by S. W. Gunn
She said to him, “Actually I kind of like the closeness that the bed forces on us. I love the feel of your body against my skin.”
With an evil grin he stated, “Indeed, I must confess I love the feel your body too.”
“That isn’t not what I meant you rascal!” She said while giving him a little shove before laughing.
“I know Astir, we should probably get up. No doubt my father is already hard at work. I can only hope that we did not keep my family awake in the evening as you applied my punishment repeatedly last night.”
“I just hope they did not hear us.”
Daell replied casually, “These walls are thin as a scroll sheet. They heard both my pleading for mercy, and your loud moaning.”
As she punched him in the chest she said, “I am going to die from embarrassment!”
“There is work to do this turn my love, let us not dally.”
They dressed quickly. Astir was glad that she had packed a specific set of bags for this part of the trip. It consisted of simple dresses that were much easier to wear than her normal affairs. She savored having her husband aid her in dressing as much as undressing but she had to have him stop trying to utilize the application, he just could not do it right. Since they were just staying here with his family she figured that she could be just fine without it. It had seemed that they did not have a need for her to impress them. She suspected that even if she were unattractive they would have accepted her completely. Daell wore a simple dark tunic and lighter brown trousers, it was clearly an outfit meant for him to work at the forge. The expression on his face made it clear that he was quite pleased by the prospect. Astir had assumed that much of their five turns would be spent working with his family. She was just glad that he was so happy, which only reinforced her decision to install a forge on the palace grounds. She was also excited to spend more time with his family.
As soon as Daell opened the door of his room, she could smell the morning meal. It appeared that his mother awoke early to prepare the meal. She saw the food sitting on the table as they entered the dining hall. His father and mother were not in the room.
Kelda was sitting in one of the chairs and as they entered she stood before saying to Astir, “Sister, come eat the mornin’ meal, I suspect that you’re in need of your strength.”
Her words initially puzzled Astir, but once she realized what Kelda was referencing Astir felt more than a little embarrassed. She had no doubt that they must have heard the passion in which Astir had made love to Daell last evening, she wanted to restrain herself but once her hands met his body, she could not.
Astir sat down in one of the available seats and asked, “Where is father?”
Daell answered, “He is out at the forge preparing for the turn’s work.”
She was impressed. It would seem that his family would rise before the sun and then work until the sun sat down on the horizon. She remembered Daell’s words from over a cycle ago, ‘Jordlings did not take time off’. While she had heard that it was part of the makeup that made Jordlings who they were, she could hardly imagine spending every turn rising before the sun and working past the setting of the sun for essentially your whole life. They loved to work hard and strove to always provide the finest effort and quality that they could with everything that they did. Her husband was no different to them in that respect. After all, what sort of crazed man with no training would actually not only complete in a poetry contest with a Vindiri, but actually win. Only a stubborn Jordling would.
Daell sat down next to her before announcing, “Astir, I must eat quickly and then join my father at the forge. Will you be fine with my mother and sister?”
Astir reached out and rubbed his hands as she stated, “I had planned to spend time with them. I believe your sister is very interested in my dresses and I was going to share with the both of them.”
Kelda perked with excitement at her words. Astir knew that she would be pleased. She had intentionally brought the clothing styles she did, not just to wear for herself, but she planned to give every one of them to Daell’s mother and sister as gifts. While she deeply wished that she could open the royal coffers for his family, Daell made it clear to her that she would be declined because his father was a proud man and he would never take any sort of donation.
As they began to eat their meal his mother entered the dining hall. She took a seat at the table and smiled at the both of them. Astir had to know that she had heard the evening’s noise from Daell’s room but thankfully for Astir she was kind enough not to mention it.
They quickly ate their morning meal and Daell stood as he announced, “I shall be at the forge if you need me Astir.”
She nodded at him and he walked out of the room.
His mother spoke, “Dear what would you like to do on this turn?”
“Mother what were your normal plans before our arrival?”
After a brief pause she said, “Well normally at this time we’d walk down to the marketplace and shop for the upcomin’ few turns worth of food. We’d then like to talk with our friends, although don’t mention this to my husband as he thinks we are still shoppin’. Then we’d come home and prepare the mid-turn meal. After we clean our home, our clothin’ and then begin to prepare the evenin’ meal.”
“Then let us do that mother.”
His mother looked concerned as she asked, “Daughter are you sure it’s proper for the Queen of Heima to be shoppin’ for food, gossipin’ with house wives and then doin’ house chores?”
“Mother I am just another wife of a blacksmith in a small village, let us go shop.”
Astir followed Daell’s mother and sister as they made their way to the marketplace. It was clear to her that the people there were unsure of who she was and why she was there because she received many looks of curiosity as they went. Their first stop was a fruit stand. Astir discovered that much of the food was imported on a caravan that would come a few times a cycle. The people of the village would sell the items they made for the Aldarnari in Araedi, and then use that same coin to buy the food they needed for sustenance. It was a very basic lifestyle. The woman at the fruit stand was a Jordling that appeared to be around Daell’s mother’s age.
His mother first spoke, “Good mornin’ Fremja.”
The woman she called Fremja replied, “Hello Gaeta. How are you this mornin’?”
Daell’s mother answered, “I’m wonderful, I’d love to introduce you to my newest daughter.”
Fremja nodded and said, “Oh really? I heard rumors that your youngest boy had returned home with a girl in tow.”
“It’s true Fremja.” She said before turning to Astir and continuing, “This is my new daughter Astir.”
Fremja turned to Astir and then back to Gaeta and said, “Wow Gaeta, she’s a beautiful girl.”
Astir flushed a bit and said, “Thank you Fremja, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you young lady. Gaeta, have you come to make your daily purchases?”
“Indeed, my newest daughter has come to assist with my shopping and chores.”
Astir spent time with Daell’s mother going through the fruits. She noticed that they were probably not very fresh, most likely the Aldarnari sold the lesser quality foods to the outlying villages like Anddyri. It made her sad to think of how poorly some of her people must have been treated. Given lesser quality food could only be one indication of what the leadership in Araedi had thought of the citizens that toiled for them. She decided that she would add this to her growing list of things that needed to change.
They continued to shop and talk as they moved through the marketplace, Astir made it a point to purchase everything. She had so much that it was the least she could do for her new family. They had treated her as though she was born as one of their own. Daell’s mother had tried to refuse at first, but Astir had insisted and eventually was able to get her to relent. She even bought a few minor gifts for everyone in the family, several silfur chains for Daell’s mothe
r to replace the ones her husband had ruined those many harvests ago, a cute new hat for Kelda, and she also placed an order for some supplies for both his father and brother. While she had known that neither would accept a direct gift, she hoped that an order for future supplies would be something that they could not refuse after she had left for Bygod. Daell’s mother told her that she would do her best to ensure both accepted the gift. Astir felt she had to help her new family in some way, any family that could have brought her Daell deserved much more than the lives they had. Astir had also noticed that the people in the village seemed to go about life with a determination that no other being she had known before could match. They went about their tasks, and yet still also seemed to be happy. She was able to see why this was the environment that brought her husband the determination, happiness and honor that formed who he was.
After some close calls with some of her handmaidens and Aldarnari guards, they were able to finish shopping and head home for the mid-turn meal. During the meal she could tell that her husband was enjoying his time with his father. They all sat down and ate the mid-turn meal. Kelda spent most of the meal asking Astir about Bygod. Astir had already felt love for her, she was very much like Daell; also Astir never had her own sister so it was nice to now have one. After the meal she only received a kiss from Daell before he was back to work with his father. Kelda had convinced her mother to allow Kelda to take Astir out and hang the clothing outside.
As they started to hang the clothing Kelda asked, “My brother didn’t talk about it, but I was wonderin’ how badly was he hurt during that Kostir thing?”
Astir looked down at the ground. She still felt horrible about the whole Kostir. She sighed heavily.
“What’s wrong?” Kelda asked.
Astir turned away, she felt the tears of her guilt form within her eyes and she did not want her new sister to see them.
Solemnly she answered, “Kelda, he was hurt badly. It took almost three turns to heal enough to even awake from his wounds.”
Kelda moved to stand beside Astir. She wrapped an arm around Astir and leaned her head on Astir’s shoulder.
“Astir, why are you cryin’?”
Astir attempted to use the sleeves of her dress to wipe her tears.
Once she finished as best she could she said to Kelda, “Because many of my husband’s injuries were caused by my own stupidity.”
Kelda looked confused as she said, “Astir, I don’t understand. I heard my brother’s tale, and he didn’t mention anythin’ that would’ve done by you that would’ve had him become injured.”
“That is because my husband is so kind that he omitted it sister.”
“Why would he do that Astir?”
Begrudgingly Astir answered, “Well, he loves me so much that my complicity in his wounds does not matter to him. All he cares is that he has me as his wife, and that we love each other dearly.”
Firmly Kelda stated, “He’s right.”
“I know, but it still tears at my heart to know that I caused my husband pain. In my stupidity I did not listen to my heart, and it caused him pain.”
Still puzzled, Kelda asked, “Could you explain it to me exactly?”
“Well as he told you, the Kostir consists of four events. A poetry recital, foot race, a bragging circle, and personal combat were the events. My husband won the poetry recital with a beautiful poem.”
Astir could see his sister was shocked as she asked, “My brother wrote a poem?”
Daell had mentioned he won an event but with his father there he did not specify which.
With a grin Astir answered, “Yes, and it was beautiful and sweet. He expressed his love for me and then read his poem in front of a massive crowd.”
“That’s so romantic.”
Astir smiled as she thought to herself that it was indeed romantic.
Continuing the story she said, “But he lost the foot race, which I later found out that he only lost because the other man cheated.”
Kelda interrupted, “Cheated?”
“Yes, he used the elements during the event, which is not allowed. It was the third event, the bragging circle, where my complicity in his wounds occurred. You see each competitor has to step forward and proclaim to the royal family, and the crowd, as to why they should be chosen as my future husband. Only three of the men made good arguments. My brother, who was loyal to your brother before the event even began, had chosen your brother as the winner. My father chose the Aldarnari man and my mother chose the Vindiri. When my turn came to vote my heart had pleaded with me to choose your brother, but my mind had said to choose someone else merely because it was a common belief that a Jordling could not be King. My heart begged and pleaded with me, it said this was the man for you. He loves you as no other possibly could, but I listened to my mind and foolishly choose the Aldarnari.”
“I don’t understand how that could cause my brother to be so direly injured.”
Astir could see the look on her face was pure confusion so she said, “I know, however it did. You see the final event was personal combat and since there was a tie in events between three men there was a random drawing for who would fight who. My husband fought the Vindiri first. Daell won, but the Vindiri had injured him so badly that he needed assistance to walk. The Aldarnari was supposed to fight another, that man was a coward and withdrew. This meant that my husband would then have to fight the Aldarnari in his bad condition while the Aldarnari was fresh.”
Kelda interrupted again, “I still don’t understand.”
“Sister if I had voted as my heart had pleaded my husband would have had to only fight one time against the winner of the Vindiri and the Aldarnari and even then only if the Vindiri had won. So you see I did not listen to my heart, as I should have, and my husband was seriously injured because of my error.”
Astir realized that tears were now heavily flowing down her face.
A voice cut in from behind them, “Oh daughter that’s the most foolish thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Astir turned around to see Daell’s mother standing there. She must have heard the entire story. She quickly walked to Astir immediately wrapped her arms around Astir and hugged tightly. Astir continued to cry, it felt so wonderful for her to let it all out because she had felt guilty ever since she had cast her vote.
Daell’s mother let her go and said, “No more of this talk daughter, it’s now the past. You’re a wonderful girl, and exactly what my little boy deserves. Everythin’ that happened was all part of fate and no matter what you can’t change it daughter. If you tried you’d have ruined fate’s plan. All I can tell you is what I see now, he’s happier now with you on his arm that he’s ever had been before.”
Astir smiled at her. She was a wonderful woman. Astir nodded at her.
His mother reached out and wiped away the tears from Astir’s face before saying, “Now let’s go into the home and get to work. We’ve chores to complete and an evenin’ meal to start.”
Chapter 18
Daell gave his wife a little wink as she walked by him. She was no doubt following his mother and sister down to the market. Imagine the shock the people of Heima would have felt to know that their Queen was shopping like some common blacksmith’s wife. He chuckled to think about it, especially since technically it was true. As they slowly walked away Daell could hear the three of them chatting and laughing as they went. He was very pleased that his wife was enjoying her time; no doubt it was a nice break for her. The rigors of being the Queen were evident, even to him. She had to constantly deal with the conflicts between the cities. Daell had not realized the amount of tension between the cities. Apparently issues such as trade, taxation and defense were in constant flux. Daell shrugged it off; it all could wait until they returned to Bygod.
His father spoke, “Son, you’ve got yourself a fine lass there. Your tale last night was quite impressive, although I’m suspectin’ you are cutting somethin’ out.”
“Aye father, I have some
thing to show you.”
With a grunt his father asked, “Was this the thing you were tryin’ to show me last turn?”
He nodded, which his father responded to by saying, “Very well show me son.”
Daell had not known why, but the bond that had grown between him and the earth itself had expanded. He had thought at first that it was the same for all other Jordlings and he was finally just catching to their skill level, apparently he was quite wrong. Hollurn insisted that he could not do any of the things that Daell could now do. It was a fear of embarrassment that kept him from asking any other Jordlings about it. His father was one of the best earthcrafters he had ever seen, so Daell was certain he would understand.
Daell stepped out of the forge area and directly in front of their home. The link between himself and the earth had grown to the point that he no longer needed to remove his boots to feel it fully. Even in the brick floors of his home, he could feel still it pulsing beneath him. It was only when his feet left the ground that he would lose that pulsing sensation. Daell turned to look at his father, who was watching him with some curiosity. Kneeling to the ground, Daell placed his palms down. He opened himself fully to the earth below him, it pulsed against his hands. As he drew himself into the earth, he could feel it vibrating power through him. The pulsing power caused him to smile. He did not even have to concentrate anymore to feel it pulsing, it just did. Taking a glance at his father, Daell was shocked to see that probably the first time in his life, his father looked completely lost.
His father asked, “By Grunnar son, what in Heima are you doin’?”
“Earthcrafting father.”
“That ain’t earthcraftin’ son. Earthcraftin’ is makin’ things or movin’ the earth to your will.”
Daell shook his head because his father was unable to truly understand. Making things and moving balls of earth was not earthcrafting, it was playing with earth. Daell could feel the earth, even as he reached his thoughts out, he could feel his father’s presence on the ground.
