Don't Open Till ...

Saresh asked to speak to me away from the fires .. private ... it is something I grant anyone let alone one of my commanders. We stepped aside and he started out by telling me he had taken .. claimed ... a couple things and wanted to let me know.

I had to pause. Did the man not know how possessive I could be? Did he not know I would tear him limb from limb if he had dared to take from a Tuchuk what did not belong to him let alone something that belonged to me personally? So I asked him from whom did he take these things .. I told him I was assured he would not steal from the Tribe nor from me. He agreed he would not do such a thing .. I was ... relieved.

He spoke to me of the slave nahera. I informed him she was mine. All the camp slaves are mine. They are bought .. stolen ... or traded for the purpose of serving the camp in my name. To steal a slave from me would not be healthy for a Tribe member. But again I was assured this was not the case. I told Saresh I would trade a good milk bosk cow for the slave. I liked nahera. I actually found much pleasure in the slave when I got a chance to see her. She was worth a lot to me .. both in pleasures offered and in the remembrance of a few. He agreed to trade.

The next thing he said he had claimed .. or wished to claim I should say ... was Mayala. To be his and his alone as his mate. I nodded to this. I speak for Mayala and I gave Saresh her bride price. Even though it will go into the Tribe community wealth and not into my personal gain. I was once again assured by Saresh he would not have thought of stealing this from the Tribe. The bride price was set ... the quest given.

I was pleased to see Saresh getting serious about his future.

Not that being serious does a damn bit of good .. I can testify to that one.