3
We finally made it back to the Fa house midway between when the sun hit its peak and when it set. I felt like I spent a good deal of time talking to Kamyua Yoshu, and yet we ultimately made it back an hour early.
“It’s been a while since I last came to the Fa house...” Vina Ruu stated as she placed the bag of vegetables she had been carrying down by the door. I put my luggage down too, then was about to thank her and say goodbye, only for her to question, “Oh...? Hey, isn’t it a little noisy around the back of the house...?”
“Ah, right. From today on, we’ll be showing the men who live nearby how to bloodlet and dissect a giba properly.”
It was still important for us to check it out, though, so Vina Ruu and I circled around back. And sure enough, Ai Fa and six men were waiting there. There was also a giba, around 80 kilos or so, dangling from the big tree next to the stove.
“Ah, you’re back already, Asuta?”
“Yeah, we just got here... You sure were able to catch a giba quickly.”
“Yes, the Fou and Ran men hunted it down. We won’t know if they were successful in bloodletting it or not till we taste it, though.”
Ai Fa’s left arm still hadn’t fully healed, so she wasn’t able to carry out her work as a hunter. However, the day before yesterday we had promised to teach the nearby clans how to properly prepare a giba.
The Fou and Ran clans, huh? If I recall correctly, the Ran fall under the Fou... I thought to myself only for the smallest of the six men to suddenly turn my way. He wasn’t just little, but also pretty darn slender, and seemed a bit on the older side. His blackish hair was rough and disheveled, and his black eyes looked somewhat gloomy. There were deep wrinkles to his dark skin, and his cheeks were heavily sunken with age.
“Asuta of the Fa clan, you’re here rather early. Is it already time for you to start preparing dinner?”
“No, I’ve got to prepare the meals to sell tomorrow before I can get to that.”
“I see. Still, it will be good experience for the women to watch you work, won’t it?”
Despite his overall gloomy appearance, it seemed he actually had a pretty active personality. Fortunately, I got along just fine with folks like that.
However, there was one thing that bugged me just a bit: The slender man had just two tusks and horns dangling in front of his chest. It was rare for anyone from such small families to match the number Ai Fa wore, but just having two was certainly unusual. Even women generally wore three to ward off any disasters that may befall them.
At any rate, as those thoughts ran through my head I replied with a big nod, “That’s true. I have to prepare a whole lot of food for work, so they may be able to gain plenty just by watching.”
Then, the man turned towards Ai Fa.
“Clan head of the Fa, do you mind if I call for the women from my house before learning how to dissect? Despite appearances, I tend to move quite quickly. And so, I promise you that it won’t take long.”
“I don’t mind. In that case, we’ll skin the pelt before removing the innards.”
“I’m very grateful,” the small man said, then took off running. He wasn’t quite as quick as Dan Rutim, but he was indeed rather fast.
“What a restless man... Was he always that way?” the Fou clan head asked. He was also rather thin, but he was tall, too.
“That man wasn’t a member of the Fou?” I asked, only to get back, “No, he’s the clan head of the Sudra.”
With that, I finally remembered. The Sudra was one of the clans that approved of the business the Fa clan was undertaking, alongside the Fou, Gaaz, and Ratsu. I hadn’t been able to make out his face in the darkness of the ritual hall, but now that it came up I did recall spying someone that small.
“Still, how to prepare dinner, is it? You would go so far as to teach that, Asuta of the Fa clan?”
“Yes. But I have my work, so I can’t properly teach them by working them through the process. Still, just learning how to bake poitan should make quite a difference, wouldn’t you say?”
The Fou clan head’s expression shifted when he heard that.
“Poitan...? But it must take quite a bit of time to make poitan take that shape...”
“Well, compared to just boiling it in a pot it does, but if you used it as you have up till now it would wreck the dish no matter how successful you may be at getting rid of the stench of the meat.” Myamuu giba and hamburgers were dishes that took practice to make. But if they could just start by learning how to prepare baked poitan, then they could use that alongside the bloodlet giba meat to make a delicious dinner. “Preparing it doesn’t use the stove that much, so as long as you have the poitan and a pot, you could even do it here. It takes some time, but it really isn’t all that difficult.”
“The Fou clan wishes to learn how to prepare giba meat in order to change its taste and live more prosperously. That’s just to sell it for coins, though, not to use for our own dinner,” the Fou clan head replied, his eyebrows drooping as he did so. “However... If it’s not too much of a burden on you, could you teach the Fou and Ran women as well?”
“Of course. If I explain it to everyone at once, it wouldn’t be any trouble at all.”
“Hey,” the clan head signaled to one of the men, who went off running.
As he left, Ai Fa tilted her head and asked, “Are you about ready to get started? My left arm is still not fully healed, so I would like to leave skinning the pelt up to you.”
“Of course. My apologies. We’ll get right to it,” the Fou clan head answered, then he and the other men drew their knives and gathered around the giba.
It really made for a moving sight, seeing various clan members gathered here at the Fa house and working together. They weren’t related to the Fa clan in the least, but there were only 500 people of the forest’s edge in total, so I really did feel it was best for them to join their strength together as much as possible.
Dan Rutim and Mia Lea Ruu had called me and Ai Fa friends. And Gazraan Rutim had stated that the people of the forest’s edge needed to reconstruct their bonds. If we could form bonds with the Fou, Ran, and Sudra like this and someday come to call each other friends, too, that would be fantastic. Despite the uncomfortable look on Ai Fa’s face, that was how I truly felt.
“I’m so glad the Suun clan fell...” Vina Ruu suddenly muttered, catching me off guard.
“Ah, you still haven’t left yet, have you? Good work today, Vina Ruu.”
“Hey, that’s kind of mean...” Vina Ruu said, hanging her head a bit and shooting me a reproachful glare.
“S-Sorry. I was a bit lost in my thoughts there... Anyway, Ai Fa, I’m going to go handle preparations in the house. When the Fou and Sudra women arrive, could you let them in?”
“Right.”
I shot one last backwards glance at the giba as its white, naked flesh was steadily being exposed, then headed to the house alongside Vina Ruu.
“Let me just say once more, good work today. I’ll be counting on you again tomorrow.”
“Why are you trying to drive me away like that...? You’re just awful, Asuta...”
“Eh? B-But you have work to do too, right?”
We wrapped up our business for today an hour early, so I had figured Vina Ruu would use that time to gather firewood. However, she was instead standing here fiddling with her chestnut-colored hair with both hands and seductively wriggling her body.
“I don’t want to go back home... That youngest son of the Suun is waiting there...”
“Mida isn’t the youngest, or even part of the Suun clan anymore. You may technically understand that, but I still think it would be a good idea to really keep it in mind...”
“I know that. I really do... But I just can’t make myself feel that way...”
Vina Ruu was completely overcome with dread. Despite appearances, she was quite tough inside and really had her act together, but she seriously looked to be at a loss. But since the one who decided Mida would be welcomed by the Ruu was her clan head, Donda Ruu, there was no hope of escape. But as I racked my brain on what to do about the matter, an unexpected group appeared from down the path.
“Long time no see, Asuta. So you’re back from the post town already?”
Standing at the head of the group was Gazraan Rutim. I couldn’t help but smile back at him when I saw that familiar, dependable face.
“Yeah, it’s been a while. I really wasn’t expecting to meet you here.”
I had been told someone would be sent to hear how my conversation with Kamyua Yoshu went, but I never figured it would be Gazraan Rutim.
I couldn’t exactly ignore the people standing behind him, either. After all, they were the Lea clan head Rau Lea and Yamiru.
“I had intended to wait for you at the Fa house, so I was surprised to find you back so early, myself. Did you manage to meet with Kamyua Yoshu?”
“Yes,” I replied to Gazraan Rutim while also paying attention to Yamiru, who kept looking downwards instead of my way. “It seems there really is no choice but to go forward with the job. And so, he wants to discuss arrangements tomorrow if the Sauti clan is up for guiding them.”
I then went ahead and explained everything Kamyua Yoshu had said as accurately as I could manage.
After listening to all that, Gazraan Rutim replied, “I see,” with a nod of his head. “In that case, we should head to the castle in the morning, then after that meet with this Kamyua Yoshu fellow. That’s more or less what I had expected... I’ll be accompanying the three leaders of our people to that discussion, too.”
“Really? That’s seriously relieving to hear!” I earnestly stated.
However, Gazraan Rutim shook his head and replied, “That’s an overstatement. I’m still honored to hear you say it, but I’m nothing but a simple boorish man of the forest’s edge. I’m full of concerns about how to talk properly with people from the city of stone.”
Still, if it was just folks like Donda Ruu and Gulaf Zaza there, I’d be super concerned it really could end up as a bloodbath.
Plus, with this, Kamyua Yoshu and Gazraan Rutim would finally be meeting for the first time. Just how would that aloof guy appear to such a wise and earnest man of the forest’s edge? I could feel my heart beating faster just thinking about it.
“If I may ask, was it decided that you of the Lea clan should be selected to take in Yamiru?” I asked.
“Yeah,” the young Lea clan head responded with a firm nod. “However, that’s ultimately up to you... And be more careful with your words, Asuta.”
Ah, right. He forbid me from talking politely to him, didn’t he?
The first part of what he said was what caught my attention, though.
“Up to me? You’re not saying Yamiru should join the Fa clan, are you?”
“No, the opposite. The Lea settlement’s closer to the Fa house than the Suun. And so the other clan heads all rattled on about if it was alright or not to let someone who came after you guys once to live so close.”
I didn’t know where the Lea settlement was, but I had heard the clan’s women were learning how to cook from Ama Min Rutim, so it had to be close to where the Rutim clan lived. And so, even if it was “close,” it would still be over an hour away.
Plus, it was hard to imagine Yamiru trying to do us harm again now that the main Suun house had fallen.
“I don’t mind at all. Plus, I don’t see this woman as being all that dangerous.”
Yamiru finally looked up, appearing a bit taken aback. Her blackish eyes were now staring intently at my face.
“I see... That’s just like Gazraan Rutim predicted,” Rau Lea said while ruffling his long blond hair and turning towards Yamiru. “In that case, the Lea will take charge of this wicked woman after all. So hey, if you do anything you shouldn’t, I’ll send your head flying on the spot, alright? I’m not the sort that’s soft on women.”
“H-Hold on... What’s going on here, Gazraan Rutim?” I asked.
In response Gazraan Rutim bowed his head and told me, “My apologies. The truth of the matter is, if you hadn’t given your permission for Yamiru to be taken in by the Lea, she would have had to go to the Zaza or Sauti... But rather than as a member of their clan, it would have been as a prisoner.”
“A prisoner?”
“Yes. It was agreed that Yamiru should be sent either to the far off north or south to keep her far from the Fa house, but neither the Zaza nor the Sauti wanted anything to do with her, and said if they were forced to take her they would have to bind her limbs and treat her as a prisoner.”
“What?! But that’s completely against the spirit of what Donda Ruu proposed, isn’t it?”
“They also said that if she acted obediently then they would grant her more freedom bit by bit... It was also proposed that the Ruu or Rutim could take her in, but many said she shouldn’t be in the same settlement as Mida or Oura...”
“And so the Lea were chosen, since we’re the next strongest after those two,” Rau Lea chimed in, his androgynous face breaking out in a daring grin. “I didn’t mind in the least, but the folks from the north and south got real noisy about it. And so we ended up leaving the decision up to you, since you’re the one who was actually harmed in all this. When we were walking here Gazraan Rutim said you’d definitely be fine with it, and that turned out to be just what happened.”
“But deciding someone’s fate on a single statement from me is a bit...”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? After all, a single thought from this wicked woman almost twisted your fate, right?” Rau Lea said, then he shot Yamiru a piercing glare. “Hey, you, let me ask you one last time... Do you swear to live according to the laws of the forest’s edge? Can you live properly, treating not just the Fa and Lea, but all of our people, as your comrades?”
Yamiru cast her gaze down for a moment, and then she looked my way. The smell of blood still drifted off of her, and so I just couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
“Asuta... I tried to destroy the Fa clan. The ones who actually acted were Diga and Doddo, but I gave them the melemele leaves and told them what they should do. If you feel a hatred for my brothers, then it should also be pointed my way, shouldn’t it?”
“I... wouldn’t call it ‘hatred.’ I honestly did feel that way back then, but in the end Ai Fa and I came out of it just fine, so if you swear to never do such a thing again, then I’ll have no reason to hold a grudge against you anymore.”
Yamiru’s dark pupils wavered, as if she was holding back some powerful emotion.
Her face remained as expressionless as always, but she no longer had the air of a poisonous snake about her in the least. Apparently, she only really looked that way when she was grinning.
“Hey, you’ve had enough time to think it over, right? If you don’t intend on following our laws, then say so clearly here and now. My blade will go ahead and lay you to rest,” Rau Lea stated, sounding rather impatient.
However, Yamiru’s eyes remained fixed on me as she said, “I will obey what you all have said... though I don’t believe I’m worthy of being saved.”
“Hmph. I see you’ve still got as harsh of a tongue as always.” Then, Rau Lea grabbed Yamiru’s slender jaw and forcefully turned her beautiful face his way. “Well then, from today on you’re Yamiru Lea. If you commit any crimes, as your clan head I’ll cut you down. Take that to heart and live an earnest life.”
“You’re granting her your clan name already, Rau Lea?” Gazraan Rutim said, sounding shocked.
Rau Lea just snorted, “Hmph,” and pushed Yamiru’s face away. “Being so particular is a pain and I hate it. The punishment’s going to be the same either way if she commits a crime, so I can’t see any difference in if I give her the clan name or not. And I’d feel awkward having someone as a member of my clan without it.”
Did that wild nature of his come from his youth? Still, what Yamiru needed now was probably someone like this to give her a forceful push on the back or drag her along. And so, I earnestly said, “You have my thanks, Rau Lea.”
With that, an incredibly swift blow hit me square in the middle of my forehead. Considering it had the strength of a hunter of the forest’s edge behind it, I seemed to lose consciousness for a moment, as before I realized it I found myself collapsed on my back.
“I told you I’d hit you if you talked all polite, right? I’m not the sort of guy who can just ignore such rudeness twice in one day.”
“Stop that, Rau Lea. What will you do if the Fa clan head sees...? Are you alright, Asuta?” Gazraan Rutim asked as he pulled me up. All the while, my field of view was swaying.
“Oww. I’m alright, I think... Hey! Even if you were gonna hit me, you could’ve at least held back, right? That felt like my skull was gonna shatter!”
“Yeah, that’s it. Just talk normal like that,” Rau Lea said, turning away and sticking out his tongue.
I had at first thought he was a bit more mature than Ludo Ruu, but I had to revise that. This guy was definitely more childish.
“Hey, why is it that Gazraan Rutim’s allowed to act all politely even though he’s clearly older, but I have to go through all this trouble? It should be okay for me to be at least a bit polite with you since you’re a clan head, right?”
“Gazraan Rutim’s the sort to talk like that even with a ten-year-old kid. He’s an oddball that can’t even act familiar with the girl he loves.”
“Please stop that. Even I can feel embarrassed, Rau Lea,” Gazraan Rutim stated with a frown, looking unusually troubled.
Suddenly, a “Pfft,” sounded out from somewhere.
When the three of us turned to look, we found Yamiru looking at the ground. It was impossible to tell what sort of expression she wore, as she was covering her mouth with her right hand.
“Geez, you sure are a fearless—” Rau Lea started to say, only to swiftly turn around. Gazraan Rutim did the same almost simultaneously.
There was a group of people of the forest’s edge gathered together roughly five meters away. Two of them were men, while there were four women carrying pots... The men were the Sudra clan head and the member of the Fou who ran to go get the women. And when I noticed they both had grabbed hold of the blades at their hips, I gulped.
“You’re the clan head of the Lea, aren’t you? So the Lea are to be the next enemies of the Fa after the Suun clan?” the Sudra clan head questioned in a gloomy tone.
I had no idea what he meant, but Rau Lea said, “Ah...” and slumped his shoulders. “You mean how I hit Asuta? Don’t go misunderstanding, you fools. That was just me doling out a fitting punishment, since Asuta went and broke an agreement we had. That’s not enough to even budge the bond between the Fa and the clans under the Ruu.” Then, Rau Lea suddenly put his right arm around my neck. “As you can see, Asuta knows that he was at fault, and he’s got no problem with me either. If you get all that, then stop glaring already.”
The men of the Sudra and Fou then shot a probing glance my way.
I didn’t have any recollection whatsoever of admitting fault, but I had no choice but to relent.
“Yes. Our relationship with the clans under the Ruu hasn’t shifted, so you don’t need to worry... Well then, shall we get started with the cooking lesson?”
With that, the men finally took their hands from their blades, and the women breathed a sigh of relief.
And with his arm still around my neck, Rau Lea asked, “What’s this about a cooking lesson?”
“I’m going to be showing the Sudra and Fou women how to bake poitan. Would you like to learn too, Rau Lea?”
I was still angry at him so I had meant to provoke him with that, but instead, his eyes sparked as he replied, “How to bake poitan?! That’s great! That’ll spare us the hassle of heading to the Rutim house to learn! Hey, Yamiru Lea, go learn that here and now! Then you can pass it on to the other Lea women!”
“Me...?” Yamiru questioned, furrowing her brow. I got the feeling that she was becoming a lot more expressive now than she used to be. “In the Suun clan, it was the job of the branch families to man the stove. I believe I’ll be no more useful than a ten-year-old child.”
“Then that’s all the more reason you should practice. You’re a member of the Lea clan, not the Suun, after all.” Rau Lea then finally took his arm from my neck and instead gave me a pat on the chest. “Well, I’m counting on you. And I’ll cut her down then and there if she does anything she shouldn’t, so don’t worry.”
“That’s all well and good, but you didn’t bring any poitan, so you won’t be able to manage for dinner, right? After all, everyone else was planning to bake their poitan here for tonight.”
“What?! That’s no good!” Then Rau Lea turned to the folks from the Sudra and Fou clans in a fluster. “Hey! Sorry, but let me buy some poitan off of you all in exchange for these horns and tusks! I can even give you back the same number tomorrow! No wait, even more than what you give me!”
“How many poitan do you need...?”
“There are 19 members of the Lea clan! I’d want at least two for each of them!”
In that case, he would need nearly 40.
The Sudra clan head gave a sullen shake of his head, while the member of the Fou clan whispered to the women behind him.
“The Fou and Ran will give you the poitan. And it would take time to go to the post town and buy more, so if at all possible, we would like you to give us back the same amount.”
“Alright! Then I’ll put aside the matter of the horns and tusks and just get you back your poitan tomorrow! I’m in your debt, Fou and Ran clans!”
The women then took off back down the path.
Rau Lea broke out in a satisfied smile, while Gazraan Rutim gave a slight strained chuckle.
Yamiru was still looking down, meanwhile, with her long hair hiding her expression.
“I sort of feel like the punishment for the Suun clan was too light...” a voice quietly muttered from behind me.
I turned to look, and my eyes went wide.
“Ah, right. You still haven’t left, Vina Ruu...”
With that, my upper arm got pinched so hard it hurt, while Yamiru started her life anew as Yamiru Lea.
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