Einsdee, the 11th of Falling, 768 A.E.

  “Eat more, Rolf.” Anthea urged from across the plank table that they’d temporarily moved to the center of their small apartment for mealtime.

  “No, that’s alright.” Rolf replied, holding up one had while patting his stomach with the other. “I’ve had my fill of greens. Bedros can eat the rest.” He frowned at the empty bowls of rice and lentils. Those had gone quickly, leaving only lettuce and other greens drenched in vinegar and sesame seeds for flavor.

  Anthea nodded and sighed. “I wish we could afford better, but there are four of us to feed, and we have only the wages you and Makan make to buy things.”

  Bedros ignored them both and grabbed another fistful of the leafy vegetables. He ground the leaves between his teeth methodically, savoring the flavors. Bits of green collected at the corners of his mouth with a frothy saliva buildup that seemed to be as much from him chewing as from him smiling while doing so.

  Rolf shrugged dismissively. “The foreman’s wife is sweet on Makan I think.” He grinned at Makan, who put on a nonplussed look, as if he had no idea what Rolf spoke of. “She keeps bringing him food, and he shares with me. So, I get enough to eat.”

  Anthea regarded Makan with a smile of her own, but he only shrugged.

  “The foreman and I have taken to each other. He shares my love of the sea, and we waste the Ouers after the docks are clear talking of ships and places we’ve been.” Makan explained. “It’s Rolf the women are sweet on.”

  “I think they’ve just never seen a handsome Kerathi fellow like me before.” Rolf bragged, causing the others to laugh. He frowned and added, “That or they haven’t seen a guy with a beard.”

  “Some women like foreign men. They’re exotic and exciting.” Makan suggested.

  “That’s me to a T.” Rolf insisted, laughing along with the others this time.

  Makan folded his arms over his chest and put on one of his thinking faces. Rolf shook his head at the more contemplative man while drumming his fingers on the table anxiously.

  “Do you have something to do?” Anthea asked, regarding him curiously. “You seem to be waiting for permission to leave.”

  Rolf grinned sheepishly. “Me and some of the boys from the docks were going to have a few mugs of ale tonight in one of the drinking houses.”

  “With what money?” Anthea asked in surprise. “We’re supposed to be saving up for passage out of here.”

  “I have money!” Rolf grumbled.

  “I… you…” Anthea sighed, feeling ashamed that she was making a fuss over the few coins he would probably spend, especially when he had earned them and she could not even find a way to work in Miniya.

  “Let him go.” Makan suggested, leaning forward coming out of his thinking pose. “It’ll be good for him to get out. Spending too much time cooped up with your friends is the best way to turn them into enemies.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Always so wise.” Rolf teased. “Besides, it’s a well-known fact that a Kerathi man will die or go crazy if he goes too many Dees without an ale.”

  “I think it’s more likely that a Kerathi male has just never tried to go without.” Makan said with a laugh. “Therefore, that’s an unproven rumor you’re spreading there.”

  “I think not.” Rolf protested. “We’re weaned on mead.”

  “Truly?” Anthea asked.

  Rolf grinned and nodded. “From the teat and mother’s milk to nature’s honey mead the way the Gods intended.”

  Anthea turned to Makan, seeking confirmation. “Is that true?”

  Makan shrugged. “It may be. I’ve not heard that before, but I’ve also never heard that it isn’t true. Would it surprise you though?”

  “It’s just strange giving an infant alcohol.” Anthea murmured.

  “We suckle well into our teens, though.” Rolf said with a wink and a grin.

  “See!” Anthea cried, covering her mouth as she laughed at the mental image. “Now I know you’re joking.”

  “Perhaps,” Rolf admitted, “but every culture is different. Look at these Elegians. They have their public bathhouses, while we’d rather just go swim in a stream or flop in a barrel for a good scrub. Even their language is different.”

  “It’s still Low Elegian. It’s just a different dialect. Only the royals and upper class speak High Elegian.” Makan replied.

  “They speak like they’ve got sand in their mouths though.” Rolf complained.

  “What about me? I speak differently.” Makan said.

  Rolf scratched at his cheek as he thought for a moment. “You talk like you’re chewing on a fish or something. It’s probably a reflection of where you grew up.”

  “Rolf! You’re horrible.” Anthea said, aghast that he would speak with such open prejudice.

  “You love me anyway.” Rolf replied with a chuckle, pushing up out of his chair. He waved stiffly and marched toward the door.

  “I won’t ask when you’ll be back.” Anthea called over to him.

  “I wouldn’t tell you anyway, because I don’t know.” Rolf said over his shoulder as he opened the door.

  “Just be ready to work tomorrow.” Makan said.

  “I’ll be up before you, old man.”

  “You’d better be.”

  Anthea sighed once more as the door closed behind Rolf.

  “He’ll be fine. His teasing just now only illustrated how excited he was to be going out for even an Ouer or so. I know that the whole time he’ll be thinking about you and worrying if you’re safe though.”

  Bedros nodded in agreement, his mouth still curled up in a smile that bared his teeth, now stained green from all that he had been eating.

  “I know. I’m just wondering how a guy like that makes any friends in a place like this that would be willing to go drink, or go anywhere, with him.”

  “He’s different when he works. He’s all business and hard work. They respect that, and when they’re done working their fingers to the bone, they like to relax.”

  “I don’t know if I’ve seen that side of him before.” Anthea admitted.

  “Sure, you have. Don’t you remember our escape from Norsjalde? He did what had to be done and he did it well. I’m not particularly fond of the Kerathi mindset, but that boy has a good head on his strong shoulders when he chooses to use it.”

  “Maybe I should be nicer to him then?” She wondered aloud.

  Makan shook his head. “You’re plenty nice to all of us. Don’t worry about changing how you act. Just do what needs to be done. That’s what he does, and that’s what I’ll do. Worry about figuring out what that enchantment wants us to do, and we’ll go from there. Until then, we’ll just keep working and eating and sleeping.”

  Anthea nodded. “I can do that.”

  Makan smiled. “I know you can.”

  Bedros reached over to pat Anthea’s head briefly before moving it to grab another handful of greens. Makan and Anthea laughed at his gluttony, but he didn’t care. The smile never left his face. They could all see how much better the Ox-Man was starting to look since he’d begun eating regularly again, and they’d not begrudge him his fill.

  And as for Rolf, Anthea wouldn’t deny him a little socialization and reckless fun. He deserved and needed it. Although, that didn’t mean that part of her didn’t want to be out there experiencing things as freely as he did, but she was a fugitive, while he was free to come and go when he wished. She never forgot that distinction.