A Dream of Things That Were by E.A. Starkey

Author:E.A. Starkey [Starkey, E.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-02-10T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Hello.”

I turned at the voice on the tiny hill behind me. I was sitting on the river bank fishing. Karfi had asked me to get some fish for the stew he wanted to make for the anniversary of Zuta’s naming day.

“Hello,” I said to Nacé.

He stepped down next to me. “May I speak with you?”

“About what?” I had enough fish in my bag and I pulled out the line.

“Nothing in particular. I wanted to congratulate you for winning all the events in the festival last moon-cycle.” He smiled a dazzling smile. “My name is Nacé of Water Clan. You are Kallesta.”

“How do you know my name?”

He laughed, it was as pleasant as his smile. “Everyone knows your name.” I gathered my things and began up the hill. Being near him made me nervous. I felt things I didn’t feel with other men. “Everyone talks about you.” I didn’t say anything and he followed me.

I turned. “What do you want?”

“Nothing. I only wanted to talk with you.”

“I have to get back. My father is waiting for these.”

“What does he want them for? Is he making a stew or drying them?”

“A stew.”

“I can make a good stew myself. Do you like fish stew?”

I shrugged. “My grandmother...my first grandmother, used to make it and serve it with olive bread.”

“Olive bread?” Nacé sat on a stump.

“I haven’t had it since she died.” I felt a pang of homesickness.

“They tell me the women in your nation cook. How do you make it? Olives are scarce here but they can be found and someone could make it for you.”

“I don’t really know how to cook. I spent most of my time when I was a child learning how to fight. Xanthippe could—” I cut myself off. I had never mentioned her name while I had been with the Libyans. It was too painful.

“Who’s Xanthippe?”

“No one.” I started for home again.

He took a long stride towards me. “Your trousers are ripped.”

I glanced down at the short leather trousers I was wearing. When I had placed them on, I noticed the rip but wore them anyway. Karfi was very upset that I hadn’t given them to him to mend. “I’ll fix them when I get home.”

Nacé snickered then stopped when my eyes narrowed. “You’re a woman, you don’t have to mend your own clothes. That’s what men are for.”

Annoyed, I snapped, “I can do it myself.”

“Yes, I’m sure that you can, but you should have a man taking care of you.”

“I have a man taking care of me. Actually I have two, my father and brother.”

Nacé moved closer. “You need to have a man of your own.”

I moved back. It really bothered me that he was flustering me. I could feel my cheeks getting hot. “What for? What I need a man for, my father or brother can take care of.”

“There’s one thing they can’t do for you.” He peered at me suggestively.

I crossed my arms across my chest. “You’re awfully bold. Should you be talking to a woman like this?”

Alarm crept into his eyes.

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