Work. That was the key. She had not rested well, there had been too many things on her mind, so she was up early. There was not much she could do but bury herself in her clan work.
Her first task of the morning was tending to Davu. Approaching him, her hand reached out to stroke his neck as she spoke softly to him. It was a mixture of words, clicks of her tongue and soft growls. One baleful eye looked at her, but he relaxed, allowed her closer. They seemed to have an innate sense that she meant them no harm. Kaiila were much more intelligent that same gave them credit for being. She continued to talk to him in a calm, reassuring tone as she crouched down, opened her pack and took out the jar of oil and the bits of verr wool. Carefully she massaged the oil into his joints then tied the pieces of wool around them as added protection and insulation. He was an old beast, and probably his days of carrying Aponi for long rides on the plains were well over, but he was not quite ready to be put down. She would tell Apoini that when the time came, she would do it.
The rest of her day was spent in minor injuries, cutting nails, cleaning caked mud and grass from between clawed toes. They were menial tasks that gave her plenty of time to think, which really wasn't what she needed, but it was there. A realization came to her. He could keep her from their wagons, he could even keep her from her sons if he took a mind to. But, he could not keep her from the circle of the first fires. Or could he? He was Ubar, after all. She had fought hard and long to earn her place at those wagons, and she did not intend to relinquish it so easily. She would return, and if he exiled her from them too? Well, she just did not know.
In the afternoon, she sat eating a meager meal of some dried meats she found in the clan wagon, choking it down with sips of water from a bota. Rook has materialized to check on her and she assured him that she was fine. She wasn't, but how she was really feeling would be kept a well guarded secret. He tried to feel her out, and she has just quietly told him that she was fine and would work this out on her own. Her only request of him, was to have juneau to bring her some clothing, if they thought it would not get her into too much trouble. The rest of the time was spent thinking about her sons, how they were doing, who was seeing that they were fed, bathed and in their furs at a decent time. Who was nursing the baby? All of these things tumbled around in her head constantly.
When the slave arrived with a bundle of clothing, she was probably happier to see her than the girl knew. She began to prod her gently as to how the boys were, and the girl stared down at the ground, replying softly that the Master did not want a slave around his sons that had been tainted by a woman. Why did that not surprise her? She had touched the girls hair and told her to go back to the wagons, to do her chores and to stay out of his way as much as possible. Now, juneau had never been a slave to offer all that much affection, but today she did. Leaning over, she kissed her boots and muttered low. I hope you return soon Mistress. She then jumped up and ran away. Watching her go, she whispered softly…."So do I girl, so do I"
No comments:
Post a Comment