by Abby Aaron
“The city is miles away from here. How could the baby be taken from the healer’s compound, past village guards and safely delivered to the wall?” Anders insisted on more details.
“There is a secret passage hidden in the birthing room. The very bed grooms and their brides seal their final claiming on, the one where wives go to deliver their babes, harbors a hidden lever. When pulled, the bed moves aside, revealing a stairwell underground. Tunnels lead to the center of the city, where another hidden opening allows the exchange of a female babe for the life-saving fruit.”
For hours, Jemina and Anders posed questions, trying to come to terms with the painful history Aras and Loinbard shared. They learned Aras’ father had made another desperate deal the day he gave up their sister. The girl would be sent outside the city as a potential bride when she reached seventeen cycles. Then Aras’ family planned to take her back home where she belonged. Until then, the secret had to be maintained, guarded, in hopes of seeing their sister again.
Eventually Jemina and Anders came to the same conclusion. “Then we must wait until our sister is safe to punish this injustice?” Anders said. There was never any question he would support Aras and Loinbard. They had accepted the responsibility of his own mother and blood brothers. The moment they formed a triad, their sister became his.
“No wonder you dislike healers,” Jemina said, going to Aras and running her hand along his hard jaw. “I support you and any cause you face, husband.”
The new family unit shared a passionate night. Each claimed her womb, planting their seed deep within, promising to protect her and any babies the Creator blessed them with. Jemina used her hands to stroke the husbands not laying between her legs. Anders suggested again another form of love making involving her lips, but Jemina had balked at the very idea. She found such an idea revolting. Husbands are meant to please their wife, not the other way around. He temporarily dropped the subject, promising to bring it up again.
In the morning, Jemina woke with a sated smile. Her husbands had departed before daybreak. She pondered everything she had learned the night before. After recalling her twin brother’s wife was a bleeder from the city, she had been distraught with the need to warn Jael. At first, her husbands had been adamant about not revealing the secret and she had wept bitter tears. Then Aras had relented. He promised they would warn Jael of the danger after returning with Anders’ family.
Her only resentment was their insistence she remain behind for both trips. She was a warrior, Jemina had argued, an asset to their traveling party. But they overruled her. She wondered if their second love making session had not been initiated to exhaust her so they might leave without her continuing the debate.
Inspiration struck and Jemina started making a plan of her own. While her men were off to the Village of Finn, she could easily pay a visit to the village of Urijah, warn her brother and be back before anyone was the wiser. In fact, she reasoned, doing so would probably please her mates, saving them a trip away from Konrad. She and Smiley would enlist the help of her new brothers from Aras’ and Loinbard’s family unit. The older boys were fledglings. They would savor a chance to explore outside the village limits. With her to guide them, they would get experience to aid them in their official training.
A nagging feeling gripped her as Jemina prepared to follow through with her plan. Hadn’t she dreamed of something similar happening? Details were hard to recall, but she did remember surviving the ordeal. Shaking her head, she steeled her determination. Jemina was off on a new adventure.
21
Retrieving their Wayward Wife
Aras knew trouble was coming when he found the Konrad healer Ulthia waiting for him at the border. Anders’ mother and brothers had managed the trip between villages well, making it possible to achieve remarkable time. The three men had discussed settling the newcomers in so they might venture off to visit Jemina’s brother. They knew she would likely beg to come with them, so they hoped to fill her time with helping her new in-laws find their way around the area.
“Welcome to Konrad.” The healer greeted Anders’ mother. “I will be happy to show you the way to your new home.”
Aras studied Ulthia, realizing for the first time how old and weary she seemed. He steeled his heart against the pity he felt. Yes, at one time, this woman had helped raise him and his brothers when their father had been forced to serve another year on the city wall. They had formed a strong bond and considered her along the lines of a doting grandmother. But he could not forget her part in helping the city steal village daughters from their families. Maybe, when his sister was returned to Konrad, he would be able to release some of the resentment he harbored for Ulthia, but not yet. “We will show Mother Gwen and her sons where they will be living.”
Ulthia gave him a smile and reached in her pocket to remove a small package. “Noon is fast approaching, Aras. It is best for your triad to begin your journey to the Village of Urijah. I am sure you want to make sure your wife and blood brothers made it there without trouble.”
Her words did not make any sense to him. He wondered why she was acting as if they were still on friendly terms. Of anyone coming to welcome Anders’ family, the healer was the last person he would have considered. Aras was shocked his little Jem had not parked herself at the village border to wait for their return. She would probably still be mad about them leaving her behind and want to insist they take her on the trip to see her brother.
His blood brother and Anders were quicker to realize what was happening. Loinbard tensed, his voice low and deadly. “Did Jemina hound the village elders into letting her go back home for the day?”
Ulthia maintained her serene expression, but her eyes were full of concern. “I do not believe the elders realize your determined wife is even up and about. I may have given them the impression she was exhausted from all the excitement of the past few weeks and was recouping in her family unit.”
“Did she leave here alone?” Aras’ heart nearly seized with fear. It was dangerous to travel outside the village limits. Grown men did so only when in groups. Jemina would not be foolish enough to do something so perilous. She had too much sense.
“Your blood brothers Schuyler, Konnor and Geofrey joined her for the trip.” Giving the three men a chance to consider their options, Ulthia started providing Gwen, Anders’ mother with information. “Schuyler is sixteen. The fledglings’ trainers are very impressed with his progress. He hopes to earn his warrior status. Unless he does something foolish, he may graduate top of his cycle. Konner is fifteen and Geofrey, just fourteen. They still have a few more years of training to go. Hopefully they don’t have any setbacks, either.”
Her subtle hints were not lost. Not only had Jemina left the safety of Konrad land, she somehow ended up with three young fledglings, his own younger brothers. If they managed to survive the dangerous journey, there would be hell to pay from the village elders. Leaving without permission was a punishable offense. It would carry the penalty of hot poker strikes across the back and loss of position in rank among other fledglings.
“Did you try to reason with them?” Anders demanded and the healer visibly flinched at his tone. Gwen frowned at her son, but he pushed for more facts.
The healer gave her answer to his mother. “Only one person in the village saw them leave. Aras has many younger siblings. Fox is only nine. He is constantly begging his parents and the elders to let him begin training as a fledgling. The dear child is constantly following after his older brothers and trying to learn everything he can about being a warrior. He was very disappointed when his new sister-in-law did not allow him to join the wonderful adventure she had planned. He was going to take up the issue with Otto, our head healer, when I intercepted him.”
“Where is the boy now?” Loinbard demanded. Anders’ younger brothers huddled around their mother’s skirts. All through the walk over, the boys had idolized the youngest of the triad. He had entertained them, never scolding them when they got into mischief
. The angry man before them now was frightening, indeed.
Ulthia found the courage to speak directly to Aras. “I have him guarding Smiley and Konfin, the cat. Both animals have been protesting loudly about being left behind. If you like, I could take Gwen and her sons to meet their new pets. I suggest leaving the heavier things you brought with you here. They will be safe and can be collected later.”
He nodded solemnly. The healer had protected his family as best as she could. It was now up to him and his triad to retrieve Jemina and the others before matters turned even more disastrous. Aras knew he should be thanking her, but the words would not form no matter how grateful he was. As he was preparing to turn and leave, her frail hand reached up to clasp his arm.
“You will want to take this with you.” The healer handed him the small package she had been carrying. “Fox mentioned something about Jemina’s sister-in-law being a bleeder. That’s when I understood the urgency of your wife’s decision to return home to warn her twin brother. It is important to guard the gift carefully. Only a few of these can be found outside of the city. The cost of replacing it, is something I can no longer stomach. It need not be used after every birth. Bleeding is not deadly when boys are born, only girls. They should save this gift until it is necessary to spare a life.”
The small package, wrapped in brown paper and string, looked small in his large hand. It weighed next to nothing. Yet inside was the ransom for life and death. He had matched wits with the city of women to save Giannis once. His birth mother perished because she gave birth to a stillborn daughter and could not meet the demanded price. Attie, his second mother, received the seed, but only after having her daughter stolen from her arms.
He looked at the old healer. The cycles had not been kind to her. Her hair was gray. Wrinkles of worry and regret etched across her once flawless face. Given a second chance, he doubted she would agree to go along with the city’s deception. She was doing what she could to atone for her sins.
Before he could harden his heart against her again, he reached down to pull her into a tight hug. She winced, and he feared he might have accidently broken one of her brittle bones. He quickly released her and inspected her back. Her dress was thin, almost sheer in some places. Aras saw the scars of line after line of burn marks along her back. From the odd angle they had been applied, he suspected she had inflicted the damage on herself.
Loinbard and Anders motioned for him to stop wasting precious time. Aras gave the healer one last look of compassion before rushing off to find their wayward bride.
Jemina tried to talk to her husbands on the journey back to Konrad. Their expressions of disappointment and fury cut at her heart. From the second they found her sleeping in her parents’ family unit at Urijah, they had been unable to even glance at her without frowning. She was not surprised that they had followed her here. Jemina had just had a vivid dream about them doing so. She was starting to believe her visions were more than just wishful thinking.
Had there been other dreams that foretold future events, she wondered. Jemina had lots of time to reflect on the matter during the silent walk back to Konrad. Her young brothers-in-law, who had been chattering birds the entire journey to Urijah, now would not even look her way. Her ears were still ringing from Aras’ heated lecture when they were away from witnesses. The rules of Konrad were so much stricter than her birthplace. She never would have invited them to come if she knew it might cost them their positions in training. Jemina still found it hard to believe anyone would take a hot rod to the back of young boys who had merely sought to have a bit of adventure.
The three Konrad fledglings managed to slip back inside the border of Konrad without being noticed. The border guards were too busy dealing with Jemina and her husbands, who sought to return in a more noticeable way. They were hauled off to face the village elder and a long, drawn out meeting followed.
Many of the village residents had heard rumors that the new village bride had cast off her husbands and run back to Urijah to seek sanctuary. Whispers of possible wars and other nonsense reached Jemina’s ear as she listened to the elders’ debate. “I have not cast off my husbands!” she hissed at one redheaded woman who seemed to be trying to cause more drama. “I suggest you stop spreading lies before I come over there and make you.”
Anders yanked her back when Jemina started to jerk in the redhead’s direction. “Remain silent and do not move from this spot.” His voice was low and did not suggest it would be wise to disobey. So she stayed still, but her eyes shot daggers in the other woman’s direction.
A cluster of young boys sitting around a pretty, older woman caught Jemina’s attention then. If she had any sons, she imagined they might look like these youngsters. They favored her second husband. Could the boys be his blood brothers? She might have asked had he not been so unreasonably grumpy at present. Then she recalled Anders did not grow up in this village and realized the woman was likely his mother. Their eyes locked for just a second before Jemina broke contact.
What a way to meet her new mother-in-law! The poor woman had just arrived in a new village because her son formed a strange triad to marry her. What must she think about Jemina? Could Anders’ mother hear the gossipers whispers of run-away brides, possible wars, and strikes with a hot poker?
Anytime Jemina tried to address Otto, the elder in charge, her husbands ordered her to remain quiet. Deciding it was best to stay focused. She sighed with relief when Otto dismissed all charges against her husbands. They had sought approval to leave for both the villages of Finn and Urijah before departing. She was not so wise. The elders found her guilty and a surprised hush filled the meeting area.
Jemina was sentenced to three strikes of the hot rod for her violation. Recalling the brave way Aras had accepted a similar penalty, she prayed she might be able to do the same. But terror made her nauseous.
Otto removed his cloak and shirt. “... since the first man defied the village law sixty cycles ago, punishment for leaving our boundaries without approval has been set in flesh. It is my duty to carry it out now.”
“You are a warrior,” Jemina muttered to herself. “You will not flinch.” She watched in horror as he removed a glowing staff from the burning fire.
Otto gripped the weapon with his cloak and approached her. “For leaving the village without permission, you will receive a burning reminder of what happens when anyone breaks our laws. You may choose to refuse this punishment but will be banished.”
Before she could voice her decision, Anders’ stepped between her and the elder. “I seek to take my wife’s portion.” He yanked his shirt over his head and stood on the center block. His strong, tan shoulders were wide and perfect. Not a scar marred the area.
Otto did not seem surprised by the action. “You may take her portion of the fire staff, but this requires you to use a regular staff to strike her yourself. She will still face pain, but you will be allowed to carry her scar. Punishments are public, Anders. The correction will be delivered to her backside, but your triad may block the view. Do you agree to these terms?” A silent nod was Anders only reply.
Otto swung back the fiery rod and slammed it across the younger man’s skin. Anders barely flinched, and did not cry out.
The smell of singed skin filled Jemina’s lungs and she cursed ever disobeying her husbands. “I will not allow anyone else to pay the price for my sins.” Aras pulled her back and demanded she remain silent.
Loinbard replaced Anders then, his bare back awaiting punishment. “I seek to take my wife’s portion.” It shamed Jemina, and she buried her face in Aras’ hard chest. She could not watch another man she loved suffer because of her actions. The sound of the rod connecting with skin would haunt her for cycles.
Aras pulled her arms from around his neck and forced her to stand by Anders. She dared not clutch to her second husband for strength for fear of accidently increasing his pain. “Please, let me face this last strike. Your back is already scarred,” she begged Aras, but he unbu
ttoned his shirt and stepped forward.
“I seek to take my wife’s portion.” Soon a second mark marred his muscular back.
When the time came, Jemina did not protest the order to move toward the center spot. She leaned forward, providing a target to accept her consequences. Otto stood close by, supervising. Anders retrieved a rod not in the fire.
“Strike with meaning, my friend. If you do not deliver a sufficient punishment, she will face the original correction in addition,” Otto cautioned.
Loinbard and Aras blocked her from the others’ view as Anders reached to pull down her warrior pants. The cold air made her shiver, but the feel of angry metal across her skin quickly replaced it. Each of her mates applied one stroke of the unforgiving rod across her backside. They were not overly harsh; nor were they lenient. She accepted without complaint, hoping things were finally right between them.
Jemina righted her clothes and walked from the center area without a word. She assumed her husbands were behind her, but she could not bring herself to turn back and see. The faces of all the Konrad villagers gawking shamed her in a way she had never been before. How would she be able to live here after all that had transpired? Did many of them really believe she had run away from her husbands? Could she ever really be accepted here after all which had happened?
A hand came to rest on her shoulder, but she knew it was not one of her husbands. It was too small and soft. Jemina spun around to find Aras and Loinbard’s second mother, Attie. The older woman pulled her into a tight embrace before leading her to a more private place. “Do not lose heart, my new daughter. This will soon pass. I stood on that platform many cycles ago, shortly after coming to live in this village. My husbands’ bear scars they accepted in my place and I had to endure a public sanction from them for all to see.”
Squeezing Attie’s hand, Jemina took a moment to find her voice. “In all my life in Urijah, I never heard, but less saw, anyone being sentenced in this manner. Maybe I am not suited for this village. Being an outsider was daunting enough, but now I fear the others will reject me for my stupid behavior.”
