will let it be known that these two are betrothed, that way no confusion will occur. It will also keep the young idiots from making fools of themselves." She turned to Raven, "If any young men bother you, simply let me know. I will make sure they get warned." Turning to me she grinned, "Do not be deceived The young women will most likely pester you also. If there is a problem simply come and talk to me. I will address the issues." She looked at Stain once more. "And if you would like to share some tea in the evening I would enjoy the company."
Stain nodded, "That sounds most agreeable. Thank you for your intervention in my charges welfare."
She stood once more, "It is partially a selfish offer. Singles cause too many problems already. No reason for their to be more because they perceive attraction that does not exist. Now, it is getting later in the day. I must deal with a few matters. Thank you for your visit and your friendship." She ushered us out of the tent and with a few more words headed across the camp.
"An unusual woman." Stain muttered. He led us back to our tents. "We will be following behind her wagon during our travels. Occasionally one of you might drive her wagon so as to gain experience." He sat down beside the fire. "I would like you both to pay attention and learn how these people handle camp matters. The road is their life, much as it will be for the rest of yours."
"How was the visit?" Mophar asked.
I gave him a quick overview and he laughed at moments. "It seems as if she is a sneaky, old woman." Mophar finally stated. "I like that."
"I do also." Stain replied. "There are not enough good, sneaky people in this world."
We sat beside the fire, listening to the camp settle in for the night. People walked by on errands, some casting out greetings. Some also gave us sly looks and grinned.
"I guess word of the betrothal is making the rounds." Stain said after one particular group of young women walked by and giggled.
"What did she mean by a match well made?" Raven asked Stain.
"In a betrothal here they make sure that the couple compliments one another. Not just in feelings but also in skills and temperament She felt that your skills work well together." Stain looked between us, "I also agree. It is a good match."
Raven and I looked at one another and grinned silly grins.
"I am going to bed." Stain stood up. "Do not stay up too late, we start traveling tomorrow." He headed into his tent and we could hear him settling down for the night.
Raven walked around the fire and sat beside me. "I am glad everyone seems to approve of us. I just wish they did not feel that we had to have their approval." She leaned against my shoulder. "You have my heart also. Just so you know."
I grinned and leaned against her slightly. We sat there watching the fire deep into the night. Just enjoying the quiet and company. Finally, we both went to our tents and went to sleep. I laid there for a while until Mophar asked, "What is on your mind?"
I looked up at him, "Things change so fast, yet many things stay the same. I wonder what will have changed when I wake up tomorrow."
Mophar looked down at me, "It will be morning and you will be packing up this tent getting ready to head down a road to a city you have never seen." He summed it up nicely.
I grinned and rolled over, "Good night Mophar. Sleep well."
"Sleep well yourself." Mophar closed his eyes and went to sleep. I followed soon after.
***
The next morning I awoke to the sounds of people and animals bustling around. The rest of the camp must already be packing up and getting ready to move down the road. I roused myself and left my tent. The rest of the camp was slowly folding up and being packed into wagons. Stain and Raven were sitting near the fire, eating.
"About time you woke up." Raven grinned at me. She held out some food. "Eat, then we finish packing."
I sat down and started to eat. Most of their stuff was already packed and loaded on Tag or Evins.
Stain nodded, "That sounds most agreeable. Thank you for your intervention in my charges welfare."
She stood once more, "It is partially a selfish offer. Singles cause too many problems already. No reason for their to be more because they perceive attraction that does not exist. Now, it is getting later in the day. I must deal with a few matters. Thank you for your visit and your friendship." She ushered us out of the tent and with a few more words headed across the camp.
"An unusual woman." Stain muttered. He led us back to our tents. "We will be following behind her wagon during our travels. Occasionally one of you might drive her wagon so as to gain experience." He sat down beside the fire. "I would like you both to pay attention and learn how these people handle camp matters. The road is their life, much as it will be for the rest of yours."
"How was the visit?" Mophar asked.
I gave him a quick overview and he laughed at moments. "It seems as if she is a sneaky, old woman." Mophar finally stated. "I like that."
"I do also." Stain replied. "There are not enough good, sneaky people in this world."
We sat beside the fire, listening to the camp settle in for the night. People walked by on errands, some casting out greetings. Some also gave us sly looks and grinned.
"I guess word of the betrothal is making the rounds." Stain said after one particular group of young women walked by and giggled.
"What did she mean by a match well made?" Raven asked Stain.
"In a betrothal here they make sure that the couple compliments one another. Not just in feelings but also in skills and temperament She felt that your skills work well together." Stain looked between us, "I also agree. It is a good match."
Raven and I looked at one another and grinned silly grins.
"I am going to bed." Stain stood up. "Do not stay up too late, we start traveling tomorrow." He headed into his tent and we could hear him settling down for the night.
Raven walked around the fire and sat beside me. "I am glad everyone seems to approve of us. I just wish they did not feel that we had to have their approval." She leaned against my shoulder. "You have my heart also. Just so you know."
I grinned and leaned against her slightly. We sat there watching the fire deep into the night. Just enjoying the quiet and company. Finally, we both went to our tents and went to sleep. I laid there for a while until Mophar asked, "What is on your mind?"
I looked up at him, "Things change so fast, yet many things stay the same. I wonder what will have changed when I wake up tomorrow."
Mophar looked down at me, "It will be morning and you will be packing up this tent getting ready to head down a road to a city you have never seen." He summed it up nicely.
I grinned and rolled over, "Good night Mophar. Sleep well."
"Sleep well yourself." Mophar closed his eyes and went to sleep. I followed soon after.
***
The next morning I awoke to the sounds of people and animals bustling around. The rest of the camp must already be packing up and getting ready to move down the road. I roused myself and left my tent. The rest of the camp was slowly folding up and being packed into wagons. Stain and Raven were sitting near the fire, eating.
"About time you woke up." Raven grinned at me. She held out some food. "Eat, then we finish packing."
I sat down and started to eat. Most of their stuff was already packed and loaded on Tag or Evins.
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