I was sitting on the platform of my wagon cradling a cup of water, I seemed to have a great need for it , more than I had need of food when I saw a young woman nearing, she asked if she might sit with me and talk, I motioned for her to join me and offered her something to eat or drink and she politely declined.
I wondered what it was that seemed to weigh so heavy upon her and I allowed her to take the time to find and gather her thoughts. "My mate has been gone for a few hands, and the other men say that he is on patrol and hunting, my mother seems to think that he is with another woman and I do not mean a slave. Can you tell me why he stays away for so long." I looked at her, now most know if they come to me be sure you want to know because I will not tell you what you want to hear, I will tell you what you need to hear, I took in much of her, she was not in the first stages of youth but still young, there was a needfulness in her eyes as if she sucked the life and energy out of everyone around her, the world revolved around her, this I could see just by listening and observing. I would nod, "Do you have something that belongs to him?" I would ask her.
She would hand me a belt that he often wore, I placed it in my hands and I sat there for a while letting myself step outside of myself, I could see the warrior, he was older, had seen many battles in life and this was not his first mate. I could see the constant questioning and the need for him to be somewhere where she could see him and for him to be in her furs every night. There were no children yet between them and it seemed to be something that caused argument, she was of the weaving clan and was often at her wagons, yet she did not tend to the fires within, she did not do the things that women do for their men. I saw his frustration with her and yet the love he had for her. So he spent much time out on patrol, when he was home she only wished to remain in their wagons in the furs and not with others of the tribe, she was focused on he wants. I would draw in a soft breath as I contemplated how to guide her, he was not sleeping with another free woman although slaves did take care of his needs, but that is not what she wanted to know she wanted to know if another had his heart.
"There is no other woman he shares his heart with, he has not taken another free woman to his furs, he is out on extended patrol to help take care of the tribe as is the way of men, you should feel a great deal of pride and honor in the kind of man he is." I then looked to her and I saw the thoughts that were floating in her mind.
"You have to step out of the realm of selfishness,you demand much yet give nothing in return, be a true tuchuk woman, take care of yourself and your wagons, a man wants to come home to a woman that is warm, soft and cares of him, he wants a wagon that is clean and inviting, good food to fill his belly. You worry more of what the world owes you, as it owes you nothing, clean up your own wagons before you begin to tear down a warrior with words that hold venom and pain. You need to learn to talk to him and know him and what he dreams, and what he desires. A man will share much but only if you are willing to give in return. You have yet to learn to give, when you learn then you will see him return. When you learn his time away will become shorter."
She got up all flustered and upset. " How can you say such things." she stated in an indignant tone and she stomped off in a huff, but a few ehns later she would return, "I'm sorry, you were right I just did not want to hear it," She would then offer me a basket filled with colorful beads and hides. I would nod, "It is alright, sometimes it is hard to hear things. But you will be fine."
With that she went off towards her own wagons, I had to smile,I thought back to a moment to various mates I had, I had learned much from each of them, each had been very different.Men have the same basic wants, desires and needs, just as women do. Tuchuk men however, they are men that value things that are important. They do not value the material things and covet them as others do.
There is something to be said for those that live on the plains, we are a passionate people, we feel things deep and true,regardless if they are good or bad, we are woven and bound to the grass and dirt as if a part of it, our hearts beat with the rhythm of the plains, and our breathe is the breathe of the winds. We are each uniquely different and yet we are all the same. There is an invisible thread that flows thru us and glides thru our souls.
I finished my water and picked up the basket of herbs and began to crush them in a bowl I had sitting next to me. I was preparing a special oil and bathing salts for Seveya for her ceremony. There was a preparation that I would like her to begin and I was considering which two women I would have help her. My thoughts drifted to Hallie and Arkus I have not seen them, I suspect Arkus has been doing more clan work and watching Ayguili and learning what he can. Hallie, she was more than likely tormenting some unsuspecting warrior, seems lately they all think they are in love with her. It makes my head hurt sometimes. this is when I wish Garyx was here to help me, he would know how to handle them. I did not have to know this when the triplets were young. And here I thought teaching young men the ways of men was hard, I think this is more of a challenge.
No sooner than I had the thought, when a young one neared wondering if she was here. I had to tell him she was not. And I did not know, and if he was not careful I would turn him into a lizard, I had to smile as Cana would have enjoyed that. I don't know for how many hands others thought I turned Tayco into one.
I wondered what it was that seemed to weigh so heavy upon her and I allowed her to take the time to find and gather her thoughts. "My mate has been gone for a few hands, and the other men say that he is on patrol and hunting, my mother seems to think that he is with another woman and I do not mean a slave. Can you tell me why he stays away for so long." I looked at her, now most know if they come to me be sure you want to know because I will not tell you what you want to hear, I will tell you what you need to hear, I took in much of her, she was not in the first stages of youth but still young, there was a needfulness in her eyes as if she sucked the life and energy out of everyone around her, the world revolved around her, this I could see just by listening and observing. I would nod, "Do you have something that belongs to him?" I would ask her.
She would hand me a belt that he often wore, I placed it in my hands and I sat there for a while letting myself step outside of myself, I could see the warrior, he was older, had seen many battles in life and this was not his first mate. I could see the constant questioning and the need for him to be somewhere where she could see him and for him to be in her furs every night. There were no children yet between them and it seemed to be something that caused argument, she was of the weaving clan and was often at her wagons, yet she did not tend to the fires within, she did not do the things that women do for their men. I saw his frustration with her and yet the love he had for her. So he spent much time out on patrol, when he was home she only wished to remain in their wagons in the furs and not with others of the tribe, she was focused on he wants. I would draw in a soft breath as I contemplated how to guide her, he was not sleeping with another free woman although slaves did take care of his needs, but that is not what she wanted to know she wanted to know if another had his heart.
"There is no other woman he shares his heart with, he has not taken another free woman to his furs, he is out on extended patrol to help take care of the tribe as is the way of men, you should feel a great deal of pride and honor in the kind of man he is." I then looked to her and I saw the thoughts that were floating in her mind.
"You have to step out of the realm of selfishness,you demand much yet give nothing in return, be a true tuchuk woman, take care of yourself and your wagons, a man wants to come home to a woman that is warm, soft and cares of him, he wants a wagon that is clean and inviting, good food to fill his belly. You worry more of what the world owes you, as it owes you nothing, clean up your own wagons before you begin to tear down a warrior with words that hold venom and pain. You need to learn to talk to him and know him and what he dreams, and what he desires. A man will share much but only if you are willing to give in return. You have yet to learn to give, when you learn then you will see him return. When you learn his time away will become shorter."
She got up all flustered and upset. " How can you say such things." she stated in an indignant tone and she stomped off in a huff, but a few ehns later she would return, "I'm sorry, you were right I just did not want to hear it," She would then offer me a basket filled with colorful beads and hides. I would nod, "It is alright, sometimes it is hard to hear things. But you will be fine."
With that she went off towards her own wagons, I had to smile,I thought back to a moment to various mates I had, I had learned much from each of them, each had been very different.Men have the same basic wants, desires and needs, just as women do. Tuchuk men however, they are men that value things that are important. They do not value the material things and covet them as others do.
There is something to be said for those that live on the plains, we are a passionate people, we feel things deep and true,regardless if they are good or bad, we are woven and bound to the grass and dirt as if a part of it, our hearts beat with the rhythm of the plains, and our breathe is the breathe of the winds. We are each uniquely different and yet we are all the same. There is an invisible thread that flows thru us and glides thru our souls.
I finished my water and picked up the basket of herbs and began to crush them in a bowl I had sitting next to me. I was preparing a special oil and bathing salts for Seveya for her ceremony. There was a preparation that I would like her to begin and I was considering which two women I would have help her. My thoughts drifted to Hallie and Arkus I have not seen them, I suspect Arkus has been doing more clan work and watching Ayguili and learning what he can. Hallie, she was more than likely tormenting some unsuspecting warrior, seems lately they all think they are in love with her. It makes my head hurt sometimes. this is when I wish Garyx was here to help me, he would know how to handle them. I did not have to know this when the triplets were young. And here I thought teaching young men the ways of men was hard, I think this is more of a challenge.
No sooner than I had the thought, when a young one neared wondering if she was here. I had to tell him she was not. And I did not know, and if he was not careful I would turn him into a lizard, I had to smile as Cana would have enjoyed that. I don't know for how many hands others thought I turned Tayco into one.
