Irin

Irin used to wander by the clear ocean during days when any other activity would make her grandmother proud. “Be careful of the sea” her grandmother warned, ranting on about the dangers of Gareda invaders, blustery waves which at any moment could toss her off rocks or every other fret imaginable. “I’ll be fine grandma. I always am” Irin sighed, clenching her fist behind her back, trying hard to not mutter a word that could cause a fight. Her grandmother, Eva Skalil, always had a word to speak about dangers women face as if irin didn’t already know of them. It felt as if grandmother thought she lacked intelligence which Irin constantly felt need to contradict. She could handle most opinions but in regard to her intellect, she would always intervene. Now she sat in the dim lit kitchen peeling beans which hurt her nimble fingers. The kitchen fire at least warmed her but it felt nothing like the warm breeze of the relin sea. The sea understood her. Its waves felt welcoming as if beconning her to their depths. She never left Relin, a country of seafaring people who welcome magic, peace and unity in every situation. In the village schools she was taught rules of servitude. As a woman she would soon be expected to marry and school taught her the art of marriage. Long days cooking, cleaning, writing and dancing were pounded in her brain like a Relin magic drum. Relin drums warned of raiders and kept the country from invaders. Drummers chant words of ancient magic sacrament to ward off bad luck, wars and evil. Irin wished she could have been born a boy so she could be skilled in the art of relin magic. She’d only heard rumors of magic sacrament but knew as a woman she’d always be forbidden to learn the skills. As a child the village boys would tease her. “I learned to call the fish” gabe would boast, showing off his intricate drum. “Bet you wish to learn that. Pity you’re just a girl” he’d taunt. Irin shrugged it off like a piece of dirt but still the words stuck. Why couldn’t women learn sea magic? After all, women are just as important to society as men. Irin knew her mouth always got her in trouble yet she felt the need to intervene whenever trouble arose. “Are the beans done” grandmother walked in the kitchen and grabbed the poker to stoke the fire. “Yes” “You’ll need to bake the fish next. We are having visitors for dinner.” Irin rolled her eyes. Certainly this meant grandmother would attempt to convince another family that Irin would make a suitable wife for their son. Last time she tried setting up Irin with the village blacksmith. She shuddered at the thought of his cold eyes and long beard. “Please no more suitors” irin groaned. “No men interest me” “Nonsense. You’re 19 and you haven’t even courted. Half the village girls are married except you” grandmother wacked her arm with a towel. “I swear you’ll someday be the death of me. I put up with so much from you. You haven’t really a choice” “I really, really don’t want marriage. I have no interest in that petty life” she threw the last peeled bean back in her bowl. Grandmother's eyes fell down with disappointment then a flicker of anger passed through her face. She knew another argument was coming. “Look at the facts irin. Women are meant to marry and have children. You can’t take care of yourself alone. This life will blow you away in no time if you attempt solitude” Irin looked down at her palms. There would be no reasoning with her. Many storms have raged the coast but her grandmother's anger could not be tamed. The fire suddenly felt too warm and she pulled her chair back. “I’ll be in the garden” she muttered, keeping her eyes to the floor. In the garden every worry seemed to roll off her shoulders. It could never compare to the sea which was only a few miles away but it certainly came second. She would never enjoy women’s duties except the garden where she could imagine she was growing seeds for potions. In the edge of the town boys would learn potion making to sell to the sea crafters. Lilies, lavender, vegetables of many sorts lined the garden. She stepped out of her shoes and felt the soft soil beneath her toes. A blue bird perched on the lively willow tree beside their cottage. The intricate bird tilted its head at her as if it would pass on a hidden message. Irin smiled at the creature. “Hey there. How I wish I were a bird!” the blue bird flew off. in a way she wished she were a bird so she would never have to worry about the stressors of marriage. Marriage is a toil of grand expectation and worries. It wasn’t marriage per se that stressed her out, it was the thought of what marriage entailed that seemed terrifying. She was the only one among her peers who hadn’t had her first kiss. Her best friend Misti tried many times to set her up with men but epically failed. Guys typically looked at her with peering eyes as if wishing to see her undressed. The feeling of being admired gave her an unsettled feeling and the thought of what marriage would require gave a nauseous feeling. Beauty is one of her traits but it was certainly a curse to be stared at by the village guys. Even grandmother suggested wearing flattering clothes to accentuate her already natural beauty. She always kept her long blonde hair back in a covering as if that would dim her looks. Wind brushed her face as if teasing about this unfortunate predicament. Stupid wind. Big ripe tomatoes hung from the green stem ahead of her. Maybe if her father and mother, whoever they were, were still around she’d have better luck. Grandmother refused to ever bring up the subject despite her efforts to find out. She felt like an orphan at the hands of an evil step grandmother. Chatter carried over branches of the garden and irin froze as she placed tomatoes in her hand. “Well, well, well I haven't seen you in a long while” it was no other than Katherine, one of the village midwives. She held a small baby in her arms. They used to be in the same village school together. “Hey, how are you?” irin stood up from her position. ” She walked over to the wooden fence separating the garden from Katherine. “Oh you know. Same ol’ Same ol’. Anyways, I just wanted to warn you. Do you remember that obnoxious bully who always gave you a hard time in the village? I think his name was Gabe” Irin closed her eyes and forced a smile. “Yes” “Well my mother said he’s planning on asking you for marriage and his family is willing to support your grandmother with a huge fund for the wedding and support” Irin’s face turned pale. She felt a cold shutter creep over her back. “When exactly?” she asked, trying not to appear panicked. “Tonight! That guy thinks because he’s a sea master leader's son that he can get whoever he wants. Honestly I had no idea he liked you but this is ridiculous. I am sick and tired of men thinking they can offer money for marriage.” Irin nodded. The tomato in her palm rolled out. “Figured i’d just let you know” she switched the child on her hips. “Thanks kate” irin sighed “at least i know beforehand” “Well good luck and please for the love of magic do not accept” Katherine turned away and walked behind the trees out of sight. Now even the breeze felt terrible, birds chirping sound off tune and she knew she’d have to walk to the ocean or otherwise scream at her grandmother. Yes, she’d be yelled at for visiting the ocean but now more than ever she would have to. - - - - - Sitting on tall shore rocks, feeling the warm yet cool wind brush her cheek, watching distant boats pass by as waves lapse her feets. Irin tried as she may to calm her racing heart. Certainly grandmother would spread rumors of her noncompliance and abnormalities if she refused this man’s marriage proposal. Village respect is most important in the eyes of Relin women. The country of relin is indeed a small country about the size of 20 towns with countryside, woods and mountains hanging behind. The mountains are a sacred place, reserved for magic teachings of high sea crafters. Their snow capped tops hide mysteries which itched at her soul. Her thoughts went to Gabe. She hadn’t seen his face for 4 years and felt happy to not ever be in his idiotic presence. She remembered his taunts when they were teens, how he’d always pick on her as if she was a lone turtle among sea trout. He had reddish hair, tall handsome stature and green teasing eyes. While many of the girls would chatter about his “handsome” looks, Irin would be the odd one out in his eyes. She felt nothing but pure hatred for him for the ways he humiliated her on multiple different occasions. The news of him liking her came as no surprise, afterall everyone told her they suspected that when he kept picking on her those years before. She wouldn’t hold grudges towards childhood bullies but marriage is another journey entirely. If she were to accept, she’d be expected to take part in marital matrimony and servitude to him only. Even the idea of his sly smile and boastful grin made her feel sick. Since last fall grandmother developed a sickness that comes and goes with the cold season. Usually she’s in a fiery mood but during the cold months she’d shiver in herself, complaining of a never ending chill even next to a fire. They certainly made plenty of money but not enough to see any healers who reside next to the elders' cathedral. The elders cathedral, a tall looming building on the other end of the country can be seen for miles on all sides. Of course she could not see it by the ocean but it certainly could be spotted in the village. The tip of its top could be slightly seen behind buildings if one were to climb a tree or stand on top of a roof. She’d never been there. The elders cathedral holds highly esteemed officials from the sea crafters. Laws, regulations, and magic binding rituals happen behind those tall walls. Of course as a woman she’d be forbidden to enter their gates but the healers were accessible to any people with funds. A wave of self pity washed over and she thought of the life she could have had if only she weren’t so ambitious. Many women are content with their lifestyles, they happily marry whoever has enough money, fall in love freely and give their hearts like plastic jewels to be touched. Never could she fall in love with a man. Men seemed fairly insane as if all that matters to them is s*x or womens bodies. Of course that probably doesn’t apply to all men but it certainly appeared that way. She remembered Dinirn Wollen, the obsessed neighbor who used to follow her around to the market and back. “Hey girlie.” he’d always walk with a stagger, liquor hanging to his foul breath. He even tried to rip off her head covering once while following her through the forest path. “Let me see your beautiful hair, dearie,” he laughed, mumbling random words like weapons to be tossed. On that terrifying day she ran all the way home without a look back, and didn't even stop to fix her head covering. She heard stories of girls being abused at the hands of outcasts. Outcasts were those marked as criminals who lived by the bottom of the mountain. Occasionally they’d visit town but never were they welcomed. Dinirn took a liking to her for some strange reason so she always avoided the back path to keep from bumping into his gnarly face. Some outcasts were simply outcasts for petty crimes, perhaps kicked out of sea craft fairing for sharing magic secrets or other things but some were there for horrendous crimes. Relin took criminal behavior seriously, not allowing them to trade at markets or mingle with locals in town. You can tell by a branding of the letter ‘o’ on their hands to mark their place in society, or lack thereof. Some countries have death sentences such as the oversea land of Gareda. Not here though. Death sentences have been long outlawed and replaced with manual labor and shunning. Irin wondered to herself about the barbaric land over sea. She’d heard rumors from sea crafters about the brutality of Gareda invaders. Thankfully magic protects their shores like a beacon protecting its people. Irin gazed out at the rolling waves which crashed against the shore in perfect rhythm. She could fall asleep to this sound any day. Seagulls shrieked with their shrill voices, reminding her that she soon would have to head back. “Ivana” she whispered in still prayer, to the god of magic. “If you hear me. Deliver me from this life. Please, please, please help me” she bowed her head to the sea. Deep down irin doubted Ivana existed but a prayer always made her feel slightly bit better like she had control of her crazy life.