“Her parents are going to be upset.” Y’aris’ voice brought Iros back to the world again, and he gathered more time had passed. Sophelia had gone, doubtless in tears at her fate, or at least he couldn’t hear her. And while he still lay on the hard wooden floor, someone had started tending to him. Someone with warm water and a damp cloth that he was pressing into his back. It should have hurt. Iros was certain of that. Everything hurt of late. But it didn’t. It actually felt almost pleasant. Was that a good thing? But whether it was or it wasn’t, as he lay there feeling his pain easing as the warm water soaked in to his flesh, he was awake again. Awake enough to pay attention to what was being said, even if he couldn’t raise his head or open his eyes. But the darkness was comforting somehow. “Let them be. They know what is expected of our family. And they have other daughters to give them decent children in time.”
