Free Azaria by J.H. Hayes Page B

were even more aggressive than the impertinent men. She'd already received several dowry offers from pushy matriarchs who wanted to tie their sons to her. Thankfully, her own mother was also staying close and making sure she didn't get maneuvered into anything, speaking for her when Azaria became flustered. Zephia was shocked by some of the offers however, and against her better judgment, briefly considered the more extravagant ones before remembering her daughter was barely of age.
    As the sun dropped, Azaria wasn't looking forward to the night's festivities nearly as much as she'd expected to. She wasn't sure she even wanted to attend now, if everyone was going to continue to behave as they had since the end of the race. But she knew at the very least she'd have to show up to receive her accommodation, and besides that, she was really looking forward to seeing Dogahn.
    Back in her shelter with her mother and Daneel, Azaria vented her frustration. "I don't think I can leave, Mother. This is the only place I can find any peace. Look, there are children hovering outside, waiting for me to come out," she said as she peaked through the leather flaps.
    "Don't you dare whine, young girl!!" her mother tore into her. "You asked for this with your reckless actions and now you will accept the consequences without complaint." Zephia had worn a stern face all sun, but was waiting until they were alone to reprimand her daughter. She didn't want to do it in front of Daneel, but Azaria's self-pity was too much to take.
    "Yes, mother," Azaria whimpered. She’d suspected her mother was upset. This opening salvo confirmed her suspicions. She'd hoped making it clear she wasn’t enjoying the attention would dampen her mother's ire, but apparently it wasn't going to work that way.
    "What could possibly have driven you insane enough to try something so stupid?" Zephia railed.
    "I'm sorry, mother."
    "I didn't ask if you were sorry. I asked what drove you to such foolishness!"
    "I know, mother. I... I don't know. I'm sorry."
    "What do you mean you don't know? That's not an answer. I asked you why you jumped off that rock!"
    Azaria started to well up. She couldn't remember ever being so harshly handled by her mother, nor seeing her so irate. Not even Quzo had ever made her so angry. "I... I knew I could make it... I tried to swim to the bottom of the river earlier, but I couldn't reach-"
    "Wait! What?" Zephia cut her off. "You planned this? You've been planning this all along? Did Azerban know about this?"
    "What? No... Father didn't-"
    "Daneel?! Did you know?" Zephia interrupted again, turning around.
    Daneel had been sitting quietly on Azaria's furs, thinking of the different places she'd rather be, like fighting a pack of wolverines, or maybe at the bottom of the river. She wasn't at all prepared to be yelled at. "I... No... I..." she stammered.
    Azaria lost control, tears trickling down her high cheeks. "M-Mother, D-daneel didn't know. Father didn't know," she stammered. "I-I thought of the idea moons ago, but I didn't tell anyone. I didn't know if I could do it. When we reached the path to High Cliff, I knew I couldn't beat Yumineh. She was too good. So I just decided. I wasn't sure if I would actually do it. But when I reached the top of the cliff, I just closed my eyes and jumped."
    Seeing her daughter break down in front of her served to finally dim Zephia's ire. She really only needed a chance to vocalize the terror she'd experienced watching her only daughter plunge to what seemed like certain death. Now with it off her chest, the overpowering need to comfort her child took over. "Oh Azaria! Shhh girl. It's okay. It's okay... I'm sorry I got angry. I was just so scared. I thought I'd lost you..." As she spoke, her eyes dampened also.
    "I know mother. I'm so sorry..." Azaria said, as a fresh stream of drops ran down.
    Daneel thought this was the perfect opportunity to make her exit. "I'll just leave you two alone," she whispered.
    "No,