Redsand Canyon sepelio

germanicus sat stiffly upon a cot but he did not speak until aquene had finished.

her ire was eloquent as usual. he was surprised and yet not at her revelation that she and the principales had chosen to wed.

a thoughtful silence followed. germanicus watched the wall of the tablinum over her shoulder for part of it, and then his eyes returned to her face.

he did not care for her accusation that he had made the choice for them, but he had given them an unfavorable second path to a marital bond. this, he supposed, had been leverage enough for the young pair to make their choice.

aquene felt that it had been beneath duress.

"a man cannot court and be devoted to his soldierly duties. the season does much to overcome the training of young men. that is why often women are unfairly barred from companies of men." his words were not careless but he returned the direct nature he had first been granted. "this is not the practice in mereo, which means that interest in one another must be controlled. the focus first is the military. families and romance are secondary or perhaps tertiary to that end."

germanicus paused. the next words were delicate. "courtship is chaperoned to ensure that the individuals remain chaste. once this line has been crossed, it changes a man. sometimes for the worst, if he is impulsive and possessive. courtship has never been casual and i did not want to imply it would be so in mereo."

the eagle softened. "i do not say these things so that you will agree. only to explain, medicus."