Smitten Ch. 06

"She even asked Umog."

- "She did?" I immediately began to wonder how that particular discussion had gone.

- "She did. Shelur does not fear Umog - but she did consider her feelings."

- "Does everybody but me know about this?"

- "No." said Shaghar. "Shelur is discreet. She asked only the four of us, because we are good friends, and she was not entirely sure how we would take it if she asked you first. By our lights, she has done exactly what she should."

Shaghar left me to sleep alone that night. I wanted to make love with her, but she was right: it would be awkward to see Shelur in the morning, and not to have an answer for her - and I wouldn't be thinking very coherently if Shaghar was in my arms.

It was a bit unusual for me to have private time - peace and quiet to think matters through. And as I did, I came to see that Shelur's request - and the way she'd gone about it - weren't really all that odd.

There just weren't enough males in the Red Knees anymore. Kurbag's attempted coup had only made things worse: Slagip, Oag, Kurbag himself, and eight other males had perished, along with Ushug and 3 other females.

If the females - now a considerable majority - began to compete or even squabble over the males, that would only further damage the band. That was why Shelur had asked Shaghar and the others first.

It was still odd for a lad like me, for a smith's apprentice from Portoa. But for Smit of the Red Knees? It seemed to make sense.

It wasn't going to be a terrible hardship for me - that much was certain. As long as my other lovers felt as Shaghar did.

I lay awake, thinking, for a long time. I was still asleep when Snak and Shelur arrived to begin work.              

- "Snak - why don't you go ahead and see how our charcoal looks?" I suggested.

- "Me?"

- "Who would know better than you or me?"

- "True!" she said, with a big grin. Off she ran.

Shelur waited while I washed my face. She gave no hint that there was anything on her mind.

- "Shaghar told me." I said. "About your ... conversation."

- "Ah."

- "At first, I wondered why you hadn't just come and asked me directly. But then I realized that Shaghar was right: you've done everything properly. You made certain that your friends - and mine - knew in advance, and that I had time your consider your ... offer."

- "Request." she said, correcting me.

- "Yes. You gave me advanced warning, so that I was not caught off guard. Had you surprised me, I might have answered in haste, without considering all of the implications. I thank you for that."

Shelur simply inclined her head.

"I'm also honoured that you would choose me." I said. "May I ask you one question, though?"

- "Of course."

- "What did Umog say?"

Shelur smiled. "She said that I would enjoy my time with you. Very much."

- "I won't keep you in suspense, Shelur. I would be happy to help you conceive a child. And may I say - I almost hope that we don't succeed ... too soon."

- "Thank you, Smit." she said. "I'm willing to be patient. It will probably take several attempts before we can be certain."

- "My thoughts exactly. When would you like to begin ... trying?"

- "Soon? You may need a little ... rest. But perhaps not too long. I know that the idea is new to you. But I've been thinking about it for some time."

Shelur and I didn't come together right away. Part of that was waiting for her most fertile days.

And part of that was the single most important event in the recent history of the Red Knees. In many ways, it completely overshadowed my own arrival on their shores.

Ogash, Lambug and the other scouts returned early.

Their appearance caused a minor sensation, because they brought prisoners with them: two human males.

- "Oh, no." said Shaghar.

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