Exhaustion had set in. It seemed to ooze from her very pores, to draw like a vapor around her, clouding everything. Lethargy had joined its' friend exhaustion, and they made a fine pair. At that particular moment in time, she felt cast adrift. Things that had always been familiar to her, seemed alien, foreign. Those things that have always kept her grounded, her feet planted firmly on the path of her life, seem to have deserted her, left her to languish in this place between dreams and life as she knew it. The frightening thing was, she just no longer cared.
Quite easily, she felt as if she could just lie there and slowly fade away bit by bit, into the nothingness that gripped her heart. Perhaps she might have done that, had it not been for others that loved her. Those that cared more right now than she did, or cared more than she was capable of.
A thin sliver of light flashes across the sleeping platform as the flaps on the wagon are opened. Shielding her eyes with her arm she asks who it is, and is surprised to hear kasra speaking to her from right beside the furs. Turning her head she squints and questions what she is doing there. As always, there is a calm that radiates from the slave as she explains that her Master, Ayguili had sent her to help, because he was concerned. Moaning, she rolled over and tried to hide her head and rasped out that she was fine. The girl is normally very obedient and respectful, but she takes a bold leap and tells her.......No, you are not fine, but you will be. You have visitors.
She didn't want visitors. But, the girl was adamant. The children were outside and they had worked together to fix a meal for their mother, and if she did not sit up, and allow them in, they would be sorely disappointed.
The children? If there was anything that might pull her out of the doldrums that she had been slowly sinking into, it was her children. The girl helped her to sit up, wash her face and pull her hair into something similar to a braid. Taking a deep breath, she put a smile on her face and told the slave to let them in.
If there was anything that restore her faith and her strength, it was those six precious children that trooped up the steps and into her wagon. Tug was carefully carrying a tray that had a bowl of vulo broth with dumplings floating in it, accompanied by a small bowl of fruit compote, and some buttered bread. He sat it on the furs, and grinned, telling her that they had cooked it themselves. With a bit of help, of course.
Behind him came Another One, holding the hands of his toddling sisters, and the chubby little fists of her daughters each held a small, bouquet of flowers that were thrust up at her, as they too grinned, those gap-toothed grins. Next was Two carrying a jug of cold milk and a cup, followed by Also who also had a clay jar with flowers in it. The jar was set on the chest, the flowers offered by her daughter's went to join the ones that Also had gathered. As she opened her arms, they all seemed to fall into them at once, Tug, Another One and Two taking over the conversation.
In bits and pieces, she had gotten the story, that Tug and Another One, had set the traps for the vulo, with only a tiny bit of help from Rook. She would have to remember to thank him. They had caught two vulos, and Another One seemed to be quite excited because he was the one that got to chop off their heads. He detailed this with great relish, and hand gestures to illustrate exactly how it had been done.
All four boys had helped kasra and juneau to pluck all the feathers off the birds. There had to be thousands of them, you know. The feathers were saved, and maybe they could make something from them. Two had been allowed to put the water into the stewing pot, while the older two had cut the birds up and dropped them in. Also had added the spices..........bits at a time, he said, and stirred.
The slaves had helped Two and Another One to cut the dried fruits and berries up, putting them in another pot to be simmered with sugars and cinnamon. And from the traces of flour she saw that had not been completely cleaned off, they must have all had a hand in the dumplings. Tug had milked the bosk, the girls had watched and fed her flowers and grass.
It was all for her. Pressing her lips together, she managed to blink back the tears that threatened and leaned to give each of them a hug and a kiss, from the oldest down to the two youngest. Then they were all over her.
Eat Mother. We did this just for you, so you must eat.
How could she not? Slowly she ate the soup, relishing ever drop. It was a tiny bit salty, but she didn't even notice. To her, it was seasoned with love, and that is all that mattered. As she ate, they all chattered like that jit of Mezoo's, telling her of what they had been doing the past few days. She had not realized she had been missing so much, and regretted it instantly. She was so touched, that she almost could not speak. This is what her life was about, these children, and making sure they grew up safe and strong. She was reveling in the life that they had brought into the wagon. Or she was until she looked to see Also crouched down beside the wall, watching her with those big brown eyes. And it hit her, suddenly.
What if that evil that lurked in the dark, grew bored with her? What if it decided that it needed something, or someone else to torture? Her heart almost stopped, when she realized that this could happen. She had to do something, and she had to do it now. Quickly she finished the food. Some of it was sticking in her throat that had suddenly constricted with fear, but she managed to get it down, and to put on that happy demeanor again.
Juneau and twist were told to take the children to the stream to play, and kasra was to stay there to help her get cleaned up and dressed. She had a mission. An important mission. Reluctantly they left, but a promise from her to find them later, eased their hesitation, and as children often do, their attention was diverted to the stream, water and mud. What child could resist that.
When they were gone, she got up, washed her face and had kasra to braid her hair, then she was dressed. When did her clothing start hanging off of her body? Had she really lost that much weight? She looked at the tan arm that seemed strangely thin to her, and frowned. This was something she would worry about later.
There was something much more important on her mind now. She had to find the spex. She had to find them NOW!
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