Book One: Chapter Seven

The leaves were starting to turn from green to yellow on the tall oak trees that surrounded Bausheiv manor. The grass was fading from its vibrant green, and the weather was becoming colder. 

The wind that blew through the small window at the top of the manor wall caused a faint whistle. Through the window against the adjacent wall of the room one could see a bed with enough space for at least three average-size adults. It was supported in each corner by thick wood posts and was surrounded by brown stylized flower pattern curtains. Near the headboard was a bedside table and at the foot of the bed was a chest of dark brown lumber. On one side of the mattress was Suetaera, who awoke with a yawn and opened her monolidded cobalt blue eyes. There was a small fireplace dimly burning in the stone wall across from the bed with a protective black metal shield. Above the slate mantle was a dark faded tapestry of a creature with the body of a horse and where a head would normally be was the upper half of a human with a bestial visage and horns. It was surrounded by knights and it was wounded with many arrows. In the corners of the room were large ornamental pots with Deiru speirelblum and leaf designs wrapped around. Except for the left corner facing away from the bed. In that location was a wardrobe made of light wood. A man with a thick black beard stood in a sleeping gown. He stripped naked, dressing in silence in front of the wardrobe. Suetaera looked at his bare body briefly, then closed her eyes and quickly drifted back to sleep. Some time later she was awoken again, this time by a baby crying incessantly and a knock on the door. 

"Come in," she said.

A young woman with light olive skin, thick lips and very long straight black hair entered, a baby held in the crook of her arm. She wore a long white linen nightgown that reached her ankles and she was sleepily bouncing the child in an attempt to calm it. 

"Sister Suete," she said quietly. "Could you get the wet nurse for me? I fed him all night and he still wants more. He won't let me sleep."

“Yes Huega."

Suetaera got up from bed, dressed in a similar white nightgown. She carefully took the baby from Huega. Suetaera brought the wailing child into the dim great hall. The fire in the hearth was down to embers.

"Femuh?!” she called out. A moment passed and she called again. An older and shorter woman with a large nose and round face came across the room. She wore a long unbleached nightgown and her hair was tucked beneath a nightcap. She had sun-tanned skin and her almond shaped brown eyes peered at Suetaera expectantly.

“Yes, Mistress?" she asked, parting her lips with a weary sigh.

 "I believe Gienmeid is hungry,” was her drowsy reply. 

"Hand him to me."

Suetaera carefully passed the child to the servant who held the crying boy in the crook of her arm. She followed Suetaera, back into her room and unceremoniously unbuttoned her blouse and squeezed her pale breast to the young boy's lips. He suddenly stopped crying and began to suckle her large dark nipple. 

Suetaera removed her nightgown, and laid it on the bed. She had a mature body that puberty was done with, characterized by wide hips and small breasts. Although she wasn't very tall, her brown hair was long, nearly to her waist. From the wardrobe she put on two white petticoats and looked over her clothing options. She finally decided on a long maroon blouse with a high collar and a mossy blue-gray skirt that reached her ankles. After putting on all of her layers, she laced up soft leather boots just below her knees, and covered by the long dress. 

"Suetaera, shall I take the babe back to Lady Huega?"

"Yes, if he's sleeping again."

Quiet were her footfalls, despite how quickly she left the bedroom towards the great hall where a small gathering of people set around the fire, warming themselves as the sun began to rise outside. Suetaera picked up a rosy-cheeked toddler playing with a small wood and cloth doll who squealed with delight. 

Lord Edvin was speaking to one of the serfs in the hall. His olive complexion looked blue in the shadows and his wavy gray hair that hung to his shoulders was covered in a floppy hat with a plume. Martein, Lord Edvin’s eldest, sat on the bench in front of the fire, silently dozing in a sitting position. The young girl tugged on Suetaera's sleeve.

“unty, I’m hungry,” she said. 

“Soon Ielsei,” Suetaera said, bouncing the child on her knee.

“Suetaera we're ready for you," said a man from the kitchen.

"Very well," she replied. She took the girl from her knee and set her down on the carpet, although she started crying. 

“Unty Suete.”

“Sorry honey, but aunty has to go help with breakfast. You can ask Femuh to feed you, ok?”

“No,” she said with a petulant frown.

Suetaera caught the servant's eyes as she strode across the hall towards the kitchens.

"Ielsei also needs feeding.

“Yes Mistress,” Femuh replied, walking towards the toddler.

Suetaera left the great hall and entered the kitchens. There was a knock at the front of the manor. One of the servants opened the door with a reverent bow and kind welcome. The Meikell twins and their father walked in. The twins were wearing identical clothes, pink cloth with blue spiral patterns covered them, but with large cut outs for the arms revealing a thick maroon dress beneath in the typical style of their region, covering wrists, ankles and up to their neck. Shiny decorative bronze bands wrapped around their upper arms and their hair was pulled back beneath a white pinned wimple. Deinmag wore a long dark blue tunic with gold colored circle patterns belted with leather and wrapped in an open forest green coat. Atop his head was a floppy blue hat with a long plume.

The Viscount and his daughters moved to the fireplace where several other nobles were waiting and the Bailiff of the manor.

“Nas daina, Ishdermein,” Deinmag said.

“Nas daina, Viscount Deinmag.”

“Nas daina, Ishdermein,” the twins said in conjunction.

“Nas daina, Adalla. Nas daina, Allora. Viscount, I was not expecting you. Last I saw you was during Mitryarfaer last week. How might I help you?”

"Is Lord Edvin present?" Deinmag asked.

"He is on the grounds. Shall I get him for you?"

"Yes, we have business to discuss."

The twins leaned against one of the seats together, quiet.

The kitchen door opened with a platter of orange colored soups. Suetaera came in from the kitchen with a plate of gray bread. The twins stood up from the fireside bench, and ran towards Suetaera eagerly.

“Come now twins, now is not the time for the squeals of little girls,” Deinmag said with disdain. 

The twins turned back to seats on the opposite side of the large supper table with sad looks and sat down. All ate of the soup, using bread to sop up the thin broth. The twins gazed fondly at their cousin and waited impatiently until all of a sudden the sturdy front manor door opened, and one of the servants approached the Viscount, bowing slightly.

“My Lord where is Lord Edvin or Master Ishdermein? A Kabrate has been spotted only a few leagues from here."

Allora drew a sharp breath. There were whispers and concerned voices across the table.

“Now let's be calm,” Deinmag said loudly. “Servant I know not where the Bailiff or Lord Edvin are located. I sent Ishdermein for Lord Edvin, but he has not come. Find them for me."

“Certainly Viscount,” the nearby servant replied.

Those at the table started talking about the Kabrates in harsh whispers. As their father left the table, the twins and Suetaera came together near the fireplace.

“Cousins,” Suetaera said with a smile and they all hugged.

“What sort of Kabrate do you think is out there?”

“I know not,” Suetaera replied honestly. “But maybe a Kahzri. My husband said that he saw one the other day running through the woods.”

“What do they look like?” Allora asked.

“Those are the cow-ones?” Adalla asked.

“No, no,” Suetaera said. “They have four hooved legs, but with a man's torso attached. There’s a tapestry of one in my bedroom.”

“Like in that story the traveler was telling at our manor. The ones with horns,” Adalla said knowingly.

“Can we go to your room?” Allora asked with a yawn. “I’m still tired.”

“Sure, you can sleep on our bed.”

They walked down to an opening in the main hall which led to a short passage with several doors and a narrow window. They went to the end and Suetaera turned the handle, opening up her bedroom. She kicked off her wooden pattens and crawled up onto the large four-post bed. The twins followed suit. Allora grabbed a pillow and set her head down on it.

“Did you dance with any other boys at the wedding after I left?”

“A few,” Adalla said.

“You and Allora are so lucky,” Suetaera said, putting her hand to Adalla’s chin. Adalla turned from her hand with a sigh. “I don’t know how you got so pretty when your parents are so plain,” she said with a shake of her head.

“Stop it,” Adalla laughed. “You are pretty too. But I wish we had your figure so mother wouldn’t chastise us.”

“She still does that huh?”

“She says eating too many vegetables is causing our bodies to grow in lustful ways,” she said.

Suetaera laughed.

“What?”

“Parents don’t know everything you know.”

“We do like vegetables though. Maybe that’s why our bodies keep growing that way.”

“I like vegetables, but our bodies aren’t the same,” she said, patting Adalla’s rump.

“Suete!” Adalla said, fending off her cousin’s hand. Suetaera tried to grab each of her cousin’s by the rear. They struggled and giggled, just as there was a knock on the door.

The girls were quiet and sat up as Suetaera said-

“Come in.” 

The door came open, and a tall, fat servant girl with a few younger children ranging from about 3 to 10 years old entered.

“Mistress Suetaera, the Bailiff asked me to bring the children here while they are out hunting for the Kabrate. I’ll be back with my mother to help. She’s assisting Lady Ortanda.”

“I see, Seikerden. We’ll watch the children until you return,” she replied. 

“I hope father will be ok,” Allora sighed. 

Suetaera got off the bed and the servant placed the baby Gienmeid into her arms. Then she left with a quick bow of her head.

"Wait before you leave, do you like eating vegetables?"

"Yes, I do mistress. Why?"

"No reason."

"Then I take my leave," Seikerden said, and left, closing the door behind.

"See, vegetables have nothing to do with your body."

"I guess," Adalla conceded. “But how many vegetables does she eat?”

"I don’t- nevermind," Suetaera said with a dismissive hand wave. She looked outside at the sky, seeing the sun about halfway from the horizon and high noon. “It’s getting late. I do wish this Kabrate hadn’t come. I was supposed to… go to the village to pick up a few things.”

One of the little girls held a canvas doll filled with straw, while a few of the boys played swords with sticks.

Suetaera held the baby close.

“He's getting so big. How are you Gienmeid?” Adalla asked, putting her finger between the child's eyes.

He cooed softly.

"Do you want to hold him?" Suetaera asked.

"Ok. When are you going to have your own?”

“Soon if my husband has his way,” she said. “He has wanted a boy for a while,” she said. “He’s been so busy that we haven’t had time.”

Adalla nodded.

“My mother had her first child when she was 15, and I’m almost 19,” Suetaera said. “I don’t know if I’m ready yet.” She breathed a heavy sigh. “So has Allora seen Deik was it, since last we met?” Suetaera asked.

“A few nights ago,” Adalla said plainly. “For a betrothed woman, Allora is getting quite familiar with him,” she said with an accusatory tone.

“Adalla, don’t be like that,” Allora replied with a high, complaining tone.

“Ooo, tell me all about it. I miss being able to talk to you two every day. That was such great fun when you were here.”

“Yes, when we were ladies-in-waiting,” Adalla said.

“I know, we haven't had much time to talk since I was married,” she said.

“And soon Allora will be too,” Adalla said with a frown.

“We should have fun while we still can,” Suetaera said.

“Yes,” Allora exclaimed. “We could play that knight and princess game!” Allora said with glee.

“Princess!” a girl nearby squealed with mirth.

“Not so loud Deidre,” Suetaera laughed. We’re hiding in here. “We don’t want the Kabrates to find us, remember?”

“Shhh,” Deidre put her fingers to her lips.

“That’s right.”

“Its been so long since we played that game.” Suetaera said. “I hardly ever got to be the princess.”

“Allora cried if she wasn’t picked,” Adalla said.

“No I didn’t.”

The other two laughed.

“Anyway, I’d rather talk more about Deik,” Suetaera said with a grin. “What else has happened?”

“Well… he’s… he’s just a friend,” she stuttered.

“Right..,” Adalla said dubiously. “They held hands.”

“Ooo,” Suetaera said with a laugh. “So how old is he? A man or just a boy?”

“He’s about… the same age as myself I suppose,” Allora said with hands raised as if she was struggling to find words. “So maybe fifteen or sixteen?” she shrugged.

“Yes,” Adalla nodded in agreement.

“That’s ok,” she said. "Does he have a beard yet?"

"Well… not really."

“Why do you like him?”

“I don’t know…” Allora smiled in embarrassment.

“You’re turning all red,” Suetaera said with glee.

“Well,” Allora began quietly. “He was really sweet. He gave me compliments and stuff,” she said.

“How’s that different than other boys though?”

“Well, I mean, he’s the only one that’s followed me home.”

“I thought one of the boys from the village was courting you last year,” Suetaera laughed.

“No, that boy was courting me,” Adalla corrected.

“Oh,” Suetaera sighed.

“He came back even after I told him I was betrothed, and, wel…l I don’t know I just feel different around him.”

“You love him!” Suetaera said.

“No I don’t,” she retorted quickly.

“You said you did,” Adalla said.

“No. Well, I don’t know. It just feels different,” she said.

“Well it may be a just a sumdecra,” Suetaera said. “But have fun with it.”

“A what?” Adalla questioned with a furrowed brow.

“A sumdecra. Its like a..,” she twirled her hand around. “I don’t know it is when you… like a guy for a little while and then it just goes away, because it isn’t real love. It’s fleeting.”

“It just goes away?” Allora lamented.

“Sometimes,” she laughed softly. “How about you Adalla, any new boys chasing you around?” she winked.

“No, although a few asked for my hand at the wedding,” she said.

“Again?”

“Yes, I get tired of it.”

“Yeah, but its fun when you have men after you.”

“Well. I- its not proper,” Adalla said.

“You like it too,” she smiled. “You’re really bad at hiding it,” Suetaera said, rubbing Adalla’s beautiful face with her fingers.

“No,” she said, turning a little red.

Just then there was the sound of hooves.

"Adalla, could you boost me up? I want to see," her sister pointed to the window.

"Sure."

Her sister went carefully to one knee, on the bedroom floor covered in rushes. Allora stepped up onto her sister's raised knee and then up onto her shoulders.

"Stand up, it's not high enough," Allora ordered.

"Give me a moment..." 

She stood up slowly, bracing herself against Suetaera and the wall.

"Ow you're heavier than I remember," Adalla said.

"I weigh as much as you."

"We're heavy then."

When Adalla was at her full height Allora could clearly see out the window.

She peered through the opening and saw men yelling, holding out swords and bows. A Kahzri, the creature depicted in the tapestry, trotted into view. Leather, beads and other jewelry hung from his neck, wrists and waist, but other than that, he was naked.

"Oh!" She said.

"Do you see it?"

"Yes it's big," Allora said with surprise.

"Don't move so much," Adalla complained.

"What is it?"

“It’s a horse-man."

"More like a goat man,” Suetaera said with excitement, patting Adalla's head.

"Not now."

The children were screaming as one boy took another one’s doll.

“What is it doing?” Adalla asked.

“Shhh, I can’t hear what they are saying!” Suetaera yelled at the kids. They didn’t heed the young woman. They couldn’t hear much above the screams of the children. To Allora it looked like the beast and her Father were having a conversation.

“Leave this place dirty Kabrate, or we will be forced to slay you,” Viscount Deinmag said from behind serfs, their spears pointed towards the hooved beast. Two other men with thick leather armor stood with swords and shields. They shook slightly in fear.

“Please..” the Kahzri began in a deep voice, “We wan, want only to.. to sarch for frand.”

“I care not for what you desire. Go now,” said Ishdermein. He was on a horse next to the Viscount. His sword thrust towards the Ferdmane. “Flee or die!” he said plainly.

The four-legged being backed up slowly and then reared up with a roar before turning and galloping away. The shout caused Allora to leane back in fright and become off balance. Adalla tried to keep her sister upright, but was unsuccessful when she tripped over a young boy. She fell back and Allora fell down with a crash onto the bed. There was a faint crack as if something may have broken in the bed or on Allora.

“Are you ok?” Suetaera asked with concern.

“It was so big!” Allora exclaimed. "It ran off when your husband threatened it with a sword."

“It won’t come back will it?” Adalla asked.

“Probably not,” Suetaera replied.

“You haven't seen a Kabrate before?” Adalla asked.

“I’ve seen one of the female cow-monsters before in a cage. When we were little I thought they were made up by our parents to scare us,” Suetaera confessed.

“Why would they do that?” Allora asked.

“Parents don’t always tell the truth,” Suetaera said.

“My mother doesn’t lie,” Adalla said.

“Even your mother,” Suetaera said. “Everyone lies.”

“Have you told them about your Deiky?” Suetaera asked. “Have you been lying to them?”

“No... I mean they never asked.”

“And you’d tell them if they’d ask?”

“Yes…”

“You would? Truly?” Suetaera laughed.

Then there was a click as the door opened. 

“Everything is fine,” the man with the thick black beard said. He was average height and built, but had an attractive face characterized by cobalt blue monolidded eyes.

“Yes husband, the kids were playing the whole time,” Suetaera said with a smile. “Can we go outside?”

“We have chased off the Kabrate,” he replied. “But please stay inside until we know it’s safe.”

“Will it be soon?” Suetaera asked. “I need to go to the village to pick up some things.”

“I can get one of the serfs to do that for you,” he said.

“No, it’s difficult to explain what I need.”

“Woman, thou will not go out today, and that’s final,” he said, walking away.

The girls looked at each other with blank faces. Suetaera and the twins stayed in the bedroom, but the children ran out into the main hall where they began playing.

“Have you two ever seen a Kabrate before?” Suetaera asked, breaking the silence.

“Well, there wa…” there was a faint whistling sound from outside the window and Suetaera turned her head quickly.

“What is it?” Adalla asked.

“Did you hear that?” Suetaera said.

“No, what was it?” Allora said.

“Hmm nothing I just thought…” there was another whistling that sounded a bit like a bird followed by another birdcall, this time of a completely different bird. The sounds were very distinctive, and if one listened closely, in a pattern that repeated.

“It’s just a sparrow or something, maybe-”

“Umm sorry Adalla, but I just remembered I.. I need to go out and feed Stony.” Suetaera said with resolve.

“Ooo let us come,” Adalla replied.

“No,” she replied. “I mean I forgot and if my mother-in-law finds out I didn’t feed her this morning she’ll complain to my husband. And he asked us not to leave. So if you see him, tell her that I went to the outhouse and wasn’t feeling well, but not to send anyone out to get me, I just want to be alone ok?”

“Umm… ok,” Adalla said. “But what about the Kabrate?”

“I’ll go tell him myself,” Suetaera said, grabbing a cloak from the wardrobe. She peered down the hall and pulled the hood over her head before she left. Adalla and Allora sat on the bed relaxing.

Suetaera had hidden her face with the hood and now peered into the great hall from the corridor. She lay in waiting until she saw her husband enter the kitchen, and then she walked quickly towards the front doors. She speedily went through, and ran along the wall towards the back. She looked around the landscape as she heard another birdcall. Ducking low, she skulked towards the sound. As she crossed the edge of a copse of live oak trees she heard her name whispered.

“Suetaera.”

"Ogunof, where are you?"

"Over here," a voice said deeper in the grouping of trees.

Suetaera walked carefully and then saw an arm pop out from behind an oak trunk and beckon her closer. She moved around the tree to see a tall young man with a scruffy beard. His short black hair was cut horizontally above his ears, hitting the top of his faint eyebrows and above his cobalt blue monolidded eyes. He wore leather pants and a thick wool tunic. Suetaera was suddenly pulled close by him, as he nuzzled her neck and smelt her deeply as if her scent was intoxicating.

“I need to go, my husba-” Suetaera began, but was silenced as Ogunof pressed his hand against her mouth. She pulled it away. "Ogunof-" Then he pulled up her dress exposing her thick legs. “My husband thinks I’m back in the house.”

“Why did you come here if not to scrump?" He said with a cocked grin. He unbuckled his belt and pulled down his leather pants. His penis sprang up from between his legs, already hard and pointing towards her. A faint smile flashed across her face and then was gone.

“That’s what you came here for, I only wanted to tell you-”

He felt between her legs.

“You’re moist, ready for-”

“Shut it,” she said, putting her hand over his mouth. “Just go quickly,” she said, with a sigh. She lay down on the grassy ground and he knelt in front of her. Thick skirts were pulled up high, and soon the cries and grunts of wanton pleasure and young flesh thrusting together filled the air.

Back at the manor, the twins were laying down on the bed next to the girl Deirdre.

"I'm not tired," Adalla said softly. "Do you want to play a game?"

"Alright, let's play Princess."

"If you want," Adalla said, standing up beside the bed.

"No I'll be the prince this time," Allora said

"Really?"

“Yeah,” she said, also standing up beside the bed.

“No, Allora, you make a great princess.”

“You think so?”

Bailiff Bausheiv suddenly entered the room.

“Twins, where is your cousin Suetaera?” 

Suetaera straightened her dress while looking at Ogunof’s supine body. He lay nude on his clothing, his athletic body beaded with sweat with a thin carpet of black hair from the chest, across his abdominals, and down to his genitals.

“I have to go,” she said shortly.

“When shall I see you again?” He said, sitting up.

“I’m not sure we should have done this again,” she said looking down.

“Didn’t you enjoy it?” he asked.

“You didn't last long,” she quipped with a smile.

"Didn't you tell me to hurry?" He retorted.

"Still, that was too fast."

"I can go again," he assured her, grabbing her wrist. She wrenched her hand free.

"No, I need to get back before my husband notices I'm missing.” She tied her belt around her skirts, and he lay back, his arms folded behind his head with a large grin on his face, still nude as the day he was born.

She got up with a sigh and left, leaving him there in that small copse of trees.

Lord Ishdermein walked in the back of the manor towards the outhouse. He saw Suetaera quickly walking towards him. She stopped for a minute when she saw him and then began walking towards him slowly.

Her face was low as she approached him.

“I’m sorry…” she began.

He slapped her face hard. There was silence for a moment and then he spoke. “You should have told me,” he scowled. “Why did you leave? I told you to stay in your room." There was a moment of silence that seemed like an eternity. Her face was red where he hit her. "You may speak."

“I did not want to embarrass myself in front of others,” she said. “It must have been something I ate last evening,” she said with lowered lids looking at the outhouse. “I…”

“Pay it no mind,” he said. “But you must not defy me again,” he said, raising her chin up. Her eyes were downcast for a moment, then she met his gaze.

She was stoic.

“Now let's go,” he said softly.

She wiped her tears quickly as he walked away and then followed him.

 Preface     B1.C01     B1.C02     B1.C03     B1.C04     B1.C05     B1.C06     B1.C07     B1.C08     B1.C09