Blow Three Little Pigs Retold

Part 6

SIX

"You have a longer reach. You should be able to best him easily, Keith!" Lina called.

"Widald is so much stronger. Hit him harder, Widald, and you will surely win!" Arlie said.

Portia found her sisters watching a mock battle in the practice yard between two young men who were surprisingly evenly matched. She observed them for a few moments before she realised the men were not really battling at all. All that flexing of muscles, fighting without armour or even shirts, and blows that did not seem to land was a show to impress the two girls. A show that was working, judging by Arlie's gasps and Lina's white-knuckled hands as she clutched them to her chest.

"Your turn," Widald whispered. He hooked Keith's wooden practice sword out of his hand and sent it spinning across the yard, scattering chickens that squawked in protest.

"I yield," Keith said thickly. At some point, Widald must have landed a blow to Keith's nose, for it was still bleeding.

"You won!" Arlie dashed across the yard and wrapped her arms around Widald, who grinned at Keith over Arlie's head.

Lina beckoned to Keith. "Let me see to your wounds."

Keith winked back at Widald.

Portia pursed her lips and waited. When her sisters' ministrations culminated in an invitation to dinner that both men eagerly accepted, she knew the wait would soon be over. Sure enough, the men left the yard to put their weapons away.

"Does my father know you are trying to seduce my sisters?" Portia asked.

Keith and Widald exchanged glances, then bowed. "No, Lady Portia." Neither seemed to want to look at her.

"What do you think he will say when I tell him?" Portia said.

Widald lifted his head to meet her eyes. "When I ask for Lady Arlie, I would hope Lord Angus supports my suit."

"And mine for Lady Lina," added Keith.

Portia hesitated. They meant to marry her sisters, not simply seduce them? The girls were of an age for it, much like herself, but it had not occurred to her that they might marry so soon. Unlike the slavish daughters of other places, the women of Isla and the other Southern Isles were proud mistresses of their own destiny. They chose their own husbands, or at least most of them did. Even Portia's father could not force her to marry a man not of her choosing. Though the council might put pressure on him and hence her if they had a man in mind.

Perhaps that was why he had left her here – he wanted to discuss possible husbands for her with the council.

"We know how many suitors there are for your hand, Lady Portia. Lina and Arlie might not have the same claim as you, but they are no less beautiful," Keith continued.

Of course they were. The three girls were identical in appearance, if not disposition. Little wonder that people had called them the Three Little Pigs when they were children, for most people couldn't tell them apart.

Her sisters deserved to be happy with men who loved them. They could do much worse than these two. Portia herself might do worse, what with war coming and all. She would not let her choice place Isla in danger.

"I wish you good fortune," Portia said finally, "but not fertility. Not yet." With a sharp look at them, she marched off.

But in the back of her mind, a tiny seed of doubt took root: for the first time, she dreaded her father's return.