Ok, sorry this has taken so long to post, it's been sitting in my hard disk for several days now, but our Internet Provider's server was down so this is the earliest chance I've had.
Chapter 9
Dra'auc was worried. Well that was not unsurprising, since she was always worried about her husband and how he fared. Although she understood the importance of his work with the Tau'ri, she often wished he would avail himself to visit her and Ry'ac more often. But now, after the bizarre visit of that Tau'ri she was filled with anxiety for her beloved and more than a little bewilderment.
She had been spending the morning brewing a variation of telklet, or as close as she could make with the ingredients available at the Land of Light, hoping to give it time to ferment before the Solstice. The beverage was as popular here as in Chulak, and the recipe being Chulakian meant that Dra'auc was the only one who knew how to prepare it correctly. Many of the townspeople were eager to barter goods or services in exchange for a cask, and so late in life she had come to a new profession as a brewer.
The sun had been shining, and she had been humming to herself. Ry'ac was playing with some of her new friends and Teal'c had promised to come and see her in six days now. Suddenly she had seen Ry'ac and two of his friends (their name escaped her, the Untouched had names so strange to her) running from the direction of the Darkness.
It wasn't until they drew closer over the bluff shadowing her cottage that she realised that one of the figures was not a leggy youth, but a women, dressed in the dark green favoured by the Tau'ri. With a cloud of dust surrounding them the three skidded to a halt. Dra'auc rose to her feet and walked over to meet them.
The woman was the shorthaired blond who Dra'auc had seen with Teal'c and his friends. This woman puzzled her; surely she could not be a warrior like the other men. Dra'auc had at first presumed she was the woman of one of the Teal'c's friends. However her demeanour and behaviour conflicted with that idea, she was assured and not in the least subservient.
Today though her request was hurried and unsure, gasped out while she recovered from running apparently the entire way from the chappa'ai. She frowned a bit at the other woman query, but nodded and complied when it became apparent that this was vital to Teal'cs well being.
During her time with the Untouched Dra'auc had acquired a sizable wardrobe. Although she had come with only with a few of her clothes, she had soon gained more, first as gifts and then as payment as she became integrated into their society. Why the Tau'ri wanted her clothes was beyond Dra'auc even though she was willing to lend them.
When the Tau'ri women emerged from changing, Dra'auc had to restrain a grin at the discomfort shown on her features presumably at the clothes tightness. Despite that they were still versatile and did restrain movement as requested.
Out of a pocket from her original the woman took a small round object, sliding that under her top and an oblong object that she placed in her belt purse. From another she took a shiny metal device and started to pull it onto her hand. Dra'auc took an involuntary step back when she saw a weapon of the gods. Despite the woman's reassurances she still discreetly motioned for Ry'ac to make himself and his friend scarce.
Before she left the woman thanked Dra'auc again for help and promised to send word when she found Teal'c. Then she made Dra'auc promise not to tell anyone she was here. Dra'auc was bewildered as to why she did not want the others of her people to know she had been there, but agreed not to tell the team who the women told her would not doubt be following her, about her presence or Dra'auc's part in helping her.
The woman twisted a cloth around her head, leaving the attached veil unclipped. She expressed more gratitude's and then spun and started to jog back in the direction she had come. Ry'ac crept back round from the side of the house, but Dra'auc ignored his inquiries as to the hurried visit as she lowered herself back down to her chair.
And there she still sat several hours later, pondering as to what was really going on. As the women - Major Carter, she corrected herself - had predicted a full SG team had come and questioned her, but as promised she denied everything. As no one else other than herself, Ry'ac and his friend had seen the Major; the other Tau'ri had left none the wiser.
And so Dra'auc was left alone to her worrying.
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