Since leaving Clell, Derian had thought long about Dara; an easy thing to do with a straight walk of over a hundred miles with no company. These thoughts left him now, though doubt still clung as he greeted Marini, waiting on the dock.
'Welcome to Pelia, sir,' she said with a yawn.
'I'm sorry, Marini. I came as quickly as I could but the weather had other plans for me. You,' he accused with a point shaking with suppressed mirth, 'are getting uncharacteristically formal! I still remember a few choice names that you had for me in Wendle!'
'I can't think of any,' replied Marini. 'I'm too tired.'
'Where is Dara? My wife must surely be here.' Derian stated.
'I should think that she'll be in the house,' and Marini yawned again. 'I was sent to watch for you.'
'Which you have done, so let's get you to bed before you split at the ears!'
Marini managed a smile, got up and led Derian to the house.
* * * * * *
Marini sat on the doorstep, thinking. She thought a lot now since Dara's marriage. Selia had disgraced herself then, in front of everyone, with another temper tantrum, so she was being kept busy, which gave Marini some space. Though she had thought little on the subject before the marriage, she now thought that the subject prompted by Derian and Dara merited thought. Why was she still, to many, a child while her sisters were off making homes for themselves? If she were the youngest, then it would probably make sense, bit that was not the case. Marini thought on the subject but made no sense anywhere.
At that moment, Selia's voice rang out from the kitchen.
'I don't want to! I shouldn't be out...'
A pause. Lania was obviously speaking, but Marini could not hear her words.
'It'll ruin my hands...'
Another pause. Lania apparently referred to Marini here.
'Oh, well; it doesn't matter if Marini ruins her...'
Lania's voice rose a bit.
'Yes, she was always your pet. Get her to do it, if you think she's that good...'
Marini scowled at that.
'The little runt is use for noth... well, she is! Oh, I'm off!'
Marini heard footsteps in the passage, so she got up. Selia would have no scruples about kicking her out of the doorway in that mood. Selia saw Marini move and rounded on her. 'Small, insignificant runt!' she yelled at her before running off. Lania had followed but stopped at the doorway, convinced that Selia was gone beyond reach for a while. Amholla would deal with her later.
'Marini,' Lania had noticed her standing there.
'I'll do it,' replied Marini. Lania smiled at her.
'Don't let it rankle, Marini,' she said. 'Come on. The pots want cleaning.'
Marini followed Lania to the kitchen but could not forget the words of Selia. Small, insignificant runt. Her previous line of thought returned. It made sense, now that those words were added. She was small; three hands shorter than Selia, who was not that tall. Insignificant, yes! No-one really took her seriously. Runt, forever caged in the house because she was so small for her age, parents ashamed of their first child being such a big, or small, mistake. She suddenly felt resentment for the whole thing.
'But what should I do?'