- 16 hours ago
The Bride They Sold Away
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:02My aunt sold me to the most vicious lone wolf hunter in pack for five silver coins.
00:08On the night of our mating ceremony, I sat on the edge of a broken bed, biting my lip.
00:13I'm a wolf-less omega orphan.
00:15And Cain, the pack says he's a curse.
00:17His parents abandoned him as a pup and never came back.
00:21They say he walked into the shadow woods alone at six.
00:24Shift for the first time at twelve and tore apart a full-grown shadow bear.
00:29The scar running from his brow to his jaw, that bear gave it to him.
00:33Everyone in the pack fears him.
00:35I did too.
00:36I crossed the street when I saw him.
00:38Never spoke a word to him.
00:39It's that I wondered to him.
00:41Never even looked him in the eye.
00:42I never thought my aunt would sell me to him.
00:45No gifts.
00:46No feast.
00:47I wore an old white dress and took shaky steps into his cabin.
00:51It smelled of blood and old fur.
00:54I didn't think I'd survive tonight.
00:56All I could hear was my aunt counting her silver.
00:59Don't blame me, Ella.
01:01You're lucky anyone would take you.
01:03I stood there like a fool, not knowing what to do.
01:06Until the door banged open.
01:07I gasped.
01:08His leather coat was slashed open across the ribs.
01:11The smell of copper hit me before I could breathe.
01:14He didn't say a word.
01:16Black bread.
01:16Roasted venison haunch.
01:18A bowl of broth still warm.
01:20Eat.
01:21I was starving.
01:22And I couldn't remember the last time I'd had meat.
01:24I ate like an animal.
01:26That meal was the first time I'd been full for Tunerans' use since my parents died.
01:31When he pointed to the bedroom, my blood ran cold.
01:34I crept inside and sat on his ragged bed, trembling like a leaf in winter.
01:39Kane sat by the hearth and sharpened his knife.
01:42A hunting blade as long as my arm.
01:45The wentstone sang with every stroke.
01:48Scrape.
01:48Scrape.
01:49Scrape.
01:49Each one scraping across my heart.
01:52I pressed myself into the corner.
01:54Come here.
01:55His voice was gravel and broken glass.
01:57He frowned.
01:58Then, he stood.
02:00His shadow swallowed me whole.
02:02I shut my eyes and braced for the blow.
02:04I was his.
02:05He could beat me.
02:06Kill me.
02:07No one would care.
02:08But the blow never came.
02:10Instead, he took my cold hand and pressed something warm into my palm.
02:14I opened my eyes.
02:16A thin necklace, a pendant of pale white stone that glowed softly in the firelight.
02:21His hand, calloused, cracked, still smelling of blood and steel, held mine.
02:27A necklace?
02:28For you, Moonstone, the moon goddess's blessing.
02:31I know this life is hard.
02:33You deserve better.
02:34He pulled his hand back, wiped it on his leather coat, then muttered and murmured.
02:39I stared at the Moonstone in my palm.
02:41Tears fell without warning.
02:43What?
02:44You don't like it?
02:44After a long silence, he forced out.
02:47No!
02:47I'd just forgotten what it felt like to be wanted.
02:50After my parents died, I stopped being anyone's treasure.
02:53I was just extra weight in my aunt's tent.
02:55Every meal was charity.
02:57My aunt sold me to the most vicious lone wolf hunter in the pack for five silver.
03:00That night, Cain didn't touch me.
03:02He made a bet on the floor.
03:04His breathing slowed.
03:05Deep and rough.
03:07My heart stopped racing.
03:08Sleep came for me.
03:10My aunt screamed in my dreams.
03:12My cousins shoved me around.
03:14And a shadow bear lunged from my throat.
03:16I jolted awake, gasping.
03:18Strange ceiling.
03:20Strange smells.
03:21Right.
03:22My aunt sold me.
03:23I belong to Cain now.
03:24I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
03:26Pulled myself together.
03:27And went outside.
03:29Quiet.
03:30The air smelled of blood and animal hides.
03:33Cain?
03:33No answer.
03:34I found the kitchen.
03:36Filthy.
03:36The stone pots were rusted.
03:38Mice scattered when I moved things.
03:40I couldn't run.
03:41Couldn't hide.
03:42So I rolled up my sleeves and started scrubbing.
03:44Ella!
03:45I was halfway through when a voice came from outside.
03:47I'm here!
03:48I stepped out of the kitchen.
03:50He was holding another basket.
03:51Breakfast.
03:52Martha made it.
03:53Black bread.
03:54Smoked meat.
03:55Broth.
03:55Cain tore into the bread and pushed the rest toward me.
03:58Eat up.
03:59I can feed you.
04:00I nodded and didn't hold back.
04:02You can cook, right?
04:03I almost choked.
04:04I pounded my chest and nodded hard.
04:06I'll bring the meat.
04:07Cain said.
04:08He waited for me to nod again.
04:10Then finished the rest of the bread and meat.
04:12And headed for the door.
04:13Where are you going?
04:14I called out.
04:15He turned.
04:15I was thinking I'd clean the kitchen.
04:17Properly.
04:18So we don't get sick from dirty dishes.
04:19Cain's brow furrowed.
04:21The cabin is yours.
04:22Do what you want.
04:23By the time I'd scrubbed every surface, Cain was back with a leather sack.
04:27He looked at the clean kitchen.
04:28And blinked.
04:29Flour.
04:29I'll trade for the rest at the market.
04:31When he left again, I opened the sack.
04:33Ground flour.
04:34Enough to last weeks.
04:35I went back to cleaning.
04:37I dragged Cain's dirty clothes.
04:39Into the yard.
04:40A mouse ran out of the pile.
04:42I chased it like a madwoman.
04:44Cain came back with two baskets on a pole across his shoulders.
04:48Ella.
04:48I looked up.
04:49I bought meat pies.
04:51Come eat.
04:52I hadn't had a meat pie since my parents died.
04:54Cain handed me one.
04:55Soft, golden, steaming.
04:57Juice ran down my chin.
04:58I ate two and stopped.
05:00Everything for the kitchen is in the baskets.
05:02Get it sorted.
05:03I'm getting firewood.
05:04I nodded and watched him walk away.
05:06Then I checked the baskets.
05:08Clay jars of salt.
05:09A leather flask of oil.
05:11A slab of cured meat.
05:13Raw sugar.
05:14And a jar of honeyed fruit.
05:15For me, I blinked hard and looked up at the sky.
05:19I organized the kitchen.
05:20Cain came back with firewood.
05:21And a basket of wild greens.
05:24And eggs.
05:24Cook it all.
05:25I eat a lot.
05:26I nodded.
05:27I could do that.
05:28I hung the stone pot over the fire.
05:30Chopped cured meat and wild greens into the broth.
05:33Then I cracked eggs onto a hot flat stone,
05:36slicked with pork fat.
05:38They sizzled and turned gold at the edges.
05:40Cain looked at the stew,
05:42the black bread,
05:43the fried eggs.
05:44His eyes brightened.
05:45Sit.
05:45Eat.
05:46I waited for him to pick up his knife and fork.
05:48Then I picked up mine.
05:49Eat.
05:50I looked at him.
05:51He dug in.
05:52I ate slowly,
05:53keeping my eyes down.
05:55Ella.
05:55Tomorrow.
05:56You're coming into the woods with me.
05:58I froze.
05:59Me?
05:59Yeah.
06:00I can't bring enough meat on my own.
06:02Winter's coming.
06:03Hunting was men's work.
06:04Pack females sometimes came along
06:06to carry and dress the kill.
06:08But I'd never done any of it.
06:09I don't know how.
06:11I'll teach you.
06:11I looked up at his scarred face.
06:13The firelight made it worse.
06:14But his eyes were steady.
06:16No disgust.
06:17No impatience.
06:18Okay.
06:19Before dawn,
06:21Cain shook me awake.
06:22Wear this.
06:23A deer hide coat.
06:24Thick.
06:25Warm.
06:26I hadn't seen it before.
06:27I put it on
06:28and followed him into the mist.
06:30The shadow woods were dark.
06:32Trees blocked the sky.
06:33Cain walked ahead.
06:34I stepped where he stepped.
06:36After a meal's time,
06:37he stopped and crouched.
06:39What do you smell?
06:40He looked at me.
06:40I breathed deep.
06:41Earth.
06:42Rotting leaves.
06:43Water far off.
06:44And something else.
06:45Faint.
06:45Musky.
06:46I smell something.
06:47The corner of Cain's mouth twifled.
06:48Deer,
06:49your nose is better than you think.
06:50Don't be scared.
06:51Stay behind me.
06:52We followed the trail.
06:53Cain stopped every few steps to listen.
06:55Then we saw it.
06:56He exploded forward.
06:57The shadow deer tried to run.
06:59Cain was already on it.
07:00His blade sliced its throat.
07:01I stood frozen.
07:02Legs like water.
07:04Cain turned.
07:05Face wet with blood.
07:06And waved me over.
07:07Come.
07:08I walked to the dying animal.
07:10You need to learn this.
07:11In case I'm not around, you need to eat.
07:13I crouched and watched his hands.
07:15Skin comes off first.
07:16Keep it clean.
07:17Gut it fast or the meat sours.
07:18We carried the meat down the mountain together.
07:20One half each.
07:21My shoulder screamed.
07:23I didn't complain.
07:24Cain looked back at me.
07:25Good job.
07:26It was the first time anyone had praised me since my parents died.
07:29Ella.
07:29I turned.
07:30Cain pulled a leather pouch from his chest and shoved it into my hands.
07:34From now on, you hold the silver.
07:38But I...
07:39Male hunts.
07:40Female keeps the house.
07:41That's how it works.
07:42I weighed the pouch in my hand.
07:44Heavy.
07:45Nice.
07:46Ella.
07:47Yeah?
07:48Let me mark you.
07:49I went quiet.
07:50I was scared.
07:51I didn't know what it would feel like.
07:52But Cain had been good to me.
07:54Where would I go if I left him?
07:56I had nowhere.
07:57No one.
07:57Being marked.
07:58Carrying his pup.
08:00That was my fate.
08:01I nodded.
08:03I thought marking was just a bite.
08:05But Cain brought new furs and honey mead.
08:08We stood in the yard under the moon, swore ourselves to each other, and drank from the
08:13same cup.
08:14Then he led me inside.
08:15The fire was low.
08:16He pulled the strap of my dress down.
08:18The fabric fell to my feet.
08:20I crossed my arms over my chest.
08:22He took my wrists and gently pulled my hands away.
08:25You're shaking.
08:26I'm cold.
08:27No, you're not.
08:28His hands slid around my waist.
08:31Rough palms against bare skin.
08:32He pulled me into him and kissed me.
08:34Hungry.
08:36Desperate.
08:36Like a man who'd never been allowed to want something.
08:39He tore his shirt off.
08:40I touched the scars on his chest.
08:42Then my hands went to his trousers.
08:44Fubbled with the ties.
08:46When I got them undone, he pulled me against him.
08:48Skin to skin.
08:49I gasped.
08:50He laid me down on the fresh furs and came over me.
08:53Last chance.
08:54He said, voice wrecked.
08:56Tell me no.
08:57I touched his scarred face.
08:59Don't stop.
09:02He didn't.
09:03When he bit down on the back of my neck, I cried out.
09:05He held me steady.
09:06Whispered it would be over soon.
09:08Afterward, I lay shaking.
09:10I asked for water.
09:11He brought it to my lips.
09:13I stared at him like he'd grown wings.
09:15When I lay back down, the mark on my neck was still warm.
09:19Every wolf would know.
09:20I belonged to Cain.
09:21Cain belonged to me.
09:22I smiled to the dark.
09:24Cain didn't talk much.
09:25He hunted.
09:26He brought me silver.
09:28He did the heavy work.
09:30When I said something, he answered.
09:33We talked about building another room.
09:35About digging a cellar for meat and grain.
09:38I liked that.
09:39I looked at my clothes.
09:40They were getting tight.
09:41Maybe I should eat less.
09:43Ella!
09:43Ella!
09:44Is Cain home?
09:44It was Martha.
09:45Good woman.
09:46He's hunting.
09:46Oh no!
09:47His parents are back!
09:48What?
09:49His mother.
09:50She's vicious.
09:51And they've got a young man with them.
09:53Must be Cain's brother.
09:54My mind went blank.
09:56They'd been gone for over a decade.
09:57Ma!
09:58Pa!
09:59This is the place?
10:00It's so run down.
10:02I walked outside.
10:03Three figures.
10:04Two old.
10:05One young.
10:06The old ones had greedy eyes.
10:07The young one looked disgusted.
10:09You're Cain's mate?
10:10Ella?
10:11I'm his mother.
10:12Get us water.
10:13And cook something.
10:14The best room, it's for Alan.
10:16He needs a place to bed his bride.
10:17Margaret, Cain's mother, let her eyes roam over the cabin.
10:20Over me.
10:20She didn't bother hiding her disgust.
10:22Where's that ungrateful son of mine?
10:23Just then, Cain came around the corner with firewood.
10:26Pack members trailed behind him, hoping for a show.
10:28Cain stared at the three strangers.
10:30Who are you?
10:30Your mother!
10:32The old man bared his teeth.
10:34Ungrateful wilt.
10:35The pack gossip stirred.
10:36That's really Noah.
10:38The Alpha came.
10:39The Elders came.
10:40They confirmed it.
10:42Take us in.
10:43Be a good son.
10:44And give us silver to find Alan a mate.
10:47You don't want your brother dying alone, do you?
10:50I tugged Cain's sleeve.
10:52He squeezed my hand back.
10:53You're not giving it to his brother for a bride.
10:55Silver he nearly died for, I stepped forward.
10:58Not your place, sister-in-law.
11:00Alan curled his lip.
11:01Parents are still alive.
11:02You don't get a say.
11:03Margaret lunged at me.
11:05Cain caught her wrist.
11:06Cain!
11:06You'd raise a hand to your own mother!
11:09He let go.
11:10I'm gonna die!
11:12My son has a mate now and I'm dead to him!
11:16Cain looked at her.
11:18Then at me.
11:19You've been gone for years.
11:20Why are you back?
11:21Margaret stood up, dry-eyed.
11:22We came home to be with you.
11:23And this cabin?
11:24We built it.
11:25We're staying.
11:25The cabin is yours, but we split the belongings.
11:28What I bought with my own hands comes with me.
11:30Margaret's eyes...
11:30No!
11:31Clean, she orderly.
11:31You can't take the furniture.
11:33What will we use?
11:33Not my problem.
11:34Have mercy!
11:35I gave him life and now he wants to leave us with nothing.
11:37Keep the furniture.
11:38But my hunting kit comes with me.
11:39My clothes.
11:40My furs.
11:41And I'm severing the bond.
11:42Margaret screamed.
11:43The bond?
11:44Alan screamed.
11:45Good.
11:45Good.
11:46I wanted to cry.
11:47My home.
11:48The one I'd scrubbed and mended with my own hands.
11:51Gone.
11:51But Cain's silver was still in my pocket.
11:53We signed the papers, pressed our thumbs to the ink.
11:55At dusk, I carried our clothes.
11:57He carried the baskets.
11:59The higher we climbed, the heavier my feet became.
12:01I stopped and looked down at the cabin.
12:03I looked at Cain and burst into tears.
12:05Cain wiped my face.
12:06Don't cry.
12:07We still have silver.
12:08The cabin was theirs anyway.
12:09We only borrowed it and Alan is poisoned.
12:10Letting go of those scraps saves us from worse.
12:12The debt coluptors can't touch us now.
12:14He looked down at the valley.
12:15We go deeper into the shadow woods.
12:17Find another pack.
12:19We've got hands.
12:20We've got feet.
12:20We'll make a life.
12:21I wanted to believe him.
12:23We'll find someone to take us in, Cain said.
12:25No one wanted to take us in.
12:26Everyone was afraid of being connected to the debt.
12:29We ended up at the elder's old cottage.
12:31Two hundred copper a month.
12:32I cleaned it until it shone.
12:34One bed.
12:34Bare walls.
12:35We'll use your kitchen.
12:36Buy our own grain.
12:37Eat with us.
12:38Fine.
12:39We ate simple.
12:40Black bread.
12:41Smoked meat.
12:42Broth.
12:43Cain didn't complain.
12:44I'll hunt tomorrow.
12:45Trade for grain.
12:45You can roast something when I get back.
12:47We'll save silver.
12:48Build our own place.
12:49We'll still have silver.
12:50Your parents will never leave us alone.
12:51Your parents are greedy parasites.
12:53They'll never let you go.
12:54Eat your bread.
12:54I snuggled into him that night.
12:56His hands wandered to my hip.
12:57I pushed them away.
12:59What are you doing?
13:00We're guests.
13:01Scenting a den that isn't yours was an insult.
13:03Cain sighed and let his hands rest on my hip.
13:07Sleep.
13:08I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh.
13:10The next morning, Cain went into the woods.
13:12The other pack women helped me with the kitchen fire.
13:15You're easy to talk to, but Cain scares the piss out of us.
13:18He's not so bad, but they didn't call him cruel.
13:20Good thing he severed the bond.
13:22Alan would have bled him dry.
13:23I'd resented Cain for giving up the house.
13:26Now I understood.
13:27We were young.
13:28We had hands.
13:30We'd build again.
13:31The debt collectors found Alan within a week.
13:34They stripped the cabin, sold the hunting grounds and the reindeer.
13:37Left him 50 gold short, due by winter solstice.
13:41The women told me the story in whispers.
13:43Yameo Sihal Menrian.
13:45I kept my face straight.
13:46Cain warrowed silver from every house in the pack.
13:49They gave it to him.
13:50One wild boar from Cain brought the whole pack running to help build.
13:55Two log cabins.
13:57Twelve men.
13:58Two days.
13:59Cain laughed when I asked what he wanted for lunch.
14:01Cain and I made it through the cold.
14:03Full belly.
14:04Full belly.
14:05Warm bed.
14:06He wanted a pup.
14:07I wanted a pup.
14:09Maybe next year.
14:10The winter was mild.
14:11When the snow melted, the pack started north.
14:14I stayed close to camp.
14:16I gathered wild greens and berries.
14:19Dried some.
14:20Salted others.
14:21Come winter again, they'd go into the stew pot.
14:24Cain hunted every day.
14:27He brought home silver.
14:29He gave it all to me.
14:31The coin jar grew heavy.
14:34One day, Cain came back from the mountains.
14:37With a graver expression than usual.
14:39What's wrong?
14:41Something big came from the south.
14:42He put down his hunting knife and sat at the table.
14:45The tracks are a full circle larger than a shadow bear's.
14:47It's not like an ordinary beast.
14:48My heart tightened.
14:50Then don't go.
14:51Can't not go.
14:52If that thing keeps moving north, it'll cross the pack's migration route.
14:56More than just our family will suffer.
14:57He was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me.
15:00Ella.
15:02Tomorrow, you're coming with me.
15:04Me?
15:05You don't have to fight it head on, but I need a helper.
15:08Someone to watch my back, to keep it from lunging at my flank.
15:12You trust me.
15:14Cain looked at me.
15:15Didn't say a word.
15:17The next morning, before dawn, we went into the shadow woods.
15:21Cain suddenly stopped and crouched down to look at tracks on the ground, bigger than two fists put together.
15:27Mountain lion.
15:28He said under his breath.
15:29He turned to me.
15:30Scared?
15:31I gripped my knife handle.
15:33Yes.
15:34Good.
15:34You should be.
15:35We followed the tracks for some time.
15:37Cain raised his hand for me to stop.
15:39He started taking off his clothes.
15:41Leather coat dropped them piece by piece on the ground.
15:44Then, he changed.
15:46His body lunged forward, hands hitting the ground and turning into claws.
15:51Dark gray fur pushed out through his skin.
15:53A massive wolf stood before me, twice as big as an ordinary gray wolf, fangs gleaming white.
15:59A roar came from the bushes.
16:01The mountain lion burst out, lunging straight at Cain.
16:04The two beasts crashed together.
16:07Cain didn't let go, but the lion's jaws were heading straight for his throat.
16:11I didn't think.
16:12I ran out, short blade raised.
16:15I stabbed at the mountain lion's side.
16:17The blade sank into flesh.
16:19I was thrown through the air, my back slamming into a tree trunk.
16:22Stars burst in my vision, but I didn't let go of the knife.
16:25It was still in my hand.
16:27Cain bit through its throat.
16:29The lion twished a few times, then went still.
16:32Cain let go.
16:33He was soaked in blood.
16:34The wildness of the wolf was still glowing in his amber eyes.
16:38He walked over, lowered his head, and touched my palm with me.
16:44Are you hurt?
16:45His voice was harsky as he shifted back to human form.
16:48I shook my head.
16:49Tears wouldn't stop falling.
16:51He pulled me into his arms and held me tight.
16:54You helped a lot.
16:55His voice was muffled above my head.
16:57Without you, I might not have made it.
16:59The morning light fell across Cain's bare back.
17:02The wounds were still seeping blood, but they were already beginning to close.
17:06That day, we carried the mountain lion's hide and meat home.
17:09Cain kept the best piece, said he'd make me a cloak.
17:12Why?
17:12Because it's your first kill.
17:14He shrugged.
17:15Wolf rule.
17:16The pelt belongs to the hunter.
17:17But you killed it.
17:19Cain shook his head.
17:20Not without your blade.
17:21He paused.
17:22You're braver than I thought.
17:23I looked down.
17:25My ears burned.
17:26That night, I sat beside him, helping scrape and cut.
17:29Firelight moved across his face.
17:31The long scar looked less scary in the flicker.
17:33Cain.
17:33Yeah?
17:34From now on, let's hunt together more often.
17:37Okay.
17:37End of March.
17:38I started feeling off.
17:39Tired.
17:40No strength.
17:42Cain came home.
17:43I told him.
17:44He got excited on the spot.
17:46Stay here.
17:47I'm getting the healer.
17:48The healer came.
17:49Sure enough, pup.
17:51Two months along.
17:52Good for you, Ella.
17:53Pop out a male pup in your set.
17:55Cain's silver will be yours.
17:57You'll run the house?
17:58I smiled and nodded.
17:59Didn't tell them Cain already handed me his silver.
18:01That I already ran everything.
18:03Cain got nervous after I got pregnant.
18:05Came home early.
18:06Did all the heavy grunt work.
18:07I stayed careful.
18:08But I wasn't gonna sit around doing nothing.
18:10Women aren't that fragile.
18:12That day, I took a basket to pick wild berries near camp.
18:15Was craving honeyed fruit.
18:16Someone pushed me down a grassy slope.
18:19I screamed.
18:21I saw who it was.
18:23Cain's mother.
18:24Margaret.
18:25Eyes mean as a snake.
18:26Why should Alan suffer while you live easy?
18:30You think you deserve a pup?
18:32Pain twisted through me.
18:33I couldn't even scream.
18:35Someone help.
18:36Reached out for her to stay.
18:37A pack kid saw me.
18:38Ran back to camp.
18:40They carried me home.
18:41Someone else went for the healer.
18:43I watched the healer sip shake his head and sigh.
18:45Cain walked in.
18:46Dark as a storm.
18:48Ella.
18:49His hands had blood on them.
18:50My tears away.
18:51Gentle.
18:52Ella.
18:53I know.
18:53Don't think too much.
18:54Take your medicine.
18:56Sleep.
18:56Our pup's justice.
18:58The father goes and gets it.
18:59Cain didn't leave.
19:00Sat by the bed until I cried myself out.
19:02Took his hunting knife and went to his parents' place.
19:05Everyone heard the place.
19:08When they couldn't scream anymore, Cain came out.
19:11Cain, those are your parents.
19:12He didn't answer.
19:13Just picked up an axe and started swinging.
19:16In the house was a pile of rubble.
19:19He left.
19:20His parents were alive, but not really.
19:22I woke up again.
19:23Candlelight.
19:24Ella.
19:25Does it hurt?
19:26I tried to tell him about the pup.
19:27Tried to say how much it hurt.
19:29Everywhere hurt.
19:30But I opened my mouth and nothing came out.
19:32Food's ready.
19:33Eat some.
19:33Sleep some more.
19:34I'm going to find him a place.
19:36Somewhere peaceful.
19:37When Cain turned to go, I grabbed him.
19:39I want to come.
19:40Then come.
19:41He found a good place.
19:42By the river.
19:43Tiny little grave.
19:44My poor little pup.
19:46His dad and I wanted him so bad.
19:48Word spread about Margaret pushing me.
19:50The elder was furious.
19:51Stripped Noah and Margaret from the pack rolls.
19:54That's when they finally got scared.
19:56Cried and begged.
19:58One morning after the rain stopped, Cain helped me into the cart.
20:01Where are we going?
20:02Somewhere no one knows us.
20:04Somewhere we can eat whatever we want.
20:05Wear whatever we want.
20:07Somewhere everyone learns I'm not someone to mess with.
20:09I'm scared.
20:10Don't be.
20:11I'll protect you.
20:12Anyone hurts you, I kill them.
20:13We headed south.
20:14I'd never traveled before.
20:16Everything was strange and new.
20:18But then I thought about the pup I lost and couldn't help sighing.
20:21Cain held my hand, quiet, letting me know he was there.
20:25I tried to smile at him, just ended up leaning into him, crying.
20:28I knew time would fix it.
20:30But right then, I was still broken.
20:32Cain, I'll get better.
20:34Just give me time.
20:35Okay.
20:36Whatever I wanted to eat, Cain bought it.
20:38We didn't rush.
20:39Whenever we found a pretty view, Cain stopped so we could look at it together.
20:43My eyes went hot.
20:45I just screamed.
20:46Half the weight in my chest broke apart with those screams.
20:50We stopped at a town called Redford, flat everywhere.
20:54Rented a little courtyard place.
20:56Cleaned it up.
20:57Brought our things in.
20:59Started feeling like home.
21:01That night, we roasted venison.
21:03The neighbor's kids smelled it and started crying for meat.
21:05Cain and I looked at each other and laughed.
21:08He cut meat for me.
21:10I cut meat for him.
21:11Cain had the horse and he was strong.
21:13Easy to find work.
21:14Paid pretty well.
21:15Life was comfortable.
21:16Molly from next door.
21:17Her son, Tommy, with her.
21:19I rubbed Tommy's head.
21:20Went and got him a piece of honey candy.
21:22Thanks.
21:22I'm going to spoil him.
21:23Lord Foster on the west side is throwing a party.
21:26Needs scrubbers.
21:2750 copper a day.
21:28Let me check with my husband.
21:29But if I went, who'd cook for Cain?
21:33Let him stay a while.
21:35Tommy was good.
21:36Quiet.
21:36I wiped his hands.
21:37Did my sewing.
21:39He sat next to me playing with little wooden blocks Cain had made.
21:42Look, Ella.
21:43Good job.
21:44If my pup had lived.
21:45In two or find a blay weary two or three years, he'd be this sweet.
21:49This good.
21:49You're good too.
21:50What am I good at?
21:52Sewing.
21:52I rubbed his head.
21:53Then came footsteps outside.
21:57Cain's home!
21:58Tommy smiled.
21:59Everyone was scared of Cain.
22:00Even the kids.
22:01But not Tommy.
22:02He liked him.
22:03Cain came into the yard.
22:05You're hurt?
22:07No.
22:08Boar blood.
22:09Go get your dad.
22:10We're roasting boar tonight.
22:12Dad!
22:13Cain says come help!
22:16When no one was looking, he pinched my cheek too.
22:19Roast plenty tonight.
22:21You're getting too thin.
22:23Tommy's dad came.
22:25Neighbors came by, asking if we were selling the meat.
22:28I looked at Cain.
22:30Four's not that big.
22:32Keep it.
22:33My mate's been sick.
22:34Needs the nutrition.
22:36Next time I go out, maybe I'll bag a bigger one.
22:40That's huge!
22:42Anyone who helped.
22:43Cain gave them about half a pound.
22:46Tommy stayed for dinner.
22:48After dinner, we walked Tommy home.
22:51Later, I asked Cain what about making him our godjun.
22:54Cain thought about it for a long time.
22:57Let's wait and see.
22:58Then I told him about Lord Foster's party.
23:0050 copper a day.
23:02You wanna do it?
23:04Then do it.
23:05If it's too hard, quit.
23:06I can support you.
23:08I looked at Cain and smiled.
23:09Molly and I started working parties regular.
23:12Cain didn't bring home much at first.
23:14Then 3 silver.
23:17Then...
23:18Then 10.
23:19One month he brought home 50.
23:21The place we were renting went up for sale.
23:2427 silver.
23:25We talked it over and bought it.
23:26Our own place.
23:28Fixed up the roof.
23:30One day, I made a pot of stew.
23:32The whole street smelled it.
23:34Everyone came asking.
23:35I gave out the bowls.
23:37Seeing them praise it gave me an idea.
23:39You wanna sell stew on the street?
23:41I nodded.
23:42I'm not afraid of work.
23:44But keeping busy helps.
23:46Keeps me from thinking too much.
23:48That pain never went away.
23:50Not talking about it didn't mean forgetting.
23:52Then do it.
23:53But don't do it alone.
23:55Ask Molly.
23:56I told Molly.
23:57She said yes on the spot.
24:00Only thing is, I don't have a single copper.
24:04Every coin goes straight to the mother-in-law.
24:06Molly, I know.
24:07I'll pay you wages.
24:08A few days of free work won't kill me.
24:11Knock on wood.
24:12Your stew business is going to make it.
24:13I can feel it.
24:15Cain had a wooden pushcart built.
24:17Bought firewood.
24:19Me and him sat up nights doing the math.
24:22How much to sell.
24:24And Molly's wages.
24:28Cain looked up in the candlelight.
24:32Ella.
24:33Let's learn to read.
24:35I was shocked.
24:37Read?
24:40You go ahead.
24:41You're the one.
24:42Win out in the world.
24:45Cain shook his head.
24:46Both of us.
24:47I'll teach you.
24:48Reading.
24:50Arthur Mithman.
24:50Cain said.
24:51Then doing business won't be such a struggle.
24:53Won't take all night just to add things up.
24:56He was right.
24:58And he wanted me to learn too.
25:00My heart could have burst.
25:02How many men would do that?
25:04My stew stand opened.
25:05Business was good.
25:07Then someone opened another stand across the street.
25:09Taking our customers.
25:10Molly cursed them out.
25:12Don't be mad, Molly.
25:13Now it's just right.
25:15We made money.
25:16Not too tired.
25:17Ella, you're too sensible.
25:18Not sensible.
25:19Cain made good money anyway.
25:21The stew stand was mine.
25:23Whatever it made was extra.
25:24Kept me busy.
25:27Kept me from remembering.
25:28My stew business went from a cart to a storefront in a year.
25:32When we moved to a bigger place.
25:34Tommy cried his eyes out.
25:36You can visit.
25:38You'll see me.
25:39Tommy shook his head.
25:41It's not the same.
25:43It wasn't.
25:44But he adjusted.
25:45Not long after we moved, I started feeling off again.
25:48I knew the signs.
25:49Told Cain.
25:50He called a doctor.
25:51Sure enough.
25:52Pregnant.
25:53Cain laid his hand on my belly.
25:55Gentle.
25:55After a long moment, he said.
25:58Let's buy two servants.
26:00An older woman for cleaning.
26:01A young maid for you.
26:03Cain bought things we didn't need.
26:05Rattles.
26:06Wooden horses.
26:08Little bows and arrows.
26:10I could tell he wanted a boy.
26:13What if it's a girl?
26:14I asked.
26:16Girls are fine.
26:19Blossoms before fruit.
26:21A few girls first.
26:23Then I'll be a father-in-law with endless roasted pig feet.
26:26I sat in my comfortable chair.
26:29Sewing soft baby clothes.
26:31The room was quiet.
26:33Warm.
26:35Safe.
26:36The master's home.
26:38Cain hurried in.
26:40His eyes went soft when he saw me.
26:42Did the pup give you trouble today?
26:44I put down my sewing.
26:46Showed him my belly.
26:48Not today.
26:49He was good.
26:52Cain crouched down.
26:54Put his palm flat on my belly.
26:56The pup moved.
26:59He kicked.
27:01I looked at him.
27:03My eyes full of joy.
27:05Cain smiled too.
27:07He leaned down and pressed his ear to my belly.
27:13The heartbeat came through.
27:15The sound of new life.
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