The Voyage: Storm Season
Marcus sighed as he looked out over the ocean. The waves crashed against the shoreline as the slate grey clouds and slanting rain approached ever closer, mirroring the turmoil in his mind. The time had come to make a decision.
One the one hand, I could accept. Accepting Ragna's proposal would allow him to do something that he had not thought would ever happen to him. He would be married to someone he cared for, and he thought cared for him as well. It would also be confirmation of his skills and knowledge.
On the other, I could refuse. Many people would not fault him for turning down her proposal. She was, after all, a different species. Many humans would think him insane if he did marry a Vulpim. Marcus also felt that it would be a betrayal of his friend, especially after everything they had gone through.
Then there's the political aspect. Oi! He was the first non-Vulpim offered an honor marriage to one of their Warrior caste. He himself would qualify as a member of the academic caste by himself, but if he married Ragna, he would then be a Warrior. Thus he would be the only human who was a member of the highest Vulpim caste.
Finally, there was Ragna herself. The thought of her caused him to smile briefly. She was the only one of the crew that could bring him out of his funks. She saw more in him than others seemed to. Her gung-ho attitude had been rubbing off on him recently, making him more self-assured.
Marcus' expression turned serious once more. Does she even understand the concept the way I do? She had, after all, offered him only an honor marriage. A marriage in name, nothing more. Much like the marriage she already had to a female from another caste, given as an honor for accomplishments above and beyond that expected of her original caste. Could Ragna care for him enough for it to work? Could she be considering him for a true marriage, one that was more than honor?
"What do I want from this?" Marcus mulled that question over in his head as the first drops of rain started to drop onto the deck in front of him. What did he feel for Ragna? She was a good friend, too good to hurt that was certain. Did he want to be a permanent part of her life, one of her family with all of the responsibilities that it would bring? For that matter, was he ready for the responsibility that even a simple honor marriage would have?
"Too many thoughts, too many questions," Marcus said into the storm that broke upon the seashore. Sighing, he bowed his head, and in the crash of the waves he heard the answer. The only answer he could give. In the morning, Marcus would make the call and tell Ragna, and her Grand Clan King, the answer. He hoped that everything would work out for the best, for them all.