3rd August 1103

Morven had been happy with the new additions to the castle that summer, allowing her and Alexis to finally move from the dank, salty swell of the ship’s body. She had been even happier with her sitting room, small but cosy, tucked up in the corner of the tower. Finally Colthan’s constant coughing was easing now that he was out of the damp air that rose from the ship’s warped walls.

She had been less than happy, however, that she was now obliged to share this private place with her new step-mother and whomever she chose to invite. But how could she say no to her Father. So more often than not, she found herself confined with the dreadful woman and her friends. The Princess had not had trouble making friends, and was already very close to the First Mate’s wife, Eyvir, who also came from the islands of Fjaerland.

Colthan whined and snuggled against her legs, trying to make himself unobtrusive in the folds of her dress. She knew how he felt.

The women were prattling in their own burbling language as they often did, as though Morven were not even there. Occasionally they would switch back to common, with magnanimous smiles as though they were doing her favour. “Oh daughter, we were just talking about this…” they would offer up some short explanation in kindly tones though they had spoken for near on half of the hour. Every time that woman called her daughter she bristled with annoyance. And the blonde trollop knew it.

It made it easier to ignore the sound of their voices when they spoke in Fjaerla. It was not an unpleasant language and at times she could simply let it wash over her. Then she could think and it was almost as though she were alone. But other times she knew they were speaking of her and she felt the colour rise in her face and the anger in her chest. Her heart throbbed hot then as Bharata had told her it must not.

She had decided to learn their language, secretly. She was sure her Father had a book. That would show them, when suddenly, one day, she interjected in perfect Fjaerla. Oh the look on their faces would be worth it.

It was nice though, to see the children playing together and they all got along fine though Colthan did not like to join in, only watch. Little Bruna, was the same age as the twins, and Dhanesh, Eyvir’s son, a little younger was happy to follow them in everything they did.

“Mama! Mama! Lookeee mee! Lookeee mee!” Riandur garbled.

She looked up and he had one of the dolls hanging from between his newly grown teeth.
“Meee snoweee!” he dribbled through the legs of the doll.

A few days ago Snowy had decided to gift her with a small dead rat which unfortunately the twins had witnessed. Colthan had been having nightmares ever since but apparently not Riandur.

Bruna giggled and followed suit shaking the body of the doll between her teeth as she saw Riandur doing. Riandur made growling noises in the back of his throat as he flung it on the floor as Snowy had done with the rat, after shaking it well and good till it was truly dead.

Colthan was watching his brother intently, his lower lip trembling slightly.

He gave a small whimper and snuggled closer to her legs.

“He not like his brother at all is he?” Eyvir giggled, “What wrong with you Colthan… you no want to play with your brother.”

“And your auntie,” Tiatny chortled, never tiring of the joke.

“You have to wonder, they so different,” she looked up at Morven her eyes wide and innocent, “you drop him on his head?”

Tiatny was trying not to laugh.

Morven felt that boiling sensation in her chest again and tried to fight it back down.

“There is nothing wrong with him,” she said icily, and the children looked up at her with wide eyes.

Eyvir shrugged and she and Tiatny switched back to their native language.

Tiatny gave a tinkling laugh. This time Morven knew they were talking about her.

She began to count each breath, in and out, slowing her fluttering heart as Bharata had shown her how.

A loud thwacking noise rang through the room and then the wailing began. This time it was Bruna. Riandur had hit her on the head with a doll. Morven wished she could do the same to Bruna’s mother.

“Mama… he hitee me… owwww!”

“Shhh shhh Buna… shhh,” Riandur was trying to remedy the results of his actions by calming her. He patted her foot softly but to no avail.

Dhanesh began to whimper and Eyvir was already to her feet.

“Riandur no!” Morven cried shaking her finger at him, “You behave yourself. You don’t want me to tell Papa you need a spanking do you?”

Bruna had wriggled around to face her mother and was clutching at her skirts. Tiatny reached down and patted her on the head.

“You alright Bruna. Just a bump. No crying now. Big, brave girls, they no cry.”

She bent down and kissed her on the forehead, “There… all better now.”

Bruna sniffled but she stopped crying.

Dhanesh was a different story.

“Neshy… oh Neshy… he didn’t hurt you now did he,” Eyvir picked up her son with a flustered worried look on her face.

Dhanesh began to sob quietly though no injury had been done to him.

“Oh Neshy… Neshy no,” Eyvir warbled, “It’s alright… it’s alright.”

But the look on her face was all concern.

“I think we go home now,” she gave a wavering smile to the other women and left.

Now Morven was left alone with that woman. She would have to talk to her.

But first there was her errant son to deal with.

“Riandur, you apologise to Bruna now for hurting her,” she chided.

“Buna… I pologise,” Riandur said sincerely.

Bruna shuffled over and he handed her a doll and put one in his own mouth. The Snowy game soon began again like nothing had happened.

“I don’t know why she do that,” Tiatny said disparagingly.

“Pardon?” Morven asked coldly.

“Eyvir. Why she always got to treat boy like he made of glass. He will be if she do that. Grow up weak.”

Morven gazed at her in surprise. She had often thought so herself about the way Eyvir fussed over her son. It seemed they at least agreed on one thing.

Hwratar, Other families