Andy watched as Lady Utpahl left through the door with such haste, she barely had her dress back on. Andy continued to lay on the hay like Indra said to do. He waited for what was longer than Indra intended, then he slowly put his trousers back on. The fragrance of Indra’s love was still on him, he breathed it in, this was his first time with a woman. It left him confused. He looked down at himself and thought, I need to clean it. Andy sat there looking between his legs, he could still feel the silky smoothness of the Lady, she had done this to him, but it was not a bad feeling that he had. It was like a part of him flew off into the sky when Indra lowered herself onto him. Andy smiled.Andy had a good face and a light in his smile, the children of the village often teased Andy to make him smile. When Andy was teased by the children he went after them, chasing them down to tickle them until they screamed mercy. Andy was good with the children because he had the mind of a child. Fresh,
“What is it that smells so good?” Harden followed Indra.“Hi Poppa,” Briaunna squealed, “it’s venison from your last hunt, with the potatoes you like, stewed kale greens and fresh baked bread.” “That sounds delicious darlin, did you help your mother with the meal?” Harden took in the wonderful aroma.“No poppa, I did this all myself.” Briaunna beamed, “I love you poppa.”Harden accepted a hug from his daughter and looked at his wife. She was radiant, she glowed with enticement, he wanted to go to her, but his mind always returned to his failings as a husband. Still, Indra looked brilliant but... something he could not put his finger on, something in the way she looked at him. She looked like she was in a cage.“I thought you said that you cooked...”“When was the last time you went hunting dear?” Indra’s tone was borderline venomous.Harden did not take the bait, he finished hugging Briaunna and then went to sit down. Indra did not move at first, then she went to sit next to Briaunna
Harden listened to Westin about the exercises but did not commit fully to them until spring came. All through the winter harden used the ginseng that Westin prepared for him, with scarce and tepid results. Westin told harden that he could not rely on taking something all the time, he also reminded Harden of the stress factor that alone can cause many physical manifestations. To his credit, Harden was trying to follow Davyn’s prescriptions but could never quite get over the hump. He begged Westin for the yohimbine bark, Westin made excuses for as long as he could but eventually relented. He relented on one condition, that Harden commit to the exercises without any resistance. Harden agreed.In the middle of the third month, after the new year, the rains began. The spring was always the rainy season in Ondu. Traditionally the rains were heavy and intermittent in the third and into the fourth months, this year the rains did not let up at all. Heavy down pours rocked the villagers with sh
The power, the feelings must have been truly awesome, commanding magic like Ondu. Marx would imagine being a spirit or a shaman that would be able to tell the future, see into people’s hearts and protect herself from harm. Marx was shorter than average, she was a bit chubby, her face was rounder because of that. She had a nervousness about her that turned some people off, a bit of extra energy her mother would say, “just go run it off.” Sometimes Marx did run but her energy never seemed to abate. Marx was good at braiding hair and was often asked by people for her quick and neat hair braids. She was still engrossed in the carvings when Callum touched her shoulder.“Holy fuck!” She shouted and turned so fast that the hand she had on the boulder slapped Callum square in his jaw, it made a loud smack sound.“Well Marx,” Callum stepped back and held his jaw, “for the love of Utoo, what was that for?”“I told you to start making more noise and stop sneaking up on me.” She said quickly, Cal
Westin found her rocking on the floor after the funeral, she was not able to get up off the floor. She would not eat or take in water. She was so immobilized that she could not even cut her hair in mourning. Westin was a lifelong bachelor, choosing the herbs and council life over any meaningful relationship, but he was kind and many of the women believed him to be good husband material. So, Westin took care of Sokonan. He cut and washed her hair so she would be in proper mourning. He washed her body when it was clear that she was not capable of doing it herself, Westin kept everything proper and made no secret that he was caring for Sokonan. So, when it happened it was such a surprise that he almost stopped it, almost. It had been five days since her husband’s funeral, Sokonan was ripe with dirt and odor. Westin drew a private bath for her in her home, warming the water to a gentle temperature. He undressed her and carried her to the bath. She seemed so small in his arms, this fierce
Harden thanked Westin and agreed to send Briaunna in two days’ time, it was good for her to go outside occasionally. As Harden leaves, some of his people greet him and quickly take over his attention.Westin watched him leave, thinking to himself about Harden. How this man could feel things so deeply that they affect his personal life, yet he could walk with any of The People, and they will know nothing of his struggle. He was a kind, strong man who only thought of others first, his people first. Westin shook his head, sometimes there was nothing one could say to make another see or understand the feather’s edge.All around his apothecary was hustle and bustle. Hunters were coming in with fresh kills or empty handed, their horses kicked up little storms of dirt with each hoof fall. The children went running bye, yelling taunts and jeers to each other, making little clouds of their own. Fires were burning and everything felt right to Davyn. He had just returned from the woods near Craz
“Good morning.” She said to the two shoppers, they just nodded as if everything was completely normal.“Get over here!” Her mother said.Kaya’s hair was in tangles, and she still had the wideness in her eyes. “Hey,” she said to her mother trying to smooth out her hair, “what can I help with?”That earned her a wry smile from her mother.“Get over here and help me load the kiln.” Everything looked odd shaped as Kaya walked over to her mother.“What the heck is that?”“What?”“That, what is that? That odd one there.” She pointed.“I have no idea; it was one of your father’s creations. Just help me get it in here, please.”“Alrighty mom’o.” They both broke out in a sweat moving some of the pieces into the kiln. Once they finished the loading, Kaya went to get the flint to start the fire. She loved banging the flint’s together to get the sparks, she thought it was like magic. Tiny fireballs flew away from her and towards the tinder her mom had placed under some small dry kindling. Kaya
When she was at the point where the road turned west, she stopped and looked at the boulders. They were less than a kilometer away. They were large and ungainly, no one remembered how they got there; they were not a natural looking formation. Some of the boulders were sticking out of the ground, like they were dropped from the sky, and some were laid over on their sides. The formation was that of a half circle, a complete juxtaposition to the surrounding landscape. Indra was... confused, she wanted Harden, but he was not interested in her anymore, right? She knew deep down that that was not true. But she needed the touch of a man, the strength to make her feel like a woman, she wanted Andy.Indra was naked and in Andy’s arms before the sun came up.“Ouch,” she said, “there’s a rock in my back.”Andy picked her up in one of his large, muscular arms, cradling her.“I do not see it.” He said slowly.Indra wrapped one arm around Andy’s neck and reached back with her other arm.“It’s,” she