Chapter 34: Understanding Gaul...and Minerva

Here it was. Gaul lay at my feet. Gaul was finally here and very unknown to me. I was eager to know everything about it. Minerva's family were the first 'real' Gauls I had ever meant. Sure Minnie was a Gaul, but she had been Adelfosized. Weird word. It means she had become like the people of Adelfos, like my people.

The Gauls weren't what I expected, or what Conrad expected. They didn't have dark skin and they spoke the Adelfos language perfectly and clearly. I had been taught they were half naked barbarians that blabbered and could somehow raise very good horses. I never thought this with Minerva, but well...I guess I was surprised to see her family.

The whole family of Minerva, also known as the Justice Family, welcomed us heartily. All of the really littel kids, like the three and four year olds loved Conrad at first sight, and he was dragged off to be monkeyed on.

Everyone respected us with great interest and reverence. We had obviously done a great thing in returning Minerva to them and we were rewarded well. First they fed us, then showed us warm natural springs in which to wash off all the grime of three weeks. I don't think they wanted us to contaminate their many children. Then they gave us all fresh clothing. That felt really good too. My cotton shirt and breeches were getting torn, so were my trusty leather boots.

I think we all three realized the grand opportunity at the same time. Here we were sitting in the middle of the family of a girl we hardly knew, but all wondered about. Who was she really? Remember all those questions I had been asking when she told me her sad story? Now was the perfect time to get them answered, for there were plenty of people willing to answer them.

After a day and night in the camp of Justice, I walked back from the hot springs, feeling like a raw clean...thing. I had scrubbed the grime off of every inch of my body and for once I actually enjoyed taking the bath. I felt ready for a new adventure, but I couldn't go, because first I had to... well, I had to stay as Rashling and as an honored guest. Though I didn't know what was so honoring about having me around the camp. I just ate and asked questions before going off to get into trouble and I had a lot of questions to ask.

I knew I wanted to leave before Minerva woke up. I couldn't have born to have watched her... wither because of me. It was too much.

"Tagiet, Rashling."

I stopped abruptly and in surprise. The speaker was one of Minerva's sisters. I only guessed it was her sister, they looked alike and were close to the same age. I think her name was Frieda. She spoke so softly, I half wondered I had heard right. She came up, slowly, almost warily.

"Yes," I encouraged.

She stopped a few feet away from me and looked at me very hard. The Justice family did that often. They scrutinized you a lot, whether subtly or openly, they always did it. Now she seemed to be trying to read my thoughts and to find out every intention I had for anything. I felt like I was an insect pinned for inspection.

Finally she spoke. "You have some questions to ask, don't you?"

How did she know?

I guess all that glaring and staring helped. Or maybe she was just related to Minerva and just 'knew' things.

"Yes," I said hesitantly, still getting use to this magic. "I suppose I do."

"The...frog, Rose has already started questioning my mother."

Surprise, surprise.

"I will...I will be happy to answer anything for you." She seemed more than happy, she was eager. She wanted me to hurry up and ask a million of them so she could tell me everything.

I didn't give her the pleasure. I started out slow and simple...and random.

"So, what number is Minerva in the family?"

"She and her twin were the sixth and seventh to be born." She sensed my next question and added, "There are ten children born of my mother who is the leader of the Justice group now. The oldest is Wilhem." She motioned to a brawny man sitting at the fire. He had long, straight blonde hair and cold blue eyes. He had been watching me warily for a while, but had seemed to figure out I didn't bite...hard. "My youngest sibling is Hazel."

"Hazel?" I immediately remembered the green Kalos. "Is she Hazel Kalos?"

"Yes! Have you seen her?" Her eyes lit up brightly at just hearing the name.

I quickly gave her green girl's letter and she reluctantly and carefully put it away.

"What does Miniarva Purias mean?"

At that Frieda's eyes softened. "It means Minerva the Pure. For that is what she was. She was the perfect model for a Justice girl. Or any girl. I think somehow, we all looked up to her."

"But, why?"

That was the question.

The question that would get a thousand answers.

Frieda smiled and looked up with a look of shere bliss and remembrance on her face. "Let me start from the beginning."

"Hey, that's a great place to start," I said, nodding in approval.

She looked at me, confused then continued, more slowly. "She was the seventh child for one thing, and seven is the most special of numbers. From the day she was born to the day she met Eric, she was a marvelous child."

Eric definitely ruined her.

"She was different from the beginning. Sometimes in her daily activities she would stop, listen and look around her carefully. She was a serious and thoughtful child and grew up quickly. She never, never refused to obey, but she always asked for a reason. She always did, she never did anything without a reason."

"Ha, neither do I."

She blinked in annoyance and confusion.

"Well, usually it's for fun, or why not."

"Minerva never used those reasons."

"Oh, yes she did. Once she and I had a race who could eat the most. She was hungry but she did it because why not? Besides it was fun."

"She did?" she was shocked. Obviously we were thinking of two different Minervas here.

"Yeah, even though I lost it was still fun."

"She won an eating contest?"

"Yeah. Five plates filled to brim. Well, actually she did get five gold coins out of the deal, but that's it."

"Oh." Frieda considered this then said, "That is strange and I have cause to doubt such a tale. Minerva isn't greedy."

"She did it for fun, not for the money," I assured her. "Was she an expert with the bow?"

"Yes. My father taught her and her twin, they were..."

"What was her twin's name?"

Oops I sounded like Rose.

Frieda glared. She glared so much like Minerva. I wished I could see Minnie glare again. It was funny. "His name was Lyall meaning loyal," she said softly. She didn't want to talk about him. "Minerva was taught well and at a young age. She succeeded even the best archer in our tribe. Because of it an elf gave her a special bow. It never misses its mark, depending on how her virtue is. Consequently, Minerva's arrows are always true."

Ah, no wonder I missed several times when I tried her bow. She had let me use it after a while and I had only hit one of my targets. I guess I wasn't very virtuous.

"The spell only applies to the bow's owner," she said reading my thoughts.

That trait had become officially annoying. I did not like mind readers. Expect for Minerva, she was...ok.

"In your clan she seems to be someone of high importance, it's almost as if you...worship her. Why is that?"

"After her disappearance the tribe was devastated. She had done many things for us. She taught the children the skill of talking and archery. She kept the fire going in the middle of camp, and she is the next leader of our clan."

"You mean after your mother is gone Minerva is supposed to take care of the clan?" I asked. Oh, dear, that couldn't be good. Another one of my blunders cost this Gaul tribe their next cheiftess. I felt doubly bad now. Even though it really wasn't my fault Minerva had fallen in love with me, I didn't do anything. I still felt bad.

"Not necessarily."

We both turned and saw the gliding figure of Grandmother Hazel. She looked calm and sure, like Minerva did when she was Perceval. She smiled at us both and murmured, "Tagiet."

Tagiet was apparently some sort of greeting in the Gaulish language. Frieda bowed and I nodded respectfully. Like Florian, Grandmother Hazel's features and prouss called silently for respect and adoration.

"But mother," objected Frieda quietly, "Is it not true that the seventh child of the seventh is to be the next leader?"

"Aye," she said. "But that does not mean the leader of just the clan." She smiled secretively while Frieda and I looked confused. Mind readers, like Minerva and Florian, like to do that, I learned. They tell you half of their mind, but they don't tell you the other half, the most important half.

"Frieda, your brothers and sisters are using Rashling's companion as a tree. Please give them some work to do."

Frieda bowed and left quickly to do her mother's bidding.

Grandmother Hazel had already scrutinized me so I'm sure she knew every single secret I had, from the time I stuffed the nasty oatmeal under the Persian carpet to the fact that Minerva loved me.

"Rashling, the most important reason Minerva is respected is because she gave the Justice family the highest honor a tribe can receive."

"Oh? And what is that?"

Best pie award?

Most skilled in archery?

Prettiest eyes?

I didn't just say that.

"The privilege of giving the annual horse to our beloved ruler."

"Adelfos? King Augustine?"

"Aye. Adelfos. Our kind kingdom and our beloved ruler. It is a great honor to give the horse to him."

Why did she call the ruler 'beloved'. I had always had the idea that the Gauls hated the royal family and were loathed to give up their marvelous horses. I voiced my thoughts and was satisfied to see that Grandmother Hazel actually looked surprised.

"Loathe our ruler? Oh, no, Rashling. We are loyal to the kingdom of Adelfos and we wholeheartedly give our best horses to the royal family. In fact every year our people compete with their horses in a race. It is a race of speed, duration, loyalty, wit, and beauty. The victorious horse is sent off to Adelfos and the former owner is honored. There has been only one year when our family won this honor. Minerva was the owner, but she was too young to ride the beautiful mare. Instead Wilhem rode her and won honor and glory for our tribe. That was ten years ago."

Ten years ago. I remembered every horse from Gaul and knew exactly which one she was talking about. It was the favorite of my mother and was still in the stables, happy and healthy.

I was about to tell her this, but then decided if she wanted to know, she could read about it herself. Darn mind readers.

"Minerva raised the mare with her own knowledge and skill. She actually caught the foal in the wild and tamed her til even the youngest child could easily lead and ride her. This marvelous mare went to the race of the Best and she won. Like I said this is the highest honor anyone can get in Gaul. For this reason we all respect her very much, after all she was only eight. Also she was willing to let her darling horse, Selene, go to the royal stables of our king. She knew the horse would go from the beginning, but she still trained it to the best of her ability. She was selfless, always thinking of others."

I nodded in agreement, but I couldn't help thinking, Another perfect example of Minerva's wonders. It was kind of annoying, but perhaps I was just jealous, or intimidated that this spectacular maiden was in love with me, who was absolutely horrible in comparison. But then again, I had asked for it, literally.

And for some reason I again changed my mind and decided I didn't mind. Not at all.