- 7 hours ago
The Bride They Sold Away - HOT
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00My aunt sold me to the most vicious lone wolf hunter in pack for five silver coins.
00:05On the night of our mating ceremony, I sat on the edge of a broken bed, biting my lip.
00:10I'm a wolf-less omega orphan.
00:12And Cain? The pack says he's a curse.
00:14His parents abandoned him as a pup and never came back.
00:18They say he walked into the shadow woods alone at six.
00:21Shift for the first time at twelve and tore apart a full-grown shadow bear.
00:26The scar running from his brow to his jaw, that bear gave it to him.
00:30Everyone in the pack fears him. I did too.
00:33I crossed the street when I saw him, never spoke a word to him.
00:36It's that I wondered to him, never even looked him in the eye.
00:39I never thought my aunt would sell me to him.
00:42No gifts, no feast.
00:44I wore an old white dress and took shaky steps into his cabin.
00:48It smelled of blood and old fur.
00:51I didn't think I'd survive tonight.
00:53All I could hear was my aunt counting her silver.
00:56Don't blame me, Ella.
00:58You're lucky anyone would take you.
01:00I stood there like a fool, not knowing what to do.
01:03Until the door banged open.
01:04I gasped.
01:05His leather coat was slashed open across the ribs.
01:08The smell of copper hit me before I could breathe.
01:11He didn't say a word.
01:13Black bread, roasted venison haunch, a bowl of broth still warm.
01:17Eat.
01:18I was starving.
01:19And I couldn't remember the last time I'd had meat.
01:21I ate like an animal.
01:24That meal was the first time I'd been full for Tunerans' use since my parents died.
01:28When he pointed to the bedroom, my blood ran cold.
01:31I crept inside and sat on his ragged bed, trembling like a leaf in winter.
01:36Kane sat by the hearth and sharpened his knife, a hunting blade, as long as my arm.
01:42The wentstone sang with every stroke.
01:45Scrape, scrape, scrape.
01:47Each one scraping across my heart.
01:49I pressed myself into the corner.
01:51Come here.
01:52His voice was gravel and broken glass.
01:54He frowned.
01:55Then, he stood.
01:57His shadow swallowed me whole.
01:59I shut my eyes and braced for the blow.
02:01I was his.
02:02He could beat me, kill me.
02:04No one would care.
02:05But the blow never came.
02:07Instead, he took my cold hand and pressed something warm into my palm.
02:11I opened my eyes.
02:13A thin necklace.
02:14A pendant of pale white stone that glowed softly in the firelight.
02:18His hand, calloused, cracked, still smelling of blood and steel, held mine.
02:24A necklace?
02:25For you, Moonstone, the moon goddess's blessing.
02:28I know this life is hard.
02:30You deserve better.
02:31He pulled his hand back, wiped it on his leather coat, then muttered and murmured.
02:36I stared at the Moonstone in my palm.
02:38Tears fell without warning.
02:40What? You don't like it?
02:42After a long silence, he forced out.
02:44No!
02:44I'd just forgotten what it felt like to be wanted.
02:47After my parents died, I stopped being anyone's treasure.
02:50I was just extra weight in my aunt's tent.
02:52Every meal was charity.
02:54My aunt sold me to the most vicious lone wolf hunter in the pack for five silver.
02:57That night, Cain didn't touch me.
02:59He made a bet on the floor.
03:01His breathing slowed.
03:02Deep and rough.
03:04My heart stopped racing.
03:05Sleep came for me.
03:07My aunt screamed in my dreams.
03:09My cousins shoved me around.
03:11And a shadow bear lunged for my throat.
03:13I jolted awake, gasping.
03:15Strange ceiling.
03:17Strange smells.
03:18Right.
03:19My aunt sold me.
03:20I belong to Cain now.
03:21I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
03:23Pulled myself together.
03:24And went outside.
03:26Quiet.
03:27The air smelled of blood and animal hides.
03:30Cain?
03:31No answer.
03:31I found the kitchen.
03:33Filthy.
03:33The stone pots were rusted.
03:35Mice scattered when I moved things.
03:37I couldn't run.
03:38Couldn't hide.
03:39So I rolled up my sleeves and started scrubbing.
03:41Ella!
03:42I was halfway through when a voice came from outside.
03:44I'm here!
03:45I stepped out of the kitchen.
03:47He was holding another basket.
03:48Breakfast.
03:49Martha made it.
03:50Black bread.
03:51Smoked meat.
03:52Broth.
03:52Cain tore into the bread and pushed the rest toward me.
03:55Eat up.
03:56I can feed you.
03:57I nodded and didn't hold back.
03:59You can cook, right?
04:00I almost choked.
04:01I pounded my chest and nodded hard.
04:03I'll bring the meat.
04:04Cain said.
04:05He waited for me to nod again.
04:07Then finished the rest of the bread and meat.
04:09And headed for the door.
04:10Where are you going?
04:11I called out.
04:12He turned.
04:12I was thinking I'd clean the kitchen.
04:14Properly.
04:15So we don't get sick from dirty dishes.
04:16Cain's brow furrowed.
04:18The cabin is yours.
04:19Do what you want.
04:20By the time I'd scrubbed every surface, Cain was back with a leather sack.
04:24He looked at the clean kitchen and blinked.
04:26Flour.
04:26I'll trade for the rest at the market.
04:28When he left again, I opened the sack.
04:30Ground flour.
04:31Enough to last weeks.
04:32I went back to cleaning.
04:34I dragged Cain's dirty clothes into the yard.
04:37A mouse ran out of the pile.
04:39I chased it like a mad woman.
04:41Cain came back with two baskets on a pole across his shoulders.
04:45Ella.
04:45I looked up.
04:46I bought meat pies.
04:48Come eat.
04:49I hadn't had a meat pie since my parents died.
04:51Cain handed me one.
04:52Soft, golden, steaming.
04:54Juice ran down my chin.
04:55I ate two and stopped.
04:57Everything for the kitchen is in the baskets.
04:59Get it sorted.
05:00I'm getting firewood.
05:01I nodded and watched him walk away.
05:03Then I checked the baskets.
05:05Clay jars of salt.
05:06A leather flask of oil.
05:08A slab of cured meat.
05:10Raw sugar.
05:11And a jar of honeyed fruit.
05:12For me?
05:13I blinked hard and looked up at the sky.
05:16I organized the kitchen.
05:17Cain came back with firewood.
05:19And a basket of wild greens.
05:21And eggs.
05:21Cook it all.
05:22I eat a lot.
05:23I nodded.
05:24I could do that.
05:25I hung the stone pot over the fire.
05:27Chopped cured meat and wild greens into the broth.
05:30Then I cracked eggs onto a hot flat stone,
05:33slicked with pork fat.
05:35They sizzled and turned gold at the edges.
05:37Cain looked at the stew,
05:39the black bread,
05:40the fried eggs.
05:41His eyes brightened.
05:42Sit.
05:42Eat.
05:43I waited for him to pick up his knife and fork.
05:45Then I picked up mine.
05:46Eat.
05:47I looked at him.
05:48He dug in.
05:49I ate slowly,
05:50keeping my eyes down.
05:52Ella.
05:53Tomorrow.
05:53You're coming into the woods with me.
05:55I froze.
05:56Me?
05:56Yeah.
05:57I can't bring enough meat on my own.
05:59Winter's coming.
06:00Hunting was men's work.
06:01Pack females sometimes came along to carry and dress the kill.
06:05But I'd never done any of it.
06:07I don't know how.
06:08I'll teach you.
06:08I looked up at his scarred face.
06:10The firelight made it worse.
06:11But his eyes were steady.
06:13No disgust.
06:14No impatience.
06:15Okay.
06:16Before dawn, Cain shook me awake.
06:19Wear this.
06:20A deer hide coat.
06:22Thick.
06:22Warm.
06:23I hadn't seen it before.
06:24I put it on and followed him into the mist.
06:27The shadow woods were dark.
06:29Trees blocked the sky.
06:30Cain walked ahead.
06:31I stepped where he stepped.
06:33After a meal's time, he stopped and crouched.
06:36What do you smell?
06:37He looked at me.
06:37I breathed deep.
06:38Earth.
06:39Rotting leaves.
06:40Water far off.
06:41And something else.
06:42Faint.
06:42Musky.
06:43I smell something.
06:44The corner of Cain's mouth twifled.
06:46Deer, your nose is better than you think.
06:47Don't be scared.
06:48Stay behind me.
06:49We followed the trail.
06:50Cain stopped every few steps to listen.
06:52Then we saw it.
06:53He exploded forward.
06:54The shadow deer tried to run.
06:56Cain was already on it.
06:57His blade sliced its throat.
06:58I stood frozen.
06:59Legs like water.
07:01Cain turned.
07:02Face wet with blood.
07:03And waved me over.
07:04Come.
07:05I walked to the dying animal.
07:07You need to learn this.
07:08In case I'm not around, you need to eat.
07:10I crouched and watched his hands.
07:12Skin comes off first.
07:13Keep it clean.
07:14Gut it fast or the meat sours.
07:15We carried the meat down the mountain together.
07:17One half each.
07:18My shoulders screamed.
07:20I didn't complain.
07:21Cain looked back at me.
07:22Good job.
07:23It was the first time anyone had praised me since my parents died.
07:26Ella.
07:27I turned.
07:27Cain pulled a leather pouch from his chest and shoved it into my hands.
07:32From now on, you hold the silver.
07:35But I...
07:36Male hunts.
07:37Female keeps the house.
07:38That's how it works.
07:39I weighed the pouch in my hand.
07:41Heavy.
07:42Nice.
07:43Ella.
07:44Yeah?
07:45I went quiet.
07:46I was scared.
07:47I didn't know what it would feel like.
07:48But Cain had been good to me.
07:50Where would I go if I left him?
07:51I had nowhere.
07:52No one.
07:53Being marked.
07:54Carrying his pup.
07:55That was my fate.
07:57I nodded.
07:58I thought marking was just a bite.
08:01But Cain brought new furs and honey mead.
08:04We stood in the yard under the moon.
08:06Swore ourselves to each other.
08:08And drank from the same cup.
08:09Then he led me inside.
08:11The fire was low.
08:12He pulled the strap of my dress down.
08:14The fabric fell to my feet.
08:16I crossed my arms over my chest.
08:18He took my wrists and gently pulled my hands away.
08:20You're shaking.
08:22I'm cold.
08:23No, you're not.
08:24His hands slid around my waist.
08:26Rough palms against bare skin.
08:28He pulled me into him and kissed me.
08:30Hungry.
08:31Desperate.
08:32Like a man who'd never been allowed to want something.
08:34He tore his shirt off.
08:36I touched the scars on his chest.
08:38Then my hands went to his trousers.
08:40Fubbled with the ties.
08:42When I got them undone, he pulled me against him.
08:44Skin to skin.
08:45I gasped.
08:46He laid me down on the fresh furs and came over me.
08:49Last chance.
08:50He said.
08:51Voice wrecked.
08:52Tell me no.
08:53I touched his scarred face.
08:55Don't stop.
08:57He didn't.
08:58When he bit down on the back of my neck, I cried out.
09:01He held me steady.
09:02Whispered it would be over soon.
09:04Afterward, I lay shaking.
09:06I asked for water.
09:07He brought it to my lips.
09:08I stared at him like he'd grown wings.
09:11When I lay back down, the mark on my neck was still warm.
09:14Every wolf would know.
09:16I belonged to Cain.
09:17Cain belonged to me.
09:18I smiled to the dark.
09:20Cain didn't talk much.
09:21He hunted.
09:22He brought me silver.
09:24He did the heavy work.
09:26When I said something, he answered.
09:28We talked about building another room.
09:31About digging a cellar for meat and grain.
09:33I liked that.
09:35I looked at my clothes.
09:36They were getting tight.
09:37Maybe I should eat less.
09:38Ella!
09:39Ella!
09:39Is Cain home?
09:40It was Martha.
09:41Good woman.
09:41He's hunting.
09:42Oh no!
09:43His parents are back!
09:44What?
09:45His mother.
09:46She's vicious.
09:47And they've got a young man with them.
09:49Must be Cain's brother.
09:50My mind went blank.
09:52They'd been gone for over a decade.
09:53Ma!
09:54Pa!
09:54This is the place?
09:56It's so run down.
09:57I walked outside.
09:59Three figures.
10:00Two old.
10:01One young.
10:01The old ones had greedy eyes.
10:03The young one looked disgusted.
10:05You're Cain's mate?
10:06Ella?
10:06I'm his mother.
10:08Get us water.
10:08And cook something.
10:10The best room.
10:11It's for Alan.
10:12He needs a place to bed his bride.
10:13Margaret, Cain's mother, let her eyes roam over the cabin.
10:16Over me.
10:16She didn't bother hiding her disgust.
10:18Where's that ungrateful son of mine?
10:19Just then, Cain came around the corner with firewood.
10:22Pack members trailed behind him, hoping for a show.
10:24Cain stared at the three strangers.
10:26Who are you?
10:26Your mother!
10:28The old man bared his teeth.
10:30Ungrateful wilt.
10:31The pack gossip stirred.
10:32That's really Noah.
10:34The Alpha came.
10:35The Elders came.
10:36They confirmed it.
10:38Take us in.
10:39Be a good son.
10:40And give us silver to find Alan a mate.
10:43You don't want your brother dying alone, do you?
10:46I tugged Cain's sleeve.
10:48He squeezed my hand back.
10:49You're not giving it to his brother for a bride.
10:51Silver he nearly died for.
10:53I stepped forward.
10:54Not your place, sister-in-law.
10:55Alan curled his lip.
10:56Parents are still alive.
10:58You don't get a say.
10:59Margaret lunged at me.
11:00Cain caught her wrist.
11:01Cain!
11:02You'd raise a hand to your own mother!
11:04He let go.
11:06I'm going to die!
11:08My son has a mate now, and I'm dead to him!
11:12Cain looked at her.
11:14Then at me.
11:15You've been gone for years.
11:16Why are you back?
11:17Margaret stood up, dry-eyed.
11:18We came home to be with you.
11:19And this cabin?
11:20We built it.
11:21We're staying.
11:21The cabin is yours, but we split the belongings.
11:23What I bought with my own hands comes with me.
11:25Margaret's eyes-
11:26No!
11:26Clean, she orderly.
11:27You can't take the furniture.
11:28What will we use?
11:29Not my problem.
11:30Have mercy.
11:31I gave him life, and now he wants to leave us with nothing.
11:33Keep the furniture.
11:34But my hunting kit comes with me.
11:35My clothes.
11:36My furs.
11:36And I'm severing the bond.
11:38Margaret screamed.
11:39The bond?
11:39Alan screamed.
11:40Good.
11:41Good!
11:42I wanted to cry.
11:43My home.
11:44The one I'd scrubbed and mended with my own hands.
11:47Gone.
11:47But Cain's silver was still in my pocket.
11:49We signed the papers, pressed our thumbs to the ink.
11:51At dusk, I carried our clothes.
11:53He carried the baskets.
11:54The higher we climbed, the heavier my feet became.
11:57I stopped and looked down at the cabin.
11:59I looked at Cain and burst into tears.
12:01Cain wiped my face.
12:02Don't cry.
12:03We still have silver.
12:04The cabin was theirs anyway.
12:05We only borrowed it, and Alan is poison.
12:06Letting go of those scraps saves us from worse.
12:08The Deccaluptors can't touch us now.
12:10He looked down at the valley.
12:11We go deeper into the shadow woods.
12:13Find another pack.
12:14We've got hands.
12:15We've got feet.
12:16We'll make a life.
12:17I wanted to believe him.
12:18We'll find someone to take us in, Cain said.
12:21No one wanted to take us in.
12:22Everyone was afraid of being connected to the debt.
12:25We ended up at the Elder's old cottage.
12:27Two hundred copper a month.
12:28I cleaned it until it shone.
12:30One bed.
12:30Bare walls.
12:31We'll use your kitchen.
12:32Buy our own grain.
12:33Eat with us.
12:34Fine.
12:35We ate simple.
12:36Black bread.
12:37Smoked meat.
12:38Broth.
12:38Cain didn't complain.
12:40I'll hunt tomorrow.
12:40Trade for grain.
12:41You can roast something when I get back.
12:43We'll save silver.
12:44Build our own place.
12:45We still have silver.
12:46Your parents will never leave us alone.
12:47Your parents are greedy parasites.
12:49They'll never let you go.
12:49Eat your bread.
12:50I snuggled into him that night.
12:52His hands wandered to my hip.
12:53I pushed them away.
12:54What are you doing?
12:55We're guests.
12:57Scenting a den that isn't yours was an insult.
12:59Cain sighed and let his hands rest on my hip.
13:03Sleep.
13:03I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh.
13:06The next morning, Cain went into the woods.
13:08The other pack women helped me with the kitchen fire.
13:11You're easy to talk to, but Cain scares the piss out of us.
13:14He's not so bad, but they didn't call him cruel.
13:16Good thing he severed the bond.
13:18Alan would have bled him dry.
13:19I'd resented Cain for giving up the house.
13:22Now I understood.
13:23We were young.
13:24We had hands.
13:26We'd build again.
13:27The debt collectors found Alan within a week.
13:30They stripped the cabin, sold the hunting grounds and the reindeer.
13:33Left him 50 gold short, due by winter solstice.
13:37The women told me the story in whispers.
13:39Yameo Sihal Menrian.
13:40I kept my face straight.
13:42Cain warrowed silver from every house in the pack.
13:45They gave it to him.
13:46One wild boar from Cain brought the whole pack running to help build.
13:51Two log cabins.
13:52Twelve men.
13:54Two days.
13:55Cain laughed when I asked what he wanted for lunch.
13:57Cain and I made it through the cold.
13:59Full belly.
14:00Full belly.
14:01Warm bed.
14:02He wanted a pup.
14:03I wanted a pup.
14:05Maybe next year.
14:06The winter was mild.
14:07When the snow melted, the pack started north.
14:10I stayed close to camp.
14:12I gathered wild greens and berries.
14:15Dried some.
14:16Salted others.
14:17Come winter again, they'd go into the stew pot.
14:19Cain hunted every day.
14:23He brought home silver.
14:25He gave it all to me.
14:27The coin jar grew heavy.
14:30One day, Cain came back from the mountains.
14:33With a graver expression than usual.
14:35What's wrong?
14:36Something big came from the south.
14:38He put down his hunting knife and sat at the table.
14:40The tracks are a full circle larger than a shadow bear's.
14:43It's not like an ordinary beast.
14:44My heart tightened.
14:46Then don't go.
14:47Can't not go.
14:48If that thing keeps moving north, it'll cross the pack's migration route.
14:51More than just our family will suffer.
14:53He was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me.
14:56Ella.
14:57Tomorrow, you're coming with me.
15:00Me?
15:01You don't have to fight it head on, but I need a helper.
15:04Someone to watch my back, to keep it from lunging at my flank.
15:07You trust me.
15:09Cain looked at me.
15:11Didn't say a word.
15:12The next morning, before dawn, we went into the shadow woods.
15:17Cain suddenly stopped and crouched down to look at tracks on the ground, bigger than two fists put together.
15:23Mountain lion.
15:24He said under his breath.
15:25He turned to me.
15:26Scared?
15:27I gripped my knife handle.
15:29Yes.
15:29Good.
15:30You should be.
15:31We followed the tracks for some time.
15:33Cain raised his hand for me to stop.
15:35He started taking off his clothes.
15:37Leather coat dropped them piece by piece on the ground.
15:40Then, he changed.
15:42His body lunged forward, hands hitting the ground and turning into claws.
15:47Dark gray fur pushed out through his skin.
15:49A massive wolf stood before me, twice as big as an ordinary gray wolf, fangs gleaming white.
15:55A roar came from the bushes.
15:57The mountain lion burst out, lunging straight at Cain.
16:00The two beasts crashed together.
16:02Cain didn't let go, but the lion's jaws were heading straight for his throat.
16:06I didn't think.
16:07I ran out, short blade raised.
16:10I stabbed at the mountain lion's side.
16:13The blade sank into flesh.
16:14I was thrown through the air, my back slamming into a tree trunk.
16:18Stars burst in my vision, but I didn't let go of the knife.
16:21It was still in my hand.
16:23Cain bit through its throat.
16:24The lion twitched a few times, then went still.
16:28Cain let go.
16:29He was soaked in blood.
16:30The wildness of the wolf was still glowing in his amber eyes.
16:34He walked over, lowered his head, and touched my palm with me.
16:40Are you hurt?
16:41His voice was harsky as he shifted back to human form.
16:44I shook my head.
16:45Tears wouldn't stop falling.
16:46He pulled me into his arms and held me tight.
16:50You helped a lot.
16:51His voice was muffled above my head.
16:53Without you, I might not have made it.
16:55The morning light fell across Cain's bare back.
16:58The wounds were still seeping blood, but they were already beginning to close.
17:02That day, we carried the mountain lion's hide and meat home.
17:05Cain kept the best piece.
17:06Said he'd make me a cloak.
17:08Why?
17:08Because it's your first kill.
17:10He shrugged.
17:11Wolf rule.
17:11The pelt belongs to the hunter.
17:13But you killed it.
17:15Cain shook his head.
17:15Not without your blade.
17:17He paused.
17:18You're braver than I thought.
17:19I looked down.
17:20My ears burned.
17:22That night, I sat beside him, helping scrape and cut.
17:25Firelight moved across his face.
17:26The long scar looked less scary in the flicker.
17:29Cain.
17:29Yeah?
17:30From now on, let's hunt together more often.
17:33Okay.
17:33End of March.
17:34I started feeling off.
17:35Tired.
17:36No strength.
17:38Cain came home.
17:39I told him.
17:40He got excited on the spot.
17:42Stay here.
17:43I'm getting the healer.
17:44The healer came.
17:45Sure enough, pup.
17:47Two months along.
17:48Good for you, Ella.
17:49Pop out a male pup and you're set.
17:51Cain's silver will be yours.
17:52You'll run the house?
17:53I smiled and nodded.
17:55Didn't tell them Cain already handed me his silver.
17:57That I already ran everything.
17:58Cain got nervous after I got pregnant.
18:01Came home early.
18:02Did all the heavy grunt work.
18:03I stayed careful.
18:04But I wasn't gonna sit around doing nothing.
18:06Women aren't that fragile.
18:07That day, I took a basket to pick wild berries near camp.
18:10Was craving honeyed fruit.
18:12Someone pushed me down a grassy slope.
18:15I screamed.
18:17I saw who it was.
18:19Cain's mother.
18:20Margaret.
18:21Eyes mean as a snake.
18:22Why should Alan suffer while you live easy?
18:26You think you deserve a pup?
18:27Pain twisted through me.
18:29I couldn't even scream.
18:31Someone help.
18:32Reached out for her to stay.
18:33A pack kid saw me.
18:34Ran back to camp.
18:35They carried me home.
18:37Someone else went for the healer.
18:39I watched the healer sip shake his head and sigh.
18:41Cain walked in.
18:42Dark as a storm.
18:44Ella.
18:44His hands had blood on them.
18:46Put my tears away.
18:47Gentle.
18:48Ella.
18:48I know.
18:49Don't think too much.
18:50Take your medicine.
18:52Sleep.
18:52Our pup's justice.
18:53The father goes and gets it.
18:55Cain didn't leave.
18:56Sat by the bed until I cried myself out.
18:58Took his hunting knife and went to his parents' place.
19:01Everyone heard the place.
19:04When they couldn't scream anymore, Cain came out.
19:07Cain, those are your parents.
19:08He didn't answer.
19:09Just picked up an axe and started swinging.
19:12When the house was a pile of rubble, he left.
19:16His parents were alive, but not really.
19:18I woke up again.
19:19Candlelight.
19:20Ella.
19:20Does it hurt?
19:21I tried to tell him about the pup.
19:23Tried to say how much it hurt.
19:24Everywhere hurt.
19:25But I opened my mouth and nothing came out.
19:28Food's ready.
19:28Eat some.
19:29Sleep some more.
19:30I'm going to find him a place.
19:32Somewhere peaceful.
19:33When Cain turned to go, I grabbed him.
19:35I want to come.
19:36Then come.
19:37He found a good place.
19:38By the river.
19:39Tiny little grave.
19:40My poor little pup.
19:41His dad and I wanted him so bad.
19:44Word spread about Margaret pushing me.
19:46The elder was furious.
19:47Stripped Noah and Margaret from the pack rolls.
19:50That's when they finally got scared.
19:52Cried and begged.
19:54One morning after the rain stopped, Cain helped me into the cart.
19:57Where are we going?
19:58Somewhere no one knows us.
20:00Somewhere we can eat whatever we want.
20:01Wear whatever we want.
20:02Somewhere everyone learns I'm not someone to mess with.
20:05I'm scared.
20:06Don't be.
20:07I'll protect you.
20:08Anyone hurts you, I kill them.
20:09We headed south.
20:10I'd never traveled before.
20:12Everything was strange and new.
20:14But then I thought about the pup I lost and couldn't help sighing.
20:17Cain held my hand, quiet, letting me know he was there.
20:20I tried to smile at him, just ended up leaning into him, crying.
20:24I knew time would fix it.
20:26But right then, I was still broken.
20:28Cain, I'll get better.
20:30Just give me time.
20:31Okay.
20:32Whatever I wanted to eat, Cain bought it.
20:34We didn't rush.
20:35Whenever we found a pretty view, Cain stopped so we could look at it together.
20:39My eyes went hot.
20:40I just screamed.
20:42Half the weight in my chest broke apart with those screams.
20:46We stopped at a town called Redford, flat everywhere.
20:49Rented a little courtyard place.
20:52Cleaned it up.
20:53Brought our things in.
20:55Started feeling like home.
20:56That night, we roasted venison.
20:58The neighbor's kids smelled it and started crying for meat.
21:01Cain and I looked at each other and laughed.
21:04He cut meat for me.
21:06I cut meat for him.
21:07Cain had the horse and he was strong.
21:09Easy to find work.
21:10Paid pretty well.
21:11Life was comfortable.
21:12Molly from next door.
21:13Her son, Tommy, with her.
21:14I rubbed Tommy's head.
21:16Went and got him a piece of honey candy.
21:17Thanks.
21:18I'm going to spoil him.
21:19Lord Foster on the west side is throwing a party.
21:22Needs scrubbers.
21:2350 copper a day.
21:24Let me check with my husband.
21:25But if I went, who'd cook for Cain?
21:29Let him stay a while.
21:31Tommy was good.
21:31Quiet.
21:32I wiped his hands.
21:33Did my sewing.
21:35He sat next to me playing with little wooden blocks Cain had made.
21:38Look, Ella.
21:39Good job.
21:40If my pup had lived in two or find a blay wary two or three years, he'd be this sweet,
21:44this good.
21:45You're good too.
21:46What am I good at?
21:47Sewing.
21:48I rubbed his head.
21:49Then came footsteps outside.
21:53Cain's home!
21:54Tommy smiled.
21:55Everyone was scared of Cain.
21:56Even the kids.
21:57But not Tommy.
21:58He liked him.
21:59Cain came into the yard.
22:01You're hurt?
22:03No.
22:04Boar blood.
22:04Go get your dad.
22:06We're roasting boar tonight.
22:08Dad!
22:09Cain says come help!
22:11When no one was looking, he pinched my cheek too.
22:15Roast plenty tonight.
22:17You're getting too thin.
22:19Tommy's dad came.
22:20Neighbors came by, asking if we were selling the meat.
22:24I looked at Cain.
22:26Boar's not that big.
22:28Keep it.
22:29My mate's been sick.
22:30Needs the nutrition.
22:32Next time I go out, maybe I'll bag a bigger one.
22:36That's huge!
22:38Anyone who helped.
22:39Cain gave them about half a pound.
22:41Tommy stayed for dinner.
22:44After dinner, we walked Tommy home.
22:47Later, I asked Cain what about making him our godjun.
22:50Cain thought about it for a long time.
22:53Let's wait and see.
22:54Then I told him about Lord Foster's party.
22:5650 copper a day.
22:58You wanna do it?
22:59Then do it.
23:00If it's too hard, quit.
23:02I can support you.
23:04I looked at Cain and smiled.
23:05Molly and I started working parties regular.
23:08Cain didn't bring home much at first.
23:10Then 3 silver.
23:13Then...
23:14Then 10.
23:15One month he brought home 50.
23:17The place we were renting went up for sale.
23:1927 silver.
23:20We talked it over and bought it.
23:22Our own place.
23:24Fixed up the roof.
23:26One day, I made a pot of stew.
23:28The whole street smelled it.
23:30Everyone came asking.
23:31I gave out the bowls.
23:33Seeing them praise it gave me an idea.
23:35You wanna sell stew on the street?
23:37I nodded.
23:37I'm not afraid of work.
23:40But keeping busy helps.
23:42Keeps me from thinking too much.
23:44That pain never went away.
23:45Not talking about it didn't mean forgetting.
23:48Then do it.
23:49But don't do it alone.
23:51Ask Molly.
23:52I told Molly.
23:53She said yes on the spot.
23:56Only thing is, I don't have a single copper.
24:00Every coin goes straight to the mother-in-law.
24:02Molly, I know.
24:03I'll pay you wages.
24:04A few days of free work won't kill me.
24:06Knock on wood.
24:07Your stew business is going to make it.
24:10I can feel it.
24:11Cain had a wooden pushcart built.
24:13Bought firewood.
24:15Me and him sat up nights doing the math.
24:18How much to sell.
24:20And Molly's wages.
24:24Cain looked up in the candlelight.
24:28Ella.
24:29Let's learn to read.
24:31I was shocked.
24:33Read?
24:35You go ahead.
24:37You're the one.
24:38Win out in the world.
24:40Cain shook his head.
24:42Both of us.
24:43I'll teach you.
24:44Reading.
24:46Arthur Mithman.
24:46Cain said.
24:47Then doing business won't be such a struggle.
24:49Won't take all night just to add things up.
24:52He was right.
24:54And he wanted me to learn too.
24:56My heart could have burst.
24:58How many men would do that?
25:00My stew stand opened.
25:01Business was good.
25:02Then someone opened another stand across the street.
25:05Taking our customer.
25:06Molly cursed them out.
25:07Don't be mad, Molly.
25:09Now it's just right.
25:10We made money.
25:12Not too tired.
25:13Ella, you're too sensible.
25:14Not sensible.
25:15Cain made good money anyway.
25:17The stew stand was mine.
25:19Whatever it made was extra.
25:20Kept me busy.
25:23Kept me from remembering.
25:24My stew business went from a cart to a storefront in a year.
25:28When we moved to a bigger place.
25:30Tommy cried his eyes out.
25:32You can visit.
25:33You'll see me.
25:35Tommy shook his head.
25:37It's not the same.
25:39It wasn't.
25:40But he adjusted.
25:41Not long after we moved, I started feeling off again.
25:44I knew the signs.
25:45Told Cain.
25:46He called a doctor.
25:47Sure enough.
25:48Pregnant.
25:49Cain laid his hand on my belly.
25:51Gentle.
25:52After a long moment, he said.
25:54Let's buy two servants.
25:55An older woman for cleaning.
25:57A young maid for you.
25:59Cain bought things we didn't need.
26:01Rattles.
26:02Wooden horses.
26:04Little bows and arrows.
26:06I could tell he wanted a boy.
26:08What if it's a girl?
26:10I asked.
26:12Girls are fine.
26:14Blossoms before fruit.
26:16A few girls first.
26:18Then I'll be a father-in-law with endless roasted pig feet.
26:22I sat in my comfortable chair.
26:25Sewing soft baby clothes.
26:27The room was quiet.
26:29Warm.
26:31Safe.
26:32The master's home.
26:34Cain hurried in.
26:36His eyes went soft when he saw me.
26:38Did the pup give you trouble today?
26:40I put down my sewing.
26:42Showed him my belly.
26:44Not today.
26:45He was good.
26:48Cain crouched down.
26:50Put his palm flat on my belly.
26:52The pup moved.
26:55He kicked.
26:57I looked at him.
26:58My eyes full of joy.
27:01Cain smiled too.
27:03He leaned down and pressed his ear to my belly.
27:09The heartbeat came through.
27:11The sound of new life.
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