Sumi cocked her head at something that made no sense to her about Andarion weddings. “Wait, Disclosure? I thought all Andarions had to do was admit to a third party that they were husband and wife and they were deemed married by Andarion law.”
That was what Fain and Omira had done. Fain had said that by Andarion law, it was completely legal and binding.
“It can be that informal… in fact, that’s how my father and stepmother were married, and most Andarions aren’t big on ceremony as a rule. However, that’s like eloping and the high-lineaged Andarions frown on it. Greatly. So much so that even my dad and stepmother were later remarried in our Andarion ancestors’ temple.”
Sumi furrowed her brow as she tried to understand. “Why would it matter?”
“In a traditional, high-lineaged Andarion family, it’s considered shameful to marry that way, like there’s something wrong with one of the partners, and many times the parents force a divorce from the couple. The tying of pure, high-ranking bloodlines is seen as a very serious matter that isn’t taken lightly.”
“Really?”
Thia nodded. “It’s why my parents remarried – to make sure no one disputed the legitimacy or heritage of their children. Tradition dictates that a pledge be made before a priest and that the parents and immediate families bear witness to it. After that, the couple has to wait a full Andarion year before they meet back at temple. Then before the priest, they disclose if they’ve allowed another to touch them during the time they’ve been pledged. If their public Disclosure is accepted by both parties, they go forward with unification, and the next day they have their marriage completed and blessed.”
Sumi didn’t like the sound of what Thia described. “What exactly do they admit to in this Disclosure?”
“If they’ve allowed someone of the opposite sex to touch them in any way that could be construed as sexual contact.”
Sumi gaped at her. “Wait! Are you telling me that high-lineaged Andarions have to publicly catalogue all the sexual activity of their lives before they can marry?”
“No,” she said quickly. “What happens before pledging is inconsequential. Even what happens between the male and female who are pledged is inconsequential. They accept the fact that Andarion passions are fierce, and that many couples don’t wait. But once pledged, it becomes a sacred trust, like marriage. To allow any part of your body to be touched by someone other than the one you’re pledged to is the same as adultery. And it’s treated that way. Darice’s paran is extremely lucky that my yaya was already in love with my grandfather, and was more than happy to release him from his pledge. Otherwise, she could have demanded his offending body part be given to her… or his head. It’s called Restitution, and the dishonored party is allowed to choose what they find acceptable physical payment for a broken pledge.”
Was the girl kidding? “Excuse me?”
Thia nodded grimly. “If he’s slept with another, a male can be castrated at the command of his pledged. If he’s touched another female, he loses his hands. A kiss can cost him his tongue and lips.”
She felt sick over what she’d inadvertently done. And Dancer hadn’t said a word about it. “Are you serious?”
“Very. Andarions don’t take disloyalty or broken pledges lightly. We are a fierce proud race. You do not break an Andarion oath. Ever.”
What have I done?
Sumi wished desperately that she could go back and refrain from a kiss that, knowing Dariana, could get Dancer killed. “So what do they do to females, then? They can’t castrate them. Right?”
Thia actually flinched. “You don’t want to know. Trust me. I don’t want to think about it. But if a female has slept with another while pledged, the best she can hope for is death.”
“Is that true of who they slept with, too? Do they get the same punishment?”
“No. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a pledged to hire someone to try and seduce their betrothed to make sure that they are marrying an honorable Andarion. Especially if the marriage is arranged.”
Wow. It made her so glad she wasn’t born Andarion. But it also terrified her for Dancer. “So what if you’re accidentally kissed? Do you have to disclose that?”
Darice scowled. “How do you get accidentally kissed?”
“Like someone stole a kiss from you when you weren’t expecting it. Or you were raped. What then?”
Thia sighed. “In that case, the perpetrator would be severely punished and the pledged would have to undergo another period of purification to make sure no child was conceived. The other beautiful thing about Andarions, they are very fertile little turtles. Even with birth control. Hence the five kids in eight years of my father’s marriage… and my lovely presence here today.”
Sumi didn’t comment on that sarcasm. She was too busy processing what Thia was telling her. The punishment made sense for rape, but…
“The perpetrator could be killed for a simple stolen kiss? Really?”
“Oh yeah,” Thia said, wide-eyed. “Because of their passionate natures, Andarions are extremely respectful of each other’s bodies and protective of their own. Any encroachment is seen as a violation of their personal rights. In fact, that’s part of the unification ceremony. Each partner asks for permission to touch the other and is granted the right to do so in steps. Unless you’re seen as very close family, you don’t just walk up to an Andarion and touch them, in any manner. Not even a hug or handshake. They get really upset about that.”
Darice nodded in agreement. “It’s why we stand like this whenever we meet strangers.” He stopped to cross his arms over his chest and stand with his legs braced wide.
She’d seen Andarions do that, including Fain, but had never realized the significance of it.
“Unless they’re unconscious and need immediate care, even medical providers have to ask before they can touch a patient,” Thia finished as Darice picked up his pace and ran ahead. “You don’t brush hands or anything like that, without permission. If you accidentally do so, you apologize immediately and profusely. Even then, there’s a good chance you’re about to be in a fight at best, arrested at worst.”
Holy heaven…
Sumi fell silent as she realized how egregious her behavior had been. Granted, it was done in ignorance, but still.
Yet what sickened her most was that she knew Dancer would never see her punished for their kiss. His honor wouldn’t let him. He’d take full responsibility for it during Disclosure.
And Dariana would demand a harsh sentence for that trespass.
“Does anyone ever lie during Disclosure?” Sumi asked, even though she knew Dancer would never do such a thing.
“No. If you’re caught in a lie, it’s an automatic death sentence. And if you help conceal an indiscretion, it’s a death sentence. Andarions are very serious about their lineages and oaths. Which is why they’re notoriously monogamous and why they think long and hard before pledging themselves to another. They either marry very early or extremely late in life.”
“Why is that?”
Thia fell back to whisper to her so that Darice wouldn’t hear her. “Well, you know about that need to be…” she cleared her throat, “drained. Aside from that, it’s said that once an Andarion tastes the flesh of another, they’re insatiable. Male and female. So if they don’t marry early, they marry older.”
“How much older?”
“Eighty to ninety, at least.”
Sumi was aghast at the age. “What?”
Thia laughed. “Don’t be so shocked. They live a lot longer than humans, as a rule. It’s why my yaya is seventy and looks almost as young as my stepmother. And she’s still well within Andarion childbearing years. They can have children until they’re over one hundred and fifty.”