Going away

“Sure,” Mary answered and smiled.

“You looked a little subdued, are you okay?” he asked after they had walked for a while.

“I’m fine, just a bit overwhelmed. I have never had something like this before,” she admitted.

“A birthday party?” he asked.

“No, I have had those. But not one with so many friends that actually cares about what I like and who I am,” Mary told him.

“But I’ll be okay. I just need a couple of minutes to collect myself,” she continued.

“Do you want to be alone?” he asked.

“No, I would have turned down your offer for company if I did,” she said.

They walked for a while and then headed back. They didn’t talk. They had gotten to where they could just enjoy each other’s company.

“My grandfather has made camp near to the city. Are you available to ride out with me next Saturday?” Tenac asked as they got closer to the picnic site.

“Sure, I don’t have any plans other than our training sessions. Will we be staying the night?” Mary asked.

“No, they are much closer to the city, so it won’t be necessary, “he told her.

“Great, then I don’t have to make arrangements to be late on Sunday,” Mary smiled.

“The birthday girl is here. That means time for cake,” Sinhera called out as she saw Mary and Tenac.

“Cake as well?” Mary asked.

“Sure, your mother made sure of it,” Hinat told her. She was taking out what Mary recognised as her mother’s amazing strawberry cake.

“Well, if this is mine, what are you eating?” she said, snatching the cake from her friend and giggling as all the others objected.

A couple of hours later, they all helped pack things up and Mary thanked them all again. It had been an amazing day, and she was grateful for her friends.

She made her way home to spend the evening and night with her parents. As she stepped inside, Bettina came walking and gave her a hug.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” she said.

“Thank you mom, and thank you for the birthday gift. I loved it,” Mary beamed.

“It was nothing. I’m happy you liked it. Come along, your dad has another one for you,” her mother smiled.

“Another one? But you already gave me one,” Mary said as she saw Kopa stand on top of the stairs.

“There is no rule that says you can’t give your daughter more than one birthday gift. Especially when she has earned it,” Kopa smiled at her as Mary and her mother walked upstairs.

“It’s too much, dad,” Mary objected.

“You don’t even know what it is. Go in, it’s in your bedroom, little one,” he told her and gave her a nudge to keep her going.

Mary opened the door to her bedroom and walked inside. Everything looked like it should. Then she turned and looked over at her desk and she saw her birthday gift. It was a bookcase. It was made from the same dark wood that the rest of her furniture. The book case was made with thick shelves and had ornamented carvings all over it.

Mary was speechless as she walked over to it and ran her fingers over the wood. She turned around and looked at her parents. They stood just inside the door. Her father had his hand on her mother’s shoulder. They both looked at her.

“Thank you, thank you so, so, so much. I love it,” she smiled and ran over to them and gave them a hug.

“It’s about time you get one of your own. You are starting to collect a good amount of books,” her father chuckled as he hugged her back.

“I will get all my books and place them in it,” Mary said excitedly.

“Well, leave some of them in the sanctum. You might need them,” her mother smiled.

“Oh, yeah, good point,” Mary smiled.

That evening, Mary took out the small book with love poems and placed it on a shelf. After sitting down and adding two of her own favourite recipes to the book, she also placed the recipe book next to the other book.

The old book she had gotten from Tenac, she took with her and got comfortable on the bed before she opened it to read. Between the pages at the start of the first chapter, there was a note. Surprised, Mary took it out and saw Tenac’s handwriting.

‘Happy Birthday Mary,

I saw this book and thought it would be a good inspiration for you. My mother’s source of inspiration is the fourth Lady. I hope you can find your own.

With kindness

Tenac’

Mary smiled at the note and placed it at the back of the book. As usual, Tenac had just presumed that Mary would become the Lady. It never occurred to him she could fail.

Mary hadn’t even figured out if she wanted to become the Lady. She was hardly used to the fact that she could become an aari. But it felt nice to know Tenac believed in her, she thought as she started reading.

The week flew by as they always seemed to do these days. Mary had almost finished the book Tenac had given her, and she found the lives and accomplishments of the five Ladies it was about, fascinating. They all had the same title and strived to help people, but they did it in widely different ways.

Mary had also had her hands full with creating the gifts for Tenac’s grandfather, uncle and tribe. It had been a little trickier this time around, since she had to fit it in around her schedule. But she had convinced the aari responsible for the kitchen to let her work there in the evenings.

Mary had baked cookies of different kinds and put into two gift boxes and then into pouches for the tribe. Tenac stood waiting on her with the horses ready.

“You need to stop spoiling me by saddling my horse as well,” Mary pointed out.

“I know you can’t get going as early when you’re at the sanctum. It makes it easier. But you need to stop spoiling the tribe,” he remarked as he helped her put her gifts into saddle bags. She shrugged.

“I’m happy to do it,” she said.

They rode out of the city and this time Tenac led her in a different direction than the last time. They rode on in silence for a while.

“I’m going to be deployed to go with the aari delegation to Ne’xsiss, next month. I’ll be away for almost three months,” Tenac told her.

“That’s a long journey,” Mary said.

“It is. There has been some trouble with pirates, and they want the aari’s help to negotiate,” he told her.

“It’s an important mission. You must be proud to be chosen. You usually go for the more local missions,” Mary smiled.

“I used to belong to the standard rider’s unit. But I switched to the Lady’s personal guard a month back,” he said.

“What? You switched to my dad’s unit and neither of you told me?” Mary asked.

“I asked him to let me tell you,” Tenac smiled.

“Congratulations, Tenac. I know that is quite an achievement,” she smiled back at him.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Does that mean that you won’t work with Sinhera and Jontak anymore?” Mary asked.

“Yes, they are both staying in my old unit. I recommended Sinhera take over my position as captain,” he told her.

“I am happy for you. But I will miss you when you are gone,” she admitted.

“You will?” he asked.

“Of course I will. We have known each other for over a year, and we are rarely apart for more than a few weeks. You have spoiled me with always having time for me,” she laughed.

“I will miss you too,” he said. “If you want, I’m sure Sinhera could take over your training and riding lessons,” he told her.

“No, I’m just going to wait until you get back,” Mary said. It didn’t feel right to her that she would do those things with someone else than Tenac.

“You will have time for dating,” he said. Mary laughed.

“Yeah, right? I don’t think so. I’ll use the extra time to read and spend time with mom and dad. Procecsa has talked about us doing some field work as well before fall comes,” she told him.

“You’re going out in the field?” he asked, sounding worried.

“Yes, that’s what happens during the second year. You weren’t expecting me to be cooped up in the library throughout my training?” she asked.

“No,” he answered, but sounded hesitant.

“You did!” she exclaimed, looking accusing at him.

“What point is it being an aari if all you do is read books? I love reading and learning new things. But I want to use my knowledge as well,” she told him.

“I know,” he sighed. “At least tell me you will take some riders with you,” he then said.

“Of course we will. I don’t think Sesca and me could put up a tent if our life depended on it,” Mary smiled. Tenac laughed at the idea.

“We are here,” Tenac said after a while.

Mary looked out over the flat area in front of them. The grassland stretched out until the horizon. To the left, the river ran and to the right there was grass covered hills. The herd of horses were grazing on the flat grass area. On top of the closest hill, Mary could see the camp. She smiled.

They both raised their hand in greeting to the men on horseback that was guarding the herd. They made their way to the camp and Mary saw that both Tenac’s grandfather and uncle stood waiting for them as they got close.

“Tenac, welcome. Mary, it’s nice to see you again,” Tenac’s grandfather said as they dismounted.

“Grandfather,” Tenac said with a little bow.

“Ceran, thank you for inviting me again,” Mary smiled, inclining her head.

“Of course, we have more to talk about you and I,” Ceran said, smiling back at her.

“I have some gifts for you. No candy this time, I’m sorry to say,” she told him and got the two boxes full of cookies and handed the first to him and the second one to Tenac’s uncle.

“There are some for the clan as well,” Mary said, gesturing to her saddlebags.

“You shouldn’t have Mary, you are practically family. No need for you to bring us these gifts,” Ceran said, but his eyes lit up as he saw the cookies.

“Nontuf, divide the gifts between the clan,” he then said.

Mary hadn’t noticed that Nontuf had been one of the bystanders and smiled at him as Tenac helped him get the rest of the cookies out of the saddlebags. With a nod, he left to hand them out to the clan.

“Cetu, please bring my gift to my tent. I think I will show Mary the herd,” Ceran said.

“Yes father,” Tenac’s uncle said. Taking the box from his father and walking towards the largest tent in the camp.

“Walk with me Mary, tell me what you have been up to,” Ceran said. Mary joined him, walking down the hill towards the horses. Tenac trailed a little behind the two of them.

“I hope Tenac has explained the basics of how we keep our horses,” Ceran said as they walked.

“Yes, he has,” Mary nodded.

“Good. We live for our horses. Each family has their own horses that are part of the herd,” he explained.

“How do you tell them apart?” Mary asked.

“Any Che’hul worth their name knows his horses even in the far distance. But to avoid unnecessary disputes, we brand them when they are around two years old,” Tenac’s grandfather said, and whistled a small tune.

The tune was met by a neighing and a beautiful horse came trotting towards them.

“This is Arimay,” Ceran told her as the horse stopped in front of them.

The old man let his hand caress the head of the horse and along its neck as he moved along the horse. Mary followed him, admiring the horse. It seemed familiar.

“It’s related to Addon, isn’t it?” Mary asked. Tenac’s grandfather looked appreciatively at her.

“He sired Addon,” he nodded.

His hand reached the whither, and he flipped over the long mane. There were two marks marked into the horse’s fur. The first one had been crossed over.

“Arimay belonged to Cenac, Tenac’s father. When he passed, Tariana and Tenac were kind enough to gift him to me,” the man said. Mary could hear the sorrow in his voice and couldn’t stop herself from placing her hand on his.