“That is not a female’s role in Urib culture,” Gil replied.
Ursula shook her head. “I still don’t get it. Why are women restricted to arts and crafts? Why can’t we be involved in more important things?”
Zul felt compelled to reply. “Females embody creation. Creation is their very purpose, so the gods have given them the blessing of creativity. Without females, we would not have great art or music.”
“Or architecture,” Gil added.
“Architecture?” Ursula echoed with a small frown.
“Without the creative nature inherent to females, our buildings would have no beauty, no grace,” Gil explained. He gave her a small smile. “You persist in thinking Urib females are uneducated and unskilled. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our females must be well-educated and highly skilled to manifest the very creations that make our culture superior to any other.”
“Consider your friend, Addilli,” Bran added.
“Addilli?” Ursula blinked. She hadn’t thought that Bran knew of her friendship with the other female whose mates owned a restaurant a few doors down from her shop. Her own mates were more cognizant of what she knew and with whom she associatedthan she’d realized. Apparently, there was no hiding anything from them—not that she was deliberately concealing her friendship from them. Of course not.
Bran explained, “It is her creative insight and skill that enables her mates to produce such wonderful food. She created their recipes and designed their menu. But they are properly protective of her and wary that such a skilled and desirable female would be coveted by other unmated males, so they minimize her exposure to predation.”
Gil added, “And, no,elska’adir, we would not forbid you her company just because she is lower caste. We know you cherish your friendships and need them.”
Ursula felt the heat of embarrassment flood her cheeks. She lowered her gaze to her plate. “I’m sorry. I guess…”
Zul patted her hand. “We do not wish you to be lonely.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, knowing fully well that Zul understood what it was to be lonely. She chewed on her lip for a moment before looking up at her three mates. “Is the village truly against the festival?”
Bran gave her a small smile. “Thevillagersare somewhat conflicted. They are dubious about the reason for the event as they do not understand this Halloween of yours, but they do understand and appreciate the idea of a harvest festival.”
“I’d say more are looking forward to it than not,” Gil commented.
Ursula breathed a sigh of relief at this mild encouragement and gave him a grateful smile.
“And I doubt many males will forbid their mates from attending because they do not want their mates to be unhappy. More likely, they will attend in company with their mates just to please them and keep them safe.”
“Oh, good.”
Zul patted her hand again, still not quite believing he had the great good fortune to casually touch and comfort any female, much less his mate.
“Tread lightly,elska’adir, while finalizing these arrangements,” Bran cautioned. “Try to reassure rather than antagonize.”
Again, Ursula felt the burn of embarrassment.
“I look forward to the fireworks,” Gil said to distract their mate from that embarrassment. “I watched some videos. Crow will enjoy them.”
“Most boys do,” Ursula said, flashing him a grateful smile. “I remember going to Independence Day shows with friends and their families. The boys would always be so excited and not at all bothered by the noise.”
“Noise?” Zul repeated with a frown.
“Gunpowder,” Ursula explained. “It’s explosive and loud when it goes off.”
He frowned at her.
“You can’t have fireworks without big booms.”
He shook his head.
Did he suffer from PTSD? She frowned. “Are you okay, Zul?Willyou be okay?”
He gave her a reassuring smile and patted her hand again. “I will endure.”
