“There are vegetables in storage within the dwelling,” said he, taking all from my hands to set it before him. “When next you prepare my provender, prepare vegetables as well, for I dislike eating meat alone. In a moment, you may bring Lialt his portion. ”
No reply seemed called for, therefore I merely stood and awaited the cutting of the meat. Ceralt divided the meat in twain with his dagger, then moved the smaller portion to the second wooden square and returned it to me, along with a metal prong. I took two short steps to my right where Lialt leaned at ease upon his pelt, and placed his provender before him. Despite his comments upon great hunger, he made no move to touch the offering, instead keeping his eyes directly upon me. I disliked the amusement in the look and began to return to the fire behind me, yet his words caused my step to slow and my annoyance to grow higher.
“How do her wounds fare, Ceralt?” said he, little true concern in the sound of him. “I have not had the opportunity to examine them in some time.”
“She is well scarred,” replied Ceralt about a mouthful of meat, “though the scars appear to be healing properly. Would you care to inspect them yourself?”
I whirled about in anger, thinking Ceralt truly made sport of me, yet his eyes were upon his provender, his body bent over his crossed legs as he cut at the meat. Lialt, however, continued to regard me as he had earlier, and a grin took him at sight of my anger.
“I think it my duty to inspect them,” said he with a chuckle, his hands clasped easily upon the pelt. “I should not like to see complications arise due to negligence.”
“Very well,” agreed Ceralt with a brief glance for me. “Jalav, remove your garment and stand before Lialt so that he may examine you.”
Lialt lay in his place wrapped in true amusement, but it was a long moment before I was able to move my hands to the copper belt at my waist. Though Mida had abandoned me, though Ceralt had possession of my life, still was I unable to forget that once I had been a war leader, and such humiliation was difficult to bear. With short, sharp movements, I divested myself of belt and garment, dropping them to the floor where I stood, all the while beneath the eye of Lialt, When at last I stood before him, stiffly and with fists clenched, his amusement waned somewhat as he leaned closer to put a hand upon my calf.
“Surely the Serene Oneness guarded her,” he muttered, his thumb moving upon the spear track. “That she lived is astonishing enough, but that she remains uncrippled is a true wonder. I would not have considered it possible upon first sight of her. Kneel down here, Jalav, so that I might see the rest of you.”
I stood as I was, unmoving save for the breath of anger within me. That I had lived was no blessing, and any save a foolish male would see the truth in the matter. Lialt looked up in annoyance from my calf, yet I would have stood there to this very fey had Ceralt not said sharply, “Obey him!” If only the male had not possessed my sworn word; if only the Silla had been as thorough as Hosta would have been in their place! I knelt before Lialt, feeling the shame burn deep upon my face, and the male reached forth to run his hand over me.
“The other wounds seem equally well healed,” said he, his eyes partially lidded. “I had not noticed sooner, but her skin is much softer than it was. And what is that delightful scent she has been covered with?”
“Women things,” said Ceralt, a chuckle in his voice. “I had Tarla take her to the bathing halyar earlier. The choice in lotion was a good one, for I felt its power as soon as I entered. I must remember to thank Tarla, and praise her wisdom.”
“The wench is clever,” agreed Lialt with a grin. “Jalav has been much improved. Rise again to your feet, Jalav, and turn about so that I may see all of you. If I recall correctly, you are the one who sees no harm in looking upon another with pleasure. Stand again and give me pleasure.”
The laughter was muchly with him, and the presence of it caused my teeth to clench. “One fey there shall be a reckoning between us, Lialt.” I choked, fury softening my voice to no more than a whisper. “Upon that fey, all pleasure will be recalled, and I shall surely find pleasure of my own.”
An angry gleam came to the male’s eyes as I stood, yet I cared naught for his anger. My hand ached for the touch of a sword hilt, and the kill-lust screamed within me to be loosed upon all within reach. In all my kalod as a warrior, never had I found the need to deny the kill-lust when it rose, and I cared little for the present need to deny it. Lialt looked up at me where I stood, my arms folded beneath my life sign, my head held high, and he leaned from his arm to sit straighter.
“Apparently the wench has not learned as much as she should have,” Lialt rasped, the anger yet with him. “As you are to obey me, woman, you may now turn slowly in my view. And remove your arms from before you! Such is not the stance of a village woman!”
Truly, my stance was not that of the females of the village, and it pleased me that Lialt found it offensive. Should he ever become sthuvad to Midanna warriors, he would find it more offensive yet. Slowly, I unfolded my arms and began to turn, yet Lialt was not done with his bidding.
“Raise your hair away from your body,” he directed, at last drawing his dagger to cut the terlim. “I would see all sides of the wench before me.”
Angrily, I reached behind and held my hair up with both hands, finding it difficult to keep the mass of it away from my body. Lialt, however, grunted in approval, then waved his dagger indicating that I was to turn farther. As I did so, my eyes fell upon Ceralt where he sat, a large portion of his meat already gone. His light eyes moved slowly about me, appraising that which he saw, enjoying my humiliation before another male. The hatred touched me again even as I longed to throw myself to my knees before him, and I turned more rapidly to take him from my sight.
“Excellent,” Lialt pronounced as I faced him once more, his eyes amove upon me as he chewed his provender. “She is truly a tempting and well-made wench, Ceralt, and should provide you with much use. No, Jalav, do not lower your hair. I find the sight of you more pleasing as you are.”
I raised my arms again to the position they had been in, and stood so for a number of reckid with Lialt’s eyes upon me, the amusement having returned to him in great measure. I disliked such inspection by a male, disliked having to stand so before him, yet I had not been given leave to move. The shame of it! That a Hosta warrior was required to stand so, as though she were a city slave-woman—! Fury burned so within me that I trembled, and I could not take my eyes from the sword which hung upon Ceralt’s wall.
“You are mistaken, Lialt,” Ceralt said of a sudden, as though there had been no lapse in conversation. “Her appearance is not excellent, it is barely adequate. Such thinness is not acceptable to me, and I will not allow it to continue. Jalav, come here.”
I released my hair and reluctantly turned to him, seeing that a good portion of the meat had been left upon his square. I had hoped to find it unnecessary to partake of the meat, yet Ceralt continued to keep escape from me. He gestured to the lenga pelt beside him, indicating that I was to kneel there, and I went and did so, silently cursing his preferences. Lialt preferred slender females, much like Tarla, yet Ceralt knew that my slimness was from lack of sustenance rather than from Mida’s will. Had it been Lialt in possession of me, my escape would have been much the easier. I pushed my hair back so that I might not kneel upon it, and watched as Ceralt cut a piece of the terlim with his dagger, finally allowing myself to become aware of the hunger which gripped me. Despite the falum which had been given me earlier, my insides curled with the need for meat, a need I would have much preferred ignoring. Ceralt cut the terlim smaller, and smaller again, and at last raised a piece toward me in his fingers, yet when I attempted to take it from him, he would not allow it.