《《蛮族之花》 Flower of Wilderness》Yina_bubbles

10、第 10 章 A Gam

　　The silence that followed the Khan's announcement lasted only a moment before the great hall erupted into laughter and conversation. Servants hurried between the tables, filling wooden cups and placing steaming dishes before the guests. Whole roasted lambs rested on large platters, their skin glistening beneath the firelight, while baskets of flatbread, dried fruits, nuts, and honey were passed from one table to another. The musicians struck their drums again, joined by the sharp notes of a reed flute. Outside, the wind swept across the plains, but inside the great hall, the heat of the braziers and the noise of hundreds of people made the cold seem distant.

　　Suyuan sat quietly at the edge of the Khan's family table, picking at her food. She had little appetite after spending the morning at the river, and the smell of fermented wine made her head ache. Beside her, Ayao was considerably less restrained. "Miss, that roasted lamb looks delicious." Suyuan glanced at her. "Then eat." Ayao immediately reached for a piece, only to stop when she noticed several noble ladies looking in their direction. She slowly withdrew her hand. Suyuan almost laughed. "You were not worried about their eyes five breaths ago." "That was before I remembered I'm sitting beside a princess." "Then pretend you're eating on behalf of the princess." Ayao looked delighted by the permission and immediately returned to her food.
　　In the center of the hall, the first performance began. A group of young warriors entered carrying long poles decorated with red ribbons. They moved in formation, striking the wooden floor in rhythm with the drums. The sound echoed beneath the great roof as they leaped, spun, and crossed paths without touching one another. Cheers erupted from the warriors surrounding them. When they finished, the musicians changed their tune and several young women entered, their skirts sweeping across the rugs as they danced around the firelight. Their movements were lively and bold, accompanied by clapping and laughter from the guests. Suyuan watched quietly. She could not deny that she enjoyed the music, even though she had been taught long ago to keep such enjoyment hidden.

　　Then the drinking contest began.Suyuan stared as two warriors placed enormous
　　wooden cups between them.Ayao whispered, "Are they actually going to drink all that?""Apparently."
　　"What happens if they fall asleep?"
　　"Then they lose."

　　Ayao watched the first warrior finish his cup and slam it onto the table.The hall erupted in cheers.Suyuan finally smiled and for a short while, she almost forgot where she was.Then the Khan rose from his seat, the music stopped and everyone turned toward him. The Khan lifted his cup, and the visiting chiefs followed.
　　"Today, the Kharun, Tazhen, and Nayak tribes have honored Younis by traveling here," he announced. "Our people have fought beside one another, traded across the plains, and shared both hardship and prosperity. Let this gathering strengthen those ties."The three tribal leaders bowed, and Khan continued, "The Kharun chief has brought horses from the northern plains. The Tazhen tribe has opened their western trade routes to us. The Nayak warriors have pledged their bows should war come."
　　A wave of approval moved through the hall.
　　Then the Khan smiled.
　　"And there is one bond stronger than words."
　　Suyuan's fingers stopped around her cup.
　　Marriage.
　　The word was never spoken immediately, but everyone understood.
　　The Tazhen chief rose first. "Our tribe has long admired the strength of Younis. It would be our honor to become family. "The Kharun chief laughed loudly. "You speak as though Younis has already agreed."The hall erupted in laughter even the Khan laughed.The Nayak representative calmly raised his cup. "Perhaps the young people should decide whether they wish to become family." That earned another round of laughter.

　　The Khan looked toward his sons and daughters.
　　"Then let them choose."
　　The musicians began playing again, but this time the mood had changed. The young men and women around the hall suddenly became much more aware of one another.
　　Suyuan noticed several of the Khan's daughters straightening their clothes. One secretly checked the ornament in her hair. Another whispered to her maid before pretending nothing had happened.
　　Ayao leaned toward Suyuan.
　　"Miss..."
　　"What?"
　　"Everyone suddenly looks very interested in marriage."
　　Suyuan took another sip of tea.
　　"They were interested before. They simply didn't want anyone to notice."

　　Before Ayao could answer, one of the visiting princes stepped forward.
　　He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in dark red robes trimmed with black fur. His face carried the confident smile of someone accustomed to attention. Several young women immediately looked his way.
　　The Kharun chief announced proudly, "My eldest son, Arqan."
　　The young prince bowed toward the Khan.
　　"I have come not only to pay respect to Younis, but to seek a wife worthy of standing beside me."The crowd cheered while Arqan laughed. "Let us see which daughter of Younis has the courage to accept the challenge."

　　That was enough to turn the celebration into something resembling a competition.
　　The Khan raised his hand. "Tomorrow, there will be a three-day bride selection."
　　The hall immediately grew louder. "Archery, horsemanship, hunting, and the final selection will be decided by the visiting princes and their tribal elders."Suyuan's expression remained calm.Then the Khan added, almost casually: "All unmarried daughters of my household may participate."

　　Ayao's smile vanished, then she looked at Suyuan. Suyuan stare into her cup.
　　She finally understood why every member of the Khan's household had been ordered to attend.This wasn't merely a celebration but it was a marketplace disguised as a festival.The young women were being displayed and the young men were choosing. And the Khan had just placed every unmarried daughter—including her—on the list. Across the hall, the quiet young man from the visiting delegation looked at her again. This time, Suyuan met his eyes and there was something strangely familiar about that gaze.He smiled faintly.
　　Suyuan looked away.

　　She had more important problems than a strange man's attention. If the Khan truly intended to make her participate, she had only one goal to lose. Lose so thoroughly that no prince would ever consider choosing her. She lowered her eyes and quietly picked up another piece of meat. Ayao whispered, "Miss, why are you smiling?"
　　"I'm not."
　　"You are."
　　Suyuan glanced toward the center of the hall, where the musicians had begun another lively song and the young warriors were already boasting about tomorrow's competition. Her smile disappeared. "I was only thinking."
　　"About what?"
　　Suyuan calmly took another bite.
　　"How to become the least desirable bride in this entire hall."
　　Ayao nearly choked on her food. Across the hall, the disguised prince watched her again. This time, he couldn't help smiling, he had a feeling that the quiet princess had just become the most interesting person in the entire gathering.