Closed for Nordican

[Nordican]

It was slow going but it wasn't as hard as it could be. Once we sort of had a system I found it wasn't the quite the dilemma I thought it would be. I learned the word for chair, table, bed, lantern, inside, outside and many others and Kahina in turned learned my words as well.

It was the same as we went outside. The words for earth, wind, smells, horseshit, sun came and went as we pointed and mimed and worded things out. We were still a while from having any sort of regular conversation but it was more than we'd had to begin with.

Of course my mind went back to the word she'd said before as she patted my hand and given me a small smile. Xiexie. Thank you perhaps? I didn't know and so far it hadn't really come up back into our exchange and soon enough we were headed towards another tent.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Because we didn't have a written language it was easy for me to remember Citus' words. I wondered if he was having as easy of a time with my tongue but didn't worry about it. As long as I knew his tongue I could better help him with mine.

And before I knew it we had arrived at Bellona's tent. Normally I would just walk in but because I had Citus with me I brushed against the heavy bells that hung on a string and waited for her to invite us in. Her answer was instantaneous and I pulled the flaps back and walked in.

Her tent was much smaller then mine and only had one table with three chairs and when I didn't see her in the first room I walked thru the second flaps to her bedroom. This room was also smaller then mind and filled with things. Chests, racks upon racks of armor, rolled up leathers and hides and many other things. In the middle was a bed and a cleared space with a pale stretch of leather laid with a variety of spun clothing in different cuts and colors including under garments and socks. Things for cold weather, rain and heat. Boots made of different materials and assorted lengths claimed a large corner of the leather. As well as a handful of different armor sets of weight and styles. They took up most of the space on the leather. The other stuff that filled it was accessories; belts, hats, covers and gloves. Pouches that could be threaded thru belts or ones that could be tied. Packs that hung from one shoulder or others that hung from two. Bellona had even included chains to go around your next of different metals and rings some with stones some without.

It was an impressive collection of things to have on hand and gathered so quickly. I looked at my warleader and nodded my approval. "Citus." I turned to him with a smile and waved my arm over the items on the pale leather. "Tiāo, zhè shì nǐ de." I shooed him towards the pile anxious to see what he would pick.

I was just as excited to take him to see Aello and the horses she would have for him. Each warrior was given three horses but a warrior could have as many as they could care for. Last campaign I had five but lost one to a poisoned well and the other to battle. Now I only had three but it was enough for me. I thought to gift Citus with one, two if he felt connected to more then one.

 

[Nordican]

I looked over the various suits of armor. Light, medium and heavy variety were set out before them. I selected a dark blue tunic and a chest piece of boiled leather and scaled metal set around the collar and and shoulders for protection. After grabbed some knee bracers as well and as some pants, tan with banded black.

Then I pulled up my shirt and the dead man's shoes. Then I pulled down my pants revealing my white linen underwear. Both had the smell of dried sea water and I pulled those off as well afyer turning aeay from Kahina and the gorl with the color threads. My cock was limp against my right leg. I didn't care about undressing in front of the women and soon my long shaft that was nearly eight inches now but grew longer when aroused.

Then I slowly pulled up the banded pants after getting some new fresh small clothes.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Bellona and I looked at each other while Citus undressed and redressed, having a silent conversation with the use of hand signs. She was getting annoyed and just shrugged knowing that I wouldn't give in. "If you think it is wise."

"Do you think it is not something I can handle?" I smiled my eyes hard with the implication that I was not a fit warrior of rank.

"No, that is not what I meant." Bellona's eyes widened with the fear that her words had caused offence. As the supply warleader she wasn't very high in the chain of warleaders and while she was good at her position if I took offence and we fought it out she knew I would win and it would either mean her death or a replacement of her station and her being sent back to the Heart for the rest of this moon or for as long as I saw fit.

I waved her fear and worry away. "I have a mind of what I am doing." I told her softly.

She nodded and kept her head low as she left. I never liked being harsh but as a Warlord I couldn't be questioned.

When she was gone I turned to look at Citus. I circled him once pulling at the armor in places to make sure it fit right. When I was in front of him again I nodded my eyes taking him in. The color of the tunic complemented his eyes and the armor suited him. It was what I would have picked if I had to chose for him. "Hǎo." Good. I smiled patting his arm as Bellona came back into the tent from the rear flaps.

She handed me a something wrapped in a soft hide with hair still on it.

I quickly unrolled it and peeked inside making sure that it would be hidden from Citus' sight. I tucked it in my belt and thanked my warleader.

She didn't say anything but looked over Citus with a weary eye. He didn't look that much different in this new set of clothing but it was earier to see him as a threat he could be in what he now wore.

"If it will help, I promise to be safe." I assured Bellona.

"That is all I can pray for." I was given a half smile as she packed a few more clothing of the same cut, a hooded parka, a belt and some pouches and a pair of fingered gloves. When the double strapped backpack was filled she handed it to me and tilted her head in acknowledgement to Citus.

I waited for Citus to pick a pair of boots and get them on before I left Bellona's tent and headed to Aello's. Again I played the word game with all the new things that we had picked up at Bellona's. The word for pack, tunic, belt, gloves and so on and so forth.

Aello's tent is very different then all the other tents. The first being that she didn't have a meeting room. Instead she had a large high opened walled area that had rolled up side that could be let down and staked down if Aello wanted privacy while working with a horse. There was a table against the wall leading to her bedroom and chair stumps all about. As warleader in charge of the horses she was always the last ring of tents and the first ring of the herds. A buildup pen twice the size of her tent, including the open pavilion area, was right besides Aello's tent and close enough that many considered it part of her living space.

It was in there that I spied Aello with five horses tied to the buildup and spaced far enough not to hurt each other. They ranged in color, gender, size and age but the thing that they all had in common was the kind set of their faces and the easy nature they all seemed to have. It didn't mean that these horses were less of a horse, no. These were pure breed Horses of the Heartbeat and all were built for endurance, speed and agility without losing their sure footed dependability. And as gentle as this group seemed if corner or there being a danger to their rider they were trained to fight unless given a sign by their rider to flee.

I automatically liked all the horses that Aello had picked from their very large herd but again, it was up to Citus to pick his mount.

"Warlord." Aello tied the horse she was working with to the buildup and opened the swing gate. "I think your person will do well with any of these." She clapped on hands on her leather pants and a cloud of dust rose and fell to the shape of her hands. "They are have their own personalities but he should be able to find a match here. If not we can always put him on a fluff." Aello laughed in her child happy way at the joke.

The fluff or sheep were under the care and watch of Reginar, the warleader responsible for the livestock that they traveled with. Mostly it was sheep, goats and yaks but if the weather of our destination was too warm for the yaks we traded them in the Heart at the start of the campaign for cattle.

"We will try the horses first."

Aello looked in the direction of Citus and did a double take. "He looks like a man." She commented as she looked over Citus with a slow gaze.

I shook my head at my warleader and turned to Citus waving my hand towards the horses. "Tiāo." Pick. I urged walking to the open gates but stopping there. He had to pick alone and I would stay outside of the buildup and watch. Inferring only if he was in danger.

 

[Nordican]

I looked at Kahina as she went over the clothing I had selected. She made minor adjustments and shifted pieces into proper place and then her eyes looked up and over me. Then the other woman came forward and handed her something, something she appeared to not want me to see and I wondered what it was.

The look the woman gave me didn't exactly fill me with confidence and then we moved along. We played the words back and forth between us again and moved through the tends as a slight wind blew through the tents moving my hair slightly.

Then we arrived at another area where the horses appeared to be kept. If I understood correctly Kahina meant to give me one for travel. I saw the horse master give me a slow look that made me pause for a moment. Their eyes could be very piercing, seemed they were always looking to get some information from me. I just did my best to give a calm light friendly look given I knew they would likely never see me as anything other than a prisoner but then again I was being treated well enough. Why appear cold and hard. So far I had given nothing more than a few words between one other person.

Slowly I moved forward to the horses. There was a midnight black stallion that caught my eye. Slowly I moved forward to the animal looking him in the eye though I was whofully ignorant of exactly how I was to chose a mount. I only hoped the beast didn't rear up and kicked me. He, least I think it was he appeared to be lean and powerfully built. A good horse by my own inadequate pedigree and slowly I moved my hand up to touch his face gently but firmly and steeled myself for what happened next.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Aello smiled and looked over to me. "It's strange." She started letting the sentence fall.

"What's strange?" I questioned when it didn't seem like she was going to finish her thought out loud.

"Out of the five here this is the only one to share a bloodline with your black stallion. They share the same dam." Aello finished, answering the question I was about to ask. "I wonder how he rides."

"The horse?" I was confused as to why she would wonder that. Hadn't she ridden all the horses to make sure they were sure fits?

"No, him." She nodded her chin not at the horse but at Citus.

We were a free, open, expressive people and sexual partners were a part of that. I hadn't taken a partner since I proved myself to be a woman and I hadn't thought to take this man as the first in years but knowing that Aello saw him fit to mate with made me feel possessive of him. I crossed my arms and my hand played over my armor where I knew the five burned scars to be.

"If it's as well as he rides a horse I would have cause to worry for him." I said my voice tight.

If Aello noticed she didn't react and continued to watch Citus with curious eyes.

I whistled my call for my horses and the red mare appeared first, followed closely by the black stallion and the heavy foaled yellow mare who came from the other side of the buildup. I walked to her first and greeted her with a pet to the face and a good nice scratch under her mane. She snorted and tossed her head but quieted under the scratching. "Go back to the herd and birth me a strong horse." I whispered to her turning her back towards the herd and pushing her away.

The other two followed, waiting to be used and I grabbed the red mare and pushed the stallion after the yellow mare. The saddle that had been on the horse was gone and she had been brushed clean. The only thing she wore was the leather halter. I brushed my hand under her chin in and blew gently into her face to which she returned with more of a heavy breath that smelled of grasses. I smiled and rubbed her face and walked back towards the buildup.

I called out to Citus. "Zhè shì yīgè ma?" Is that the one? I asked nodding my head at the same time that I spoke. "Lìng yīgè?" I held up my hand and showed him two fingers asking if he would like another. I held my face in the mask of a question so he would know it was a question not me telling him to get another.

 

[Nordican]

I liked over at Kahina slowly and gave her a simple nod to her thought left raising my hand up reacting to her offer for another horse. I didn't even know hope to ride at the moment and figured if need be I could ask for another. One gift seemed humbling enough.

I turned to the other woman and then put my hand over my heart. "Citus..." I said in a strong sure tone. Then I motioned to her with a raise of my eyebrows and then turned and motioned to the horse hoping she understood I wished to know her name and the horses if it had one.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

Aello copies his movement and gave him her name. "Aello." She said in her soft womanly voice.

My eyes narrowed and I looked away busing myself with the mare.

She pointed to the horse he stood next to and gave him to work for horse. Then she pointed to me, repeated the word for stallion and pointed at the other black stallion and brought her two fingers together. "Xiōngdì." Brothers. She walked into the buildup and started untying and gathering the horses that Citus didn't pick. "I like him." She told me as she passed. "I think it would be fun to make him a man."

The saw she drawled out out the word man. I didn't know the feeling but I didn't like it. I didn't say anything because I wasn't sure what would come out of my mouth but I watched as she headed back out to the herd with the horses, stopping to give Citus one last look.

I locked my jaw and felt my teeth grind over each other. "Citus." Hie name came out a little harder but I tried to soften the tone with a friendly smile. I hook a finger into the leather of the mare's halter and tugged then dropped my hand knowing she would follow me into the buildup. The mare stopped in the middle of the large circle area but I kept walking towards Citus.

They made a good pair and Aello was right, he looked like a man but I knew how he rode and it tarnished the image for me. I reached out and tugged the rope end that tied the horse to the buildup and handed it to Citus. I patted the horses chest and then placed my hand on his. 'Yours. I was trying to tell him. "Citus."

I quickly went over with signs and demonstrations using the red mare how to brush the horse, check it's hooves and I was about to showing him how to sting up without a saddle.

I walked over to him and stood next to the stallion's head and grabbed a fistful of his horse's mane showing him how to hold on. Then I took and half step back and without moving showed him that it was a simple swing with your body and a pull up with your arm. I let go of his horse and showed him on the mare. I nodded at him and slid down and held up a single finger. There way more then one way and I showed him another. It was easier but wasn't used by very many warriors.

I pushed the mare over and tapped her rear to get her to angle her body where I wanted it to be. This way I stood at the horse's middle with both hands on it's back and simply jumped up, leaning my body over and to catch and twisting it forward so that when I sat up straight I was facing front. It was quick but it had it's flaws. The biggest one being that the horse had to be still. You couldn't mount the horse like this while it was on the move. I got down again and held up two fingers, that was a second way you could do it.

The third was mounting from the rear. I walked some distance from the mare and in a sprint ran at the mare and jumped holding my hands out in front of me threw myself forward using my hard and the momentum of the running start. It required trust between the horse and rider because if the horse didn't trust you there was a chance that it would move at the last moment or worse kick out at you and seriously hurt you. I showed him three fingers and got down for the last demonstration.

The last one was very similar to the first one but from the rear. I started about a arm's distance to the horse and leaped up throwing my right leg out and over as my right hand helped push and stable my body. I held out four fingers then made a fist, telling him that there wasn't any more.

I got down yet again and nodded to him. It was his turn and I wanted him to pick a style and get up on the horse. I stepped closer in case he needed help and shooed him with my hand at his horse.

 

[Nordican]

I gave Kahina a stalwart look and nod to show I understood. My eyes glanced back towards Aello. Her soft voice had a subtle allure to it and I thought I saw and little flash of something in her eyes. I heard her say something about "he" meaning me and "man". Though I still missed most of the words.

I felt that the word they said about the two horses meant there had to be a relation. Perhaps brothers, cousins maybe. Judging by the single word it likely couldn't be father and son.

Slowly he mounted the horse by grabbing the black mane of the majestic creature. Then in a much better fashion than earlier he managed to swing his legs up and onto the horse's saddle.

Again I got used to the feeling of a the horse under me and I held the mane and gave the horse a nice little pat of its head. I steeled myself and kept my hand tough and my nerves settled.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I saw there was an improvement and thought to myself that he must have a natural skill or an athletic talent because for his just hi second time he was already much better. I smiled and as I waited for Citus to grow comfortable with his horse I took the red mare out side the buildup and closed the gate behind me. Standing there for a moment just looking at Citus. I don't know why I felt so possessive over him, maybe it was because the Elders made him my responsibly but the point was I didn't like the way Aello saw him or the way Citus seemed to notice. But with nothing I could do about it I bushed away the thought with my hand and joined Citus.

Looking up at him I motioned between us and pointed to the horse letting him know that I was joining him before I swung up behind him. I felt the horse under me shift and I scooted closer to Citus until there was nothing but a breath between us. It was so that I could feel him against me just as I felt the horse under me. This close I didn't have to speak loudly and lowered my voice. "Horse." I went over the word knowing that he knew it but going over it again just to make sure. Speaking this softly made fell as if this was more intimate that it was. "Líkāi." I pointed to the left and reached over to put my hand on his right leg and pressed down so that his leg bumped against the horses side. The horse who felt the cue took a step away from the pressure and to his left. "Líkāi." I told him putting a word to the direction.

"Quán." I whispered switching to his left and tapped his leg so it repeated the process. "Quán." Right. It was simple enough but the next part would be harder only because it required balance and without the aid of a saddle it would be interesting to see how Citus handled it.

I checked to make sure that Citus had a good hold on the horse's mane and waved my hand forward. "Qián." I pressed on both his legs until it brushed against the horses sides and it made the horse step forward and walk. I leaned forward, pressing my chest into Citus' back until he bent forward just slightly and the horse's steps grew a little faster. I leaned more and caused him to move with me and again the horse got faster.

"Tíngzhǐ." I sat back and gave Citus space the do the same and the stallion slowed but didn't stops until I took Citus' arm that held on the the stallion and pulled back. It tugged on the horse's mane and he stopped.

It was the basic controls to a horse and I rubbed both of Citus' arms. "Nǐ zuò de hěn hǎo. Hǎo." Good. I spoke in a comforting tone that voiced my pleasure at the lesson. I wrapped my arms around Citus' chest, showing him that I wasn't leaving but that he was in control. "Citus." I waved him on wanting him to show me what I just taught him.

 

[Nordican]

I saw Kahina approach and keeping an air of warmth with a small token of caution as she approached. I thought him had done something wrong and then I saw she was meaning to join me.

I ignored the instinct to offer my hand again but it mattered little. In short order she mounted the horse. She moved on closer and I felt her impressive bust rub against my back.*

Even here in an enemy camp I felt my body betray me. Every little move of the horse made my body rub slightly with hers. Then I ft her hand press on legs as she went over directions. Her firm touch made the horse and something else move.

My brain imagined hearing that low level of her voice in other moments. Little steals of time when I'd hear her whisper a secret to me. I shook my head ever so slightly and then she wrapped her arms around me while my stiffness rubbed at the horses back.

I turned to Kahina and gave her a slow nod and the whisper of a smile. Then I leaned forward still enjoying the closeness of her body. The horse moved forward and I bounced and willed the discomfort away and focused.

Forward and left and forward and right again we rode through the pen. I figured I was meant to put the horse through its paces and but for the most part I just made random changes. My eyes took in the surroundings and I did my best to put them to memory.*

But feeling the warmth of a woman, even one armored as Kahina well it was not easy to be focus at all times. I smiled occasionally getting a good solid feeling for riding and one time I rested my left hand over Kahina's hand for a moment before having it return to the mane.

Then as I steered the horse back to the start point and gave the horse a solid pat after reining it to a halt. I looked back to Kahina.*

"Xiexie Kahina." I said hoping that the word was indeed a word of thanks.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I closed my eyes concentrating on the horse moving under me but mostly on Citus' body. I think to myself how well he keeps his balance my thoughts drifting to the sea and the way the waves dance at high tide. It reminds we of the sickness that I get on the ocean and I open my eyes the moving horse feeling too much like the rocking of a boat at the moment. I opened my eyes just in time to see him smile at me and I am stuck again by how intimate this feels. Uncomfortable with the feelings that stir up with those thoughts I shake my head clear of them. I need to focus on teaching him to ride and to learning his words so that he could teach us how to built his ships.

My plan was to continue to learn his language and teach him to ride so that by the time he was well and fit I could take him to where he was captured and his boat was still tied at. From there is would be learning to build and man the great beast of wood. And anything after that would be in the hands of the Elders. It sounded simple when I listed it off like that in my head like that but I knew there was much more to do then just that.

For as much as I was trying to pay attention I had drifted off into my own head thinking and didn't realize it until I felt Citus' hand on mine. I was startled but my training and lifestyle kept me from jolting in reaction to the touch. In fact it felt warm and kind in a way that a hug did but so very much different at the same time.

Citus stopped the horse and looked back at me surprising me with a thank you in my own tongue. My eye lite up and I smiled in return. "Bù kèqì." I bowed my head. I wanted to tell him how well he did but I had no words that he would understand so I just patted his back before sliding off of the rear end of his horse. There was still many things that he should know but I knew there was a pain in his body from being captured and I didn't want to push him too much.

It was a finger shy of a hand of sun phases from high sun and if it were a normal day I would have joined my warriors training in one of warleader Grizel's circles but there would be some missed events until Citus was broken in to our way of life. I didn't want him to offend someone and die without learning from him what I needed. So I would stay by his side until then.

I looked back across the sea of color that were the tents of my warriors and counted more cooking fires then normal. I knew the first night back at the Heart would mean a feast; music, singing, dancing and uncapped honeyed tankards. It didn't matter that we had only been gone a few days to the army it was a gift to return with your life and able to fight a new day.

I turned my head and looked up at Citus on the back of his proud stallion. This would be a night he would either join in with glee or cower from with fear. I prayed to the golden sun that it would be the first of the two. And my mind flickered to Aello and the way she looked at him and my mouth clenched and my lips tightened to a puckered line. There would be more then just dancing and singing, many warriors would use tonight as a release and honor the land with their bodies. And worse she could see Citus being lead by Aello to her tent to teach him to feel the Heartbeat of the Plains.

I was angry and tried to hide it as I walked to the gate of buildup and opened it. The red mare was grazing off to the side and I whistled to call her attention. I wasn't sure if Citus would stay on his horse or not but either way I figured he would follow as I made our way back to the tent to get ready for tonight.

 

[Nordican]

I felt confident taking the horse through it's paces. I could feel its powerful legs dig up the dirt as we moved and it was nice having Kahina close at hand. I didn't believe anything would go wrong but having her close at hand allowed me more time to take in the scenery, hear the waves of the ocean lapping at the land and get used to the feel of riding the powerful animal.

I gave a small nod when she said something back and I saw her eyes light up as she bowed her head. There was a rush of excitement in pleasing her and I was eager to keep our interactions in a more positive light if at all possible. To lose her would mean losing a friend when surrounded by enemies and the only potential way I saw to keep myself alive.

It was not hard to see the way she looked at Aello however and I locked my lips tightly. The instinct to smirk like some schoolboy who found out two girls liked him was hard and I coughed into the horse's mane to cover up any sign. The thoughts that followed led to interesting possibilities.

Dangerous ones yes but ones that could ensure my survival. If Kahina was worried Aello wished to take me for a purpose I felt was easy to jump to well it meant I walked on a dangerous narrow bridge. Kahina was obviously the superior of the two but then well...

I quickly shook my head slightly remembering Kahina's touch after she dismounted. Riding the stallion around in a slow circle I watched her leave and turned to Aello. I didn't meant to offer any sign other than a simple nod of gratitude and then I focused on riding for a few more minutes.

I was not used to the clouds that crowded around me. In my home there were always people who were said to be used to lying and betraying those that helped them. Necessary evils they said but I was just a simple sailor surrounded by the enemy. I was not prepared for any of this. I just looked on as Kahina opened up the gate and left.

I stopped the horse near Aello and repeated the words for 'Thank you' and then moved along towards the gate where Kahina had left. I was unsure what if anything I would say but thankfully I recalled we still had the barest grasp of each other's languages, it wasn't like we could truly say much of anything even if we wanted to.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I was aware of the interaction between Aello and Citus and I sat the straighter on my horse because of it. Aello was a true warrior of the Plains and had earned her ranking among the army, stations of honor were not just given in this land. You earned them with hard work, loyalty and blood shed and Aello was a fine herd warleader and that I couldn't argue. If she wished to take him to her tent and he went willingly then there was nothing I could say about it, he was not my Prize, just a gift of knowledge.

The mare felt the tension in my body and pranced with nervous excitement but I reached out and played with her mane, calming her and myself at the same time. Still her prance picked up in speed and I sat back slowing her so that I was still in Citus' sight. I trusted him to make it back to the tent but there was a part of me that worried he would take off with Aello. I wasn't sure if this was jealousy, it felt unlike anything I had felt before. Hunger, pride, need, want and ambition I understood but there was never anything that I had wanted that I could not work to earn for myself. But this was different and as a person of himself, Citus could make his own choices. Did that mean I wanted him? I asked myself. No. I answered after giving it some thought, it just meant that I did not want Aello to have him.

When I arrived at my tent I quickly brushed the mare and shooed her away. Without a saddle on the cleaning didn't take long but still Citus was not here. I didn't worry, my tent was the largest with my banner to match in size and was the only colored bronze tent in the army. He would find his way in a short while I was sure. I hadn't left a large space between us that he could get lost in.

"Warlord." Sri met me at the second flaps with a smile on her face. "I've heard you are turning the sea man-child into a Man." She smiled with that knowing sparkle in her eyes.

"I have no plans to make him a Man but I will not have him useless." I told her sharply ending the conversation.

Sri used to my moods and attitudes was thrown off by my tone and narrowed her eyes without fear of who I was. "Then leave him a child and unclaimed."

"He is a gift of knowledge from the Elders, no one will take him knowing that they have made him my charge."

"Are you sure of that?" Her eyebrow rose before she left.

"No." I whispered to the empty room. I liked to think it was part of the reason that I felt threatened by Aello. She was a swift fighter and with her bladed staff she was deadly. If she challenged for the right to fulfill the Elder's wishes I would lose face and if she succeed she would be that much closer to filling her tattoo.

While on a campaign I didn't have to worry about an uprising or disloyalty because it was a law but we were back at the Heart and while we were called here by the Elders it wasn't a campaign and I could be challenged at anytime for my title and my army. It was something that I hadn't thought of and now just another thing to add to my growing lists of worries.

"Damn you Sri." I blamed her knowing full well that I would have some across that thought soon or later. Still... "And thank you." I whispered almost silently as I moved to the privy to warm water for a bath for Citus.

 

[Nordican]

Moving along through the sea of colorful tents I strode in Kahina's path. I made sure to look as touch as possible for those who took notice of me. The armor helped and I made sure to not appear truly cowed in the face of the enemies though I didn't try to look stubborn or impudent. I figured no matter what the theme people had to get from me was that of a prisoner.

Otherwise people might think me the exact thing that I was leagues away from so I took special care to appear focused but not ready to attempt to escape or fight in a moment's notice. Besides not being suicidal I knew risking anything right now diminished any hope of escape and further learning. For a moment though I thought back to Aello and Kahina and the looks between them.

Just keep focused. I thought to myself and then found Kahina's impressive tent. I noticed Sri easily enough and gave her a simple nod. At first I did not see Kahina but I wasn't worried and figured if she had gone anywhere else I would have seen her. Still the little tingle of fear that crept along my spine was there. A sense of potential abandonment. Without Kahina well I would be truly adrift. It was not something I liked to know any better, least for now.

I could taste the warm water on the air and I slowly strode forward towards its source. Soon enough I realized the source was near the privy. "Kahina?" I asked simply while giving a slow roll to my shoulder working out some of the kinks from having mounted the horse. I remarked that I would need to start up a regimen to keep myself fit and strong. My survival could very well depend on it.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I sat on my knees with my legs folded under me waiting for the pitcher of water to warm. The tub was nearly half way filled and I measured this to be the last if not the second to last pitcher that would be needed.

I looked up at the sound of my name and smiled at Citus in greeting. "Citus." I lightly touched the side of the pitcher farthest from the fire. It was hot to the touch and I wrapped the handle with a thick piece of leather and stood up. With my free hand I motioned towards the tub and poured the steaming hot water into the brass bath. "Yù." I ducked out of the privy and quickly came back with a short small rounded table that I placed at the side of the tub. It was filled with an assortment of things. A hard scrub brush make of stiff hairs, one made of softer hair, a square cut of soft absorbent leather, three different soaps with different scents and two tall skinny jars of oil.

I noticed the rotation in his shoulder and walked towards him. Causal touch was something I was accustomed to, it was the way of my people and moved behind him. With careful, gentle yet firm hands I massaged or at least tired to but the boiled leather was in the way. It wasn't my place to undress him so I patted his arm and left the room, closing the flaps behind me as I left. He would take a bath or he wouldn't, either way it was up to him. He didn't smell but I knew the hot water would feel wonderful and hoped that he would at least soak in the tub to relax his muscles.

In the bedroom I undressed but unsure of Citus' customs I put on a simple loincloth and bound my breasts with a supple leather band thick enough to hold and hide most of my chest. Sitting on the ground using my bed as a back rest I polished the metal on my armor and rubbed oil treatment over the leather. Because it was a festival I quickly pulled the ties from the arm of my armor and detached the left sleeve and over flap. Now when I wore it would cut like a single shoulder piece showing my tattoo from the start, just below my earlobe to the end, right above my center knuckle in a perfect line.

Everyone would be wearing their best and be polished and shined. Some warriors even had a different set of armor of occasions like this that displayed what they thought to be their best attributes but all would be armed. Not matter the situation the people of the Plains were warriors first.

I was just starting on sharpening my swords when Sri walked in with extra towels. Thickly woven wool trimmed with soft leather so the ends wouldn't pull. "There isn't any towels in the privy." She told me with a smirk.

"I sometimes think you do thinks like this on purpose." I sighed jumping up to grab the towels from my companion.

"I might." She laughed returning to her area of the tent.

"Ahck!" I grumbled scratching the flaps to the privy. "Citus." I called his name waiting for an answer that it was okay that I come in. I didn't know his words for what I was waiting for and he didn't know mine as far as I knew but he had surprised me with thank you so there was a chance he could surprise me again. "Citus?" I made his name a question and scratched on the flaps again.

 

[Nordican]

My eyes looked over Kahina and I realized she was preparing a bath by the looks of it. The very thought of water was at first startling and I had a flash of coughing up lungs full of the stuff. I tasted salt on my lips but in a moment I focused myself and gave her another thanks in her words and then after a pause I gave the one in mine own.

"Tanke." I said simply. "Tanke Kahina." Then I felt her hand on my shoulder gently pressing against the material of the armor there. It was strange though I welcomed the touch and then I felt her pat my arm as she left. I saw the flap of the opening fall back and gave a small sigh. Being alone with the steam rising from the bath felt odd and then I decided that no matter what I wasn't like to have the oppurtunity for a hot bath again so why waste the chance. I pulled off my armor and clothing over my head and down my feet and then quickly got into the tub. For a moment once the water touched my skin I hissed at the heat but I knew it would feel good.

Soon enough I was immersed in the warm water. My neck and head remained above the edge of the warmth though I had doused it earlier so warm water trickled through my wet hair and face. It was extremely refreshing and I rubbed my body to work out some of the kinks but found myself wishing Kahina had been the one to help out. The thought of her rubbing my flesh unencumbered by armor caused my shaft to stiffen slightly and I allowed myself a slight embarrassed smile.

Then I heard her calling my name and my mind ran over the correct response. If I remembered correctly I had heard something that I at least thought meant come.

"Yu Kahina." I said figuring it meant 'come' I waited in the tub not sure what was going to happen, hoping my translation had been right.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I frowned trying to understand his meaning. The word was of my tongue but he must have thought it meant something else and walked in with a smile and a shake of my head. I moved to the side of the tub and set the towels down. "Yù." I tapped my hand on the tub. "Yù." I rubbed it's side and made as if I were washing my arms and pointed at the tub again. The word meant bath and I was trying to tell him so.

"Lái." I stood up and waved my arm to an imaginary person. I didn't know if that made sense so I walked away back to the flap. "Kahina Yù," I pointed at Citus and walked towards him crouching at the side of the tub again. I motioned the space that I traveled and where I was now. That was the word for come.

I smiled and dipped my finger in the water and flicked it at him. "Yu Kahina." I laughed at the cute most of words that he used. At least he was picking up words I thought and swallowed my laughter.

"Máojīn." I picked up one of the soft fluffy towels. "Máojīn." I told him again setting them down. I didn't mean to notice but I did. The water was still clean and didn't have that cloudiness that it did when you washed. I frowned and thought to leave him but I knew Sri and the look she would give if he was not properly cleaned.

"Wǒmen dōu tīng dàole cóng Sri rúguǒ nǐ bù qīnglǐ." I told him knowing all my words would be lost to him. I clicked my tongue and picked up a bar of soap and smelled it. I thought about the scent then put it down. The flower that it was made with didn't suit him. The next bar of soap that I picked up I didn't even smell. It was made with the oils from a nut and I didn't think it would blend well. The last bar of soap smelled like the clan homeland I was from. A balance of the forests that grew until the sand gave way to the ocean. It was my favorite because it reminded me of my bay that I played at as a child. I had never used it preferring the soap made with the nut oils but I dipped it into the water and rubbed it between my hands building a thick lather.

I didn't think as I moved to the head of the tub. I wiped the suds off the bar of soap and piled it on Citus' head. I dipped my hands in the water and grabbed the soap again and built up more lather and added it to Citus' head. The bubbles broke down slowly and I gently massaged the suds thru his hair and over his scalp. I was very careful to watch where the soap dripped and scooped up any runs that threatened to go into his eyes. I let the soap in Citus' hair sit and cleaned his ears, the back of his neck and what I could get of his shoulders.

When the bubbles were mostly gone from his hair I stood up but made a motion at Citus to stay and left with an empty pitcher. I was back within seconds with a pitcher filled with warm water and again I moved to the top of the tub. This time I reached around and placed my fingers under Citus' chin and lifted up, tilting his head back so when I rinsed his hair the soap wouldn't get in his eyes. Slowly I poured the clean water over his head and watched as it clouded the water that he was sitting in. The brackish soap water made circles in the water before dissolving in to the greater.

It was my eyes that disobeyed as they followed the fading trails of soap deeper into the tub. Over his chest, past his stomach, his- My hand slipped and a heavy flood of water emptied the pitcher and missed a part of hair above his left ear. I coughed and cleared my throat as I left and came back again with more clean water and finished rinsing his hair.

The pitcher was still filled more then half way but I picked up the soap stood up and grabbed Citus' arm. "Féizào." I gave him the word for soap and nodded turning to leave. I paused at the flaps and looked back. I was sure of what I had seen but I made myself rethink it and gave it the reason of the way he sat of the voice Aello used before. Whatever the reason it seemed he needed time with himself and I had intruded long enough.

 

[Nordican]

I looked at her slowly for a moment. The towels and pitcher were easy to notice but my eyes were drawn immediately to her. She wore a simple loin cloth and a strip of leather across her breasts that covered them up nonetheless the simple outfit greatly extenuated the warlord's beauty.

A simple swallow formed in my throat and then I found she seemed intent to help me be clean. I thought for a moment to protest but then I felt the soothing motion of her hands as she cleaned my hair and shoulders. I listened to her words picking up on things and repeating those I thought of in my own words but for the most part I was distracted by the warm wash and feeling her fingers occasionally move through my hair over over my shoulders.

Then there was the unexpected off point splash and my eyes widened slightly in surprise and I found that my cock was a bit more than flaccid at the moment and there was a small rush of red over my cheeks. She came back with more water and cleaned my head once again and then she moved over to the flap and then turned around an looked back towards me.

My eyes looked over her and I wondered what to say. While a part of me almost felt like rising out of the tub to see her reaction I was unsure how it would be treated. Becoming more intimate with Kahina could have numerous complications that I couldn't even begin to grasp. I found myself wondering if I wanted something more of her because she was my captor and it would solidify my odds potentially or if I was genuinely attracted to her. She was a very beautiful woman.

Beautiful and deadly. I had to remind myself. "Xiéxié Kahina. Xiéxié Yù." I was starting to get a handle on the nuances of some of the words but some were definitely still beyond my capabilities but I felt like I was a fast learner in regards to a few words. I wondered how idly 'I would say join me for a bath Kahina.' I looked at her with my dark eyes and wondered what she would do.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

I found that reading Citus' face wasn't as easy as the faces built to my familiarity. The fact that I knew nothing about this person or where he came from was beyond me. What more did the sea hide from us that we had yet to even know of. I wasn't sure but I had a feeling that Citus knew I just lacked the words to ask him. Still there was something in his face right now that was almost but not quite something that I knew. I found myself wanting to stay and watch him so I could learn him and his movements, the way emotions played over his face and thru his body.

His words broke my train of thought and I nodded my head. "Huānyíng nín." My arm pushed aside the flap but my body had yet to move as I stared into his dark eyes. What is that look and why does it make me think of Aello and fell such anger towards her. I sighed and shook my head walking out of the privy.

I didn't understand was was happening with me. I did not feel this way about other men, warriors. And the men that I had taken to prove myself a woman I felt nothing towards but joy in the moment. Was it because this person was not a warrior? It couldn't be that. In my conquests I had come across many that were not a warrior and didn't feel this possession. I quickly listed the things that I personally owed and could not find a single thing that I did not feel comfortable sharing with my fellow warrior should they ask for it. So why about Citus? My only guess what that the Elders had trusted me with him.

Sri was right and I closed my mind stubborn in my ways and picked up my sword to sharpen and polish. If nothing else I would distract myself from thought of Sri's all knowing snickering face and focus on tonight and seeing Citus through it safely.

The devil herself walked in just as I was finishing the tip on my sword. She said nothing and kept her face like still waters and it picked at me worse then if she had said anything. It was like she was making a point.

It was true we only kept what we had the right to keep and if anyone wished to challenge me for the honor of the Elder's praise then they could and I knew that but as Warlord I could lay my name over his and that would be the end of it.

I glared at Sri and she gave me her sweetest smile and placed the tray of flattened fried bread and goat cheese down and left.

I was suddenly tired and flopped on the bed and closed my eye waiting for Citus to come out of the privy.

 

[Nordican]

Watching Kahina go I was left alone with the warm water and my thoughts. I did not know what her reply meant but then I watched and saw her pause even as she held the flap open. Her eyes looked towards me but it felt like they stared deeper, searching through me to find some answer to a question though I was unsure what it was.

I continued to scrub and clean and I even made sure to apply some soap to parts of my body who had betrayed the feelings of lust that had appeared. I knew it was only natural from my lessons but still I felt, well I didn't know what I felt but it seemed below me. I was not some randy sailor from Three Leaves in a whorehouse I was being treated as an honored guest. Of course I knew truly little enough about what was expected of me but that would change in time as we learned more about each other.

I rose from the tub slowly and enjoyed the feeling of the warm water leaving my skin and then I used the towels to begin drying my body. No longer did I reek of the sea and the sweat smell from the soap that Kahina had applied to me. The scent of pine needles was my first thought though there were other foreign smells but they were pleasing enough for the likes of me. I didn't usually bother wish such things having neither the time or the money to afford such but if it was Kahina's wish that I smelled nice well I didn't mind. It was small pampering at best. I pulled on a simple cloth that covered my manhood and then a set of dark brown hide pants and a light tanned leather shirt with strings to close up the open neck if need be.

Then I left the privy and looked for Kahina. I found her lying on the bed in her simple vestments and couldn't help feel a slight stiffening in the pants. I cleared my throat simple hoping I wasn't disturbing her. "Bentschuldigan Kahina." I said hoping she would excuse my interruption.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

"Citus." I didn't move off the bed as I played his word in my mind trying to unravel it's meaning. I thought maybe it was a greeting of some sort and yawned lifting my arm above my head and stretching. My back arched off the bed and my toes pointed before going limp again. "Ha." I sat up and rolled my head from left to right and sprung from the bed.

It might have been rude of me but I looked Citus up and down slowly. He looked good. I walked to his side and took his hand in my raising it to my face to smell the inside of his wrist. He smelled good too. I let his hand go and smiled. Sri would approve and I didn't have to worry about her saying anything.

"Kahina Yù." I told him with words I knew he understood. I pointed to the tray of fried bread and goat cheese that I had yet to even touch. I knew there would be a large array of food at the festival and didn't feel like filling up and missing all the good food but if Citus was hungry now I didn't want to keep him.

I smiled once more and entered the privy, Sri entering just minutes after. Together we pulled back the leather flap of the privy floor and emptied the tub in a shallow trench way. Because we were camped in the same spot that we had just left we hadn't needed to make a new one and just deepened the old one. When the tub was empty and rinsed Sri left and brought pitchers of warmed water. Because I wasn't planning on taking a bath, more of a shower, I didn't need as much water. Still I took my time washing my hair and body and enjoyed the feel of the hot water running down my body.

There became a problem when I grabbed a towel. Unlike the top towel this one was half the size. "Sri!" Her name echoed thru the tent and I expected to hear her light quick steps coming at my call. I waited and nothing. "Sri?" I hopped out of the tub and poked my head thru the flaps of the privy to scan the bedroom. She was no where in sight. "Grah!" I snorted in annoyance and withdrew back into the privy area. I held up the child towel and glared. I wasn't used to have company in my tent and had left my armor and leathers in the bedroom.

I poked my head out of the privy again and spotted Citus and smiled ducking my head back in. I wrapped the towel around my body and rolled my eyes. This wasn't going to work. It was just long enough to cover the tops of my areolas to the bottom 'v' between my legs. And if that wasn't bad enough the towel wasn't long enough to meet and even with my pulling with all my strength the ends didn't meat and left a gap down my side almost two inches wide.

It wasn't that I was ashamed of my body, I just didn't want to offend Citus and his customs but without another way to cover myself and unwilling to put on dressings I've already worn on my clean body I walked out of the privy with my head held high. I was trying my best to act as if this were normal and was making a point not to look at Citus as gracefully hurried to my leathers. Problem two, I had left my things on the floor. I looked at Citus and smiled widely and turned so the gap in my towel was away from him and bent my knees and picked up the leathers. I could feel how the towel on the back side fell limp and just hung there making a sad effort at covering my rear as the front corner fell between my legs revealing the smooth dip and curve of my hip bone and to my thanks ended there.

With my hands filled, one holding the towel tightly to my body and the other holding my leathers I retreated back into the privy to dress, leaving my armor out in the bedroom to put on later once I was covered.

I came out quickly dressed in the same leathers as before but without the whole left side arm piece. Now my tattoos showed as well as the five circled burn marks in the upwards v shape. I had oiled my skin so it glistened when the light caught it. This was a thing to be proud of in my lands and I was happy to show it off to Citus. Making sure it always faced him as I quickly strapped and buckled on my armor and my short swords.

Tonight I wore them in a different way because without the left arm there was nothing to strap the left sword to. So that sword, the shorter of the two was buckled horizontally at the small of my back just above my belt pointing to the left and the other in it's normal spot slung diagonal across my back pointed to the right. I tied two pouched to my belt on my right and feed another on the left. On my left thigh a dagger was tied and looped with thick leather straps. and in my boots on both feet boot knives good for throwing if they needed to be.

It looked like I was armed for way but this was just the way the we celebrated our way of life. We made statements with what we wore about how powerful you were, how rich, your rank in the army. Everything one wore said something about the person and I was a swift death to any that would challenge me.

Fully dressed and ready to go I looked to Citus and remembered the secret thing I had asked Bellona for. I smiled excitedly and hope over the bed to get it. I held up the wrapped item and walked to Citus with as serious of a face I could muster. I knew he had no idea what this was and I wanted him to be surprised so I kept my face tight and clear of any emotions as I stood in front of him. I narrowed my eyes at him and locked my jaw from the giddy excitement I felt. I made him wait as I looked over his face slowly. I grunted as if it meant something and held up the wrapped thing between us. In a move that showed my speed I flipped over the corner of the sheep leather and showed him the horn hilt of a knife.

Unable to bare it anymore I broke and laughed and bounced on my toes. It was a big deal for a child to get his or her first true bladed weapon and I was filled with something akin to pride that I was giving Citus his first bit of steel. I pulled the blade form the sheath and showed Citus the blade. The blade moved with waves like the water and danced with a life of it's own. "Damascus." It was the name for this type of steel and I thought it would fit his water life nicely while he was trapped on land. I pointed to the tanto tip and showed him that both the front edge and the swooping back edge was sharpened. I pointed out the hilt and hand a flat hand and brought it to the tip of my face making a horn. "Xīniú." In the Heart the animals were rare this time of the year but where Citus' boat was they were known to graze and I made a mental note to point one out if we were to see one. I was still smiling as I sheathed the knife. "Citus." I reached over and got a belt and laced the sheath thru it and handed it to him.

I knew there would be some that would be worried, I thought thinking of Sri, that I had given his sea man-child a weapon but if I wasn't able to defend myself against him or those that he tried to harm then I was not fit to be Warlord. Plus it wasn't more then a simply hunting knife, beautifully made true but all their steel works were.

 

[Nordican]

I gave a small smile to my host when she held my hand and smelled the scent. It was so strange how she acted but I didn't mind at all. I was her guest and it was my place to act as her and her people did.

I ate some of the fried bread and watched as her and Sri vacated the area while Kahina took her bath. It was strange as I thought about potentially going in and repaying the favor to her as she had done to me but well that would have been a bit of a jump to just assume that it would be the same for men washing a woman to help clean her as it was for a woman washing a man.

Then I heard her voice calling out from the privy. I was unsure of what do to or say given that she was calling for Sri not myself and I did't wish to intrude unless necessary. Then my eyes were treated to a very interesting and slightly amusing sight. Just dried and clinging to a towel that didn't begin to truly cover her form Kahina appeared and picked up her leathers. The small glimpses were just that, minor shows of slightly damp flesh that peeked out but she just smiled and acted as if it was totally natural but the way of it appeared as if someone had just left her with a towel a few seizes too small.

Soon enough I saw her emerge fully dressed in her armor and clothes. Her oiled skin looked good enough to lick and I felt my manhood stiffen in my leathers. I tried to keep my want and lust for She was quite impressive and armed with an assortment of swords and blades. Then I saw her seriousness and I wondered what was going on and then I saw her presenting something to me. My heart couldn't help but to rise a bit in excitement and then she revealed her gift. The blade was impressive, nothing like the generic mass produced weapons that one would find amongst my own people's armed forces. It was a well crafted piece and I felt overcome by her generosity.

"Xiéxié Kahina." I said as I held the blade and admired the hilt and the tang of the slightly curved blade as I held it on the flat underside of my fingers. Putting down the blade back in it's wrap I looked over into Kahina's dark black eyes.

I didn't know what I felt for this mysterious woman but at that point I knew that she held some care for my well being and I knew that she was not alone in that regard. Leaning in slightly I let my hand brush over hers. "Kahina." I said though I knew no other words to admit a fondness for her and even then I doubted the word would translate well. All I had at the moment was a few simple words and the touch of my fingers over hers.

 

[Ohia_Lehua]

My cheeks were starting to hurt from the wide smile I had on my face as I watched Citus examine the blade. He seemed to truly appreciate the gift and I was glad to have thought to give it to him. "Bù kèqì Citus, bù kèqì." I waved off as if it were nothing yet my face showed my pleasure at his excitement.

I was trying to stop from smiling to save my the muscles in my cheeks when Citus' hand reached out and brushed against mine. I blinked a few times knowing that this moment meant something but feeling a few steps behind. I turned my hand over and offered it to him. My eyes rose and I gazed into Citus' dark storm colored eyes. Without meaning to I reached out and light trailed my finger down the center of this face starting at his hair line, running down his forehead, following the slope of his nose, down to his lips and ending at the point of his chin. My hand fell back to my side and I leaned forward the scent of him filling my nose when Sri picked that moment to walk in.

I jumped back from Citus as if a poisonous snake had tired to bite me. I heard Sri chuckle softly behind me and I felt like a child being caught by it's Tula doing something bad.

"The sun is almost gone and you are needed to set flame to the first fire." Sri informed me with an annoying smile that set my feathers, had I had some, against it's grain.

"Yeah, okay. I'll be there."

"Not even the mightiest of Warlords can hold the sun from moving, no matter the reason." She cooed as she walked out of the bedroom.

I coughed and fidgeted with my armor. This was a festival and as Warlord to this army I was needed. "Citus." I motioned him towards me and pointed to a spot a step back and to my left. "Nàlǐ." I make my fingers walk and pointed to the spot again. We would walk to the clearing on the side of camp where training was held. I knew there would be a raised platform where I would sit and in the center of the clearing a large bonfire that I would light to start the festival. The choreographic dances would be the first things in opening the festival. After that things would break up and many things would be going on at once. Warriors would be mock fighting, doing tricks with their mounts. In another area would be free dancing with music and food would be scattered everywhere there was a fire. While it was polite not to look or take notice of it in the darkening outskirts of the light couples or groups would be joining together in pleasure.

For some reason I was unsure about this festival and as I set out there was a knot in the back of my throat. It was a combination of a lot of things that made me unnerved but I didn't let it show as I crossed to the clearing. It would be unwise to show that I was unsettled about something, it wouldn't be blamed against the person to use it against me.

 

[Nordican]

I held still as I saw and felt Kahina's hand turn over to grasp mine. I breathed softly and then watched as she put a finger forward. The single digit rested on my skin for a moment and the descended over my features. It was strange but I found I didn't mind it as I looked into her dark eyes and looked over her sharp beautiful features. Then I saw her leaning in and the lids of my eyes suddenly felt heavy and then I saw her dart back as I heard Sri chuckle.

Following her example I pulled back a bit as well and slowly turned towards Sri as the two of them spoke. Then as quickly as she had arrived she left the bedroom of the tent and left the two of us alone. I turned back slowly to Kahina. I wasn't sure what she had intended as her finger traced down my face and then she'd leaned in but I felt the need and desire to explore the path again.

But it seemed we were destined for other things at the moment. I saw her point out to the left and behind her and figured she meant it as my place to walk in the procession. "Nali." I repeated though I could tell the word was off and I would need to hear it again some time to get used to it. Then I looked a Kahina expectantly and gave her a small smile figuring we were heading out for whatever Sri had bothered coming in for.