Too Good To Be True

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 15th August 2010

Characters: Shadux, Zelanka
Description: Shadux has to face Zelanka after Rokera's rejection
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 13 of Turn 5
Notes: Follows "Wherefore Art Thou My Love?"

Shadux steeled himself outside the Headwoman's door. He just wanted to
go into his room, slam the door and scream the way he had felt like
doing since leaving Rokera by the river. What a fool he had been! What
a sharding fool! And now he had to face Zela, the one person he had
confided in and told her exactly how he had felt about the girl. She
would want to know exactly what happened, and his shame would be laid
bare right in front of him once more. All that idiotic dribble, it was
enough to make his stomach bundle into a tight knot!

But he would have to face her. After all, she had sent him on an
errand, and he had a job to do. Maybe he should just lie and say he
couldn't find her. Knowing Zela, though, she'd just prod him to keep
trying until she got the truth out of him. Better to just get it over
with.

Gritting his teeth with resolve he knocked on the Headwoman's office
door.

"Get in, please," Zelanka called. When she heard the door, she lifted
her gaze from her writing. "Ah, Shadux. Nice to see you," she rewarded
the young man with a smile.

He stepped in, giving her a one-sided, half hearted attempt at a smile.
It was better to just say it. She'd know anyway. Somehow Zela always
knew. "She's to be married in two sevendays, and I made an utter fool
of myself."

It took her two seconds to connect his words to their last discussion.
"Oh, how rotten luck!" she exclaimed with sympathy.

He snorted. Not quite the words he would have chosen to describe the
situation. "The man is old enough to be her father. How can a girl her
age love a man so much older than her?"

"Quite easily, love doesn't care about the age," Zelanka said. She had
seen it in lives around her many times. She did worry about Shadux
though. He had been so...happy, and now. She felt sad for him.

"More harper crackdust," Shadux muttered, walking over to the window.
He couldn't stand that pitying look in her eye any more than he could in
Rokera's.

"Oh, Shadux," she sighed sadly. She didn't know what to say to comfort
him. All the traditional words sounded so lame in her mind.

He hated that sound in her voice, like she understood his sadness and
could feel his pain. "Well, it really was too good to be true, that's
all."

Zelanka was tempted to tell him to try to win the girl's heart anyway.
But the promise to marry was as sacred as the marriage wows. Had she
right to urge him to break that wow? She had broken hers. Did she want
that misery to others? For someone would get hurt, one way or other. No,
she
had no right. "You'll get over her," she said softly.

Shadux nodded. He would. Of course he would. He hadn't even spent a
candlemark in her presence. There was no question that he would get
over the girl. It was humiliation that would follow him. "I don't want
to talk about her again."

"Of course," Zelanka nodded understandingly.

"I'll give you my report in the morning. I'm tired now." And there was
a tavern with a whole lot of beer calling his name.

"Take your time, I'm in no hurry with it," Zelanka replied gently.

"Thank you. Good night Zela." He quickly made his escape before he had
to look her in the eye again. That woman had a way of seeing through
him that made him feel incredibly vulnerable. Usually it amused him,
but not today. Today he wanted to hide from everyone, even her.

"Good night, Shadux." The headwoman was to left to her thoughts. Was
there any way she could help the poor lad?

Last updated on the September 22nd 2010

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Too Good To Be True