[G] [C] 733.10.17 | Pinched Ears

Kira had put off coming home for long enough. Her sister would be furious. Her timing was skirting the 'barely respectable' range, and if she stayed out any longer Kimora would have her hide on some imagined offense of doing something to damage the family honor. Ha! The thought made Kira bitter. Her sister knew her fears of childbirth, knew that she would have nothing to do with childbirth. But there were other things her sister worried about that Kira couldn't fathom, and that made her particularly antsy.

The woman didn't even live with them any longer. Why did Kimora need to bother her so?! And father.... Her eyes shifted to the ground as she walked along, seeing the last of her neighbors entering their houses for a peaceful night's rest. Her father was a good man, but he couldn't and wouldn't stand up to Kimora. The man had been lost with the death of their mother, and had never really recovered. He worked, he smiled at them, and he expected them to adhere to certain standards of life, but that was about it. The first sign of spirit she had seen in him was when her sister had been proposed to, and that had blossomed into a focus on his younger, eligible daughter.

A sigh escaped her. What could she do except appear to bow to his will? His and Kimora's, and the rest of Telgar besides. It wasn't as if she had any chance of becoming a Rider, or of being able to join a Craft. Dragons didn't exist anymore, and she was a mere drudge from a family of them. It made her heart ache, but there was no cure for life.

She stepped inside the door to the shop her family lived above. Kira didn't have the choice of not going back home, not when her two brothers were depending on her to cook for them, and besides.... She had no place else to go.

A sharp sting of pain from the side of her head made Kira wince. "Kimora!" She gasped as her sister continued to pinch and twist her ear. "Let go! I'm back before curfew! I need to make dinner!" Her sisters anger and suspicion knew no bounds, especially when she was privy to Kira's deepest and darkest secrets, but this was too much!

Kimora had been glowering at the door, waiting for her younger sister to come in. The brat! The little bitch! She was deliberately staying out to avoid her, and Kimora knew it. She was furious. That girl had a lot of nerve to avoid her! Kimora stewed over it as she held her son close. Eramor had inherited his father's calm temperament, keeping quiet as she sat with her father, as he proceeded to dandle her other children on his knees.

They knew how to behave, unlike the wild children that her siblings had become. Kimora's lips tightened. Moran was in no way anything like his children. They must have gotten it from mother! But with Senski long gone... Well. She sighed softly. She did the best she could, but her siblings were miserable, especially Kira, that no-good, thankless rebel. Kira needed a lashing or two to buckle down. At this rate the girl would never get married! At her age, Kimora had two children and another on the way. It was downright shameful.

The turn of the knob signaled the little idiot's return, and in a flash Kimora was on her feet and grabbing her ear. Ignoring her protests, Kimora hauled her off to the other room, her children falling silent and ignoring them as they did. All but the youngest knew what the rules were, and even then the older ones filled them in quickly. No disobedience. Ever. It simply wasn't tolerated.

"Listen, you cracked little bitch. You were supposed to be here an hour ago. You were making your father worry. You have duties, Kira. Responsibilities. I'm sure you know what those are? The same duties and responsibilities that mean that you are going to marry Falon in a few months and spread your legs and do what every woman since the beginning of time has done. Or do you really want me to let Father know that his daughter wants to be a dragon riding little slut?" Her words were punctuated by a sharp laugh. "It's funny. Fearful of having a decent, honest Crafter between your legs, but wouldn't mind having a few hundred of them as long as they were riding overgrown lizards."

Her sister flinched under her verbal assault. Good. "Keep that Healer close, because of he knew what a two-faced, dirty whore you were he would never want to see you again. And believe me, if I could let him know and be rid of you for shame, I would. Be grateful that I can't because of the shame it would cause us.... But don't think for two seconds that I might not let it slip in his ear once he has taken you to bed."

Satisfied with the response she got from Kira, the whimper and tears at the corners of her eyes, Kimora let her go. Not without a final sharp tug at her ear, but she let go. Threats did their job well, but they needed time to sink in, especially when she had gone right for the throat when it came to Kira's fears.

"Stuttering idiot. Don't know how you got so lucky, but if you have any hope of being happy, you'll be bearing a son within the year." She gave a sniff, leaning against the table. "He is doing well, I presume? And you are making sure that he knows that you want him and want to marry him?"

The verbal assault went right to her heart. Kira managed not to cry as she was hauled to the kitchen, the insults she had heard ever since telling her sister her secrets hurting deeply. She had loved Kimora, had wanted to share her dreams and hopes and fears. And all she had gotten in turn was fear and disgust.

Kira had cried out her love for her sister long ago, but everything Kimora said still hurt. She didn't want to shame her brothers, or her father. Her father would do the same if he knew, and the thought nearly broke her. Kira didn't know if Falon would be able to stand her either, and the thought of the abuse she could get from an angry husband chilled her with fear. It had taken forever for her to be able to admit that she loved Falon, at least a bit, and the thought of losing him, his turning into a cruel abuser, made her more afraid than anything.

There were enough whispered stories of that, of men who had a pleasant front but once they had their claws in a girl weren't afraid to hit, kick, or break a few bones. He wasn't like that. She had known him for years... But she had never displeased him, had never let him onto anything that could possibly make him that angry.

She whimpered. Tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Her agreement was silent. She would do as her sister bid, not because her sister bid it, but because it was true she didn't have any choice. How could she? If she didn't marry Falon... Kira was lucky. She had known him, and even if he got angry she could be reasonably sure that he would at least treat her decently, even if she no longer had his love. She couldn't if she was forced to marry anyone else.

And there was no way she could get out of getting married. Not the way her father was. Not the way the Hold worked. Kira's shoulders shook as she was released to go about making dinner. Small gasps escaped as she tried to collect herself before she went back out to face the family.

"He's doing-ng f-f-fine. S-says that he hopes y-you're doing well. Reall-ly likes father." Her hands shook as she started the fire and started cutting the meat and bread. "Let him know I'm happy to marry him." Not looking forward to it, by any means, but let him know that she was happy for it. If only because she knew that he was a good man and would at least be nice to her. Loved her, he claimed, and he was always gentle and kind. This morning had shown that.

Kimora studied her sister's face as she spoke, taking in all the emotions that played on there. Kira was an open book, at least to Kimora, at least to the woman who knew what a shame she was to her family. Giving a snort, she turned towards the fruit and began to peel and slice it. "Good. We might have to move the date of the espousal up. I know right now you've given some vague words, 'soon', 'this year', but those aren't nearly good enough. To keep him interested and wanting, you'll have to have a date! That way, father can rest in peace."

She eyed Kira. "And you will make me rest in peace, as well, dearheart. I want you settled. I am perfectly happy. You've seen me have five beautiful children - sons, at that! - and there is no reason for you to think that you'd be a failure at it. My recommendation is to stop feeling sorry for yourself. It isn't all that bad. It will hurt the first time, but that's normal, and then all you have to do is lie there as he takes his pleasure with you." Kimora shrugged.

But she also saw how Kira flinched at the thought. "Oh, stop being such a child!" Her hand flashed out to slap Kira. "You're a grown woman. Just deal with it. Father wants to see you happily married off. And he deserves grandchildren, for having to deal with you and all your idiocy and wildness. I still can't believe you would deny him that!"

A derisive snort escaped her. "My daughters won't be nearly so wild. I expect the exact same of them. How else would they bring honor to the family? They aren't going to be so foolish as to think they want an education, or think that they could be Crafters!" Those words were specifically aimed to bring Kira down. She was on a high horse, thinking that she could dare learn and upset her place in society. Idiot, truly and idiot.

Kira couldn't say anything to her sister's words. How could she say no to her father? If she did... Kira shuddered to think about it. Their father had been devastated by their mother's death. And his temper and opinions on women who went against traditions... She had felt the sting of his belt once before when she had expressed a wish to be a Healer. Even if it had been for Weaving, she was certain that she would have been beaten regardless. But generally he was genial and kind, even if ignorant about how Kimora pushed her around.

Though he would do the same if he knew.

The thought made her shudder. Falon could never know about why she let Kimora push her around. Kira was surrounded on all sides. And even if she told Falon... She liked Falon. Genuinely liked him. It might even be a touch of love. And the thought of losing him made her want to cry.

The thought of what he might become if he ever discovered her secrets made her want to cry, too.

Her sisters words didn't comfort her at all. But she could bring herself to nod dumbly. She didn't care for her sister's children at all... just reminders that she would have to have some one day... but she wished she could hide them away so her sister couldn't control them. Somewhere they could have dreams and aspirations.