Prologue
The gust of wind shaking the walls of our flimsy shack. It's all I can provide for them for now. Once I return and get my pay, I'll move us to a safer and better off area. For now, my sweet laminae is standing at the harth. Doing her best to keep us all warm and preparing the game I brought home earlier this evening.
Slumped over in the corner, I watch over our boy, listening to the sounds of my laminae.
The light from the harth glows on his face. Relaxed, at peace, in a deep slumber. I pull the fur up over him more. Once he gets a bit older I'll teach him to hunt and tan his own hide.
"Is there really no other way?" She says over the boiling concoction.
I sigh.
"We have enough. What's wrong with the way we live?" Her soft voice continues.
Gazing in her direction, I rise and walk over to her. "There is nothing wrong with how we live. I just want more for you, for him".
"But is there not another way?" Her voice grew louder, filled with worry.
"My sweet laminae, we both know that this is the easiest way to earn wealth" I reassure her by resting my hand on her shoulder as she stirs.
"So you'd rather leave us to fight in a war" she lowered her voice again, cold and final. She shrugs my hand off and moves to the pile of herbs she's laid out.
"You know it isn't like that" I say firmly.
"Well that's what it is!" she turns to look at me. Her voice filled with anger, but her eyes deep with pain. "You expect me to gather wood to keep us warm, hunt to keep us fed, and manage to be here to protect him at all times? All while I have to continue the forging, cooking, and tending to him. I only have two hands". Laminae brushes the herbs into a small wooden bowl and dumps them into the pot, looking into the stew while she stirs.
"I won't be gone that long, and when I get back I'll be able to support you better. You'll have gowns of silk and all the herbs you could ask for".
A small chuckle comes from her smirking mouth "Right, and what if something goes horribly wrong? Then what?"
"There's no need to think abo-"
"Of course I think about it!" Laminae snaps at me, her tears illuminated by the glow from the harth. "I can't bear losing you, and yet you want to leave to take that chance? To leave us here without you?" Her voice getting smaller and smaller, "I don't understand".
"Mom? Are you okay?" My boy is awake. "Why are you crying?".
"I'm fine, sunshine. You need more rest" Laminae picks him up and carries him back to the hay pile.
He lifts his arm to wipe her tears away. "Don't cry, mom, we're safe and okay, right?".
I hear her sniffle, back to me and facing our boy. "That's right sunshine, we are okay, and we are safe". She tucks him in and smooths her thumb over his cheek. "Now get some more rest. I'll be here in the morning".
Little did I know that this is the last time he'd see me.
