“[Make Of Iron welcome, and make ready for a feast,]” you answer to First. “[We have much to celebrate.]” You know the words are true as you speak them – by any account, the past few weeks have been very successful – but you are still uneasy. The feeling is similar to the twinge you get when you know you are being watched. Part of you expects to be attacked, but you cannot see any immediate danger. You spend the time before the feast brooding in your hut.
All the reserves are pulled out for the feast. Meat, produce, bread, and liquor flow in abundance. The Sunblessed, mothers, and guests congregate in the middle of the village around several large fires. They eat, drink, talk, and dance while the sun sets. Twilight and firelight color everything red-orange, Of Iron is sat a little apart from the others, given space to watch the revelry.
You join the party late and sit down next to Of Iron. The old chief is scanning the area as you approach, but when you come near he stands up to greet you. “[Youngest Joy… I am honored by your presence,]” he says with feeling.
“[It is our honor to welcome you,]” you recite back. “[Do you want for anything?]”
“[No, no… thank you…]” he trails off and starts looking around again. “[…this is… a remarkable community you have made. I have never seen the like before.]”
“[It is the home I wished to have,]” you reply1. Of Iron nods like he understands, but you wonder if he really knows what you meant. If your dreams were a seed, then this place is what sprouted from them. By your will and from your power, you have started to make an idea into a reality.
The two of you sit down, take some food, and watch the party together for a while. Of Iron stays silent, probably waiting to speak first. You also stay silent, because you do not have anything to say. Of Iron cracks first.
“[I heard a rumor that an old friend of mine passed through here…]” he begins, and then pauses to study your face.
“[Grim Hammer? He has been about,]” you grumble. “[The fool tests my patience, skulking around the mothers’ house when I am not here. If he is any friend of yours, you should counsel him to stay away.]” You tear off some meat with your teeth and chew it aggressively.
Of Iron looks surprised. “[I have not seen Grim Hammer in weeks. He left the camp not long after… well, after you brought our clan folk here. I was speaking of Silver Sky.]”
“Hmm.” You finish chewing and swallow. “[The old shaman looked after one of my sons for a while, but he left yesterday. I do not know where he went or when he will be back.]”
“Ah,” responds Of Iron, crestfallen. He looks away from you to accept a jug and some bowls from one of your children. “[That does sound like him. Silver Sky always kept his own counsel.]”
You take a bowl yourself and pour yourself some kumis from the jug. A sip, and then a long drink, puts a smile on your face. “[Well, forget him. This night is for us!]” You stand up and shout the last part, raising a hand (and a jug) for silence. After a few moments, the noise of the celebration dies down as everyone turns to look at you.
“[Children, guests… this night is for us!]” you repeat. There is a brief cheer before you speak again. “[We have fulfilled our pact and proves ourselves in the hunt. We have come through another year rich, successful, and strong. Most importantly, we have made friends.]”
You wave and gesture at Of Iron, urging him to join you. After a slight pause, the Wanderers’ chief stands up beside you and raises his bowl. “[May we grow ever more prosperous together,]” he intones. “[To good health!]” Everyone drinks, and the evening goes on.
1
When the fires have died down and you have had your fill, you slowly make your way back to your hut. Of Iron left sometime before, saying he was tired.2 The other Sunblessed have dispersed, ready to sleep off the festivities. A half-moon and a clear night means there is more than enough light for you to see.
You pass the mothers’ house and turn, then chuckle to yourself when you realize you are going the wrong way. You start to turn again, but pause when you notice a couple of silhouettes moving ahead of you. You squint to see better, and your vision sharpens.
It is a man – Dark Earth, you can tell by the shoulders3 – and a woman you do not recognize immediately. She is close to him in height and breadth. She does not have the braids common to the Sunblessed. Of Iron only brought a few men with him. Finally the pieces come together in your head and you realize she must be one of the mothers. What is her name...?
They are walking very close together, heading away from the village towards the woods. Dark Earth reaches towards her, and she dances away. She is holding a jug over her head and giggling. He comes closer, makes to reach up for the jug, then suddenly throws his hand in another direction and starts tickling under her breasts. She squeals and drops her arms, then giggles again and pulls him to her. They wrap around each other and start to kiss.
…
3
All the reserves are pulled out for the feast. Meat, produce, bread, and liquor flow in abundance. The Sunblessed, mothers, and guests congregate in the middle of the village around several large fires. They eat, drink, talk, and dance while the sun sets. Twilight and firelight color everything red-orange, Of Iron is sat a little apart from the others, given space to watch the revelry.
You join the party late and sit down next to Of Iron. The old chief is scanning the area as you approach, but when you come near he stands up to greet you. “[Youngest Joy… I am honored by your presence,]” he says with feeling.
“[It is our honor to welcome you,]” you recite back. “[Do you want for anything?]”
“[No, no… thank you…]” he trails off and starts looking around again. “[…this is… a remarkable community you have made. I have never seen the like before.]”
“[It is the home I wished to have,]” you reply1. Of Iron nods like he understands, but you wonder if he really knows what you meant. If your dreams were a seed, then this place is what sprouted from them. By your will and from your power, you have started to make an idea into a reality.
The two of you sit down, take some food, and watch the party together for a while. Of Iron stays silent, probably waiting to speak first. You also stay silent, because you do not have anything to say. Of Iron cracks first.
“[I heard a rumor that an old friend of mine passed through here…]” he begins, and then pauses to study your face.
“[Grim Hammer? He has been about,]” you grumble. “[The fool tests my patience, skulking around the mothers’ house when I am not here. If he is any friend of yours, you should counsel him to stay away.]” You tear off some meat with your teeth and chew it aggressively.
Of Iron looks surprised. “[I have not seen Grim Hammer in weeks. He left the camp not long after… well, after you brought our clan folk here. I was speaking of Silver Sky.]”
“Hmm.” You finish chewing and swallow. “[The old shaman looked after one of my sons for a while, but he left yesterday. I do not know where he went or when he will be back.]”
“Ah,” responds Of Iron, crestfallen. He looks away from you to accept a jug and some bowls from one of your children. “[That does sound like him. Silver Sky always kept his own counsel.]”
You take a bowl yourself and pour yourself some kumis from the jug. A sip, and then a long drink, puts a smile on your face. “[Well, forget him. This night is for us!]” You stand up and shout the last part, raising a hand (and a jug) for silence. After a few moments, the noise of the celebration dies down as everyone turns to look at you.
“[Children, guests… this night is for us!]” you repeat. There is a brief cheer before you speak again. “[We have fulfilled our pact and proves ourselves in the hunt. We have come through another year rich, successful, and strong. Most importantly, we have made friends.]”
You wave and gesture at Of Iron, urging him to join you. After a slight pause, the Wanderers’ chief stands up beside you and raises his bowl. “[May we grow ever more prosperous together,]” he intones. “[To good health!]” Everyone drinks, and the evening goes on.
1
When the fires have died down and you have had your fill, you slowly make your way back to your hut. Of Iron left sometime before, saying he was tired.2 The other Sunblessed have dispersed, ready to sleep off the festivities. A half-moon and a clear night means there is more than enough light for you to see.
You pass the mothers’ house and turn, then chuckle to yourself when you realize you are going the wrong way. You start to turn again, but pause when you notice a couple of silhouettes moving ahead of you. You squint to see better, and your vision sharpens.
It is a man – Dark Earth, you can tell by the shoulders3 – and a woman you do not recognize immediately. She is close to him in height and breadth. She does not have the braids common to the Sunblessed. Of Iron only brought a few men with him. Finally the pieces come together in your head and you realize she must be one of the mothers. What is her name...?
They are walking very close together, heading away from the village towards the woods. Dark Earth reaches towards her, and she dances away. She is holding a jug over her head and giggling. He comes closer, makes to reach up for the jug, then suddenly throws his hand in another direction and starts tickling under her breasts. She squeals and drops her arms, then giggles again and pulls him to her. They wrap around each other and start to kiss.
…
- Interrupt them.
- Leave them alone.
- Something else?
3
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