Because the one thing he knew to be true.
Everything changed. And the things that changed someone the most were those that they never saw coming.
6
June 19, 8655 BC
Leucious paused as he heard a noise in the stable where he’d gone to get his horse. Instinctively, his hand went to the hilt of his sword. If it was an enemy, they’d be sorry … “Who’s there?”
A soft giggle answered him.
That was no enemy. His first thought was that it came from the cute barmaid who’d made eyes at him.
Until a sneeze sounded and was followed by a small, “Uh-oh!”
He knew that adorable voice. “Simi?”
She popped out of a bale of hay a few feet from him. Straw was stuck in her black pigtails and she gave him an impish smile. “Hello, akri-Leucious!”
Shaking his head at the little girl’s infectious exuberance, he had to smile. And he was grateful his father wasn’t here to see it.
Or hers.
“What are you doing?”
She plucked at the straw, then made a face at it. “Simi heard today was special.”
“Special? How so?”
She nodded so hard that her pigtails bobbed. “Akri-Jaden done told the Simi that today was the day you were born. Only not today, obviously, because then you’d be a baby. But years ago … you was born. So, happy baby birthday, akri-Leucious!”
How strange. No one had ever remembered his birthday, and why would Jaden know what day his mother had birthed him? His people didn’t celebrate such things. The only time his father had ever remarked on it was the day he turned ten-and-four.
“You’re a man now, Leucious. Do me proud.” Then Tesiah had backhanded him so hard he’d almost lost his front teeth.
But as his father intended, he remembered that day well.
Simi dug her way out of the straw and moved to stand in front of him. She held a small basket out toward him. “The Simi wasn’t sure what you liked, so I gots you something sweet, something spicy and some of the mead drink Simi knows you like.”
Leucious didn’t know what to say. It seemed like there ought to be something people said when they were given an item. But his people didn’t give gifts to each other.
Unless you counted insults. Those were given freely.
But as for real gifts … they only took. With swords or blows. No asking. Definitely no giving.
Simi scrunched her face at him. “This is the part where you say thank you, Simi!”
He laughed and then froze as he realized it was the first time since his early childhood that he’d had a real laugh. One that felt good and wasn’t borne from mockery or cruelty. “Thank you, Simi.”
She clapped him on his arm. “See how easy!”
For her maybe. For him …
Impossible was the word. And yet somehow, she made it simple. What was it about her? She was …
Words failed him.
She poked gently at the basket she’d given him. “Aren’t you going to look and see what the Simi brought you?”
