There had been a message waiting for her the previous evening when she had returned to her wagons. One that said the woman Leah wish to speak with her. This in itself was odd, for the woman never asked for anything, she didn't have to. Somehow her needs and those of her four boys have always been met. Laying in her furs, listening to the soft, even breathing of her mate, she pondered upon the woman and what she might need.
Many season ago, long before she had come to the first wagons, the Ubar had been a man named Trajen. As with so many men of the plains, he had been killed while out riding on the plains along with four of his men. One of these men had been named Wendt, and he was the elder brother of Tayco. Wendt had left behind a wife and four young sons. This wife was the woman Leah. As was expected, Tayco had taken over the duty of seeing to his brothers family. Hunting for them, providing food and clothing, seeing to repairs and other needs that they might have. Even before she and Tayco were mated, she had managed to gather clothing for the children, sacks of dried fruits and berries, flour, tea and sugars. These had been left on Tayco's platform, with her thinking he did not know who they came from. Eventually he did find out, and was for once, speechless, having not expected something like this from her.
When Tayco had been killed, she had continued to do the things she could for the woman and the boys. She shared the meat that Loch would leave for her and Tug, she bartered and traded for clothing, everything that she could. Tayco's death had left her with a bit of wealth, but she had this idea that all of that was put into her trust for Tug.
Over the seasons she had visited often with Leah, who was a quiet, gentle woman, who held absolutely no light of life in her eyes. She did not say much about the loss of her mate, simply went on with her life. The four boys grew, as boys do, the eldest just recently reaching the age of fourteen turnings, earning his first scar and taking the name of Boutin. All in all she was pleased that the family seemed to flourish. That is why, hearing that the woman had come to the first wagons seeking her had her puzzled.
Early the next morning, Loch was off to his patrol and she was braiding her hair, getting ready for her day when Rook stepped up onto her platform and rumbled at the flap that she needed to step outside. Pulling on her cloak, she stepped out into the warmth of the morning, and her brow lifted slightly.
There stood Leah, all four boys dressed in their best clothing. But with them was another man. A large, older warrior with many scars. When she stepped down from the platform, he stepped forward and introduced himself as Kuduk Brost of the wagon smiths clan. Giving the man a respectful nod, she motioned for all of them to come sit with her at her fires. This done, the girls were set to serving tea and blackwine, and some of the honey cakes from the day before.
The man was much older than she, but he seemed a bit nervous in her presence, as did Leah. All very puzzling, then Kuduk blurted out their purpose here. He had come to inquire of a bride price for Leah. Shock. Yes, that was what she felt at first, shock. Why in the name of skies as her? That rush of happiness for the woman was stilled for a moment, when she realized that the man was serious.
He went on to explain himself, that he had been spending time with Leah, quick to add that the boys had been there as chaperones of sort. He loved her, thought she would make him a good mate, and was still young enough to bear him sons. Well, she was trying to set there and look wise, nodding at what she thought were the appropriate times, but still in the back of her mind, she was crying……..Why me??? When the man finished, and all those eyes turned to her for an answer, she could not think of one. She glanced to Rook, who was standing behind them all, his hand lifted to cover his mouth, as if in great thought, but she could see his shoulders shaking with unspilled laughter. Oh, she would get him later.
Nodding again, she stood and looked to the eldest son, who also stood. Quietly she asked him to walk with her. Leaving all those other eyes staring in their wake, she spoke to Boutin. In her mind, he was the eldest son, who now had earned a name and his first scar, and it was he that should make this decision about a bride price for his mother. He looked at her nervously, then inclined his head to hers' speaking softly. "Why do you think I brought them here? I have no idea what to ask for, never done this before." It was all she could do to keep from laughing, as she whispered…"Skies, neither have I!"
They walked for a long time as she asked the young warrior about the man, discovering that all of the boys liked him, and this eldest very much so, for having brought laughter back to his mother. He also said that Kuduk was not a man that drank much, he worked hard and had taken an interest in not only Leah, but in him and his younger brothers. All of this served to make her feel better, but she was still stymied as to what to ask for. They discussed this more then returned to the fire.
First, she asked Leah if she loved the man, and it only took one look at the woman's face to know that she did. She then turned to Kuduk, and explained her confusion as to why he had come to her to ask a price. He told her that he knew that Tayco had been guardian to the family after Wendt had been killed, as it should have been. He then studied her for a long time and told her that they had been surprised in the outer wagons that she, herself had more or less taken up this guardianship after Tayco had been killed. Again she was a bit stunned, when he said he had great respect for her because of that, and that he and Leah would not consider mating until they had talked to her.
One of her warmest smiles went to them both as she explained that she was honored that they had considered her in all of this. She then explained to them, that she felt that Boutin, as the eldest, scarred warrior in Leah's family, now had say of the price of his mother as a mate. By watching the faces, she knew she had made the right decision. First of all, she saw the pride in Leah's eyes as she looked to her eldest son, and maybe for the first time realizing he was now a man. Then there was Boudin himself. Did his chest puff just a tad? Of course it did, he was a man. And she could also tell from Kuduk that he considered this a wise decision and he would negotiate with the young warrior. Success! As they were leaving, she made them promise to let her know when the actually mating took place so that gifts could be sent. Kuduk and Leah both turned to look at her, nodding. Then Kuduk said the oddest thing, something that she would have to think upon.
"No woman, you have given us our gift. This morning you have allowed us to forge the chain of becoming a family, that is gift enough." With this, they all trooped of back to their wagons, leaving her standing there, mulling through her emotions and thoughts upon all of this.
Rook came to stand beside her, his deep voice rumbling from his chest. "Where did you learn to be so wise?" She looked up at him, grinning. "I have had good teachers old man."
No comments:
Post a Comment