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“It won’t work, dearie,” the holstaurus matron said. I smiled politely and didn’t contradict her. She had graciously taken me in when I arrived in this strange world months ago, and she meant well, so I listened as she tried to talk me out of my admittedly uncertain course. “Moulinet is a traditional girl. You can’t win her without a successful challenge, and she has beaten every challenger so far. You cannot defeat her in a clash of steel or battle of wits, and a duel of magic is impossible for you. Yes, she is beautiful, and I know that she wants you, too, but I fear that she is beyond your reach.”
“So what are you saying, that I should just give up?” I suspected I knew what her answer was going to be. Mama Latoya’s heart was in the right place – nestled firmly behind those massive breasts – but she wasn’t exactly unbiased.
The elder mamono shook her head. “Not at all. I merely suggest that you seek comfort in the arms of girls who are attainable. There are several young women in town who would be happy to have you, and most of them would not mind sharing. Take Diamelle, for example…” That name conjured a vision of a platinum blonde alice with ash-gray eyes and a radiant smile. “She might look like a child, but she is in truth nearly three-hundred years old. She would love having a ‘big brother’ to take care of her. And Natalie has already offered to wrap you in her coils and ‘constrict your little snake’ whenever you want.” I suppressed a grin at that; Natalie was gorgeous, despite the snake parts, and if she did everything else as well as she did those stolen kisses she would be a lot better than the best I’d ever had. “And of course there’s my Latrice and her friend Courtney. They’re lovely girls, and they share everything.” She favored me with a leer and added, “And I do mean everything.”
I sighed. Of course Mama Latoya would put in a plug for her daughter, and Latrice’s cute capybara friend was a bonus. “I hear what you’re saying, mama, but my heart is set on Moulinet. I know my chances aren’t good, but I think she and I would be really happy together. I have to try.”
Mama Latoya smiled and patted my arm. “Of course you do, dearie, I understand. Go try to win your girl.” She got up on her tip-toes and kissed my cheek. “And after she breaks both your hearts by winning, go talk to Latrice and Courtney. They’ll be saddened by not being your first choice, but they will still accept you.”
“Thanks, mama,” I said. I straightened my clothes and made a vain attempt to tame my unruly hair. “I’ll be home in time for dinner, hopefully with a guest.”
“Don’t you fret, dear. I’m sure we’ll have an extra at the table tonight… one way or another.” She turned and walked away humming a spritely tune that sounded like a wedding march. I let out a breath to calm myself before making my way to the training grounds.
I arrived just in time to see the last class of the day dismissed. The young mamono bowed and thanked their teacher before dispersing to their homes. Moulinet never glanced my way while fielding some last minute questions, but I sensed that she knew I was there. Not until the last student was gone did she turn to look at me. “Good evening, Marcus. I am afraid I am not giving any more lessons today, but I am glad you are showing an interest. Perhaps tomorrow?”
I shook my head. “I’m not here for fencing lessons, ‘Nay,” I said. “I’m here to challenge you for your hand.”
“I see.” Hope flared briefly in her eyes before anticipated disappointment forced it down. “And what weapon do you choose? Not spells, of course. Perhaps riddles, or an obstacle race? Or do you insist on the sword?” As she spoke her hand idly strayed toward the empty scabbard where a saber should’ve been. I didn’t stand a chance in any of the contests she mentioned, but a sudden inspiration gripped me, and I knew how to win both my happiness and hers.
“No, none of those,” I said. “The weapon I choose is… compliments.”
Moulinet’s hand stopped a finger’s breadth from the handle of her missing sword. “Excuse me?”
“We will duel with compliments.” I shot her a flirtatious grin and said, “After all, I could never hope to outduel a master swordswoman like you.”
“Thank you, but…” Her face lit with a smile as comprehension dawned. “Ah! I see the duel has already begun! Well struck, sir, first blood to you.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “I knew you would catch on quickly; your mind is as sharp as your blade.”
“And you have more silver in your tongue than I have in my purse, good sir,” she said.
“It’s not mere glibness, Lady Moulinet.” I took a step toward her, and something in my eyes drove her back a step. “I admire your passion for your art, and your dedication to excellence, and how you strive to encourage both in your students. You’re not only a master fencer, but a master teacher, the best of both that I’ve ever known.”
“Oh… thank you.” Hope started to shine in her eyes again… but she was Moulinet des Mains-Rouges, and she would never give up without a fight. I might have picked a contest that I had a chance of winning, but I still had to win. “I appreciate how you chose to compliment my character and skill before my beauty. Most men would have let their lust guide them through this contest, but you are above that.”
“Not so far as you might think,” I said, “I most certainly noticed your beauty.” I took another step toward her, and again she retreated a step. “The way your hair catches the light is like a sunrise over the water. The steel in your eyes as you face a worthy opponent inspires me.” I stepped forward again, and this time she hesitated before she stepped back. “The look of triumph on your face when you figure out a difficult spell takes my breath away.”
“I see that your eyesight is perfect, sir,” Moulinet said. She blushed as she added, “Your eyes are as keen as they are comely.”
My smile grew broader as I took another step. “I’m not the only comely one here.” I raised my hand toward her face, but lowered it again when I saw the desire to lean back and the desire to lean in warring in her eyes. “I can’t see the curve of your lips without thinking about kisses.” I advanced again, and this time she didn’t retreat. “And you don’t smile often, but when you do, I am lost. I have fought battles and won victories, but I lose against that smile every time.” I took another step, and this time she stepped forward to close the gap between us. “You are the most amazing woman I have ever met, and whatever life I can make for myself in this world, I want to make it with you.”
Moulinet’s mouth worked, but no sound came out and tears poured down her face. With a cry of joy she leaped into my arms and buried her face against my neck. I just stroked her hair and let her cry. When she finally stopped shaking she muttered something unintelligible between sobs. “Sorry, I didn’t catch that?” I said.
“The victory is yours,” she repeated. “As am I.” After disengaging from my embrace she made a motion of drawing a sword, and a shining saber seemingly made of crystal materialized in her grasp. Moulinet knelt and laid that sword at my feet. “I yield myself to you. By day I am your sword, and by night I am your sheath. This I swear, by the blade that is my all.”
I handed the sword back to Moulinet and helped her to her feet. “First, you don’t kneel to me,” I said. She smirked, and I added, “Well, not unless it’s for something fun. Second, I guess we have to plan a wedding now.”
She shot me a confused look and said, “But… we just had one.”
“Hold on, you mean that oath was… ?”
“How my people sanctify a marriage, yes,” she said. “I take it things are done differently where you are from?”
“A lot differently.” I blew out a breath and said, “Well, I guess I need to move into your place tonight, then. Good thing I don’t have much.”
“Actually, I should move in with you,” Moulinet said. “That will make it more convenient when you want to be with Latrice or Courtney.”
That sent my eyebrows toward the sky. “Uh… excuse me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Come now, Marcus. You know what the ratio of women to men is here. I hardly dared hope that I would become your wife, but I never believed that I would be your only wife. Once our first child is born, or by the end of the third year, you will be expected to take other wives. Mama Latoya has been trying to set you up with Latrice since you arrived, and she and Courtney share everything.”
“Three wives?!? Do all the men here have two or three wives?”
“Oh, no,” said Moulinet as she dismissed her Dreamblade, “Most have four or five.”
“Ah,” I said. I let that sink in, then I put my arm around my bride’s waist and guided her toward Mama Latoya’s. “I’d better eat a hearty meal then; I’m going to need my strength.”
“You have no idea,” Moulinet whispered into my ear before giving the lobe a playful nip. “I know how to handle all kinds of swords.”
I leaned in to let my breath tickle her ear and whispered, “It’s a good thing I know my way around a scabbard, then.” She giggled as she slipped her arm around me, and we stayed wrapped around each other like that the rest of the way home.