She was up early, for she had much on her mind and much to accomplish today. Her first stop was at that pink nightmare wagon where she sough Silken to no avail. She then made stops at the wagons of the iron master and his mate, Kaeli, with the same results. Tarra had already told them that Falon was working out in the outer wagons, so that was a dry stream too. None of that was going to deter her today. She was on a mission, and before the Central Fire sank below the horizon, she will have accomplished it.
With he help of the slaves, she managed to get all six children bathed, dressed and clean at the same time. Have you ever considered exactly what an undertaking that is, especially when four of the six are boys that by nature seem to find dirt? They finally managed it. So, with a baby on each hip, the four boys trailing along under the watchful eyes of juneau and twist, where were there to help keep them corralled, she sat off with determined steps to the fires of the Healer's Clan.
Arriving there she was met by someone that she was familiar with, the elder healer Tatoonie. The woman was gracious to a fault, and asked what was needed. She explained what her mate was wanting done, and almost before she knew it, the girls were taken from her by another healer, and yet another one gathered the boys up and began inspecting them, and Tatoonie, herself motioned to a wagon where they would have privacy for her examination.
She found she liked the woman, and respected her way of doing things, and the observations that she made. They discussed her overall health, her pregnancies, and her mental well being. She was pronounced as healthy as a woman of her age could be, but the woman did agree that waiting before having another child was a wise decision for her and the Ubar to make. They discussed the siproot, and she had told the woman that Tarra had sent some over to her. Tatoonie explained to her how to chew it, how often, and the time line of when she would need to stop chewing it, if she wanted to get pregnant. When they had finished, she felt informed and relieved.
Stepping out, she had answered questions from another woman about how small the girls had been at birth. The woman seemed very pleased at the progress they had made, the weight they had put on, and in how strong and alert they were. This too was a relief to her.
All in all, the children were all pronounced to be in good health. There was an older man holding Also, and she went to sit on the platform next to him and asked what he thought of her son. He thought he was fine, good and healthy. He gave her a slant of a look and told her that she has come a long way from the young girl that had studied at these fires at one time, long ago. He also told her that he was pleased that she had found her path and followed it. She could not help but smile as she then remembered the man from her time here.
She did feel compelled to voice Ba'atar's concerns that something was wrong with Also because he did not talk much. It was Tatoonie that grunted at that. Looking over to the woman her brow had lifted, and she asked if she saw a problem. What she heard next, actually made her laugh gently. Tatoonie spoke in that forthright way of hers.
"You remind the Ubar that I was the one that took care of him and his brothers when they were children, he will know who I am. And you can also remind him that he was not all that quick to talk himself. But, he really had no need to, because that mother of his was there to anticipate his every need and whim. But when he did begin to talk, I am not sure he has stopped since that moment."
The older man that was holding Also grunted and told her that he found Also to be very intelligent, and agreed with Tatoonie, as of yet he didn't have anything to say, but that did not mean there was anything wrong with him. In fact, quite the contrary.
Leaving the fires, she felt much better, much relieved. And, she found she enjoyed the time there, and it brought back memories of her short time there when she was younger.
Returning to her wagons, the boys were changed into older clothes that would not be damaged by their daily rounds of play and fighting. Rook took One and Another One off to see to some traps he had set, Also contented himself with sitting on the blanket with the girls, entertaining they with a length of string that had a soft bag of verr wool tied to the end of it, and Two found his own entertainment in helping twist beat and air the furs.
Taking out the siproot that Tarra had sent her, she turned it over in her hands, nose wrinkling. It was a vile looking thing. When juneau saw her intent, she had reached out to still her hand, and begged her to wait just a couple of ihn. Up on her feet, the slave went to make a mug of tea that had extra honey in it. Returning to her feet, she offered it up, and explained quietly that the Mistress would thank her for this.
Cutting off a couple of slivers of the nasty looking root, she put them into her mouth and began to chew and was immediately assaulted by the bitter taste. The texture was woody, and the more she chewed, the woodier it got. Finally she choked it down and reached for the mug of tea to wash it down with. And juneau was right, she was totally thankful that the girl had made the offering and leaned to kiss her brow to show that.
Taking out her counting beads, she strung one single bead on the strand. For now, they would help her to keep track of something different, of the days between the root.
Tucking the beads away, she looked up to see Hallie running towards her all excited. Tone was down. It was time for her to give birth. Grasping Hallie's hand, they both ran towards the pens to witness the birth, and to be there in case something went wrong. She did not think Ba'atar would be real pleased if he lost his favored mount in giving birth to a foal.
With he help of the slaves, she managed to get all six children bathed, dressed and clean at the same time. Have you ever considered exactly what an undertaking that is, especially when four of the six are boys that by nature seem to find dirt? They finally managed it. So, with a baby on each hip, the four boys trailing along under the watchful eyes of juneau and twist, where were there to help keep them corralled, she sat off with determined steps to the fires of the Healer's Clan.
Arriving there she was met by someone that she was familiar with, the elder healer Tatoonie. The woman was gracious to a fault, and asked what was needed. She explained what her mate was wanting done, and almost before she knew it, the girls were taken from her by another healer, and yet another one gathered the boys up and began inspecting them, and Tatoonie, herself motioned to a wagon where they would have privacy for her examination.
She found she liked the woman, and respected her way of doing things, and the observations that she made. They discussed her overall health, her pregnancies, and her mental well being. She was pronounced as healthy as a woman of her age could be, but the woman did agree that waiting before having another child was a wise decision for her and the Ubar to make. They discussed the siproot, and she had told the woman that Tarra had sent some over to her. Tatoonie explained to her how to chew it, how often, and the time line of when she would need to stop chewing it, if she wanted to get pregnant. When they had finished, she felt informed and relieved.
Stepping out, she had answered questions from another woman about how small the girls had been at birth. The woman seemed very pleased at the progress they had made, the weight they had put on, and in how strong and alert they were. This too was a relief to her.
All in all, the children were all pronounced to be in good health. There was an older man holding Also, and she went to sit on the platform next to him and asked what he thought of her son. He thought he was fine, good and healthy. He gave her a slant of a look and told her that she has come a long way from the young girl that had studied at these fires at one time, long ago. He also told her that he was pleased that she had found her path and followed it. She could not help but smile as she then remembered the man from her time here.
She did feel compelled to voice Ba'atar's concerns that something was wrong with Also because he did not talk much. It was Tatoonie that grunted at that. Looking over to the woman her brow had lifted, and she asked if she saw a problem. What she heard next, actually made her laugh gently. Tatoonie spoke in that forthright way of hers.
"You remind the Ubar that I was the one that took care of him and his brothers when they were children, he will know who I am. And you can also remind him that he was not all that quick to talk himself. But, he really had no need to, because that mother of his was there to anticipate his every need and whim. But when he did begin to talk, I am not sure he has stopped since that moment."
The older man that was holding Also grunted and told her that he found Also to be very intelligent, and agreed with Tatoonie, as of yet he didn't have anything to say, but that did not mean there was anything wrong with him. In fact, quite the contrary.
Leaving the fires, she felt much better, much relieved. And, she found she enjoyed the time there, and it brought back memories of her short time there when she was younger.
Returning to her wagons, the boys were changed into older clothes that would not be damaged by their daily rounds of play and fighting. Rook took One and Another One off to see to some traps he had set, Also contented himself with sitting on the blanket with the girls, entertaining they with a length of string that had a soft bag of verr wool tied to the end of it, and Two found his own entertainment in helping twist beat and air the furs.
Taking out the siproot that Tarra had sent her, she turned it over in her hands, nose wrinkling. It was a vile looking thing. When juneau saw her intent, she had reached out to still her hand, and begged her to wait just a couple of ihn. Up on her feet, the slave went to make a mug of tea that had extra honey in it. Returning to her feet, she offered it up, and explained quietly that the Mistress would thank her for this.
Cutting off a couple of slivers of the nasty looking root, she put them into her mouth and began to chew and was immediately assaulted by the bitter taste. The texture was woody, and the more she chewed, the woodier it got. Finally she choked it down and reached for the mug of tea to wash it down with. And juneau was right, she was totally thankful that the girl had made the offering and leaned to kiss her brow to show that.
Taking out her counting beads, she strung one single bead on the strand. For now, they would help her to keep track of something different, of the days between the root.
Tucking the beads away, she looked up to see Hallie running towards her all excited. Tone was down. It was time for her to give birth. Grasping Hallie's hand, they both ran towards the pens to witness the birth, and to be there in case something went wrong. She did not think Ba'atar would be real pleased if he lost his favored mount in giving birth to a foal.
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