping, and silver-bark beeches, among other trees, had grown wild and uninhibited all over the grounds, and their majestic beauty was breathtaking. The weeds that had come were wild flowers, and their bright colors were at their height in midsummer. At the edge of the vast property, a shimmering blue pool looked as if it were an extension of the sky, and the sound of trickling water reached their eyes. There must also be a river leading to or from the lake, they realized. The place looked untouched by humans but visited by otherworldly sprites, and it was theirs.
"Well? What should we call it?" Ami inquired softly, a bright smile on her face as her blue eyes sparkled becomingly.
"What? Are we naming it?"
"Of course, Mina." Rei smiled also. "A place like this must have a name. And it will be our home, this House of Bliss."
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Author's Note: I'm very sorry for the long time it took to get this chapter out...and also that there wasn't much action. But things needed to be explained...hopefully there'll be more action–and more generals–in the next chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it! ^^
~Ice
