Chapter 9
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Chapter 9
Baatar walked off the platform without a word to the boy. He was in good hands. Charok and Alsantset were the best choice to nurture him. They had both seen him at his worst, and would understand his needs. Besides, Baatar had his own problems to deal with. Sarnai had given him a look while they were on stage, a look he knew all too well. She disagreed with him. Worse, she was angry. He walked away from the celebrations to a secluded area, and waited for her.
She didn't keep him waiting long. He smiled. Even after more than 50 years of marriage, even when furious at him, she was beautiful.
You did not say that you were going to be his guarantor. I almost snapped and called you a buffoon in front of the entire village. Why did you do so? The risks far outweigh the benefits. She always was direct.
I did not say because you would have argued against it, nor did I make my decision lightly. I believe in him.
Sarnai threw her hands in the air. Not lightly. Pei. With what you've told me about the boy? I almost want to poison his drink. It would be a mercy. The Bristleboar, they do not treat slaves well. A clan of gluttons, sadists, and deviants. With what I've seen? Never have I seen a child wound so tight. He laughs, he cries, he jumps, he broods. He is half mad as it stands.
The boy is strong. He will heal.
He is liable to snap. You should know. You helped him club a helpless guard to death.
Helpless, but far from innocent. It was therapy for the boy. I would have killed the guard regardless. Baatar took Sarnai into his arms. The wine has been spilled. Let it go, my beauty. Perhaps it was wrong of me. 'It wasn't though. He needed the release.'
She blushed, and swatted him on the chest. What beauty. I'm 73 years old. I'm an old woman now. You should take a second wife. A younger one, who can care for you. You should let me pick one out for you, while I'm still around. And don't think your honeyed tongue can make me forget about the boy. He's unstable.
Baatar kissed her deeply. I'll never take a second wife. Who could compare to you, my rose.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience
After the first night of healing, Taduk was so distraught, the others needed to mix him a tincture to let him sleep. He could not fathom how someone could hurt a child so terribly. The boy was more bruise than not. Three broken bones, fourteen fractures. Chi burns across half his body. He was missing three fingernails, 5 toenails, and had more cracked teeth than healthy ones. Another five days, and he would have been dead of Lung Rot, drowned in his own blood. Baatar stopped, lost in thought. He should not have let the guards die so easily.
Sarnai slapped her husband in the chest. Your story does not inspire confidence.
Apologies, my love. I was lost in my thoughts. Even with all those injuries, the boy walked more than 20 kilometers to reach our camp. He even managed to trick Alsantset into releasing him, in order to attempt an escape. He is nothing if not tenacious.
Sarnai looked at her husband. Her eyes widened in realization. You like him. You wanted to foster him.
Baatar grinned. I did. But it would not have been fair to you. With me gone most of the year, all the work would be left to you. Charok and Alsantset will do right by him. The girl was ready to assault the mines alone, unarmed. She would have done so had I not order her watched and restrained. And Charok seems to understand him. The boy responds well to him.
And if he doesn't heal, what then, husband? She embraced him again. 'You should not have stood for him.' She thought
Then I will put him down myself. But I do not believe it will be necessary. Baatar sighed. 'I hope it will not be necessary.' He thought
The two of them continued to stand there, taking comfort in each other's embrace.
Should we find some other children to foster? Your fatherly instincts seem to have returned. Sarnai asked him, hopeful he would agree. More children would help him cope.
My love, if you so wish to have me busy myself, I will see it done. But my time, I would rather spend with you and you alone. He gently scooped her into his arms. She laughed girlishly, and rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her on the forehead. Enough talk about the boy. I wish to hear how my wife fared in my absence.
He carried her off, returning to their home.
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Chapter 9
Baatar walked off the platform without a word to the boy. He was in good hands. Charok and Alsantset were the best choice to nurture him. They had both seen him at his worst, and would understand his needs. Besides, Baatar had his own problems to deal with. Sarnai had given him a look while they were on stage, a look he knew all too well. She disagreed with him. Worse, she was angry. He walked away from the celebrations to a secluded area, and waited for her.
She didn't keep him waiting long. He smiled. Even after more than 50 years of marriage, even when furious at him, she was beautiful.
You did not say that you were going to be his guarantor. I almost snapped and called you a buffoon in front of the entire village. Why did you do so? The risks far outweigh the benefits. She always was direct.
I did not say because you would have argued against it, nor did I make my decision lightly. I believe in him.
Sarnai threw her hands in the air. Not lightly. Pei. With what you've told me about the boy? I almost want to poison his drink. It would be a mercy. The Bristleboar, they do not treat slaves well. A clan of gluttons, sadists, and deviants. With what I've seen? Never have I seen a child wound so tight. He laughs, he cries, he jumps, he broods. He is half mad as it stands.
The boy is strong. He will heal.
He is liable to snap. You should know. You helped him club a helpless guard to death.
Helpless, but far from innocent. It was therapy for the boy. I would have killed the guard regardless. Baatar took Sarnai into his arms. The wine has been spilled. Let it go, my beauty. Perhaps it was wrong of me. 'It wasn't though. He needed the release.'
She blushed, and swatted him on the chest. What beauty. I'm 73 years old. I'm an old woman now. You should take a second wife. A younger one, who can care for you. You should let me pick one out for you, while I'm still around. And don't think your honeyed tongue can make me forget about the boy. He's unstable.
Baatar kissed her deeply. I'll never take a second wife. Who could compare to you, my rose.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience
After the first night of healing, Taduk was so distraught, the others needed to mix him a tincture to let him sleep. He could not fathom how someone could hurt a child so terribly. The boy was more bruise than not. Three broken bones, fourteen fractures. Chi burns across half his body. He was missing three fingernails, 5 toenails, and had more cracked teeth than healthy ones. Another five days, and he would have been dead of Lung Rot, drowned in his own blood. Baatar stopped, lost in thought. He should not have let the guards die so easily.
Sarnai slapped her husband in the chest. Your story does not inspire confidence.
Apologies, my love. I was lost in my thoughts. Even with all those injuries, the boy walked more than 20 kilometers to reach our camp. He even managed to trick Alsantset into releasing him, in order to attempt an escape. He is nothing if not tenacious.
Sarnai looked at her husband. Her eyes widened in realization. You like him. You wanted to foster him.
Baatar grinned. I did. But it would not have been fair to you. With me gone most of the year, all the work would be left to you. Charok and Alsantset will do right by him. The girl was ready to assault the mines alone, unarmed. She would have done so had I not order her watched and restrained. And Charok seems to understand him. The boy responds well to him.
And if he doesn't heal, what then, husband? She embraced him again. 'You should not have stood for him.' She thought
Then I will put him down myself. But I do not believe it will be necessary. Baatar sighed. 'I hope it will not be necessary.' He thought
The two of them continued to stand there, taking comfort in each other's embrace.
Should we find some other children to foster? Your fatherly instincts seem to have returned. Sarnai asked him, hopeful he would agree. More children would help him cope.
My love, if you so wish to have me busy myself, I will see it done. But my time, I would rather spend with you and you alone. He gently scooped her into his arms. She laughed girlishly, and rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her on the forehead. Enough talk about the boy. I wish to hear how my wife fared in my absence.
He carried her off, returning to their home.
Chapter 9Baatar walked off the platform without a word to the boy. He was in good hands. Charok and Alsantset were the best choice to nurture him. They had both seen him at his worst, and would understand his needs. Besides, Baatar had his own problems to deal with. Sarnai had given him a look while they were on stage, a look he knew all too well. She disagreed with him. Worse, she was angry. He walked away from the celebrations to a secluded area, and waited for her. She didn't keep him waiting long. He smiled. Even after more than 50 years of marriage, even when furious at him, she was beautiful. You did not say that you were going to be his guarantor. I almost snapped and called you a buffoon in front of the entire village. Why did you do so? The risks far outweigh the benefits. She always was direct. I did not say because you would have argued against it, nor did I make my decision lightly. I believe in him. Sarnai threw her hands in the air. Not lightly. Pei. With what you've told me about the boy? I almost want to poison his drink. It would be a mercy. The Bristleboar, they do not treat slaves well. A clan of gluttons, sadists, and deviants. With what I've seen? Never have I seen a child wound so tight. He laughs, he cries, he jumps, he broods. He is half mad as it stands. The boy is strong. He will heal. He is liable to snap. You should know. You helped him club a helpless guard to death. Helpless, but far from innocent. It was therapy for the boy. I would have killed the guard regardless. Baatar took Sarnai into his arms. The wine has been spilled. Let it go, my beauty. Perhaps it was wrong of me. 'It wasn't though. He needed the release.' She blushed, and swatted him on the chest. What beauty. I'm 73 years old. I'm an old woman now. You should take a second wife. A younger one, who can care for you. You should let me pick one out for you, while I'm still around. And don't think your honeyed tongue can make me forget about the boy. He's unstable. Baatar kissed her deeply. I'll never take a second wife. Who could compare to you, my rose.Visit noveLbin.com for the best novel reading experienceAfter the first night of healing, Taduk was so distraught, the others needed to mix him a tincture to let him sleep. He could not fathom how someone could hurt a child so terribly. The boy was more bruise than not. Three broken bones, fourteen fractures. Chi burns across half his body. He was missing three fingernails, 5 toenails, and had more cracked teeth than healthy ones. Another five days, and he would have been dead of Lung Rot, drowned in his own blood. Baatar stopped, lost in thought. He should not have let the guards die so easily. Sarnai slapped her husband in the chest. Your story does not inspire confidence. Apologies, my love. I was lost in my thoughts. Even with all those injuries, the boy walked more than 20 kilometers to reach our camp. He even managed to trick Alsantset into releasing him, in order to attempt an escape. He is nothing if not tenacious. Sarnai looked at her husband. Her eyes widened in realization. You like him. You wanted to foster him. Baatar grinned. I did. But it would not have been fair to you. With me gone most of the year, all the work would be left to you. Charok and Alsantset will do right by him. The girl was ready to assault the mines alone, unarmed. She would have done so had I not order her watched and restrained. And Charok seems to understand him. The boy responds well to him. And if he doesn't heal, what then, husband? She embraced him again. 'You should not have stood for him.' She thoughtThen I will put him down myself. But I do not believe it will be necessary. Baatar sighed. 'I hope it will not be necessary.' He thought The two of them continued to stand there, taking comfort in each other's embrace. Should we find some other children to foster? Your fatherly instincts seem to have returned. Sarnai asked him, hopeful he would agree. More children would help him cope. My love, if you so wish to have me busy myself, I will see it done. But my time, I would rather spend with you and you alone. He gently scooped her into his arms. She laughed girlishly, and rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her on the forehead. Enough talk about the boy. I wish to hear how my wife fared in my absence. He carried her off, returning to their home.
