Shadow's Edge - Brent Weeks [62]
“And… if a man or woman wants a divorce—well, you’ve got to rip that damn ring right out of your ear. Cuts down on divorces, I promise you. But affixing the seal isn’t done out of fear, to keep a man or a woman from cuckolding their spouse. It’s deeper than that. When a man and woman are sealed, they activate an ancient magic in these rings, a magic that grows as their love grows. It’s a magic that helps you feel what your spouse is feeling, a magic that deepens your love and understanding for each other, that helps you communicate more clearly, that—”
“And let me guess,” Kylar said. “The more expensive rings have more magic.”
Elene’s elbow was anything but gentle this time. “Kylar,” she said through her teeth.
Master Bourary blinked. “Let me assure you, young master, every ring I make is imbued with magic, even the simplest and cheapest copper band of mine won’t break. But yes, I absolutely do spend more time and energy on the gold and mistarille rings. Not only because the people who buy those rings pay more, but also because those materials hold a spell far better than copper or bronze or silver ever could.”
“Right,” Kylar said. “Well, thanks for your time.” He pulled Elene out of the store.
She was not pleased. She stopped in the street. “Kylar, you are a complete ass.”
“Honey, didn’t you hear what he just said? Some armorer a long time ago had a Talent that would seal metal rings together. Good talent for an armorer, he can bang out ring mail in days rather than months. Then he gets smart and figures that he can make a lot more money by selling each ring for hundreds of gold than for selling a full set of ring mail for maybe fifty. And lo and behold, an industry’s born. It’s all horseshit. All that ‘growing to understand each other better’ stuff? That’s what happens to everyone who gets married. And oh, the gold ones have more magic… how obvious is that? Did you see how many of their rings were gold? They probably get nine tenths of the poor idiots in this city to save up for a gold ring they can’t afford because what woman is going to be happy if she gets a copper ring that ‘barely holds the spell’?”
“I would,” she said quietly.
It took the wind out of him.
She covered her face. “I thought if you ever wanted to get married for real, that, you know. It would be a way we could make it official. If we ever wanted to. I mean, I know we’re not ready for that. I’m not suggesting that we do that right away or anything.”
Why am I always the asshole?
Because she’s too good for you.
“So you knew what that place was?” he asked, more gently, although he was still pissed off, though he couldn’t have said whether it was at her or at himself.
“Aunt Mea told me about it.”
“Is that why you’ve been nibbling on my ears at night?”
“Kylar!” she said.
“Is it?”
“Aunt Mea said it works wonders.” Elene couldn’t meet his gaze; she was totally mortified.
“Well maybe for these twists!”
“Kylar!” Elene raised her eyebrows, as if to say, We are in the middle of a crowded market, would you shut up?
He looked around. He’d never seen so many earrings in his life. How hadn’t he noticed it before? And he was right, almost every one of them was gold and everyone wore their hair in ways that left their ears exposed.
“I’ve seen that girl before,” Kylar said.
“Capricia?”
“I was out the other night and some hoodlums were coming to hurt her. Before, I would have killed them. Instead, I scared them.”
She looked uncertain why he was telling her this now. “Well, that’s