As was her habit, she was up long before the Central Fire began to light the horizon. There was much to be done today, and it would not get done laying in the furs. Sitting up, there was a small wave of nausea, but it passed. When she rolled out of the furs, she dressed and made a list of all that she needed to get done today in her head.
Of course, the first order of business was food. Not for her, but for those of her wagons, which included that group of elite Ubar's guards. She fried up stacks of tarsk strips, scrambled eggs with cheese and cream in them, and set it all out with pieces of warm flatbread and they came by and served themselves. She made up plates for the boys and herself and went to their wagon to share the meal with them. While junean got them dressed for the day, she went in search of the solution to her next item on the list.
She knew that Aponi would be a good choice under other circumstances, but she also knew how the man felt about women that were with child, and she just could not see him allowing one close enough to measure him for leathers so she found herself at the leather workers clan wagon looking for Magda. The woman was a bit older, but not so old that she would be repulsive, and she was very good at her work. She carefully explained to the woman what she needed, where the man's wagons were, and that Ba'atar wanted him to have the finest that could be made. So, Magda went off in search of Fonce, her measuring string in hand. The woman was good. She had been making leathers and vests for Ba'atar for many seasons.
Returning to her wagons, she was set upon by her sons wanting some time with her. She finally agreed to take them to the stream, as long as they understood that they would not be getting into the water. Yeah, right. In all honesty, they were not all that bad. The older two ran off a lot of excess energy and Also seemed fascinated by the plants that grew along the banks, and Two, well, he was cranky, but it soon passed. It turned out to be a busy day at the stream. There were those there doing laundry, Siken was getting water, even Fonce showed up to ultimately just nap under the warmth of the rays of the Central Fire. He was distracted, which is expected. She addressed him a few times, but his mind was elsewhere, so she would talk to him some other time.
One thing that amazed her was Ayguili. For someone that is usually so unemotional, he seemed to have a way with the boys. It was hard for her in some ways, to all him near them, but she had to push that reticence down deep, they were his nephews, and he would not harm them, and she needed to not allow her opinions of the man cloud her judgement in allowing him to be near them. Now, does that mean she did not keep a close eye on them? No, she watched them like a hawk, but she would do that with anyone.
Finally she got them all herded together and on the march back to the wagons. One and Another One had weapons practice with Rook, and Also and Two needed their naps. She found herself making promises that she probably would not be keeping that day. One to Tarra to come visit her at her wagons, and another to Falon to go for a ride. She did not think there was going to be enough ahn in this day to do either of those, and she hated herself for making such promises.
She had not been back at the wagons long when one of Ba'atar's men showed up to gather up the boys. As much as she would have liked to have questioned him, she knew better. He simply told her that the Commander wanted the boys to go cheer someone up. This caused her brow to arch and she muttered under her breath. Good luck. She hoped whoever needed cheering up, was good with spirited boys.
With the boys gone, she and juneau fell to cleaning the seating area around their wagon. It was not all that big a chore since they had done the same thing earlier in the hand, but she still wanted everything to look tidy and neat. The furs were beaten to within a hort of their lives, as were the rugs. Again that treasured low table was brought out, arranged near the fire and three saddles were set around it an covered with furs. She hoped that three would be enough, her mate had been rather vague as to how many exactly to expect for dinner. Stepping back, she gazed around the fire and was satisfied that things were as she wanted them. She then went around dropping herbs into the flames to scent the air.
Now, as to the meal? All she had been told was to make something good, then the caveat was added to make bosk strips, lots of them. Obtaining a good cut of bosk, she carefully sliced it into strips and sprinkled them with just enough yellow salt to help to enhance the natural flavor of the meat. These were put onto roast and she watched them carefully until they reached the right degree of doneness. She did not want them bloody, nor did she want them to dry out, so she was vigilant to take them off the flame at just the right moment, placing them into a large, covered iron pot that was placed just close enough to keep them warm, but not so close that they would continue to cook. The juices that had come from the meat as it was roasted had been collected in a pan, and would be used as a sipping sauce.
She knew that Fonce was not a big fan of bread, but Ba'atar was, so she also made flatbread for him. She then prepared a tray of various cheese, and some of the fruits from the storage barrels that had survived the trip north. And of course, there was honey. Pots of honey, honey cakes, and some of her roasted, honeyed nuts. Also there would be crocks of freshly churned butter for Ba'atar's bread. It was a simple meal, but one that she hoped would tease the palate of both men.
It was time for her now. A bath was in order. Leaving nithya to keep an eye on the meal, she took juneau with her to the bath wagon to help her to bathe and braid her hair. Her bath was one of the luxuries that she allowed herself. Bathed, dressed and braided, she returned to the fire, still a little curious as to where her little squad of sons was.
Of course, the first order of business was food. Not for her, but for those of her wagons, which included that group of elite Ubar's guards. She fried up stacks of tarsk strips, scrambled eggs with cheese and cream in them, and set it all out with pieces of warm flatbread and they came by and served themselves. She made up plates for the boys and herself and went to their wagon to share the meal with them. While junean got them dressed for the day, she went in search of the solution to her next item on the list.
She knew that Aponi would be a good choice under other circumstances, but she also knew how the man felt about women that were with child, and she just could not see him allowing one close enough to measure him for leathers so she found herself at the leather workers clan wagon looking for Magda. The woman was a bit older, but not so old that she would be repulsive, and she was very good at her work. She carefully explained to the woman what she needed, where the man's wagons were, and that Ba'atar wanted him to have the finest that could be made. So, Magda went off in search of Fonce, her measuring string in hand. The woman was good. She had been making leathers and vests for Ba'atar for many seasons.
Returning to her wagons, she was set upon by her sons wanting some time with her. She finally agreed to take them to the stream, as long as they understood that they would not be getting into the water. Yeah, right. In all honesty, they were not all that bad. The older two ran off a lot of excess energy and Also seemed fascinated by the plants that grew along the banks, and Two, well, he was cranky, but it soon passed. It turned out to be a busy day at the stream. There were those there doing laundry, Siken was getting water, even Fonce showed up to ultimately just nap under the warmth of the rays of the Central Fire. He was distracted, which is expected. She addressed him a few times, but his mind was elsewhere, so she would talk to him some other time.
One thing that amazed her was Ayguili. For someone that is usually so unemotional, he seemed to have a way with the boys. It was hard for her in some ways, to all him near them, but she had to push that reticence down deep, they were his nephews, and he would not harm them, and she needed to not allow her opinions of the man cloud her judgement in allowing him to be near them. Now, does that mean she did not keep a close eye on them? No, she watched them like a hawk, but she would do that with anyone.
Finally she got them all herded together and on the march back to the wagons. One and Another One had weapons practice with Rook, and Also and Two needed their naps. She found herself making promises that she probably would not be keeping that day. One to Tarra to come visit her at her wagons, and another to Falon to go for a ride. She did not think there was going to be enough ahn in this day to do either of those, and she hated herself for making such promises.
She had not been back at the wagons long when one of Ba'atar's men showed up to gather up the boys. As much as she would have liked to have questioned him, she knew better. He simply told her that the Commander wanted the boys to go cheer someone up. This caused her brow to arch and she muttered under her breath. Good luck. She hoped whoever needed cheering up, was good with spirited boys.
With the boys gone, she and juneau fell to cleaning the seating area around their wagon. It was not all that big a chore since they had done the same thing earlier in the hand, but she still wanted everything to look tidy and neat. The furs were beaten to within a hort of their lives, as were the rugs. Again that treasured low table was brought out, arranged near the fire and three saddles were set around it an covered with furs. She hoped that three would be enough, her mate had been rather vague as to how many exactly to expect for dinner. Stepping back, she gazed around the fire and was satisfied that things were as she wanted them. She then went around dropping herbs into the flames to scent the air.
Now, as to the meal? All she had been told was to make something good, then the caveat was added to make bosk strips, lots of them. Obtaining a good cut of bosk, she carefully sliced it into strips and sprinkled them with just enough yellow salt to help to enhance the natural flavor of the meat. These were put onto roast and she watched them carefully until they reached the right degree of doneness. She did not want them bloody, nor did she want them to dry out, so she was vigilant to take them off the flame at just the right moment, placing them into a large, covered iron pot that was placed just close enough to keep them warm, but not so close that they would continue to cook. The juices that had come from the meat as it was roasted had been collected in a pan, and would be used as a sipping sauce.
She knew that Fonce was not a big fan of bread, but Ba'atar was, so she also made flatbread for him. She then prepared a tray of various cheese, and some of the fruits from the storage barrels that had survived the trip north. And of course, there was honey. Pots of honey, honey cakes, and some of her roasted, honeyed nuts. Also there would be crocks of freshly churned butter for Ba'atar's bread. It was a simple meal, but one that she hoped would tease the palate of both men.
It was time for her now. A bath was in order. Leaving nithya to keep an eye on the meal, she took juneau with her to the bath wagon to help her to bathe and braid her hair. Her bath was one of the luxuries that she allowed herself. Bathed, dressed and braided, she returned to the fire, still a little curious as to where her little squad of sons was.
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