Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 85272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Danni frowned. Clapping? Why would somebody be standing outside clapping?
Then a familiar voice called, “Danielle, my friend? Please to let me in—I have some things for you!”
“Oh, Navii!” Danni exclaimed, recognizing the H’raken woman’s voice. She was still wearing her sheer nightgown but since it actually covered more than the feasting gown, she went ahead and opened the front door to let her new friend in.
“Oh good—you are not dressed for the day yet,” Navii said, seeing the nightgown. “I have some more clothing for you and the other half of your heart.” She was holding a huge armful of clothes which made Danni wonder how in the world she’d managed to clap.
“Oh, thank you!” Danni smiled. “That’s so kind of you!”
“No problem at all! I wanted to bring them over and see how the christening of your bower went. Did you first spend some time soaking of the power of the Mother Stone, as I told you?”
“Uh…” Danni could feel her cheeks getting red. “Yes,” she admitted. “Yes, we did.”
“Oh, good! Then your love-making must have been long and pleasurable,” Navii said, smiling delightedly. “Just wait until tonight at the Adoration—I will show you how your other half can heal your womb so that you may become fruitful and bear many children!”
“Oh, uh, that’s really not necessary,” Danni protested.
“Of course it is, my friend!” Navii looked at her earnestly. “I saw the longing in your eyes when you held my sweet little Gazimba yesterday,” she said softly. “And I know you long to see your belly swell with life. But first your husband must heal your womb—with the help of the Mother Stone, that is.” She frowned. “Speaking of your man, where is he, anyway?”
At that moment, Bravik came out of the bathroom, with wet hair. It was clear he’d had a bath but it must have been a cold one since the pink beam of energy was conspicuously absent from the fireplace in the living area. He had put back on his black sleep trousers and was bare-chested, showing the most mouthwatering eight pack abs Danni had ever seen. Of course she’d seen them the day before too but somehow they looked even more defined this morning.
“Good morning, ladies,” Bravik rumbled. If the cold bath had put him in a bad mood, it certainly didn’t show. “What have you got there, Navii?” he asked, nodding at the pile of clothing in her arms.
“Everyday clothes, more feast clothing, and Adoration garments,” Navii said, smiling. “Teezle and Gosef were inspired last night after the Adoration of the Mother Stone and the two of them brought these over for me to bring to you this morning.”
“Oh my—that must have been such a lot of work for them!” Danni exclaimed. “How can we possibly thank them?”
“Why…just by helping out, that’s all.” Navii smiled. “I understand you are helping with the butchering today, Friend Bravik,” she said to the big Kindred. “That is most kind—many of our males dislike such work. But please, be sure to wear an apron to cover your new clothes.”
“And what about me? What can I do?” Danni asked anxiously. Since she couldn’t use her doctoring skills here, she was willing to help out in any other way she could—anything to be part of the community and start learning more about the H’rakens and the mysterious Mother Stone.
“Why don’t you come with me today and make bread in the Communal Kitchen?” Navii said, smiling.
“Oh, you have bread? I didn’t notice any at the feast last night,” Danni remarked.
“That is because we are almost out of flour.” Navii’s smile faltered and for a moment she looked worried. “Soon it will be harvest time—when the whole township must go beyond the village gates to cut the louden wheat the men have been tending for so long.”
“We can help with that, too,” Bravik offered.
“Oh, would you?” Navii turned a bright smile on him. “That is wonderful! It will be good to have such a big, strong male helping with the harvest and guarding our borders. Well, here…” She handed Danni the armful of clothing. “The everyday clothing is on top, the feast outfits are in the middle, and your Adoration garments are on the bottom of the pile,” she explained.
“Thank you,” Danni said again. “Um, where is the Communal Kitchen?” she asked.
“Oh, I forgot you don’t know! Why don’t you both get dressed and pluck a piece of fruit for breakfast? Then I can show Friend Bravik to the Butchering Shed and you and I will go to the Kitchen together,” she said to Danni.
“Good idea. Thank you, Navii.” Danni gave her new friend a smile and then she and Bravik went back into the bedroom to change.
Twenty-Three
“Guess it’s off to work for the both of us,” Brav said, as he pulled up the new white trousers he’d been given to wear. Honestly, they didn’t look much different from the feasting trousers he’d had on last night. Maybe the cloth was a little coarser but it was still just plain white linen.