Wisdom in the Dark

Chapter 4 - Myra

Myra’s eyes met Jak’s, and the grin on his face blossomed into a bright, easy smile. Myra had seen that kind of smile before, not just from Jak. It was a smile that welcomed people in, made them feel cared about, as if the owner of that smile really was interested in what they had to say. A smile like that lowered people’s guard.

“Jak always was good with people,” Ivan said, apparently noticing where Myra looked.

“Oh, I know,” Myra replied, but she didn’t take her eyes of Jak. “If I remember right he was particularly good with the ladies.”

“Yes, that too.”

“What about you?” Myra asked, turning her gaze back to Ivan. “Do you have a wife waiting for you back on Ganymede?”

“No, not me,” Ivan said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Really? Don’t say that too loud, you might be set upon by the possible candidates in this room.”

Ivan chuckled. “Maybe.”

“Enjoying yourself Myra?” Ata Wodniki asked as she glided through the crowd, the green dress she wore flowing behind her.

Ivan ducked away, muttering some excuse.

“I am, thank you,” Myra replied.

Myra looked back toward Jak, but her future husband had bounded off and made fast friends with another group of Pyc Family members.

“I’m not sure about you Pyc Silf pilots,” Jak said, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Let’s go right now,” one of Myra’s cousins, Ctik, exclaimed. Ctik always was a hot head, and Jak seemed to enjoy poking the proverbial bear. “I’ll show you what we Pyc are made of.”

The other cousins circling Ctik and Jak cheered, jeered, and laughed.

“Such quaint decorations,” Ata said. “I guess the nicer décor is being saved for the wedding.”

Myra kept her face neutral, despite the slight. The vines and flowers decorating the rafters and iron beams of the Ting were the best cuts from outside the village.

Maintain a façade of extreme politeness despite the barbs, Myra could almost hear her mother Mytla say.

“And how are you enjoying yourself, dear mother?” Myra asked.

“It’s very nice,” Ata replied. “I mean, I can’t eat much of what’s here, but it’s fine.”

“Is there something-“ Myra began to ask.

“No, no, it’s fine. Really it’s fine.”

“Well if there’s anything I can get for you, dear mother, let me know.”

“It’s a shame about your late lover, Vlad.” Ata changed the subject as if they hadn’t been talking about anything before.

“It’s been some time,” Myra said, thrown off by Ata’s demeanor. “Death comes for us all, and we must move on.”

“So true,” Ata said with an overexaggerated sigh. “But, I suppose your loss is my son’s fortune.”

Myra stared at Ata, not believing what she just heard.

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, it is a terrible tragedy what happened to Vlad,” Ata continued as if talking about the weather, “but so fortunate you are marrying my son.”

It took every iota of self-control Myra had not to lash out at Ata for her inconsiderate words. Myra fought to keep her expression neutral.

And Ata kept talking! “It all works out. Jak will bring excellent blood to your family.”

“Mother I believe father is looking for you.” Jak suddenly strode up and placed a hand on Ata’s shoulder.

“Your father knows where to find me,” Ata protested.

“Now, mother,” Jak said as he gently pushed his mother away.

“Thank you,” Myra said once Ata was out of earshot.

“My mother can be,” Jak paused, “a handful sometimes.”

“I couldn’t tell.” Myra realized her words were shaky. Did her voice c***k?

Jak looked at Myra, a concerned look on his face.

“What?” Myra asked.

“What did my mother say?”

“Nothing. It was nothing.”

Jak moved closer toward Myra, his fingers brushing her arm. “It’s alright, you can tell me. If my mother-“

Myra shook her head. “No, really, it was nothing.”

But Jak’s words of concern, or maybe it was his gentle tone or touch, seemed to strike something in Myra and the floodgates of her eyes were thrown open.

“Excuse me.”

Myra blundered through the crowd of Pyc and Wodniki Family, and stumbled outside into the crisp Callistan air. She closed the door behind her and pressed herself against the cool metal wall of the Ting.

Tears poured unbidden down Myra’s face, no matter how hard she tried to control them. Myra had never cried when Vlad was killed – there hadn’t been time, her Family needed her. Now her throat was choked with sobs, and snot ran out of her nose.

“Damn it,” Myra cursed. She pounded her fist against her leg.

Fortunately there was no one around this side of the Ting. Everyone from the Pyc Village was either celebrating the Myra’s impending marriage to Jak inside the Ting, or asleep at this late hour. No one could see Myra like this.

After a while Myra got a hold of herself. She wiped the snot on the back of her hand, then rubbed her hand against the ground. Myra took several long, deep breaths, then straightened her dress.

It was a moment of weakness, Myra told herself. I have to be strong for my family. I have to instill confidence in them.

Once she was sure she was set, Myra reentered the Ting, once again prepared to deal with her current and future family.