Read Online Infinite Sacrifice by L.E. Waters - Free Book Online Page A

me,” I say, pulling my
chin up in the air, pretending not to be surprised.
    “Will you meet me in secret to
wed?”
    “Which day?” Chin still
high.
    “Meet me in your barn on the new
moon.”
    “I might be there.”
    I walk away and head home thinking
of how his black eyes sparkled like polished onyx, yet something
strangely unsettling gnawed down deep.
     
    ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
     
    Seven days later, under the first
night of the new moon, acting as my bridesmaid, Ophira shaves my
head.
    She holds the shears up to my hair
and asks, “Explain to me why I’m doing this horrible thing to
you?”
    “It’s tradition to display how I’ve
changed my maiden hair to the shorter hair of a married
woman.”
    She snips the first lock of hair
and starts laughing. “I can’t do this!”
    She tries to shove the shears back
in my hand.
    “It’ll grow back.” I shove them
back. “Now do as I say!”
    After she’s done, she holds up a
mirror, and I truly look like a man. We both hold our sides in
laughter. Ophira can’t even look at me after without
laughing.
    “Get yourself together and fetch
the rest of the things I need,” I say, still laughing.
    She helps me get on the ceremonial
red soldier’s cloak and sandals.
    On our way down to the barn in the
dark, Ophira says, “This is the strangest wedding I have ever
witnessed.” A rooster flaps in from behind the hen house, late to
roost, causing Ophira to erupt in a high-pitched hoot and grab on
to me.
    “No moon aids Leander, but it
certainly doesn’t make it easier for us.”
    She breaks out in laughter again
looking at me, but now I’m in no mood to laugh. It seems so real
now.
    She stops laughing and breaks the
tension. “Why is this a secret?”
    “It’s called a bride capture, and
it’s done in secret because the man steals away from his mess group
in the night to meet his bride in a hidden place. They share a
moment, and then he returns before anyone notices his absence. The
marriage can’t be made public until she’s pregnant, since it would
be easier to go their separate ways if one is unable to
conceive.”
    “This is all very strange. You
don’t see this?” She squints with her palms up to me.
    “I think it’s exciting and
mysterious, and if I don’t like him, I’m not stuck with him for
life.”
    “Make sure you check his toes,
then.”
    We both laugh so hard we stumble
down the hill. In jet dark, we hold each other’s hands to find our
way.
    “Don’t you find
it a little odd how you’re made to look like a boy for him?”
    “It’s done to ward off bad spirits
that might get jealous of our youthful passion,” I say, but pause
and quickly add, “or soldiers might like boys.”
    Our laughter carries off through
the valley and I put a finger to my lips before entering the large
barn. Ophira gathers up a straw bed and lays me down. I whisper her
good-bye. She leaves swiftly, unsure when he’ll appear. It’s
strange to be out here in total darkness. I hear some field mice
running past me as I hold my breath. I wonder then, if I should
have confirmed I’d definitely be here. Maybe he thought I wasn’t
serious and I’d be sitting here all night in the dark. Or maybe
he’s waiting in one of the smaller out-buildings. Something moves
in the corner; someone has been there waiting this whole time. He
steps toward me, and his tall form looms above me.
    Leander reaches down, releases my
thick belt effortlessly in the dark, and pulls me out of my robe. I
feel weightless in his strong arms and welcome his warmth with the
night air so cold. He places me back down in the straw and presses
himself against me. He puts his hands up to feel my shaved head. No
stranger to what it feels like to have a man so close when
undressed, I’m unprepared how different it is in the dark,
alone.
    He rolls off to my side, panting.
“We’ll meet again in two new moons.”
    “Two moons?”
    “It’s the earliest I can sneak
away. If I’m