Chapter 1
Aedlin’s POV
“Aedlin!” A female voice shouts from across the cottage. I groan in annoyance at the woman whom I share this living arrangement with. She opens the door that creaks and groans under the weight of pressure.
“Oriana, must you be in a constant state of uproar?” I sigh, rubbing the small ache away from my frontal brain.
“Oh hogwash! You’re just in shock that you have to arise prior to the sun for once in your life.”
“Am not, I simply understand the luxury of beauty sleep,” I yawn. “You have given me the stir needed for the morning, however. What do you need?”
“The chickens have lain, so we must get moving while they are out of the coop. The cows and goats need milked for the diary, the well down the path needs pumped so the water doesn’t turn murky, the horses need fed, and I think that is everything,” she sputters, reading from her canvas list.
“Are you positive? I am almost certain there is more to do,” I regard sarcastically. She gives me a middle finger before waltzing out. “Very lady like!” I shout at her retreating figure, causing her to laugh out. I swing my legs over the carriage bed and stand. I feel like I need a bath, but I know I would prefer it after my helpful duties.
Quickly getting dressed in my worker’s gown for the day, I hike my boots on and get ready to exit.
I notice that the road looks busier today, the farm is usually never this full. Maybe that is why Oriana needed my assistance. I hike my skirt, hoping not to get it too muddy and trudge down the darkened path to the barn. Grabbing the iron handle, I pull one door open with a lot of heaving. Once inside, I see her already working on collecting eggs from the chicken coop.
“Do you want some assistance, or would you like me to start down here?” I call up to her.
“Uhm… go ahead and start on the cows for right now, I should be done shortly,” she called back, slightly winded. I laugh at her insistence, going over the feeders for the cattle. I grab the small stool and metal bucket, getting started on milking the beast.
“You look like you are having a grand time,” a male voice says, suddenly appearing next to me. I startle easily, looking up at him. This is the first boy I have seen since leaving the orphanage, this is not a boy. This is a man. He has short, dark blonde hair with a muscular build. It looked like there was some type of drawing on his arms, but I wasn’t sure. His eyes were a deep brown, nothing special but very mesmerizing.
“Staring is rude,” he speaks again. I stutter an apology, unsure of what to do with myself. He simply laughs me off, reaching his hand out. “I’m Peter, you must be Oriana’s sister?”
“Aedlin, and yes, not by blood but just as strong.” I reply, grabbing his hand. “What brings you here? I don’t think I have seen you before?”
“Ah, Oriana and I are courting, my older brother is outside the barn, waiting for me to get her for our morning stroll.” He nods. I look upstairs to see my sister still working the coops.
“Well, she is currently dealing with the chickens. If you want to head up to help her, you can. This explains why I was dragged out of bed so early,” I laugh. He nods and climbs the wall ladder. I brush my hands on my apron, going to the door to peak my head out of the barn.
“He is currently assisting Oriana with her morning duties, if you would like to come in?” I ask to the man facing away from the door. He suddenly turns around, causing me to freeze in my spot. Two hot men in one small morning. I think I may pass out.
Lucky for me, he looked just as frozen. He looked similar to his brother, but also different. He looked more mature, more closed off, but he also looked more… enchanting.
“Who might you be?” He asks, looking at me still in a state of uncertainty.
“I am Aedlin, Oriana’s adoptive sister. You are Peter’s brother?”
“I am indeed,” he nodded, not moving to come inside.
“You are?” I ask hesitantly.
“Apologies, my lady. Sutton is my name. I come from the other side of town with Peter. Apparently, they caught eyes at the market and here we are. Has Oriana told you much?” He questions.
“On the contrary, I knew nothing until this morning. Apparently, she cannot trust me with her secret.” I laugh, he only nods, not bothering to open himself up. My small laugh dies on deaf ears. I nod before excusing myself back inside the barn to finish my duties.
“Oriana, I will finish the duties for the day and the deliveries. Just script the coordinates for me back at the house. Enjoy your day, lovebirds. I don’t expect any nieces or nephews anytime soon.”
“Aedlin!” She shouts, causing a blush to creep on her warm featured face, much opposite of my very pale features.
“What? I am simply stating that long engaged courtships are often the most successful. My parents disappeared; I don’t want that to end up with you two.” The topic got heavy quickly, causing them to run so fast the dust had a hard time settling.
“See you around,” a new voice came. I looked up to see Peter’s brother, Sutton, at the barn entrance, looking at me mysteriously.
“I believe the next time will be at their union and consummation,” I sigh. I swing my back to him, forcing him to leave with the two lovers. I wouldn’t be lucky enough to do what Oriana has. Peter seems like a smart man; he was dressed in fine clothing as was his brother. They most likely come from wealth. No wonder they saw one another at the market. He was shopping but ended up purchasing a new lady by his side.
If I wasn’t such a home body, I may actually be able to find a man, however my luck is never on my side. I finish working the cows and goats, moving onto the upstairs coop to finish collecting the eggs for the market. I sigh, feeling my stomach growl with hunger once again. We make good profit off the market; however, we cannot eat the food we sell because the price of land and the cottage takes up most of the funds. Little does Oriana know. We bargain ourselves by letting her be the pretty face of market day and I will run finances for the household.
She thinks we make more than we do. She never goes hungry, that I ensure. Oriana being only 16, she doesn’t understand the aspect of life yet. Being 20 myself, I have turned into that of a dusty shelfed spinster. She’s within prime age, I was never pretty like she was. I was never popular. I was educated, alliterized, no male wanted a smart woman by his side. He wanted obedience, someone to sit between his legs and ride him until an heir magically popped out 9 months later.
That was not me. I was not someone who wanted to be a woman in a man’s world. Oriana must have told Peter and his brother, because Sutton could instantly tell I was not worthy. His face read most of what a book would. ‘Strong willed, independent and would be a hard one to pin down for children. Not worth the work’.
Men aren’t interested in strong women. Well, the King was supposedly, but I wouldn’t know as I don’t really care for rumors.
Honestly, I just hope I can get through market day, because I really hate seeing people.
