Changes

Eventually she had fallen asleep, curled up next to Ba'atar, until the early ahn of the morning. Dawn had not even began to lighten the sky when she woke up with that ache in her breasts that told her it was time to feed Also. It was a daily ritual of sorts. She ran to the wagon behind them, gathered him up from his furs, brought him back so that he could take his fill, and we would normally fall back to sleep for another precious ahn or so.


Slipping into an old tunic of Ba'atars' she stepped between the flaps onto the platform, prepared to make her short jog to the second wagon, when she was startled by something new and froze into a rather awkward position. There were two many scarred warriors standing by the platform, one on each side, and both of them had turned their heads to look at her, one even fighting the slightest shadow of a grin. In the tunic, she felt absolutely naked and one hand moved to the neck of the tunic, while the other moved to her unbraided hair. She verily stumbled back inside the flaps, sat down on the foot of the sleeping platform and tried to regain her breath and think.


Finally, she realized who and what they were. They were the Ubar's Guardsmen. Sitting there, she had memories of Fonce grumbling about them from time to time, and Kam telling him that they were necessary. Standing up, she went to the front flaps and eased them open so that she could see. In the darkness she could make out three more shapes. One sitting in the box of the wagon, then two more at posts on either side of the wagon box. Shaking her head, she drew back, closed the flaps and looked to Ba'atar who was still sleeping.


Quickly she braided her hair, dressed and stepped out onto the platform. Both men nodded to her as she walked lightly down the steps, but neither of them said anything. Turning to walk along the side of the wagon, she cleared her throat so that the one at the front of the wagon would not think she was sneaking up on him. His reflexes were quick. He turned, lance in hand, and seeing who she was nodded. Stepping past him, she realized that there were also guards around the wagon where her sons were sleeping, which gave her a bit of comfort in an odd way. Nodding to the guards there, she stepped up inside drew Also from his furs and made her way back to her wagon.


Sitting there in the darkness, letting her son nurse, she listened again to the strong, steady breathing of her mate, and the impact of how their lives had changed came to her full force. In a way, Ba'atar was no longer her mate, he was the leader of their people and many things would change. Those night rides to make love under the stars were not something they could do safely any more. Even the quiet times around their own wagons were probably going to be few and far between. There would always be someone there in need to the Ubars' ear and counsel.


Yes, their lives had changed, but if their people prospered and grew strong under his leadership, it would be worth the sacrifices it took.