First Forest - Viola Grace Page 0,3
her family rituals.
Abiha finished wrapping her belt around her waist, and she walked silently to the kitchen.
Ledana was making tea. “You look lovely this morning. Sleep well?”
The kiss, the hand on her breast...
Abiha shook her head. “Not at all, just happy to be home. Oh, guess who is sleeping in my room?”
Ledana paused. “I don’t know.”
“Maku.” She moved around the kitchen with her sister and worked on slicing fruit and making soup for breakfast. It felt good to be doing the simple stuff again. She finished the mix in a few minutes and ladled out the soup into three bowls.
Ledana froze. “The forest fox? Was he happy to see you?
“Yeah. Thought they only lived for eight years or so, but it is definitely him.”
“Hmm.” Ledana got the tray ready for their mother and picked it up. She left and brought the tray to their mother.
When Ledana returned, Abiha had their meals ready, and she smiled. “So, what was the plan going to be if I didn’t show up?”
“Jimon is going to move in. He will become the head of the Alwe family.”
Abiha nodded. “You are staying with Alwe?”
“I am. She stayed. She’s here. She needs us.”
Abiha nodded and consumed her breakfast. “Well, it is good to know that she won’t be alone.”
“You are going to leave again?”
Abiha rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know. I have a life outside. Friends, a career. I teach, I study. These are things that I can’t do here.”
Ledana smiled. “There are more men here than women. You can probably get married if you like.”
Abiha gave her a narrow-eyed look. “I am not suited to it. I am more like Dad. I need people to understand what this place is, and so many of the so-called experts out there have no idea.”
Ledana sighed and then tensed.
Abiha smiled as Maku walked in. “Hey, sweetie. Get enough sleep?” She rubbed his ears and ran her hand along his fur. The three tails and silver and red fur made him an animal that was unique to the forest.
He huffed and put his head in her lap, snuffling deeply before resting.
Ledana looked at him and swallowed. “Oh. Abiha, maybe you should be staying in the guesthouse.”
She blinked and looked at her sister. “Is there a problem?”
“Um, no, but Mom has a bit of a phobia about having him in the house.”
Abiha was stroking his ears, and she frowned. “Did something happen after I left?”
“Yes.” Ledana swallowed as Maku lifted his head toward her.
“Oh, sure. That would probably be better when you and Jimon start your lives. I don’t want to be underfoot. Has the guesthouse been cleaned?”
“No. I will get to it after breakfast.”
“Don’t bother. I will speak with the elders and then attend to it. You have your own things to worry about.” She smiled. “Maku and I can set up house for a few days.”
He looked up at her, and his golden eyes were gleaming.
“So, you are leaving after the wedding?” It seemed odd as they had just discussed this.
“Yes, as I stated, I don’t have anything to pursue here.” She got up and went to the front room, taking the family sword, checking the blade, and then putting on the family robe with the iconography of the Nahe and Alwe family.
Today she was to gain the agreement of the elders.
She walked to the temple, removed her footwear, and walked inside. She bowed, knelt, bowed again, and then she said, “I am asking for agreement for the wedding between Ledana and Jimon. He needs to join the Alwe family so that my mother and Ledana will have someone to care for them.”
She remained in the bow until she heard the water flowing. She straightened, took the dipper, sipped at some of the water, poured it over the stag, and then she set the dipper down, unsheathed the sword, and poured water over it before drying it carefully with a soft cloth she kept in her sleeve.
“In all my years here, I have never heard anyone pray like you.” The priest was leaning against the doorframe to her left.
She whirled her sword and sheathed it. “Life is too short to waste time begging.”
“What if the forest spirit likes the begging?” He stepped toward her.
She gave him a bland look. “Then, it would be recommended that he not hold peoples’ happiness hostage. I will not work hard to please a bully.”
His amusement reached his eyes. “What would it take for you to beg him?”
“Freedom.” She smiled, bowed, and turned to