千千文学网

第 10 章（第2页）

"Everyonesuddenlylooksveryiedinmarriage。"

Suyuantookanothersipoftea。

"Theywereiedbefore。Theysimplydidntwantaonotice。"

BeforeAyaocouldanswer，oneofthevisitingprieppedforward。

Hewastall，broad-shouldered，anddressedindarkredrobestrimmedwithblackfur。Hisfacecarriedthefidentsmileofsomeoneacedtoattention。Severalyoungwomenimmediatelylookedhisway。

TheKharunchiefannouncedproudly，"Myeldestson，Arqan。"

TheyoungprincebowedtowardtheKhan。

"IhaveenotonlytopayrespecttoYounis，buttoseekawifeworthyofstandingbesideme。"ThecrowdcheeredwhileArqanlaughed。"LetusseewhichdaughterofYounishasthecetoacceptthechallenge。"

Thatwasenoughtoturnthecelebrationintosomethingresemblingapetition。

TheKhanraisedhishand。"Tomorrow，therewillbeathree-daybridesele。"

Thehallimmediatelygrewlouder。"Archery，horsemanship，hunting，andthefinalselewillbedecidedbythevisitingprincesandtheirtribalelders。"Suyuansexpressionremainedcalm。ThentheKhanadded，almostcasually:"Allunmarrieddaughtersofmyhouseholdmayparticipate。"

AyaossmilevahenshelookedatSuyuan。Suyuanstareintohercup。

ShefinallyuoodwhyeverymemberoftheKhanshouseholdhadbeenorderedtoattend。Thiswasntmerelyacelebrationbutitwasamarketplacedisguisedasafestival。Theyoungwomenwerebeingdisplayedandtheyoungmenwerechoosing。AndtheKhanhadjustplacedeveryunmarrieddaughter—includingher—onthelist。Acrossthehall，thequietyoungmanfromthevisitingdelegationlookedatheragain。Thistime，Suyuahiseyesandtherewassomethingstrangelyfamiliaraboutthatgaze。Hesmiledfaintly。

Suyuanlookedaway。

Shehadmoreimportantproblemsthanastrangemansattention。IftheKhantrulyinteomakeherparticipate，shehadonlyonegoaltolose。Losesothhlythatnoprincewouldeversiderchoosingher。Sheloweredhereyesandquietlypickedupanotherpieeat。Ayaowhispered，"Miss，whyareyousmiling?"

"Imnot。"

"Youare。"

Suyuanglaowardtheterofthehall，wherethemusishadbegunanotherlivelysongandtheyoungwarriorswerealreadyboastingabouttomorrowspetition。Hersmiledisappeared。"Iwasonlythinking。"

"Aboutwhat?"

Suyuancalmlytookanotherbite。

"Howtobeetheleastdesirablebrideinthisentirehall。"

Ayaonearlychokedonherfood。Acrossthehall，thedisguisedprichedheragain。Thistime，hecouldnthelpsmiling，hehadafeelingthatthequietprincesshadjustbeethemostiingpersoniiregathering。