Stranger Skies
Shoron Celebrations
The fifth day after Shoron found Thalaea moving out of Scoas’ house and into Enendoa’s.
So much had happened since she’d discovered her True Name, she felt as if she were living in a dream. Perhaps she was. It was all slightly unbelievable.
Enendoa had asked her to come back once more before Shoron and a few times after. Thalaea had readily agreed, for she felt she was learning much from the older woman and she enjoyed spending time in Enendoa’s house.
On her second visit, Enendoa had told her about Saeas Night.
Saeas was the patron goddess of witches, better known to the rest of Min as the patron goddess of wise women. She was more than that, of course: myths depicted her as the wife of El’nn, the Goddess of Desire as well as the other chief deity besides Mi. Saeas also ruled over charisma, chaos, the night, and the new moon. Many people honoured her during most of the year but Saeas Night was sacred to the wise women. Regular families spent the night at home, giving small offerings to Saeas, that her eye of chaos would spare them that night. Witches would invoke that chaos, asking for her to change all.
The small collection of things on the mantle that Thalaea had noticed on her first visit to Enendoa’s place was the witch’s altar to Saeas. The statue was of the goddess herself, made out of copper. Copper was sacred to Saeas, according to Enendoa. That’s why it appeared everywhere in the cottage.
The bones on the altar were indeed wolf bones but they were old, and Thalaea didn’t smell any fear or anguish in them. In fact, she could feel the wolf’s spirit still in them and it felt happy to be part of the altar. She felt the same from the parts of the raven.
Still, she asked Enendoa about it.
“Wolves and witches have a long history together in Min. Saeas watches over the wolves as much as She watches over Her chosen, the raven and the witch.”
Thalaea caressed the wolf bone on the altar. She felt an answering trill from the wolf-soul. “Then why are people like Kaz allowed to do what they do? If Saeas is honoured by more than just witches.”
A gusty sigh was her response. “You look at the world as if it’s simple, as if people are easy to understand. They’re not. Life is not clearly delineated, and the sooner you learn that, the happier you’ll be.”
Thalaea felt as if she’d been chastised, though there had been no censure in Enendoa’s voice. She bit her tongue and said no more. Enendoa had been trying to teach her something and she’d interrupted.
“Saeas Night is traditionally when a witch chooses her apprentice, if she hasn’t already. It’s coming up soon and the town is antsy for me to choose someone. There’s no doctor out this way and they depend on my old bones too much.” She laughed then, in a self-deprecating manner.
Thalaea asked when Saeas Night was.
“The next new moon. Just over six eightdays from Shoron. Think about it.”
Thalaea agreed to do so, though she still didn’t know what she was thinking about. To become Enendoa’s apprentice, all right, but what on earth did that entail?
The next day, her clothes and shoes were to be ready at the tailor’s and cobbler’s shops; so the family piled onto horses and into wagons and headed to town. The new clothing was beautiful, finely crafted, and fit Thalaea perfectly; her new boots were warm and supported the arches in her large feet well. Her happiness was short-lived, however, as Scoas returned from D’ssah’s booth shortly after she and Natai had finished at the cobbler’s.
The farmer’s face was drawn with sorrow. “D’ssah’s not here. Word is, his lifemate has passed. He hasn’t left home in days.”
Thalaea felt shocked. She barely heard Natai’s response: “Oh, that’s terrible. We should bring him something.”
Scoas nodded, a vague look in his eyes. “Tomorrow. We’ll ride out there and bring him some things to warm Shoron for him.”
“Please, I’d like to come with you,” Thalaea said, finally finding her voice. “I didn’t know them very well but I liked J’th. She was very kind to me and I’d like to bring D’ssah my condolences.”
So it was decided. The entire family spent Shoron Eve in the Gssn’lthari settlements, a few hours’ ride west of Heartpin Town.
There was a large group of Gssn’lthari living just east of the border into Gssn. Thalaea sensed there had been political reasons for their moving to Min but asking would have been inappropriate on this visit. Enendoa would probably know. She could ask the witch later.
D’ssah’s house and the houses in the rest of the Gssn’lthari settlement were formed out of what looked like cob, unlike the rest of the buildings she’d seen in Min, which were made out of either wood or stone. It was cave-like on the inside but warm and cozy. She could see D’ssah and J’th had made themselves a good life there.
She placed her hand on D’ssah’s scaly arm. “I’m so sorry for your loss, D’ssah.”
The tall snake-man nodded, his tongue flicking in and out of his long mouth. “Thank you. J’th liked you. Ssshe wanted you to have thessse thingsss.” He reached into a nearby trunk and withdrew something, which he placed into Thalaea’s hand.
It was bundle of cloth, dyed green, that looked a lot like the pleated skirt J’th had worn a week ago. Thalaea unwrapped it to reveal what it held: a copper pendant on a leather string. The design was serpentine. “They’re beautiful. Thank you. I’m not sure why she’d leave me anything, though. I met her only once.” She looked up at D’ssah. The tall snake-man met her gaze unflinchingly.
“J’th sssaid you were like her. Ssshe wanted you to remember you are not alone.”
Tears came to Thalaea’s eyes and a lump formed in her throat. She folded up the skirt fabric reverently and placed it into her rucksack. The necklace she put on, nestling the pendant under her clothes, close to her hearts. It tingled against her skin, the copper singing to her blood.
That night they gathered around D’ssah’s fireplace and had drinks, sharing their favourite memories of J’th. Thalaea didn’t have much to contribute herself, as she and J’th had spoken but once and most of that conversation she could hardly share with others. Still, she spoke about J’th’s generosity and kindness and how the snake-woman had made her feel welcome in a place that she had found very strange. Scoas spoke of how J’th always knew which plants would do well on his farm and how he trusted her opinion on seed purchases above all else. Everyone agreed that J’th always had a kind word to say to someone. She would be sorely missed by all who knew her.
D’ssah seemed somewhat cheered, even if the night was spent focusing on the fact that his lifemate was gone. It was as if hearing from others how much she meant to them made the passing easier to take. The next morning, he embraced each of them, though it seemed somewhat contrary to his nature.
“J’th lived a long life, and it wasss her time. Knowing that doesss not make it any easssier, but having friendsss sssuch assszzz you doesss.” He smiled sadly at them. “Happy Ssshoron.”
They spent the rest of Shoron Day at the farmstead, deciding to skip the sermon at the Temple. Work had to be done and food had to be cooked. Thalaea helped in whatever way she could. As she was no good with any of the animals, who smelled her and instantly became very skittish, Brinna helped her father and brother with the outdoor tasks while Thalaea helped Natai with the cooking.
It soon became apparent that it was best if Natai simply directed Thalaea with very simple tasks that were impossible to mess up.
“I’ve no practical experience cooking, Natai. I’m sorry,” Thalaea sighed, feeling useless.
“No one’s ever any good at anything until they practice it,” Natai responded philosophically. “Here. Skin these.” She dumped a load of apples, potatoes, carrots, and turnips on the table. She passed Thalaea a paring knife and under Natai’s instruction the wolf-woman learned how to skin the various fruits and vegetables. It was easier than she’d thought it would be: she found, once she thought of the knife as an extension of herself, the humanoid answer to claws or fangs, it went fairly quickly.
By the time they had most of Shoron dinner cooking on the hearthfire, Brinna, Scoas, and Alaev were done with their chores and taking turns in the bath.
Bathing on the farm was not done every day in winter. Boiling water to make it so one wouldn’t freeze in the tub took time and fire-space, so if more than one person had to bathe in a day they often re-used tub water. It was honestly more work than it was worth.
But it was Shoron, and the family felt it important to bathe for the holiday’s feast, even if the celebration was limited to family members.
Thalaea found herself amazed by what Natai could cook over a relatively small fire. Not only did she manage to make a very large turkey stuffed with fruits that kept well in the root cellar and the preserves of those that didn’t, but she also put together a wonderful medley of roast veggies and an apple crisp for dessert, complete with clotted cream to go on top. It was luxurious and delicious and at that particular meal Thalaea didn’t miss being a wolf at all. She would take Natai’s home-cooked meals over raw caribou meat any day.
After dinner, they exchanged gifts. Thalaea had asked Enendoa for advice on her second visit to the witch’s house, about what she could get or make her new family for the holiday. She had no money and she was fairly sure she had even fewer skills than coins.
Somehow, the older woman just happened to have the perfect gifts for each family member lying around her house. Thalaea thought this was probably horse dung. Enendoa must have planned for this somehow. Nevertheless, she was grateful.
“Don’t be so thankful just yet. I’ll find a way for you to pay me back.” Enendoa’s lips quirked.
“That’s fine by me.” Thalaea hated not giving back to the people who had given so much to her.
So it was that when they sat around the fire in the living room, she was able to present Brinna with a new set of bone knitting needles, in a size she didn’t have; Natai with a new sewing needle and a collection of silk thread; Scoas with a set of copper pots in which to start seedlings in early spring; and Alaev with a book full of adventure stories. Considering how busy farm life kept him, the boy had a large reading habit, which had not gone unnoticed by Thalaea.
Brinna’s gift was, of course, the sweater she’d been working on. It was several hues of green, ranging from the deep colour of conifers to the brightness of spring grass. Green was Thalaea’s favourite colour, undoubtedly, and the sweater went splendidly with her hair. She put it on right away, a soft warmth that smelled of sheep and Brinna.
“I’ll never take it off,” she said into Brinna’s hair as the two women embraced.
“Well, you’ll have to at some point,” Brinna said, laughing, but she was blushing with pleasure, and smiled giddily the rest of the night.
Natai gave her a gorgeous dress that she’d obviously sewn in the past eight days. How she’d found the time, Thalaea couldn’t fathom. It was a dress for special occasions, surely: made of silk, it shone the brightest white Thalaea had ever seen. The fabric was embroidered with tiny little snowflakes.
“We found you in a snow drift, so I felt you should have a dress like a snowfall.” Natai was blushing as hard as her daughter had.
Thalaea was overjoyed. She wrapped Natai in the tightest hug she’d ever given anyone.
“It’s truly wonderful, and far more than I ever expected. Thank you.”
Alaev’s gift was practical, as was Scoas’. The son of the family gave Thalaea a copper dagger with a leather sheath that would easily fit into her new boots, and the patriarch gave her a shovel, engraved on the handle with her name.
“You’ll be doing a lot of gardening at Enendoa’s,” he said by way of explanation.
Thalaea hadn’t thought she’d even decided if she was going to accept Enendoa’s offer, and she said as much. Scoas laughed.
“Enendoa often knows your heart better than you do. It’s fairly clear to us you’re her new apprentice.”
Thalaea raised her eyebrows and looked at the rest of her family. They all nodded in agreement with Scoas’ prediction.
She laughed. “How can you possibly know what I’m going to decide? Maybe I want to stay here and work on the farm with you.” Even as she said it she recognised how ridiculous that statement sounded and the family’s laughter confirmed it.
“Thalaea, you can’t go anywhere near the animals without making them bolt,” said Brinna, chuckling.
“I could cook,” she said defensively, but there was no fire in it. Brinna was right.
Natai snorted. “No. Best you go and learn from Enendoa. She’ll have so much more to teach you than we could.”
Thalaea twisted her lips as she thought about it. She regarded her new family. She’d only lived with them for a month but already she loved them as her own. Natai was like a mother to her. Scoas, her warm and strong father. Alaev her sweet and adventurous brother. And Brinna…Brinna was so much more than a sister to her.
“But…I want to stay here with you.” She supposed she sounded petulant, but she didn’t care. They were her family. She wanted to stay.
“Thalaea, we’ll be only forty-five minutes away.” Scoas reached over and patted her knee. “We’ll always be here. You can come over for dinner, afternoon tea, or holiday visits anytime you like. This house is always open to you.”
Thalaea let out a laugh that was more like a bark. “I guess I know when I’m beaten. Fine. I’ll accept Enendoa’s offer.” She barely finished her sentence, because in the next moment her family was doing a very good impression of a puppy pile by mauling her with hugs.
“This is the right choice for you, Thalaea. I can feel it.”
Brinna’s heated whisper in her ear did not make the decision any easier.