Ruby ran all the way home hoping only her mother would be home it would be far easier to tell her mother and deal with her reaction. To Ruby’s dismay she saw both The Ox and it’s heifer grazing in the coral near the front of the family property, the heifer was the animal friend belonging to her mother but seeing the large, strong, decorated ox meant father was home and at this time of the day sitting with mother in the family throne room from which most male Children of the Earth ruled their families and carried out decisions.

She nodded to the servants as she went to the private room and indeed father and mother were seated on their stone thrones. Father had the larger throne with the blue cushion while mother was to his right in a smaller shorter version with a red cushion. Mother smiled as usual.

‘Ruby I am glad to see you I heard Brock had a battle today.’ Mother bowed.

Ruby first knelled to her father and then bowed to her mother. ‘Yes I have heard, and I attended to see what my future husband looks like.’

Father frowned, his frown seemed to carry right through his large body full of muscles. ‘You know that is not allowed.’

‘Yes father, but my curiosity got the better of me I apologize.’ She kept looking at her toes.

‘Well!’ Her father urged.

‘He fought a Sky Child, he placed me as part of the bet.’ Ruby tried to keep back the tears.

‘That is his right, what did the Sky Child bet?’

Ruby thought the question strange but her father was famous for being a shrewd man.

‘The Sky child bet nothing, only that he could take down Brock in four moves or less.’

‘They both sound foolish, the Sky child for thinking he could take down a skilled warrior in four moves and Brock for not requiring him to also bet.’

‘Brock lost the match.’

‘HE DID WHAT?’ Her father stood up in anger.

‘He lost…’

‘No do not speak, how dare he bet my only child, the only heir to my name so foolishly? How could he lose?’

‘I am to leave with the Sky child within the hour to be his, he will marry me in three years.’

‘No, never no such shame will come upon my house.’ Her father blasted.