Quills

They entered the bathroom next. Dorien's voice droned on in an echo as he explained everything in the room. The large bathroom had a even bigger walk-in tub and shower. There was a large bench in the shower area with extra shower heads that she was eager to try. There were multiple toilets in rooms for privacy, a linen closet and laundry chute. This bathroom was far nicer than what she had in her first room and different from it. She was delighted to take a shower. She loved baths, but they were time-consuming. She always felt like she was stewing in the soaps and conditioners she used when she took baths. She often stood in the middle of the tub as it drained to get the excessive products off of her. Liem took great care of her hair, but the excessive moisturizing made her feel gross. They exited to a glass room that housed a large heated pool, hot tub, and then into a large gym. They exited to the rear into a courtyard that was gated. She looked around to see three others. Liem pointed.

"This is ours, and this is Leilanna Allari's home, and there is the main garden." Liem said and looked sighing. Nora understood why he pointed it out. So she would not go over. She would not on her own volition.

"Father, I love it. It was worth waiting for. I cannot believe that Leilanna would give up the bigger courtyard." Liem said. He hoped Leilanna would accept her, but her attitude when greeting her when she arrived troubled him. He knew that she was pregnant, but she was already so sensitive to begin with, he hoped that she would mind her own business. He hoped that her Bind and upcoming child would tame her selfish attention-seeking behavior. He could not say anything out loud before. But he would if she offended his spouse or acted out against his child in the future. He truly hoped that she would pay them no mind and would leave them alone. Dorien ended his tour and took the pair back to their room and the adjoining closet.

"Thank you son, I hope you like it, but you can just contact me if you want to make any changes. That includes you too, Nora." Dorien said as he opened his Interface and offered his personal contact information. Nora recognized the gesture and opened her interface and exchanged personal contact information.

"It is perfect, Father," Nora said. Dorien's eyes moistened hearing her call him 'Father'. He was greatly touched. She knew that this was Leilanna's old home. They must have hurried to make changes when she claimed the courtyard that was built for her. She did not mind it.

"I am glad for my son. Truly. I will let you talk, I will be outside to get you ready. Do not take to long." Dorien smiled and left. Nora twirled happily. She was excited to see all the tea growing around her.

"Wonderful," Nora said with a smile. "Are you sure you are ready to lie for me?" Nora said sadly.

"Forever. I will do anything for you." He replied. He embraced her and kissed her softly. He would always treasure the time they spent alone. But it was necessary and time to do the right thing. It would be time to get ready. Much would not need to change, would it?

"There is not much for me to change, you should probably go and look ready. I think I need some time to process this anyway," Nora said. Nora hugged him. She was very nervous and emotionally exhausted. It was going to be a long day.

"I will just shower and wear what my Father picks out. There should not be much more needed," Liem said. He hugged her briefly. Nora parted and went to sit in the vast foyer of theirs alone to think.

***

"This is good enough," Kadir said. There was not much to fuss over. He was already dressed.

"I think it is his face that is throwing everything off." Saeri Sedai said with a cackle. She sat back. Mother had given him an out, he was the one who accepted these arrangements after all. He looked like he was being sent to the Outer Ring.

Amrita clicked her tongue. Her son had a nervous and displeased look on his face. That would make all the outfits look weird. It was apparent to Amrita and everyone else in the transport that even though he agreed to the request that he received, he had not come to terms with the consequences of agreeing to a bind, sight unseen. The transport made its way down the coast. His clothes and belongings were hastily packed up and shoved in the back. It surprised him to see how little he had gathered in his years. He felt a little melancholy and frustrated. Kadir tried his best to trust Liem as they approached the complex.

'What has he gotten us all into, living in the Allari building voluntarily in a Bind with a Nomadic woman that was found. Has he given up? He had better have a very good reason for dragging us into this.' Kadir thought.

"Try to look happier. I gave you the right of refusal, did I not?" Amrita scolded her son and fussed further. "Quit acting like I did not. You agreed." Amrita looked into his eyes. He was very much still a boy, even at age twenty-two. He looked at her and shook his head and looked away sullenly as he always did. "Should we switch this out for the orange ones, they might look better? We have to do something to draw away from that scowl. It cannot be that bad. Liem and Cerez will be with you for the rest of your life.''Amrita said fussing about his appearance. His expression was stoic. She was not helping matters.

'You would think that he was being sent off to die or carry out a mission to capture someone, he assured me he was going to be fine. Is it really fine to send him there, with his history in the building?' Amrita fretted.

"This is a happy day, son! Smile!" Harrit said as he held an orange ceremonial sash and compared it to the outfit. He shook his head. "No, the red one looks better. A satisfied and sentimental smile was plastered on his father's face as he reminisced about his own binding ceremony.

"Son, you will scare her with that look. She may seem abrasive or different, but she is probably as nervous or scared as you are. You must remember to be gentle and patient with her and everyone else." Amrita said as she preached to her son.

"Some men go in knowing nothing or no one and fight. At least you were lucky to be grouped with those two," Harrit said as he smiled. Kadir felt really anxious when he read the message from Liem last week. He thought he had more time. Liem must have fallen in love with the female that all the news aggregates were reporting on and decided to rope him into a spousal group with him.

"You will also have your uncle. You have nothing to worry about. You can also come home, we can take over Allari's duties if needed. You will hardly see that woman. But if it becomes a problem, you have us. You always have us." Amrita said, her eyes watered. It was hard sending your son away. This was harder.

"I will have Liem and Cerez, and I will remember we can depend on you. Do not cry." Kadir said. He looked at his mother wishing. He felt tense and very reluctant about the offer. Supposedly he would like this 'Nora'. Even if he did not, at least he would be with Cerez and Liem for life this way. He very well might regret this, but the contents of the communication that Liem Allari had sent him piqued his interest. He accepted this chance. He did not know what Liem meant completely in doublespeak. It was a way of communicating they had learned in their youth in military training. There would be no way the conditions he laid out would be so good. It was confusing. The coded operations instructions included in the specifications for the fake medical device he used as a premise to contact him seemed like a fantasy story.

Amrita felt like she had finally won against her stubborn son. He was already twenty-two years old and dodged every potential match she had put in front of him. When Kadir had finally relented to be bound after years of rejection, Amrita immediately accepted so he could not protest it later when he had a second thought. When they found out this was happening tonight, his mother quickly pulled out the arranged and generous dowry. She had been setting it aside for years. She practically pushed him out of the house, sending in staff to pack his things. She shortly afterward practically forcefully dressed Kadir and shoved him into the transport by his with the help of his Fathers.