The Favorite
The Favorite
Young Brani stood there in silence, next to her sister. She didn’t know how to act at the present. No one was telling her what to do. It was refreshing, yet terrifying. She was weak. A useless burden to those around her. She had asked her father once, when she was just a wisp of a thing, why he forbade her to help about the smithy. Why he forbade her to do much of anything
“This is not the life for you.” was all he had replied before shooing her away.
Brani hadn’t thought much of it after, for it was just the environment she was raised in. For her it was the simple truth of the world. The sky was blue, big sister did all the work and she was taught to be a proper lady.
Her father had always controlled her. She liked wearing her flowing dresses and enjoyed the attention of the village boys, but that wasn’t all she wished to be. She wanted to be strong and stand on her own someday, but her father forcefully taught her that all she was to be was what men wanted in a lady, not what Brani wanted in Brani.
She glanced over at Cath who was staring hollowly ahead, blind to the world around her. Brani loved her sister. Her sister had her flaws, but Brani knew she would would bloom from a flawed girl into a strong woman. Could the same ever be said of herself? Brani felt trapped for she could never talk to Cath about such things. Cath did all the work while she reaped all the benefits. Cath was the real one suffering and shouldn’t be bothered with the trifling whines of a little girl.
Brani fought back a smile. No one had to tell her it was inappropriate. At least of this she could be sure of herself. The voice was gone now. She was to do what she wanted to do. The prospect of being free was exciting, but chilled her to the bone. Maybe she would swim, but to her it was more likely she would sink. This was okay though, for if a life of failures was to be, at least those failures would be her own.
The man in black spoke aloud in front of her. The words were meant for her and her sister’s ears, but Brani didn’t care to listen. The words were hollow, as they always were. Vague words by a man of a goddess foreign to her people. A gesture that everyone got. A gesture as meaningless as her very existence.
Cath nudged Brani forward and she jumped a little. The two took a few short steps forward and placed roses upon the edge of the freshly carved stone.
“Goodbye Father” Brani said aloud, once again fighting back a smile.
