31, Working together

“Fine. My uncle asked me to leave Addon behind. They want my permission to let him stay with the herd and sire offspring for a while,” Tenac said.

“How long is ‘for a while’?” Ayya asked.

“They aren’t heading towards Salmis until late summer, so about six months.”

“And you have that mission coming up in two months. What would you do then?” she asked.

“I could borrow one of my uncle’s horses, or use one of the communal horses back home,” he told her. Ayya shuddered at the idea. She hadn’t even had Estrela for a year and was already having a hard time seeing herself riding another horse. Going back to riding a horse like Buttercup, even if she was sweet as honey, was just unthinkable. That thought conjured the idea of Tenac riding off on a mission on Buttercup. Before she could stop herself, she giggled. Tenac raised an eyebrow. 

“This is funny to you?” he asked, sounding more amused than angry.

“Sorry, the idea of you riding Buttercup just sort of appeared,” she confessed. He laughed. 

“Even if I have to choose another horse, it won’t be Buttercup,” he assured her.

“You know that if you leave him here, Addon won’t forgive you for the next year, at least. Especially if you ride another horse on a mission,” Ayya pointed out. Tenac shook his head.

“You always talk about them as if they are people. But I have seen your little prediction of their behaviour come true too many times for me to ignore it,” Tenac said.

“I’m just warning you now. If he thinks you have chosen another horse over him, he will be grumpy and sour and it will take a lot of apples to make him change his mind,” Ayya told him.

“To be honest, I hate the idea of leaving him. But I understand the clan needs good sires,” he said.

“Don’t they have Estrela’s sire? And Nontuf’s horse is a star as well. It makes more sense to use him,” Ayya pointed out.

“That is true. His horse and Addon come from the same line, so it wouldn’t be the best idea to use both,” Tenac agreed.

“I’m sure your uncle had a valid point in asking you to leave Addon. But he is your horse, your grandfather gave him to you. And if I knew him right, he didn’t add any conditions to the gift. Did he?” 

“No,” Tenac said with a smile. “No, there were no strings attached to Addon.”

“I figured. So do what you feel is best for you and Addon.”

“When did you become so wise?” he asked. 

“I don’t know. I just have a lot of experience with people trying to convince me to do things I don’t want to do, and falling for it,” she told him. 

“Thanks for helping me out.”

“No problem. So is Addon coming home with us?” she asked.

“Yeah, I can’t leave him here,” Tenac said. They walked back to his uncle’s tent. They were both suffering from a lack of sleep, so they were happy to eat lunch with the family and then sitting around, talking and greeting the visitors that were walking in and out of the tent. It was almost time to prepare for dinner when Beruda, looking highly amused, came walking to where Tenac, Tariana, Ayya, and Kopa were sitting. 

“There is a young man asking for you, Kopa,” she told him. Everyone looked at her with surprise. 

“For me?” Ayya’s father asked.

“Yes,” Beruda said with a nod. Kopa got up and followed her to the tent opening where a man about Ayya’s and Tenac’s age stood waiting. Seeing Kopa, the man turned a shade more white and started sweating. It was clear he was trying to say something. Ayya couldn’t make out the conversation, but she didn’t need to see her father’s face to know he was giving him his death stare. The man’s expression and the tenseness in her father’s shoulders told her that. 

“I wonder what that is about,” Ayya said.

“I’ll go and see if he needs a hand,” Tenac said, getting up. First Ayya thought he meant the young man, but to her surprise, he stood next to her father, making the visitor even more nervous. Ayya turned to ask Tariana if she knew what was going on. That’s when she saw Tariana was barely holding it together. Her shoulders were shaking with pent up laughter and the amusement on her face was obvious. 

“What is it I’m not getting? Should I go and help that man that looks like he’s about to drop dead?” Ayya asked her mentor. Tariana looked at her and burst out laughing. Beruda, that had been standing close by the opening, came over and joined Ayya and Tariana. She joined in Tariana’s laughter. 

“Was it as good as I think it was?” Tariana asked.

“Even better, I dare say,” Beruda said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. 

“Is someone going to tell me what is happening?” Ayya asked. 

“That young man over there is the son of chief Terot. He apparently has taken a fancy to you,” Beruda told her, between spouts of laughter. 

“Taken a fancy?” Ayya asked. “But I haven’t even spoken to him. How does he even know I exist?”

“I have told you that you attract men. You just won’t listen when I tell you that you are one of the most beautiful women in the country. Of course he knows you exist, so does every man in this camp,” Tariana tutted and then giggled. Ayya looked at Beruda to ask for help.

“Don’t look at me, young lady. Tariana is speaking the truth,” Beruda told her.

“Okay, so let’s say I accept that. Why is he talking to dad?”

“Well, because we are a travelling people, when you meet someone you fancy, there isn’t much time for courting. If you are too slow, the clans might leave and you won’t see each other for who knows how long. That has led to us being quite, how do I say this, forward, when it comes to courting. He came to ask if Cetu could speak on your father’s behalf. When he learned your father was here, he asked to speak to him to ask for your hand in marriage,” Beruda told her,

“My what?” Ayya was sure there was a misunderstanding in there somewhere. Maybe Beruda has mistranslated the word marriage. “But we haven’t even talked to each other. How does he expect me to marry him?” Ayya asked.

“Don’t worry, your father is making it perfectly clear it’s not going to happen, and I believe Tenac is helping him drive home the point,” Beruda laughed. Ayya looked over at the three men and saw that her father was now talking. The worryingly pale man just nodded franticly, then glanced quickly in Ayya’s direction. Tenac took a sidestep to block his view. Both Tariana and Beruda laughed again. “The look on his face when he realised who your father was. I don’t think I have had so much fun in years,” Beruda chuckled. Ayya was feeling a little sorry for the man. Both her father and Tenac could be quite scary on their own, but combined? She just hoped he had the good sense to walk away as soon as he could. It wasn’t long after that Tenac and her father returned, both looking like storm clouds. The two women beside Ayya just laughed. 

“From now on, you don’t leave this tent if not Tenac or I am with you,” Ayya’s father told her. 

“Isn’t that a little much?” she tried to argue.

“No,” both her father and Tenac said as one. She turned to look at the two women for support. They just grinned.

“Okay,” she therefor said. 

“Beruda, I would be grateful if you would let me know if that boy is sniffing around again,” her father said.

“I will keep my eyes and ears open,” Beruda agreed, looking like she hoped the poor man would give it another go. 

“Thank you.” Ayya just shook her head at the whole thing. She wondered how high her father’s blood-pressure would have been if she actually had been interested in dating. She thought they all should be happy she wasn’t. They stayed another night and the following day, Ceran’s possessions were divided according to his wishes. All of his grandchildren were given one of his horses. Tenac chose to let his roam with the herd as he only had need for Addon. Cetu got the remaining horses, most of the money his father had and the family’s heirlooms. Tariana was given two blankets that her husband’s mother had made for him. After that, Ayya expected everything to be done. But Cetu gave her a little smile and handed her a rolled up paper. Ayya recognised it as the ownership papers of a horse. Ayya’s hands weren’t steady when she rolled out the paper and looked down at the drawing of a horse. It was vaguely familiar. She looked up at Cetu.

“It’s Estrela’s dam. My father thought it would be best if she went to you. It has a nice symmetry to it. As a member of the clan, you can choose to take her with you, or leave her with the herd. Any foals she bears will be yours,” he told her. Ayya just stared at him for a while.

“I am honoured. I think it’s best she remains here,” Ayya finally managed to say. He nodded and seemed pleased by that. 

“He also wanted you to have his coffee pot,” Cetu told her, holding out the shiny pot that was beautifully engraved along its long neck and sprout. 

“Thank you, I will cherish it,” Ayya said. Taking the gift and holding it close to her. It held a lot of memories for her. 

After eating a light lunch, they packed up to head home. Ayya was standing, saying goodbye to Beruda, when she saw Cetu give an irritated look at Tenac as he was adjusting Addon’s saddle. 

“I hope this doesn’t worsen their relationship. Tenac refusing to leave Addon behind,” Ayya said to Beruda. 

“It will be fine. That husband of mine is just a little nervous about the next clan meeting and being the new chief. Two of the three stars that have been born in this herd have gone to live elsewhere, it doesn’t lend him the same bragging power as if they were still with the herd. He will get over it once he realise that there are other things to brag about. Like having two aari in our clan. Don’t worry, it will be fine,” Beruda assured her. They said their goodbyes and soon they were back on the road. 

“You did your part wonderfully. Thank you for doing it instead of me,” Tariana said after a while. 

“Thank you. I was happy to do it.”

“I think you are ready to handle more field work again. Even if Mikhalie is older than you, she hasn’t as much experience with things like this. She has lived a more sheltered life and has been happy in the agricultural department. Would you mind if I place you two on the same mission? That way you could work together and she could get a feel for it,” Tariana asked.

“No, not at all. I like her and it would be nice to share the responsibility,” Ayya agreed.