“Have sex?” Odif asked. Jeni nodded slightly, looking to see if anyone else was listening. Leaning closer, Odif had a gleam in her eye.
“We sure did. Tayan is the best lover I’ve ever had.” Picking pieces of fruit up, she started eating them one by one as she talked. “He is a hot, passionate man. He got me so excited I lost my voice--I mean, it was like we were animals! No words, just moaning, grunting, yelps and screams. Whenever we weren’t fighting something, or each other, we were wrapped tight together trying our best to make a baby.”
All Jeni could do was gape at her. This was her own brother she was talking about! Sisters weren’t supposed to love their brothers, not like that. Blushing, Jeni put a hand up to hide her face from the table nearest them. “Do you have to be so graphic?”
“That’s how it was.” Pausing a second, she asked, “I think sex is great, don’t you?”
Jeni gave a half-nod. Quietly, she said, “Yes, but we don’t talk about things like that.”
“Why not?” Right after she said it, she remembered her talk with Ali. “Oh, I understand. Discussing life’s functions is considered barbaric here.”
Jeni was frustrated with her. Odif didn’t seem to purposely make it sound like she was talking down to people. By the way she acted--suckling Erica, standing up for Art--and with her open way of speaking about anything, Jeni was starting to feel that she should have been doing these things all along. In short, Odif made her feel inadequate.
“You are free to do as you wish. You don’t have to worry about what people think or stay within what society determines acceptable.” Looking at her pleadingly, she said, “I wish I had the time to suckle my own baby. Many times, I wish I could just smack someone who desperately deserves it! I can’t do as I please; people depend on me to do certain things and act certain ways. Can you understand that?”
Clasping her hands together, Odif rested her chin on her knuckles. Regarding Jeni for a moment, she sighed. “Jeni, what is the most important thing in your life?”
“Erica,” she said without hesitation.
“As it should be.” Sliding her hands down to cross them in front of her, she said, “The most important person in my life is Tayan. I know it’s not right; but for over a year, I was really mad at Lucinthia for dying on him. I thought she was a snob, but Tayan thought the world of her. I would do anything for him, even die for him without thinking twice. Lucinthia did die for him--I guess that’s part of the reason I was mad at her.”
“You really love Tayan, don’t you?” Jeni asked softly.
“My point is,” Odif continued, “that no matter what, the most important thing in your life should be just that. Everything else is secondary. I love being a druid, I love my Goddess, I look upon the creatures of nature as my children; but if Tayan needs me, he comes first. If you know that suckling your own child is the right thing to do then don’t let anything stop you from doing it.”
Jeni tried to imagine going into a meeting nursing Eirca and maintaining control. Even if no one said anything to her, she’d turn every shade of red. How did one talk business while having a baby at your breast?
“I meet with all kinds of people every day. I can’t take her into meetings or when I go on visits.”
Odif shrugged. “All I can tell you is goat’s milk is a poor substitute for yours. She will sleep better and be healthier if she has your milk.”
Again she felt criticized, like Odif was telling her she wasn’t doing enough for her child. Looking away, she saw the waiter coming with their lunch. At the moment, he looked like a troop of knights coming to rescue her. “Ahh, here come our steaks.”
After lunch, they went to the mid-city coach depot. She was hoping Odif would at least be glad the horses were well taken care of. Odif only shrugged and noted that a few of the harnesses were too lose, chafing the animals’ hides. Leaving Odif to the horses, she went inside to talk to the head dispatcher.
The rest of the day, they rode through the city, stopping at another “seer” and visiting the other two city depots. Besides there not being enough coaches to fill the demand for the Krundle route and a list of coaches to go for repairs at the wainwright’s, business was going well. She put in an order for five new coaches along with the repair orders then tried one last time to find a seer in the northern part of the city.
Night was falling as their coach rolled up to the gates that marked home. By this time, Jeni was sure that every seer was a fake, and there was nothing she could ever do to gain Odif’s approval. Coming home was not a relief, for they had no more than walked in the door when Penelopy, Erica’s nanny, found her.
Penny’s face was screwed up as she wrung her hands. “Mrs. Redman, I have tried to give Erica her bottle when she woke up, but she refuses to eat. I’ve tried sugar in it, warming it, everything! She drinks only a few swallows when she gets very hungry, but not enough to last. I am at wit’s end as to what to do.”
When Jeni quit nursing, she had gone though a week of hell getting Erica used to a bottle. Now, she was going to have to go through that all over again. She glared at Odif, wishing she had stayed in the damn woods.
“Perhaps you will stay and be her wet nurse?”
Calmly, Odif said, “I would love to, but I can’t. Erica needs her mother.”
After all day with this woman, Jeni snapped. “Are you sure I will be able to do it?” she yelled. “You really should stay in case I don’t get that right either!” Stomping off a few steps, she turned and laid into her again. “I have no idea why what you think means anything to me, I really don’t!” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I do the best I can, Mom and Dad help me; but most of it I do by myself!” Wrapping her arms around herself, she burst into tears.
Odif handed her staff and the bent armor to Penny and walked up to her. Enfolding Jeni in her arms, she gently said, “I know you do. From what I see, you do the work of three people, and do very well. You can’t be but--what, fifty? A pretty young elf to have such a heavy load. If Eric could see you now I’m sure he’d be very proud of you.”
The kind words threw her off-guard. They also swelled her anger. Jeni pulled back and raised a fist. Swinging it hesitantly back and forth a few times, she finally popped out one finger at her. “You...are impossible!” She wiped her face with the palms of her hands. It was easy to see why Tayan fought with her--she couldn’t imagine anyone living near Odif and not want to dash her brains out from time to time.
“Some women in Capetown wear nursing bibs to conceal what they're doing.” Odif offered. “They're loose, so you can slid Erica up and under comfortably.”
“My milk has dried up.”
“I can help you start producing again.”
Jeni didn’t know whether to laugh or start crying again. When Erica was first born she had delighted in nursing her. It had been her workload and pressure from her grandmother that had made her stop. Turning to Penny, she asked, “Would you find me a nursing bib?”
Penny nodded. “Yes, M’lady. Will you be needing these?” she asked, holding the staff and armor up.
Odif took her things back. Looking at Jeni, she nodded to the stairs. “Shall we go feed your daughter?”
The tone she used wasn’t a demand, but close enough that Jeni felt like she was trying to order her. Rubbing her tongue over the inside of her teeth in irritation, Jeni waved for her to follow. As she started up the stairs, she was sure Odif had put on all that muscle to keep people from beating the crap out of her.
Chapter 11
Jeni started to get used to her visitor over the following days, not that Odif made things easy. Most of their time was spent searching the city for a seer as Jeni tended her business. The only difference now was that Erica and Penny came along for the ride. The nursing bib worked well; she fed Erica as they traveled, all the while Odif snorted and complained about the city’s stench. After a full day of running around the city doing business and finding more false seers, they would return home. Salinthia kept quiet
about Jeni’s nursing but insisted Odif join them for dinner and not eat in the garden by herself.
Jeni wasn’t the only one having difficulties with Odif. The third day of her visit, Arthur and Sally got a shock when Art came walking through the main hall buck-naked. Upon their demanding what he was doing, he simply stated Odif had told him it was too hot to wear clothes. United in parental anger, they found Odif sitting on the edge of the fountain without a stitch of clothing on, soaking her feet in the water. Saurenthansia tersely explained to her that she could not walk around naked. Arthur tried to maintain his anger and keep his eyes on her face, both of which seemed difficult to do.
As for Odif, she quickly found she hated the city--and wasn’t too fond of the people, either. She surrendered her normal habits and sat at a formal dinner table and even promised to keep herself covered at all times. She could not, however, bathe in the small rooms with tubs of stagnant water. Waiting until the rest of the family was asleep, she went out to the fountain and bathed properly. A couple male servants were very eager to bring her towels, and nearly all of them came by to wish her a good night.
Ali visited her twice, asking questions she should have already had the answers to by her age. Odif noted that as she explained life’s facts to Ali, the girl became more at ease with herself. She no longer refused to name parts of her own body, and her manner was more self-assured. The girl was still afraid to let anyone know about their talks; and given the environment she lived in, Odif had to agree.
After the fourth day of what was becoming a routine, Odif went into one of the backyards covered in smooth, trimmed grass to do exercises. Clean sweat from exertion was the only way she found to get the smell of the streets off her. To her surprise, Sally was there, wearing only shorts and a bandeau of cloth around her chest, doing her own exercises. She was working up a sweat, practicing blocks and kicks. The elf woman moved with grace and a fair amount of speed.
“May I join you?” Odif asked, propping her staff against a low wall.
Sally straightened up, shaking her arms loose. “Yes, please do. It’s been quite some time since I’ve had a partner.” Raising a cautionary hand, she said, “Light contact only--I’m not as good as I used to be.”
“City living?” Odif grinned.
“Arthur used to practice with me, but he’s not up to it anymore.” She sighed.
Bringing her arms over her head, Odif began stretching out the stiffness from sitting in the coach most of the day.
“He looks like he’s slowing down. That’s one thing I have yet to figure out.”
Bending down, she locked her knees and laid her hands on the ground in front of her. Then when she felt her legs and back free up, she grabbed her ankles and brought her face down to her shins. Staying like that for a moment, she rose back up and bent slowly backwards until she had her hands on the ground behind her.
“Arthur is human,” Sally explained, “and he’s sixty years old. He’s been aging very quickly these past few years.”
Straightening up, Odif bent to one side then the other. “That’s what I can’t figure out. I’ve studied elves and humans closely. Despite minor differences, elves live most of their potential life cycle, and humans do not. There is no reason why Arthur should not live to be at least one hundred-fifty if not two hundred years.”
Sally shook her head. “I have never met any human even close to a hundred years old.”
Sitting down, Odif brought her legs out to the sides in a full split. “You met my dad; he has to be close to two hundred, if not older.”
“He’s different.”
Odif wasn’t sure what she meant by that. “In any case, there are human villages north of the Great Lake where hundred-year-old humans are common. Why they live so long, and others don’t, is one of the mysteries I’ve been working on.”
Planting her hands in front of her, she lifted herself up and leaned forward as she straightened her legs behind her. Tilting even farther to maintain balance, she shoved herself up with her arms and flipped back to land on her feet. “I have found that in some the aging can be reversed to a point. Take me, for instance. I put myself through the ritual every ten years or so.”
Sally cocked an eyebrow. “How old are you?”
Odif looked human. If she were to guess Odif’s age, even with elven blood in her, she couldn’t be more than forty.
Odif shrugged sheepishly. “I’m not exactly sure--right around Arthur’s age.” Picking at her lip with a finger, she mused, “Let’s see--I was eighteen when I first met Tayan, and he turned seventy-five that year...” Pausing, she gave a grunt. “I’ve never kept track of what year is it very well.”
“This year is 3367.”
Odif snapped her fingers. “Yes! Tayan gave me a thirtieth birthday party a couple years before the Great War started.”
“That would put you at sixty-one.” Sally told her. For a sixty-year-old human, Odif looked incredibly good. “How much elf do you have in you?”
“Not much, I don’t think. My grandfather was short and thin, I know he was part elf. We really don’t pay much attention to those things.” Odif bounced lightly on her toes then settled into a defensive stance. “One-fall skirmishes?”
Sally nodded, setting her own defense. “Any time you’re ready.”
Odif had planned on testing her with a few feints to let Sally learn a bit of what she was in for. It only took a few seconds for her to realize the elf woman knew what she was doing. She caught two slaps in the side and nearly got her feet swept from under her. Sally got the upper hand from the start and pressed her hard with lightning-fast hands and feet. Odif had to use all her speed and skill to block the attempts. Finding an opening to counter wasn’t easy--the few times Sally did leave openings, she jumped back quickly then came in again. Every counterattack Odif tried was either blocked or ducked.
In what looked like a frantic dance, Odif and Sally panted, faces set in concentration as each tried to land a blow. After what seemed forever, Sally extended too far when she thrust with a punch. Odif quickly grabbed her hand and sent her own open palm into Sally’s ribs. Sally twisted with grunt, bringing her leg up for balance. Odif’s hand brushed her side on its way past. Seeing Sally on one foot, Odif snapped hers out to topple her. A split second before Odif’s foot contacted, Sally jumped just high enough to avoid the blow then spun low, using Odif’s grip on her hand for extra leverage. Odif knew what was happening too late. She had just let go when her other foot was kicked from under her. She landed flat on her back with an oof.
Breathing heavily, Sally bent over, hands on her knees as she looked down at Odif. “Thanks for taking it easy with me,” she said and extended her hand.
Odif took it. Getting up, she gave Sally an appreciative nod. “You are very good. I think I’ve been spending too much time teaching slow, muscle-bound men.” She grinned.
Seeing Odif regain her stance, Sally lifted a hand. “A moment please, let me catch my breath. I haven’t had a workout like that in a while.”
“Me, either. Maybe I should visit from time to time...after I’ve gone through a renewal ritual.”
Giving a light laugh, Sally told her, “You’re giving me a tough enough time now.” Straightening up, she shook her arms and legs out and took a few deep breaths. Settling into her stance, she motioned Odif closer. “I’m ready.”
This time Odif didn’t feint. She attacked Sally vigorously, using every ounce of speed she could muster. As before, Sally ducked and blocked expertly; but now she was more on the receiving end. Slowly, Odif backed her towards the house as both furiously sought a decent opening in the other’s defense. This time, Sally spotted Odif’s side wide open and snapped a foot up to tag her just under her shoulder. Odif twisted and slapped her hand into the foot then shot her arm straight up. Seriously off-balance, Sally attempted to flip backwards and recover. By the time she had committed to the maneuver and was dropping back to the ground, Odif was waiting. She had squatted and already sent a leg
sweep to where Sally was going to land. There was nothing Sally could do--the instant her feet touched the ground Odif knocked them out from under her. Sally went down hard on her side.
Odif knelt by her, laying a hand on her shoulder. “You all right?”
Sally gave a grunt of “Fine” as she gasped for breath.
A male voice called out, “What’s going on out here?”
They had moved into view of the backyard terrace. Odif looked up to see Arthur by the railing, hands on his hips. Beside him, Jeni was holding Erica. “Just practice,” she explained.
“You were fighting,” Art yelled from farther to the right.
Sally struggled up with Odif’s help. “No, dear, we were just practicing.” Raising her arms, she said, “See, I’m not hurt, and neither is Odif.”
Art didn’t seem to believe them. “Wow, wait till I tell the guys at school my mom was fighting Odif the Druid!”
Sally put a hand to her head. If stories like that started to spread she’d never hear the end of it. “Art! We were not fighting. You've seen me exercise before, right?” She waited until he nodded then added, “Odif is exercising with me. We were not trying to hurt each other.”
“Sally, Salinthia’s having one of her bad spells, you better come up,” Arthur told her firmly.
Casting a worried look at Odif, she said, “I have to go.”
Odif didn’t know what a “spell” was, but it didn’t sound good. “I’ll come with you.”
Salinthia was in her bed. The first thing Odif noticed was that she was very pale and her lips were bluish. As she came closer, she noted Salinthia’s hands, which were over her chest. Her fingernails were turning blue. Her mouth was open as she tried weakly to take gasping breaths. Sally went to her side with Arthur. Odif slipped in and touched her hands--they were ice-cold. The woman was suffocating to death.
Touching Sally on the shoulder, she said, “Breathe for her.”
“What do you mean? Breathe into her mouth?”
Odif nodded. “Hold her nose shut and blow a normal breath into her. Keep doing it until her lips get some color into them.”
WolfHeart Page 24
