A Match for Bletz

With the end of the war and the return of the prisoners, Bletz Haimfaðsunus returned to the Raikh with a pocket full of tin and not much to spend it on. He had earned his keep, gotten captured by the Tholes, and now was back in Morþal after two years away from it and living out of a navy hostel. The room he was in was for junior officers, four other beds, a couple of writing desks, and a large wardrobe for uniforms. Pulling himself out of bed, he checked to see if he had any of his beer ration left.

'Dry as a bone...'

Rummaging through his jacket, he found his tin of chewing 'bacca and took a bit out. Getting dressed was a slow and laborious process this morning, as he knew he would need to go home soon. While he did not mind the rations and the company was good, it had been years since he had seen his mother and she would be worried sick about him... Besides, the longer he spent in the hostel, the more likely he was to spend all of his saved up pay.

In light of his impending departure for Sheen, Bletz made his way down to the local public house. The place was heaving, lots of returned sailors and soldiers with too much money and nothing to do. He pushed his way to the bar and growled whenever an enlisted man got in his way.

'Whatcha want?'

'Pint shandy, eel pie, and the paper if you've got it.'

Climbing up on top of a stool that was vacated for him, he wanted patiently for his breakfast to arrive. After a while, it did. He reached into his pocket and deposited fifteen Pfennige, no change was given. 'A bit steep...' he thought to himself. He spent the next hour or so nursing his shandy, eating his pie, and reading the news. By the time he had finished, someone had started a game of whist and he was roped in. They probably thought he would be an easy mark... But let us say he left the place with a few more Schillinge than he entered.

Now well into the afternoon, the dreaded time came. He could hear the horn of the ships. He got up and rushed out the door and went straight back to his hostel. Picking up his rucksack, documents, and canned meat, he left some money on the way out for the room and went straight down to the docks. Arriving about twenty minutes before departure, he bought a ticket in steerage for the Great Tit and boarded the ship... Having to go all the way to Sheen to see his family, not exactly a good look for him... But hey, he had leave.

He spent the next week teaching children his age how to tie knots, how to play cards, and how to do a knife dance. By the time he got off the boat, at least five families were thoroughly annoyed with him for teaching their children the few words of Sheenish that he had picked up in the navy. The journey to his parents' home took the better part of the afternoon, but once he got there, he surprised. No warm welcome, no guards. He just saw his father sitting on the porch and when he went in, his mother gave him a hug and told him to wash up for supper.

Not one to ignore an odd situation, he spent the rest of the day wondering why they were acting this way. Finally, supper came and went and he was put out of his misery.

'We want you to get married. You are a man in your own right now and you need a wife.'

His father stated it plainly.

'Excuse me, but... Who am I meant to marry?'

'There is a princess in Acielon you could woo, or else maybe you could find a seamstress' apprentice here. We do not particularly mind, but you need to find yourself a wife.'

Thinking on the situation... Bletz was at a bit of a loss. He did not expect to be married for a few good years. He had not even gone through the civil service yet! A bit in shock, the boy sank into the sofa and thought over his options for a bit. He kept a look that made it seem as if he were listening, but in reality his parents were just background noise.

'A match? I could marry my sister Blomlin... She was always nice to me... But no. Aigin Anthiese probably wants to use her to solidify her own control.'

He kept thinking on it.

'I do like fish... A fish-wife might be nice. I could use my savings and pension to buy a fishing boat, we could sell our fish and live nicely!'

His thoughts continued...

'No... I need a wife who won't embarrass my father.'

His thoughts kept cycling through ideas like this for a while longer, until he finally decided and stood up.

'Mother, Father... I'll marry the princess of Acielon.'

With that said, he went upstairs and fell asleep. He could deal with the problem tomorrow. His dreams that night were fitful and not at all pleasant. His mind kept on with the possibilities and they quickly degenerated into thoughts about providing for his family and his ten-thousand screaming children. He rose the next morning in a cold sweat.

Unfortunately for him, his mother had already started preparations for his journey to Acielon, including telephoning the government and getting his papers sorted. By midday, he was all packed, dressed, and ready to go. He was driven to the train station and put on an express to the eastern country. Oh, what horrors awaited him there.