99, Niwil

The two horses Tenac had pointed out were both smaller than the average Che’hul horse. Ayya looked them both over as Jason was patting a foal. 

“The black one is Draugur and the grey one is Niwil. Draugur is about two years older than Niwil, but Niwil is the more mature one,” Tenac explained to Ayya. She nodded. 

“They are both beautiful,” she told him. 

“They would both be good horses for him, horses he can grow with until he is big enough for a full-sized horse,” Tenac said. As they stood and watched the two horses and Jason played with the foal, Ayya noticed Addon and Estrela were standing close by.

“Have they been following us?” she asked Tenac. He glanced at the two horses and smiled. 

“They have been keeping an eye on Jason,” he told her. 

“Of course they have. Should we go have a closer look at Draugur and Niwil, see how they interact with Jason?” she asked. Tenac nodded and the three of them walked towards the two horses. They stood beside each other and grazed. They both looked up as the three humans approached. Ayya liked Niwil without knowing why. He looked to be intelligent and full of energy. There was nothing wrong with Draugur. He looked to be a good horse. But Ayya wasn’t drawn to him in the same way. Tenac was telling Jason the names of the two horses. Jason happily gave Niwil an apple and rubbed his mussel. When he was about to do the same to Draugur and the black horse was about to take the apple from his hand, Addon took a step closer, flattened his ears and bared his teeth. Draugur backed away.

“Addon,” Tenac snapped to reprimand the horse. Addon just snorted and shook his head. 

“I guess that settles it,” Ayya said, switching back to Common.

“You are not seriously going to let him pick?” Tenac asked in disbelief. 

“Are you saying Niwil wasn’t the first instinctual choice for you as well? It was for me,” Ayya told him.

“It was,” Tenac confessed. “But it would have been nice to at least get a moment to think it over.” Ayya giggled and patted Addon on the neck and gave him a carrot. Tenac just shook his head and turned his attention to Jason, who was watching them. “Do you like Niwil, Jason?” he asked.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Jason said, rubbing his hand over Niwil’s head. The grey horse stood perfectly still with a lowered head. 

“Ayya and I are going to give him to you. He will be your horse from now on,” Tenac told Jason. Jason’s eyes almost popped out of his head as he looked at Tenac and then at Ayya.

“I get my own horse?” he asked, as if it was too good to be true.

“Of course you do. And Tenac will start to teach you how to ride,” Ayya told him. 

“Thank you!” Jason said and threw himself first at Tenac and then at Ayya and gave them long hugs. “Can we take him with us home?” he then asked. Tenac chuckled.

“It will be hard to teach you to ride on him if he stays here. He will come back home with us when we leave tomorrow,” Tenac said. They stayed a while to let Jason and Niwil get to know one another. When Tenac finally told Jason it was time to go, he reluctantly took Ayya’s hand. As they got up on the hill that separated the camp from the herd, Tenac looked back and smiled. Ayya followed his gaze and saw how Addon herded Estrela and Niwil to the edge of the herd. How anyone could think that horse was anything but sweet was beyond Ayya’s understanding. 

They had a nice evening with Tenac’s family. There were several children around Jason’s age in the clan and after dinner, a bundle of them came to ask if they could play with Jason. Ayya and Tenac agreed as long as they didn’t go to the horses. Jason was still a little too inexperienced for them to feel safe with him going there without them. Tenac sat and talked to his uncle while Ayya talked to Beruda and one of her daughters. She wanted to know more about the wedding traditions of the clan, and they were more than happy to tell her. When it got late, they went in search of Jason. They needed to leave early and Jason needed to rest. They found him and the other children sitting and playing with marbles. Ayya enjoyed watching him play. He was laughing and talking with the other children as if he always had been a part of the clan. After getting him to calm down and settling him in the nest of blankets and pillows that were the traditional sleeping place, Beruda came walking with three wool blankets. 

“I don’t think he needs them. He will be steamed if we pile them on him. But thank you,” Ayya told her. It was heartwarming to see how Tenac’s family had accepted Jason. As Tenac’s son, he was now a member of the clan. Beruda laughed. 

“They are not for him, they are for you. I’ll keep an eye on him and you and Tenac can take your traditional watch of the herd at night,” she told Ayya. Ayya hesitated a little.

“He gets nightmares sometimes,” she told Beruda. The woman looked down at Jason with compassion. Ayya had told her the short version of Jason’s background.

“I will watch him and sent for you if it’s needed,” she reassured Ayya.

“Thank you,” Ayya said. she took the blankets and stepped out of the tent. She didn’t have to go far to find Tenac. He was talking to a clansman, but turned around when she came walking. He walked up to her, and she saw worry in his eyes. “Beruda is watching Jason and suggested we go and watch the herd,” she explained. He smiled at her and took her hand.

“An excellent idea. My aunt is my favourite relative,” he said. They walked to a snow-covered hill and lay down two folded blankets. Tenac sat down and pulled Ayya into his lap as he wrapped the last blanket around them. 

“This is not how we usually sit,” Ayya pointed out with a smile. 

“I’m just perfecting it,” Tenac said. They sat in silence for a while. Enjoying the view and being close. 

“It was nice seeing Jason playing with other children,” Ayya said. 

“Yes. I think we should look into him starting school,” Tenac agreed. 

“Isn’t it a little early? Most children don’t start until they are eight,” Ayya said. Unlike in Dermes, where there was no public school system, in Salmisara, almost all children went to school between the ages of eight and twelve. After that, there were options to continue study, to seek apprenticeship or start working in the family business. 

“Yes, but it’s only five months until his eighth birthday and it will be a good way for him to integrate and get friends. I’m sure the teacher will agree,” Tenac told her. Ayya nodded. It did sound good. 

“And the language?” she asked. Jason was making progress with learning Salamis, but he had only been going at it for two weeks. 

“They will adapt and he will pick it up faster from his friends,” Tenac reassured her. 

“How are we going to manage it all? Planning a wedding, finding a house, getting Jason settled, our work. Have we bitten off more than we can chew?” she asked. Tenac raised her chin so she looked into his eyes. 

“No. The wedding we can mostly leave to our mothers and my aunt. I think they are more excited about it than we are. The house will come to us when we need it and our work will sort itself out. We have a good family around us, and friends. Jason is most important, but he will be fine. He likes it here,” Tenac told her. She smiled at him and kissed his lips. 

“He does. He has even started calling it home. I thought it would take him longer than a week,” she said. 

“He knows he is safe and amongst people who love him. That is home.” 

“Does it bother you that he calls you Tenac and not father?” Ayya asked.

“No. I don’t care what he calls me, I know he loves me. I don’t mind if he never feels ready to call me his father, it doesn’t change what we have. Does it bother you?” he asked, kissing her hair. 

“No, I feel the same. It’s enough just to be able to make him smile and feel safe.” They stayed a while longer on the hill. But not as long as they usually did. Tenac walked Ayya back to his uncle’s tent and Ayya thanked Beruda again for watching Jason. The boy was still sleeping soundly and Ayya crawled in to the nest next to him. 

The following morning, Cetu insisted on taking a walk with Tenac and Jason while breakfast was being made. When they came back, Jason looked thrilled. 

“Ayya, guess what?” he said as he ran up to her. 

“You saw a three-headed snake?” She asked. Jason giggled.

“No. But Cetu told me I’m part of the clan,” he said. 

“You are,” Ayya agreed. 

“He said since both you and Tenac are part of the clan, I became a member when you adopted me. When I turn sixteen, I will get my own mark and when I get married I get a tent of my own,” he explained.

“Let’s wait a couple of years with the marriage thing. At least let me and Tenac do it first,” Ayya told him. He laughed. 

“Tenac showed me his mark. Can I see yours as well?” Jason asked. 

“Sure thing, buddy,” Ayya said and unhooked her knife and showed him the symbol that were fastened on the outside. 

“That’s pretty,” Jason said. 

“Thank you.” They sat down for breakfast and Tenac and Ayya didn’t need to show Jason how to eat it. He had picked up the table manners during dinner. He even drank his coffee. Once breakfast was done, they headed to where the horses were already saddled and waiting for them. Niwil had got a halter, and a rope was tying him to Estrela. 

“Thank you for coming, and for bringing Jason, and for doing us the honour of hosting your wedding,” Beruda said to Ayya and gave her a hug. 

“It’s always nice to be here. I‘m sorry we couldn’t stay longer. But we will be back soon,” Ayya said.

“Jason, we have a gift for you. You have been a good boy, and you have shown respect for our traditions while being here. This is a welcome gift,” Cetu said. He held out a small knife, not that unlike the one Ayya always carried.

“Thank you,” Jason said and took it with awe.

“You need to be careful with it, it’s sharp,” Cetu said.

“I will,” Jason promised as Tenac fastened the knife at the belt which decorated his tunic under his cloak.

“There, you go, just like Ayya,” Tenac said. Jason smiled at them. Tenac lifted him up on Addon and then both he and Ayya mounted their horses. They had a long ride back home.