As Lar rose from his memories, he was gripped with fear. Surely as pretty a girl as Jin would have many suitors her own age. She should be courted by young men who could travel the trails as he had done before his call to the mountain. He would never be able to take her to the excitement of the Trading Time or hunting in the Dark Woods. Those adventures were but memories for him. Still, he would ask any way.
Surely this large red tear, his last gift from his mother, would show how he felt. Their life would be good. He would teach her to read the stories as his father had taught his mother. Together they would explore all that the previous Watchmen had seen over the many life times of the People. A woman's laughter would warm these old caves in the winters ahead.
Stooping to exit the cave, Lar started down the steps. He stopped half way down and sat. Far beneath him the camp was a galaxy of campfires. “What am I thinking? No one would have me. No one wants this life. She is so young and beautiful. I will give her this gift, but ask nothing for myself.”
He went back to his cave. He sat on a stone right by the opening to cave and just watched. The second day’s gathering must have gone well. Far below, in the dim light, the line in front of Kal's valuation tent was long. In the cool evening air, the line moved slowly along. Each time Lar looked down from his perch, he saw that the line was shorter. As the line reached its end, he changed his mind again. He checked his pocket and headed for the bottom of the mountain.
He got to the bottom just as the last family left the tent. He sat in the dark by the pool. He would need the comfort of full darkness before approaching the Shiree’s tent to begin the negotiations.
In Loi’s tent, things were calm. He started for her fire, but talked him self out of it and never got there. Each morning for the next eight, he resolved to go visit the Shiree. Each attempt met with the same failure as he would find him self drinking at the fire of his cousin. Jin watched him fail over and over. Finally, she knew how to best spend her great find.
Kal looked inquiringly at Mav as she placed food bowls in front of her mate. "A good day, woman?"
“Aiya, husband... we have passed two hands worth of well blessed days. If we are as blessed for the rest of the gathering days, we will winter well in the Great City.”
He sat back contented, “This is good.”
Mav’s face darkened, “I wish that lazy girl had found more stones. All she does is sit in the shade and stare at the sacred mountain. You'd think she’d never seen it before. I had to beat her yesterday and she still showed little result at the end of the day."
Kal was tired of this topic. He had heard all of this before. He suspected that the widows had probably benefited from Jin's work more than Mav ever would. He had seen her picking up many tears, but she had turned in very few. As to Mav, he knew that it was useless to interrupt her once she began on one of her pet topics. Still talking, she began to tidy the main area of the tent.
Then, just as he was about to nod off, Mav took a new turn in the argument, "She should be mated.”
“Mated..?”
“Yes! She is of age although, that red hair scares the men...." She went into her side their tent, still shaking her head and talking.
“Call Loi in… see what she can do.” The matter settled as far as he was concerned, Kal notched the Gathering Stick to mark the end of the second day.
He looked up, “Woman..? Where is my supper?”
Jin had been outside listening to her parents talk. She had brightened at the knowledge that she had finally driven Mav to get rid of her. She watched the serving girls hurry to bring their repast. As they ate, Jin slipped away unnoticed. Kal ate quickly. Mav sat next to him breast feeding Tun. She said little, just humming to herself. Kal, as always, was used to her strange changes of attitude. Finished, he rose and headed for Kiv’s tent for more story telling. He took a wineskin as his offering of drink. The distraction of men and manly tales were to be found there, and so much the better.
Lar sat in the dark circle around Kiv’s fire where he could watch Kal. He watched Jin with a growing desire. Her face was a pale glow against the small cook fire. She smiled and touched her father’s hand gently as she refilled his cup. When she was gone out of the fire light, the light left the area.
After a time, he watched as Kal make the daily notch, rose and headed for his home tent. Lar knew his time was running out. When the notches numbered ten and four, the Gathering Time would be over and his People would move their herds to the new winter grass by the Big Water for the winter.
Lar knew what happened there. Kal would leave the tending of the animals to the youngest men and oldest boys. He and the other traders would go to the Great City to trade. Kiv would leave them as well. He would take his hunters into the Dark Woods. Life would go on. Lar sat alone in the gloom for a while after the old man had gone to the other side of camp.
He splashed water in his face to build up his courage. He looked in the direction of Loi’s tent. Deciding, his life must go on as well.
Resolutely, he headed for the Shiree’s tent. Three steps was all he made towards it. He had known her all of his life. She was the Shiree, the Old Woman of Mating. Just as the oldest daughter in her family through out time, the Shiree must make the mating proposal. She was the only one to negotiate the Bride Price, called the Shivaree. He turned and pulled his hood forward, heading for his cave. What ever was to be for his future must wait another night. He looked back at Kiv’s camp. Their life was simple. There, he enjoyed exotic meats and drinks. And, because in that fire, they were equals. Lar could join Kiv in creating grand tales of hunts and fights against mostly nonexistent foes.