The air rushed by his tenesses, his eyes locked on the billowing banners his arms reached and hands clawed into, pulling the rung holding the sheet downwards until it broken with his weight and force, bowing before snapping and the rung broken in two sliding out of its rings with a riot of clacking wood and metal. Cuillean fell onto the next rooftop, denting the thatching and wood braces for a storehouse of dilean feed. He was up in seconds, taking a running leap onto the building ahead and climbing the uneven wall.
Down below, burrells and workers looked up to see him clambering onto the side of the next tower.
"Intruder!"
Cuillean heard the shouts and disappeared over the top of the next arching roof, moving to the next and climbing higher this time…He was aiming for the glass housing the inventions in Pilar's laboratories.
The twang of an arrow and the discharge of stones clattered around him.
If they had rifles, he would be a goner.
"It's the steward, what's he up to?"
Melanctha looked through the lenses at the blue ocean world Pilar was describing to her, "…It may be that one day we send you there…Would that not be exciting?…"
"Oh, I'm not one for adventure of that sort," she admired its beautiful blue and the cloudy wisps encircling it, "…I don't know how to swim either…"
"We have pools, I or Cuillean might teach you how to swim…All thanes know to swim…"
"You can swim?" She removed her eyes and looked next to her, up at Pilar's handsome face, "…Oh, I'm sorry, you're right there…"
He touched her arm, "…Cuillean has an eye for beauty, but you must know that…"
She touched her neck nervously, "…I'm not beautiful…Not like Nelwyn…People hardly see me unless they pay for my sandals and such…"
"You are an artisan, correct," Pilar moved his hand to remove her fingers from her neck, "…May I inspect your tools," he moved her hand to his waist and thoughtfully probed and manipulated these, "…Very nice…You have fine fingers," his hand touched her chin, "…Fine features…"
Melanctha gasped as his hand touched the spines against her neck and she covered the spot, "…Sered," she had only been touched there by lovers, "…please, don't do that…"
"Have you ever been shared by two Tyrannus before, Melanctha?…Cuillean lies now with Nelwyn, who will warm your bed when they are through…Would you like to share mine with me?…"
"Sered, I am honored, flattered really…I am with child…"
"Makes no difference to me…One day you will be without, perhaps we can come together then…You are a Sousan family now, Melanctha, but you are still a Serepta…"
"Yes…I understand…"
"Do you deny me, your newest master?…"
"No, I…I'm sworn to Cuillean…"
Pilar took his hand off hers and set it on her shoulder, "…We should go to bed…I won't be rough…Drink something with me…It is a night to celebrate…"
Cuillean landed on the next rooftop and pulled himself up it, standing while holding onto a spire rod…He could see Pilar leading Melanctha by the wrist out of the laboratory by the great vase bottom they had seen the planet using earlier…He ran left along the edge of the roof he was on and threw himself at the low hanging banner, climbing up it.
Swinging with his legs tucked, he made a walkway that was trimmed with the blue metal for its railing and climbed over this, running right up the ramp towards his sight of the glass panes.
"Never let Melanctha make plans without running these by me," he muttered, seeing her protesting and Pilar stopping to speak with her…He saw her stand still through the warbled windows, and Pilar lay his hand against her patak.
His eyes widened as Pilar's hand remained there, Melanctha looking away and a sad expression closing her face…
What was he telling her?…Probably I'm with Nelwyn making a child!…
Cuillean looked for a door and ran up to it, tugging it open and entering a carpeted hallway.
"You can lie down if you wish, Melanctha," Pilar turned on the lights, and Melanctha gaped at the phenomenon of electricity, "…A little dimmer," he lowered the glow until it was soft and intimate.
The bed was immense with posts carved of wood combined with details of Blue Durriya…Silk curtains hung gathered around the posts with a liner inside, and the blankets and pillows were beautiful and inviting…Melanctha had never seen such ostentatious luxury.
"It is a beautiful room, like all of your rooms, even the strange ones with the glass and the gadgets," she turned and backed up from him. His arms crossed in front of him, over his chest as he walked her backwards, smiling.
"You are a nervous creature, I can help you with that," he gestured to the bed behind her.
"Could you show me how those lights change," she asked diminutively.
Pilar sighed and undid his hatach.
Cuillean ran down the halls, recalling what he could remember to pass through to Pilar's laboratories…He stumbled across the turn, remembering the paintings and busts, turning again to go left and racing as fast as he could to find Melanctha.
"Thane," Cuillean stopped, hearing Eluk's voice.
"Eluk," he spun around, Eluk running towards him from the other end of the carpet. They locked up, Cuillean stopping him by driving forward at the last second.
Eluk tried to throw him. Cuillean kicked out his leg, Eluk stamping it back down.
"You don't like your dessert, Kiross?…Nelwyn's not the worst you can do…Maybe you're so used to tasting that Serepta trash you call your wife you don't know quality if it were on your prick…"
Cuillean dipped his shoulder and rammed his fists into Eluk's waist, making him wheeze…As he bent over, his crests came up, hitting Eluk in the jaw. Cuillean rose up, his face a black mask, moving to hit him with his fist.
"Cuillean, stop," Eluk held up a hand, "…Mercy."
"Take back what you said about my wife."
"She's a Serepta!"
"She's an Ilori," he hissed, punching him out, "…And I would know it."
Melanctha trembled on the bed, her baby bump covered by her arms. Pilar moved down her mannaan strap of silk, moving his hand over her skin.
"You certainly have nice skin," he whispered. "Drink this," he reached over the bed to the night table and lifted a glass next to his, "…I mixed this for you…It will relax you."
Cuillean left Eluk in the hall, annoyed but focused…He looked for the doors to the laboratories.
Melanctha held up the glass, looking inside at the faint powder settling, "…What is it…"
"An elixir…It will help you adjust…I'm waiting."
Cuillean knocked on the wall, seeking for a secret entrance, anything that might give him a shortcut to Melanctha.
"I don't think I can do this, Sered…I don't mean to offend you," she moved her head away from his hand, "…The decent thing would be to not lay with anyone while I am pregnant…" She pushed the glass into the busy fingers, giving them something else to hold besides her neck, "…Cuillean might be steward and have to lay with Nelwyn, but he is dutiful, and he is in love with me…"
"That's a beautiful thing," Pilar swirled the the elixir in the glass, "…We can go slower…Lay down with me at least, let's talk."
Nelwyn came down the hall towards her father's rooms, looking for Cuillean or Eluk. She stopped when she heard a sound.
Cuillean was around the corner, coming finally to the entrance to Pilar's quarters. He stopped, smelling the air.
Nelwyn and Cuillean waited for each other, easing their way carefully to the end of the wall.
Nelwyn stabbed the air first through the doorway, Cuillean leaning back before his nose could be sliced off.
"There you are," she moved with Eluk's knife, coming after him as he backpedaled.
There was a fight going on the next hall over, and Pilar stood from the bed with Melanctha, "…Stay here." He went to a dresser and opened it, taking out a long saber.
Melanctha worriedly remained by the bed post.
Stepping out through his doors into the hallway, Pilar saw Nelwyn get thrown onto the floor…She looked up, her hand on a knife. "What is the meaning of this…" Pilar saw Cuillean standing down the hall, "…You…"
"Where's Melanctha!"
Pilar threw the door closed behind him, swirling the saber with his fist, "…Thane, do you know what law you have just broken…"
"Laws were meant to protect the tierra-bound from each other, not use them because of a fetish!"
"She's very nice, a bit inexperienced…I like her skin," Pilar stepped over Nelwyn, the tip of the blade low to the carpet and tiles, "…She needs a Tyrannus to show her how to make love…She'll have another baby, Cuillean, not yours."
"Did you sleep with her…"
There was knocking on the door and the handle was being used—the bedroom was locked behind Pilar.
"Cuill!…Cuill, is that you!" Melanctha shouted, beating her palm on the metal panel and trying the strange handle, "…Cuill?…Cuillean!"
Pilar grasped the saber in both hands, turning his shoulder to Cuillean and backing the thane down the hall, "…You can still get out of this, Cuillean…Let me enjoy your little wife, you take my daughter and give her a son or a girl, I don't really care…We need heirs to keep the treasach strong…Strong heirs, not simply anyone…Did you know your wife has the skin of a goddess?…She's Serepta though, and yet she is so clean…"
"Let her out," Cuillean snarled, "…or I will be forced to break her out—even if that means I go through you."
"Where will you go with her, I wonder…Mercede?…Alpana?…Can't go back the way you came, she's also pregnant, but I can easily change that."
"You'll have to kill me to get to her," Cuillean said.
"I think that can be arranged," Pilar swept the tip up, backing Cuillean towards the wall with a leap…The blade slashed across the air, narrowly missing Cuillean as he feinted right and threw an antique dresser into Pilar's path, "…Not a lot of space for you…Nelwyn, get the knife…"
"We are not supposed to kill him, Father…"
"I don't care now, he's insolent…Just like his father was," Pilar cut the air with the silver-blue blade, chasing Cuillean backward…Nelwyn stood in the way and Cuillean turned to face her briefly before shoving her backwards and taking the knife she was holding out to him…
"Now you're helping me?" Cuillean asked, holding the blade out to block Pilar's swing…The drells backed down the intersecting hallway towards a bank of armor.
Nelwyn ran to the door, hearing Melanctha weeping on the other side, "…Melanctha, it's Nelwyn…"
"Where is Cuillean!…My Mithras, where is Cuillean!"
Pilar shoved Cuillean back, towering over him and he landed in a pile of statues, "…You dare to deny me your wife…You are nothing, not even a tierra's drop of anything!"
Cuillean picked up a sword and blocked the next chop, moving out of the way as Pilar sliced down again. He kicked one of the statues at Pilar's feet, the drell having some ability to jump high enough to avoid it and stab at Cuillean.
"Why don't you stay still, Kiross…Afraid of a little nick!"
"Stop, Sered Sousan," Cuillean backed into a side table, scattering the precious jeweled daggers on its surface, "…I only want my wife…I do not wish to kill or harm you…"
"Why is that, Thane…Bor's henchman…I gave you my home, my daughter, welcome—and you can't share your wife with me?"
"I have lived with nothing all my life but the luxury allowed me by other drell and drellahna…I don't care for it…I want to be free to be with her, she's all that matters, her and my child…My nephew, I will take him with us—" He moved away from Pilar's advance…
The patriarch was once a soldier…A fighter from the south who had fought morthwyl and more…He knew how to fight and block and deal someone into a deathtrap…Cuillean was no different from all he had slain…He stalked the thane until he was at the hall again, and from the side came Melanctha, grabbing onto Cuillean, "…Spare him!" Melanctha thrust out her arm—Pilar stopped, the blade between her middle and conjoined pair, "…Sered, spare him," she gasped, "…Please spare him."
The blade lifted…Pilar let it touch the floor, Cuillean and Melanctha holding each other, terrified one or the other would be harmed…
"You are to leave my city at once," Pilar hissed.
"We will leave at once," Melanctha said, her eyes so wide her whites were seen.
Cuillean stared wide-eyed at Pilar Sousan, who turned away from them.
What was it all for, Cuillean thought as he and Melanctha set out west, crossing the steppes just outside Nuru's walls. Why pull us in like that only to demand to sleep with each of us?…What was the reason?…It was madness.
Cuillean realized he had been banished…He could not go back to Bor, nor Mercede…Pilar Sousan had exiled him. He gazed downward at his wife's hand in his, and raised his gaze to her sad profile.
"Why did he want to sleep with me," she whispered, "…I am nothing to him…You are the important one…Why would they treat you that way…" She raised her eyes to his, "…Why would you give everything up for someone like me?"
Cuillean could only tell her so many times he loved her, but he said it again, "…I cherish you…You are my wife and I will not share you nor myself with anyone but you or I."
"Are we fools?" she asked.
"Yes, I suppose," he smiled, "…Fools in love."
"Where will we go now, Cuillean?"
"We'll figure something out…Right now we need to find somewhere warm for the night," he said. Melanctha fell quiet and continued to walk alongside her husband.
Along the lip of the steppes they rose level by level, making their way to the top and looking back to the city in the mist before the mountains…It was a beautiful city, a sparkling sky, and its was hard to tell where the ocean ended and the sky began.
The moons could be seen arriving towards the middle of the sky. Cuillean had looked on that city once before and recently, carrying his sister and his nephew.
The night passed and Cuillean woke with Melanctha laying against him, sharing his cloak…They had found an opening in the grasses on the open plain with a rock and shrub to give them some protection…An animal had made it and bones had to be scraped out…Cuillean saw no fresh scat at night and the lair was stale, so it would be suitable.
Melanctha made a small noise, and Cuillean could feel the kick of the baby. They had been forced to leave his nephew behind, no doubt to keep up the story. Melanctha sat up a little and looked at him.
"Good morning, I think that's the first time I've slept under the stars with you, Cuill."
"It could have been worse, could it not have?" he asked, his throat dry.
She rotated her hips and looked around at the den. "I need water, Cuillean…We should find a stream…Why can't we go back to Alpana?…"
"Alpana is no longer safe, and it will become more dangerous…There are things that may happen and Alpana would not be wise to remain in."
"We had what we needed though…Now we have nothing, and my mouth is so dry."
"We should find water first thing, come with me and we will have look around now the suns are up." They crawled out of the den, Cuillean first, and he pulled Melanctha the rest of the way. She looked uncomfortable and went around the rock to relieve herself.
Cuillean walked a few strides north and looked for any streams. He spotted a narrow ravine and turned to inform Melanctha he would check it out.
Melanctha walked with him.
The ravine had a small trickle inside it, and this they used to wash themselves and drink from…Satiated, Cuillean untied his hatach and held it to the water to absorb what they could and take with them west.
The landscape was bleak, though grassy and rocky. The mountains herded them west, forbidding them from trying north.
In time they came to a road, and Cuillean decided they should follow it, but to stay off it among the hills and wander with it at a distance.
His territory was the eastern shore, only so far as Mercede on water and down to the border before Rakha, mostly Umay and the territories the Mier touched…He felt out of his realm in the western grasslands and rocky terrain…It was no desert at least, but still there was nothing much but for the road and hills that wandered endlessly.
The road and the mountains began to move north, allowing them to do the same.
Melanctha's feet were swollen and she had to sit a mile into the new direction, "…Cuillean, I need a rest."
"Rest, Melanctha," he sat with her and massaged her legs down to her toes and up to her knees again, "…I admire you…Carrying our child while we walk these blighted lands. I hope we find somewhere you can take water and eat soon."
"Did you ever come this far in your work?"
"No," he answered, "…My area was close to the water."
"I wish we could find more water."
"Maybe we will cross the western lands and come to the ocean again," he smiled at her dubious expression.
"I don't think my feet will stand for that long, Cuill."
They stood and walked on…Cuillean recalled what maps he had studied of the Birutise'aha. There were countries in the middle of the continent, but these were wide and sprawling.
Melanctha might sit down and have the baby before they could reach any of those borders.
Cuillean looked anxiously at his wife…They had nothing to handle a newborn, not even food.
"Maybe that is a puff of smoke ahead, Cuill?" Melanctha was squinting at the horizon, "…It's far, but perhaps someone is there we could ask for help."
Cuillean followed her gaze to a thin white smoke lifting above the farthest hills, "…Maybe, and maybe not…We will go around it, keeping out of sight, Melanctha, before we decided if it is safe to approach…It could be wild bands of drell, or nothing at all…"
"Smoke does not usually start on its own, does it?…"
"Fires can and have," he took her hand and squeezed it, "…You spotted it before I did, you are a good scout."
They continued on, making for the curious string of smoke, and keeping away from it at the same time.
Melanctha waited for Cuillean to come back from the inspection, "…What did you find?"
"It is an abandoned campsite…There were many footprints, Melanctha…A hunting party, there were some remains…"
"Do they have weapons?" she asked…
"Likely, Melanctha."
She looked about them, "…They are long gone…Unless they are hiding somewhere among these hills…Well, they seem to like fire so we will keep an eye out for more smoke and avoid it…Did you find anything to drink, eat, or help defend ourselves?"
"Whoever they are, they are organized…They left little remains and buried what they did…It would not be edible I am afraid."
"Disappointing, I suppose I will have to wait for my first scavenged meal then…" She smiled at him.
He helped her stand and they continued to follow the road while keeping far from it, and now keeping an eye out for signs of other people, water, and danger.
There was another thin stream of smoke that started to go up…Melanctha's keen eyes detected it again with Cuillean second to see it, "…There, Cuill…There goes another one…What should we do?…It looks to have just gone up, so maybe they are leaving?…"
"Wait behind the rock over there…I will have a look, Melanctha…If I do not come back, stay low and wait until nightfall, then head east…You may still be able to return to Pilar's good graces…"
"I'd rather not take my chances with that Tyrannus…This one's done well for me," she grinned at him.
"I…" He hesitated, smiled at her and kissed her lips, "…Stay down."
Cuillean went down the back of their hill and around, moving between dales to reach the stream of smoke…Melanctha lay hidden behind him.
The smoke had puffs of darkening curls that faded into the sky.
Cuillean checked his clothes and pulled his cloak about him, moving up the hill and closing on the mark.
If need be, he could use his hands on anyone intending to harm him, but it would be wiser not to pose a threat…which might be difficult in his case due to his size.
As he came closer, he heard gruff voices speaking. The sound of cutting could be heard.
He was familiar with it due to his years in Thorolf, but what wood was there to cut?
He crested the hill and looked down, having come from downwind—not much as the plains were calm.
"Pass me the rope," one of the drell said, extending the other a knife, "…Truss this, please," his companions gave him his demands, "…Skin needs to be cleaned first, then while that dries over the flames, cook the meat and entrails…" He raised his shoulders and stretched in a bend, "…Good for now."
The others were boys, nearly in their twenties and young.
Cuillean could see there were three of them, the oldest a drell with a fur coat on…The younger ones had thinner coats of fur, and they were skinning and tying up parts belonging to some animal they had caught on the plains.
"Hello," Cuillean made his presence known, "…Do not be alarmed…" He held up his hands for them to see.
The three had turned to stare at him, "…Who're you."
"I am Cuillean Kiross…I am traveling alone…Would you know where the nearest stream or city is?"
"Nothing around here for miles," the old one said, "…You need water, you need to head farther north…It comes down through the Horn."
"Thank you…Is there food around here?"
"Just what you can catch…"
"Thank you," Cuillean started to leave.
"You with someone?"
"Maybe."
"You said you were alone."
"I don't wish to intrude."
"If you don't mind, bring her over."
"I do mind."
"You worried we might hurt you two?…Please," the old one chuckled.
Cuillean made his way back to Melanctha, "…There are three, one who has seen a few summers and two who are close to your age, Melanctha…"
"Are they civil?" she asked.
"They are…polite so far."
"Do they have food and water?"
"For themselves…"
"Did you ask for help?…"
"No…"
She stood, "…I'm going over this time, you'll come with me, Cuillean…Of course you will," she mumbled as she strode off through the dales to find the trio.
"Hello," Melanctha walked right into their camp, "…Do you have food and water we might share?…I'm pregnant and we've been cast out of society…It's been a long night and day for me and my husband…"
The three drell stared at her.
Cuillean stood menacingly behind her. He had not shown all of himself to them. Their eyes went back and forth.
"Sit down," the old drell pointed to a spot on the ground, "…Make yourself comfortable…Cast out you said?…What clan?…"
"We were briefly with the Sousan—"
"Melanctha," Cuillean whispered, "…maybe not being so candid…"
"Be polite, Cuill, they are offering us company and we could use it…What is your name?"
"You can call me Lugo," the old one said, extending his hand to his crests, "…I live on these hills with my boys, Udrega and Eola, right and left that is," he pointed to the lads and they nodded to Melanctha.
"It's a pleasure to meet people out here…We've never been on these lands before."
Cuillean sat down beside her, holding his mouth. Melanctha ignored his signal to be quiet.
"You are familiar with the area?"
"Raised myself on it," Lugo said, "…Had a wife once but Kris took her out, left me with the young'uns…"
"My mother died from the Kris," though Cuillean had heard otherwise from Nelwyn and Pilar.
"Terrible time," Lugo finished tying a leg to a spit, "…We're eating some wild leebuck, bit gamey but should be enough to go around…You want some water you can drink from my bag," he handed Melanctha the hide sack…Cuillean took it first and sniffed the open container.
"My husband is very particular about my condition," she took a sip of the sack's contents and forced a smile, then took some more and passed it back to Lugo…
Cuillean's grin was on his face when she glanced at him again.
"Where are you heading?"
"Anywhere we might be able to find shelter and food, running water…"
"You need to go three days north," Lugo pointed, "…Find some springs up that way…Where we're heading…We have a small place, you might stay a while or move on after you rested…"
"How far to the next city," Cuillean asked.
"Ten days west."
Melanctha glanced at Cuillean, "…Ten days?…How do you live out here?…"
"We find a way," Lugo said, "…It's not bad, just work, keeps your mind off the monotony…You follow the road though, someone might pick you up and bring you there sooner…"
"What is the name of there?…"
"Karmuta…They big on shepherding, small city, short, but good meat and quality fur," he tapped his coat, "…Bought mine there…"
"You didn't kill something and skin it?"
Lugo laughed at Melanctha's question, "…I and the boys bring what we catch there and they barter with us…I made a steal with this one, but they like the leebucks we catch and bring to them."
"What do they raise?"
"Dilean mainly, shien, other things…They're nice people, we don't have qualms about them…Karmuta, follow the road…They have wagons sometimes they deliver their furs on…That's how we trade with'em…On the road, too far to walk…They see you two they may pick you up, take pity on that belly you got and that pretty pout…Leave him behind and it may happen quicker…"
"He goes where I go…"
"Maybe that's why you're in your mess."
Melanctha smiled, "…He needs a woman to watch over him."
Lugo and the boys all looked at Cuillean.
"Food should be ready soon," Lugo tested the meat.
They ate and spent the day talking with the family, Cuillean learning as much as he could about Karmuta and the grasslands and hills…Lugo took a liking to him and shared his knowledge, Melanctha having the opportunity to witness her husband engaging seriously with someone besides herself and recently at Nuru…which was not quite what she had in mind for seeing her husband in action.
The water was stale but passable…Melanctha hoped the baby would not suffer her drinking it…Water was necessary regardless of the flavor.
Around evening, they decided to camp there for the night and move on in the morning…Cuillean and Melanctha were invited to stay and be warm by the fire, learning more from Lugo and his sons finally talking too about their life on the plains.
Cuillean would raise the matter of Resha's warning to Lugo, letting him know as a way of saying thank you for the food and hospitality.
Melanctha lay down against Cuillean, her eyes reflecting the fire like his own.
Lugo took his fur coat off and gave it to Melanctha, "…I'm used to the nights out here…I'll lend it to you, you and that baby you're carrying."
"I can't—" He waved her to keep it.
"Do me a favor you will," Lugo turned to face the fire and pulled out a pipe to start smoking. Cuillean watched him use the device, and how he pulled on the long bone mouthpiece.
"What is it you smoke in that," Melanctha asked, warmer with the fur on…It smelled of smoke and the old drell, but she tolerated it…It was a kind gesture.
"Just old ooly grass," Lugo replied, "…Not good for children, but old bones like me."
"I wasn't—"
"You will want some when your child is born," Lugo chuckled, "…Mine drove me towards it…" He offered the pipe to Cuillean…
Cuillean accepted and took a puff, "…It reminds me of teresha…We make rolls with the leaves…"
"Teresha…That's not around here," Lugo said, taking the offered pipe back, "…You must be some wealthy folk to be rolling teresha up and burning it…That's a rare flower, I do know…Burning teresha," he shook his head, "…You from the coast?…"
"Yes," Melanctha answered, "…He is…"
"Yourself," Lugo looked at her with brown and gold eyes…
"I'm an orphan, but I made a living sewing shoes in the Crandal…"
"Karmuta will have a use for you," Lugo considered her, then looked at Cuillean…
Cuillean gazed quietly back at the drell, but they had an understanding in that look…
Melanctha's eyes closed and she fell asleep.
"She's something special," Lugo said when everyone was gone under, but Cuillean remained awake with him, Melanctha sleeping in his protective curl.
"She is…I prefer you not say anything about it to anyone…"
"Can't hide her, Cuillean…She's got something few get to see these days…Ilori were mostly wiped out, taken, hidden away."
Cuillean nodded, "…They are devoured…I understand…"
"You too," Lugo's eyes had hold of him, "…Not many Drell like you around here…Too big, make you a target…You do shoes for work?…"
"Not really…"
Lugo nodded, "…Didn't think so…" He tapped his pipe and blew out some smoke, "…Be aware of the big ones in Karmuta…They don't like drell that match their size…They might single you out…She should be fine unless they learn what she is…Mercede sends thane this way…They come out on dilean or skim though, lazy I guess, but the rider has a faster time…" He place the bone tip back in his mouth and looked at Cuillean…
"I guess I can't help but stand out…"
"You can't…but I like you, you're brought up well, good mind, ask a lot of questions…My boys are good lads, but they don't care much for what's making the world, only what's tomorrow going to bring…"
"I should mention that war may becoming, Lugo…Rakha is healing…The Five Brothers may move as soon as it is safe to do so and come north looking to plunder…"
Lugo clamped his mouthpiece, "…That's bad news," he eventually said, "…Thank you for sharing with me…I'll move my boys into the mountains…Best to get an early start adjusting to that, but the Five coming north is bad…" He shook his head, "…Mithras save us all…I never thought they'd get themselves together…"
"They've had time to sort out their conflicts…Now Rakha heals, it will be possible for them to come north."
Lugo fell quiet and puffed on his pipe…Cuillean stayed awake a while longer, then fell asleep with Melanctha still curled in his arms.
The next day, Melanctha and Cuillean said goodbye to their companions…Lugo gave Cuillean his pipe to say thank you for the information and Melanctha his water sack, "…I can find more, we leave them around these parts in case we need them…Always have rations and store'em well…Remember that…"
The boys said goodbye and Lugo left with them.
Melanctha held the water sack in her hands, looking at Cuillean's gift, "…What did you do to earn that?"
"I warned him that war might come north…He was grateful, it will give him time to move his family."
"War, what war?"
"I heard rumor that Rakha is healing…The warlords of the south may come across her lands up north to invade…Pilar and Bor will have their hands full should that happen," he looked at Melanctha, "…It may be just as well we have been exiled, Melanctha."
"Or maybe not," she was staring at him.
He walked forward once she started, and they made back for the road.
The road was easier to travel, flat and even and cutting through the hills. Within the day a wagon kicked up dust in the distance, and Cuillean and Melanctha walked until it caught up to them, "…Which way are you going," it was a drellahna who was looking down at the pair on the road.
"Karmuta?" Melanctha asked.
"I'm heading that way, climb on…Furs in back, should be comfortable riding."
Cuillean helped Melanctha up and sat in the wagon bed beside her.
"Where abouts are you in Karmuta heading?"
"Nowhere specifically," Melanctha said, "…You have any recommendations for a shoemaker?"
"Plenty of hands, but always need more…Talk to the barrin Ney'rult, he can set you up with some work if you need a living…"
"I'm Melanctha, this is my mate, Cuillean…"
"Aliba," the drellahna said, "…Nice to make your company…" She flicked the reins at an animal with a shaggy coat and a short neck, a lefern Cuillean believed it was called.
They stopped for a check on the wheels, and Cuillean helped lift up the wagon after it was unloaded to replace a strut, then helped load everything back in…Aliba was tall and slim, but her voice could be harsh as a wallop with a board, "…Damn you, Uwyg," she called and cursed at the lefern, "…Move your lazy butt."
After hearing her cuss the beast and no locomotion, Cuillean got out of the wagon bed and approached the head of the creature…He walked alongside it, leading the lefern into motion.
"You have husbandry in your blood?…" Aliba asked him.
"I had dileans when I was young," Cuillean looked behind his shoulder.
"He is a husband too," Melanctha said, coming up to the front wagon seat…She put her hands on the rail and watched him walk with the animal.
"He could pull this wagon I bet," the drellahna looked at Melanctha, "…You need all that drell to keep you in line?…"
"I do," Melanctha sighed…Cuillean did not look at her, though he was smiling.
"Don't get any ideas in my wagon," Aliba snapped the reins.