¤ Brotherhood ¤
part 5: disowned

by Neishai

The boys had left the Cathair before the feast began, so Sumuru had little to worry about after her encounter with Jödaan. That was probably for the best, for she and Piosa had other problems to deal with.

"No, father, I will not reconsider." Piosa's hand shook a little as it rested on the edge of the table. Unable to steady it through force of will, she placed it as gracefully as she could into her lap. She had hardly touched the meal, and knew without looking that Sumuru had not either.

"Sir, she can't. Once a dragon has imprinted someone, you can't break that bond. It's impossible."

"And just why did you do this to begin with?" The Morair's voice was thick with venom. "I saw you down there, garbed like the rest of those sniveling little brats. That is what people without money or influence do when they want a meaningful life! You already had a life! And you Sumuru!" The girl flinched. "How could you let this happen? You let the Keep down; you ruined Piosa's future by doing nothing! You dishonored us all!" He slammed his fist on the tabletop, rattling silverware and crystal glasses, silencing several other groups sitting around the banquet table. They glanced their way cautiously, murmuring darkly among themselves. "And see, now," he hissed, "you've drawn attention to us!"

"Dearest, why don't you sit down--" his wife began.

One of Piosa's elder brothers said in a placating tone, "Maybe if we all just calm down and think this through…"

"Father, I can always return later on," Piosa said, voice just above a whisper.

"Sure, our dragons would definitely be a service to the Keep--"

"Oh, no… you aren't coming back." Everyone was shocked to silence as the head of the clan spoke, his voice deadly calm. "You are no longer welcome within the walls of my Keep. Piosa, you knew and understood your duties as a daughter of this family. Your blatant disregard for your duty to the needs of the Keep over your own has made up my mind for me. Perhaps this has been a long time in the coming, I don't know. But to me it is clear that you have no desire to be a part of any of it. Very well, you won't be. As of this moment, you are no longer a part of this family. You have no place here."

This is all a nightmare. This can't be happening. Piosa was paralyzed with shock and horror. She stared at the man who was her father. His face was impassive, his eyes cold. Her mother refused to meet her gaze, fidgeting beside her husband. Piosa's various siblings were either doing the same, gazing at her in pity, or weeped quietly. I'm going to wake up now, right? I'm still beside Guastatoth. We fell asleep waiting for Sumuru.

She choked out a moaning sob as her companion took a hold of her upper arm and pulled her to her feet. Sumuru guided her away from the feast without a word or a glance back at the girl's table. Once she gazed up at her guardian, whose face was strangely ashen, her eyes smoldering with fury. Sumuru met her gaze, only to be confronted by some of the greyest brown irises she had ever seen. Piosa was slightly green, her forehead sweaty; Sumuru quickly guided her to the bathroom … not that there was enough food in her stomach to make much of a mess.

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