- 16 hours ago
The Bride They Sold Away HD 720p ASM
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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.
00:15His 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.
00:32I did too.
00:33I crossed the street when I saw him.
00:35Never spoke a word to him.
00:36It's that I wondered to him.
00:38Never even looked him in the eye.
00:40I never thought my aunt would sell me to him.
00:42No gifts.
00:43No 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.
01:22I ate like an animal.
01:24That meal was the first time I'd been full for Taneran's 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.
01:37Kane sat by the hearth and sharpened his knife.
01:40A hunting blade as long as my arm.
01:42The went stone 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.
02:19His hand, calloused, cracked, still smelling of blood and steel, held mine.
02:24A necklace?
02:25For you, Moonstone.
02:27The moon goddess's blessing.
02:29I know this life is hard.
02:30You deserve better.
02:31He pulled his hand back, wiped it on his leather coat.
02:34Then muttered and murmured.
02:36I stared at the Moonstone in my palm.
02:39Tears fell without warning.
02:40What?
02:41You don't like it?
02:42After a long silence, he forced out.
02:44No!
02:45I'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.
02:58That night, Kane didn't touch me.
03:00He made a bed on the floor.
03:01His breathing slowed.
03:03Deep and rough.
03:04My heart stopped racing.
03:06Sleep came for me.
03:07My aunt screamed in my dreams.
03:09My cousins shoved me around, and 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 Kane now.
03:21I wiped the sweat from my forehead, pulled myself together, and went outside.
03:26Quiet.
03:27The air smelled of blood and animal hides.
03:30Kane?
03:31No answer.
03:32I 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.
03:42Ella!
03:42I was halfway through when a voice came from outside.
03:45I'm here!
03:46I stepped out of the kitchen.
03:47He was holding another basket.
03:49Breakfast.
03:49Martha made it.
03:50Black bread.
03:51Smoked meat.
03:52Broth.
03:53Kane tore into the bread and pushed the rest toward me.
03:56Eat 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.
04:04I'll bring the meat.
04:05Kane said.
04:06He waited for me to nod again, then finished the rest of the bread and meat, and headed
04:10for the door.
04:10Where are you going?
04:11I called out.
04:12He turned.
04:13I was thinking I'd clean the kitchen properly, so we don't get sick from dirty dishes.
04:17Kane's brow furrowed.
04:18The cabin is yours.
04:19Do what you want.
04:21By the time I'd scrubbed every surface, Kane was back with a leather sack.
04:24He looked at the clean kitchen and blinked.
04:26Flour.
04:27I'll trade for the rest at the market.
04:28When he left again, I opened the sack.
04:31Ground flour.
04:32Enough to last weeks.
04:33I went back to cleaning.
04:34I dragged Kane's dirty clothes.
04:36Into the yard.
04:37A mouse ran out of the pile.
04:39I chased it like a madwoman.
04:41Kane came back with two baskets on a pole across his shoulders.
04:45Ella.
04:46I looked up.
04:47I bought meat pies.
04:48Come eat.
04:49I hadn't had a meat pie since my parents died.
04:51Kane handed me one.
04:53Soft, golden, steaming.
04:54Juice ran down my chin.
04:56I ate two and stopped.
04:57Everything for the kitchen is in the baskets.
04:59Get it.
05:00It's sorted.
05:00I'm getting firewood.
05:01I nodded and watched him walk away.
05:04Then I checked the baskets.
05:05Clay jars of salt.
05:07A leather flask of oil.
05:08A slab of cured meat.
05:10Raw sugar.
05:11And a jar of honeyed fruit.
05:13For me, I blinked hard and looked up at the sky.
05:16I organized the kitchen.
05:17Kane came back with firewood.
05:19And a basket of wild greens.
05:21And eggs.
05:22Cook it all.
05:23I eat a lot.
05:24I nodded.
05:24I could do that.
05:25I hung the stone pot over the fire.
05:28Chopped cured meat and wild greens into the broth.
05:31Then I cracked eggs onto a hot, flat stone, slicked with pork fat.
05:35They sizzled and turned gold at the edges.
05:38Kane looked at the stew, the black bread, the fried eggs.
05:41His eyes brightened.
05:42Sit.
05:43Eat.
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, keeping my eyes down.
05:52Ella, tomorrow, you're coming into the woods with me.
05:55I froze.
05:56Me?
05:57Yeah.
05:57I can't bring enough meat on my own.
05:59Winter's coming.
06:00Hunting was men's work.
06:02Pack 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.
06:09I looked up at his scarred face.
06:11The firelight made it worse.
06:12But his eyes were steady.
06:13No disgust.
06:14No impatience.
06:16Okay.
06:17Before dawn, Kane shook me awake.
06:20Wear this.
06:20A deer hide coat.
06:22Thick.
06:23Warm.
06:23I hadn't seen it before.
06:25I put it on and followed him into the mist.
06:28The shadow woods were dark.
06:29Trees blocked the sky.
06:31Kane walked ahead.
06:32I stepped where he stepped.
06:33After a meal's time, he stopped and crouched.
06:36What do you smell?
06:37He looked at me.
06:38I breathed deep.
06:39Earth.
06:39Rotting leaves.
06:40Water far off.
06:41And something else.
06:42Faint.
06:43Musky.
06:43I smell something.
06:44The corner of Kane's mouth twifed.
06:46Dear, your nose is better than you think.
06:48Don't be scared.
06:49Stay behind me.
06:49We followed the trail.
06:50Kane stopped every few steps to listen.
06:52Then we saw it.
06:53He exploded forward.
06:55The shadow deer tried to run.
06:56Kane was already on it.
06:57His blade sliced its throat.
06:59I stood frozen.
07:00Legs like water.
07:01Kane turned.
07:02Face wet with blood.
07:04And waved him over.
07:05Come.
07:06I walked to the dying animal.
07:07You need to learn this.
07:09In case I'm not around, you need to eat.
07:10I crouched and watched his hands.
07:12Skin comes off first.
07:14Keep it clean.
07:14Gut it fast or the meat sours.
07:16We carried the meat down the mountain together.
07:18One half each.
07:19My shoulder screamed.
07:20I didn't complain.
07:22Kane looked back at me.
07:23Good job.
07:23It was the first time anyone had praised me since my parents died.
07:27Ella.
07:27I turned.
07:28Kane 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.
07:39That's how it works.
07:40I weighed the pouch in my hand.
07:42Heavy.
07:43Nice.
07:44Ella.
07:44Yeah?
07:45I went quiet.
07:46I was scared.
07:48I didn't know what it would feel like.
07:49But Kane had been good to me.
07:50Where would I go if I left him?
07:52I had nowhere.
07:53No one.
07:54Being marked.
07:55Carrying his pup.
07:56That was my fate.
07:58I nodded.
07:59I thought marking was just a bite.
08:02But Kane brought new furs and honey mead.
08:04We stood in the yard under the moon.
08:07Swore ourselves to each other.
08:08And drank from the same cup.
08:10Then he led me inside.
08:12The fire was low.
08:12He pulled the strap of my dress down.
08:15The fabric fell to my feet.
08:17I crossed my arms over my chest.
08:18He took my wrists and gently pulled my hands away.
08:21You're shaking.
08:22I'm cold.
08:24No, you're not.
08:25His hands slid around my waist.
08:27Rough palms against bare skin.
08:29He pulled me into him and kissed me.
08:31Hungry.
08:32Desperate.
08:33Like a man who'd never been allowed to want something.
08:35He tore his shirt off.
08:37I touched the scars on his chest.
08:39Then my hands went to his trousers.
08:41Fubbled with the ties.
08:42When I got them undone, he pulled me against him.
08:45Skin to skin.
08:46I gasped.
08:47He laid me down on the fresh furs and came over me.
08:50Last chance.
08:51He said.
08:51Voice wrecked.
08:52Tell me no.
08:53I touched his scarred face.
08:55Don't stop.
08:58He didn't.
08:59When he bit down on the back of my neck, I cried out.
09:02He held me steady.
09:03Whispered it would be over soon.
09:05Afterward, I lay shaking.
09:07I asked for water.
09:08He brought it to my lips.
09:09I stared at him like he'd grown wings.
09:11When I lay back down, the mark on my neck was still warm.
09:15Every wolf would know.
09:16I belonged to Cain.
09:18Cain belonged to me.
09:19I smiled to the dark.
09:21Cain didn't talk much.
09:22He hunted.
09:23He brought me silver.
09:25He did the heavy work.
09:27When I said something, he answered.
09:29We talked about building another room.
09:32About digging a cellar for meat and grain.
09:34I liked that.
09:35I looked at my clothes.
09:37They were getting tight.
09:38Maybe I should eat less.
09:39Ella!
09:40Ella!
09:40Is Cain home?
09:41It was Martha.
09:42Good woman.
09:42He's hunting.
09:43Oh no!
09:44His parents are back!
09:45What?
09:46His mother.
09:47She's vicious.
09:48And they've got a young man with them.
09:50Must be Cain's brother.
09:51My mind went blank.
09:52They'd been gone for over a decade.
09:54Ma!
09:55Pa!
09:55This is the place?
09:56It's so run down.
09:58I walked outside.
10:00Three figures.
10:01Two old.
10:02One young.
10:02The old ones had greedy eyes.
10:04The young one looked disgusted.
10:06You're Cain's mate?
10:07Ella?
10:07I'm his mother.
10:08Get us water.
10:10And cook something.
10:11The best room, it's for Alan.
10:12He needs a place to bed his bride.
10:14Margaret, Cain's mother, let her eyes roam over the cabin.
10:17Over me.
10:17She didn't bother hiding her disgust.
10:19Where's that ungrateful son of mine?
10:20Just then, Cain came around the corner with firewood.
10:23Pack members trailed behind him, hoping for a show.
10:25Cain stared at the three strangers.
10:26Who are you?
10:27Your mother!
10:28The old man bared his teeth.
10:30Ungrateful wilt.
10:31The pack gossip stirred.
10:33That's really Noah.
10:35The alpha came.
10:36The elders came.
10:37They confirmed it.
10:39Take us in.
10:40Be a good son.
10:41And give us silver to find Alan a mate.
10:44You don't want your brother dying alone, do you?
10:47I tugged Cain's sleeve.
10:48He squeezed my hand back.
10:50You're not giving it to his brother for a bride.
10:52Silver he nearly died for, I stepped forward.
10:55Not your place, sister-in-law.
10:56Alan curled his lip.
10:57Parents are still alive.
10:59You don't get a say.
11:00Margaret lunged at me.
11:01Cain caught her wrist.
11:02Cain!
11:03You'd raise a hand to your own mother!
11:05He let go.
11:07I'm gonna die!
11:09My 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.
11:17Why are you back?
11:18Margaret stood up, dry-eyed.
11:19We came home to be with you.
11:20And this cabin?
11:21We built it.
11:21We're staying.
11:22The cabin is yours, but we split the belongings.
11:24What I bought with my own hands comes with me.
11:26Margaret's eyes...
11:27No!
11:27Clean, she orderly.
11:28You can't take the furniture.
11:29What will we use?
11:30Not my problem.
11:31Have mercy.
11:32I gave him life, and now he wants to leave us with nothing.
11:34Keep the furniture.
11:35But my hunting kit comes with me.
11:36My clothes.
11:37My furs.
11:37And I'm severing the bond.
11:39Margaret screamed.
11:40The bond?
11:40Alan screamed.
11:41Good.
11:42Good.
11:43I wanted to cry.
11:44My home.
11:45The one I'd scrubbed and mended with my own hands.
11:47Gone.
11:48But Cain's silver was still in my pocket.
11:50We signed the papers, pressed our thumbs to the ink.
11:52At dusk, I carried our clothes.
11:54He carried the baskets.
11:55The higher we climbed, the heavier my feet became.
11:58I stopped and looked down at the cabin.
11:59I looked at Cain and burst into tears.
12:02Cain wiped my face.
12:03Don't cry.
12:04We still have silver.
12:05The cabin was theirs anyway.
12:06We only borrowed it, and Alan is poison.
12:07Letting go of those scraps saves us from worse.
12:09The debt coluptors can't touch us now.
12:11He looked down at the valley.
12:12We go deeper into the shadow woods.
12:14Find another pack.
12:15We've got hands.
12:16We've got feet.
12:17We'll make a life.
12:18I wanted to believe him.
12:19We'll find someone to take us in, Cain said.
12:22No one wanted to take us in.
12:23Everyone was afraid of being connected to the debt.
12:26We ended up at the elder's old cottage.
12:28Two hundred copper a month.
12:29I cleaned it until it shone.
12:31One bed.
12:31Bare walls.
12:32We'll use your kitchen.
12:33Buy our own grain.
12:34Eat with us.
12:35Fine.
12:36We ate simple.
12:37Black bread.
12:38Smoked meat.
12:39Broth.
12:39Cain didn't complain.
12:41I'll hunt tomorrow.
12:42Trade for grain.
12:42You can roast something when I get back.
12:44We'll save silver.
12:45Build our own place.
12:46We still have silver.
12:47Your parents will never leave us alone.
12:48Your parents are greedy parasites.
12:50They'll never let you go.
12:51Eat your bread.
12:51I snuggled into him that night.
12:53His hands wandered to my hip.
12:54I pushed them away.
12:55What are you doing?
12:57We're guests.
12:58Scenting a den that isn't yours was an insult.
13:00Cain sighed and let his hands rest on my hip.
13:04Sleep.
13:05I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh.
13:07The next morning, Cain went into the woods.
13:09The other pack women helped me with the kitchen fire.
13:12You're easy to talk to, but Cain scares the piss out of us.
13:15He's not so bad, but they didn't call him cruel.
13:17Good thing he severed the bond.
13:19Alan would have bled him dry.
13:20I'd resented Cain for giving up the house.
13:23Now I understood.
13:24We were young.
13:25We had hands.
13:27We'd build again.
13:28The debt collectors found Alan within a week.
13:31They stripped the cabin, sold the hunting grounds and the reindeer.
13:34Left him 50 gold short.
13:36Due by winter solstice.
13:38The women told me the story in whispers.
13:40Yameo Sihal Menrian.
13:42I kept my face straight.
13:43Cain warrowed silver from every house in the pack.
13:46They gave it to him.
13:48One wild boar from Cain brought the whole pack running to help build.
13:52Two log cabins.
13:54Twelve men.
13:55Two days.
13:56Cain laughed when I asked what he wanted for lunch.
13:58Cain and I made it through the cold.
14:00Full belly.
14:01Full belly.
14:02Warm bed.
14:03He wanted a pup.
14:04I wanted a pup.
14:06Maybe next year.
14:07The winter was mild.
14:08When the snow melted, the pack started north.
14:11I stayed close to camp.
14:13I gathered wild greens and berries.
14:16Dried some.
14:17Salted others.
14:18Come winter again, they'd go into the stew pot.
14:21Cain hunted every day.
14:24He brought home silver.
14:26He gave it all to me.
14:28The coin jar grew heavy.
14:31One day, Cain came back from the mountains with a graver expression than usual.
14:36What's wrong?
14:37Something big came from the south.
14:39He put down his hunting knife and sat at the table.
14:42The tracks are a full circle larger than a shadow bear's.
14:44It's not like an ordinary beast.
14:46My heart tightened.
14:47Then don't go.
14:48Can't not go.
14:49If that thing keeps moving north, it'll cross the pack's migration route.
14:52More than just our family will suffer.
14:54He was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me.
14:57Ella.
14:59Tomorrow, you're coming with me.
15:01Me?
15:02You don't have to fight it head on, but I need a helper.
15:05Someone to watch my back, to keep it from lunging at my flank.
15:09You trust me?
15:11Cain looked at me.
15:12Didn't say a word.
15:13The next morning, before dawn, we went into the shadow woods.
15:18Cain suddenly stopped and crouched down to look at tracks on the ground,
15:22bigger than two fists put together.
15:24Mountain lion.
15:25He said under his breath.
15:26He turned to me.
15:28Scared?
15:28I gripped my knife handle.
15:30Yes.
15:31Good.
15:31You should be.
15:32We followed the tracks for some time.
15:34Cain raised his hand for me to stop.
15:36He started taking off his clothes.
15:38Leather coat dropped them piece by piece on the ground.
15:42Then, he changed.
15:43His body lunged forward, hands hitting the ground and turning into claws.
15:48Dark gray fur pushed out through his skin.
15:50A massive wolf stood before me, twice as big as an ordinary gray wolf, fangs gleaming white.
15:56A roar came from the bushes.
15:58The mountain lion burst out, lunging straight at Cain.
16:01The two beasts crashed together.
16:04Cain didn't let go, but the lion's jaws were heading straight for his throat.
16:08I didn't think.
16:09I ran out, short blade raised.
16:12I stabbed at the mountain lion's side.
16:14The blade sank into fleck.
16:16I was thrown through the air, my back slamming into a tree trunk.
16:19Stars burst in my vision, but I didn't let go of the knife.
16:23It was still in my hand.
16:24Cain bit through its throat.
16:26The lion twished a few times, then went still.
16:29Cain let go.
16:30He was soaked in blood.
16:31The wildness of the wolf was still glowing in his amber eyes.
16:35He walked over, lowered his head, and touched my palm with me.
16:41Are you hurt?
16:42His voice was harsky as he shifted back to human form.
16:45I shook my head.
16:46Tears wouldn't stop falling.
16:48He pulled me into his arms and held me tight.
16:51You helped a lot.
16:52His voice was muffled above my head.
16:54Without you, I might not have made it.
16:56The morning light fell across Cain's bare back.
16:59The wounds were still seeping blood, but they were already beginning to close.
17:03That day, we carried the mountain lion's hide and meat home.
17:06Cain kept the best piece.
17:08Said he'd make me a cloak.
17:09Why?
17:10Because it's your first kill.
17:11He shrugged.
17:12Wolf rule.
17:13The pelt belongs to the hunter.
17:14But you killed it.
17:16Cain shook his head.
17:17Not without your blade.
17:19He paused.
17:19You're braver than I thought.
17:21I looked down.
17:22My ears burned.
17:23That night, I sat beside him, helping scrape and cut.
17:26Firelight moved across his face.
17:28The long scar looked less scary in the flicker.
17:30Cain.
17:30Yeah?
17:31From now on, let's hunt together more often.
17:34Okay.
17:34End of March.
17:35I started feeling off.
17:37Tired.
17:38No strength.
17:39Cain came home.
17:40I told him.
17:41He got excited on the spot.
17:44Stay here.
17:44I'm getting the healer.
17:46The healer came.
17:47Sure enough, pup.
17:48Two months along.
17:49Good for you, Ella.
17:50Pop out a male pup and you're set.
17:52Cain's silver will be yours.
17:54You'll run the house?
17:55I smiled and nodded.
17:56Didn't tell them Cain already handed me his silver.
17:58That I already ran everything.
18:00Cain got nervous after I got pregnant.
18:02Came home early.
18:03Did all the heavy grunt work.
18:05I stayed careful.
18:06But I wasn't gonna sit around doing nothing.
18:08Women aren't that fragile.
18:09That day, I took a basket to pick wild berries near camp.
18:12Was craving honeyed fruit.
18:13Someone pushed me down a grassy slope.
18:16I screamed.
18:18I saw who it was.
18:20Cain's mother.
18:21Margaret.
18:22Eyes mean as a snake.
18:23Why should Alan suffer while you live easy?
18:27You think you deserve a pup?
18:29Cain twisted through me.
18:31I couldn't even scream.
18:32Someone help.
18:33Cain reached out for her to stay.
18:34A pack kid saw me.
18:36Ran back to camp.
18:37They carried me home.
18:38Someone else went for the healer.
18:40I watched the healer sip shake his head and sigh.
18:42Cain walked in, dark as a storm.
18:45Ella.
18:46Cain walked in, dark as a storm.
18:46His hands had blood on them.
18:47My tears away.
18:49Gentle.
18:49Ella.
18:50I know.
18:51Don't think too much.
18:51Take your medicine.
18:53Sleep.
18:54Our pup's justice.
18:55The father goes and gets it.
18:56Cain didn't leave.
18:57Sat by the bed until I cried myself out.
19:00Took his hunting knife and went to his parents' place.
19:03Everyone heard the place.
19:05When they couldn't scream anymore, Cain came out.
19:08Cain, those are your parents.
19:10He didn't answer.
19:11Just picked up an axe and started swinging.
19:13In the house was a pile of rubble.
19:16He left.
19:17His parents were alive, but not really.
19:19I woke up again, candlelight.
19:21Ella, does it hurt?
19:23I tried to tell him about the pup.
19:25Tried to say how much it hurt.
19:26Everywhere hurt.
19:27But I opened my mouth and nothing came out.
19:29Food's ready.
19:30Eat some.
19:31Sleep some more.
19:32I'm going to find him a place.
19:33Somewhere peaceful.
19:34When Cain turned to go, I grabbed him.
19:37I want to come.
19:38Then come.
19:39He found a good place.
19:40By the river.
19:41Tiny little grave.
19:42My poor little pup.
19:43His dad and I wanted him so bad.
19:45Word spread about Margaret pushing me.
19:47The elder was furious, stripped Noah and Margaret from the pack rolls.
19:51That's when they finally got scared, cried, and begged.
19:55One morning after the rain stopped, Cain helped me into the cart.
19:59Where are we going?
20:00Somewhere no one knows us.
20:01Somewhere we can eat whatever we want, wear whatever we want.
20:04Somewhere everyone learns I'm not someone to mess with.
20:06I'm scared.
20:07Don't be.
20:08I'll protect you.
20:09Anyone hurts you, I kill them.
20:11We headed south.
20:12I'd never traveled before.
20:13Everything was strange and new.
20:15But then I thought about the pup I lost and couldn't help sighing.
20:19Cain held my hand, quiet, letting me know he was there.
20:22I tried to smile at him, just ended up leaning into him, crying.
20:26I knew time would fix it.
20:27But right then, I was still broken.
20:30Cain, I'll get better.
20:32Just give me time.
20:33Okay.
20:33Whatever I wanted to eat, Cain bought it.
20:35We didn't rush.
20:36Whenever we found a pretty view, Cain stopped so we could look at it together.
20:40My eyes went hot.
20:42I just screamed.
20:44Half the weight in my chest broke apart with those screams.
20:48We stopped at a town called Redford, flat everywhere.
20:51Rented a little courtyard place.
20:53Cleaned it up.
20:55Brought our things in.
20:56Started feeling like home.
20:58That night, we roasted venison.
21:00The neighbor's kids smelled it and started crying for meat.
21:03Cain and I looked at each other and laughed.
21:06He cut meat for me.
21:08I cut meat for him.
21:09Cain had the horse and he was strong.
21:11Easy to find work.
21:12Paid pretty well.
21:13Life was comfortable.
21:14Molly from next door.
21:15Her son, Tommy, with her.
21:16I rubbed Tommy's head.
21:17Went and got him a piece of honey candy.
21:19Thanks.
21:20I'm going to spoil him.
21:21Lord Foster on the west side is throwing a party.
21:24Needs scrubbers.
21:2550 copper a day.
21:26Let me check with my husband.
21:27But if I went, who'd cook for Cain?
21:31Let him stay a while.
21:32Tommy was good.
21:33Quiet.
21:34I wiped his hands.
21:35Did my sewing.
21:36He sat next to me playing with little wooden blocks Cain had made.
21:40Look, Ella.
21:41Good job.
21:41If my pup had lived in two or find a blay wary two or three years, he'd be this sweet,
21:46this good.
21:47You're good too.
21:48What am I good at?
21:49Sewing.
21:50I rubbed his head.
21:51Then came footsteps outside.
21:54Cain's home!
21:55Tommy smiled.
21:57Everyone was scared of Cain.
21:58Even the kids.
21:59But not Tommy.
22:00He liked him.
22:01Cain came into the yard.
22:02You're hurt?
22:04No.
22:05Boar blood.
22:06Go get your dad.
22:07We're roasting boar tonight.
22:10Dad!
22:11Cain says come help!
22:13When no one was looking, he pinched my cheek too.
22:17Roast plenty tonight.
22:19You're getting too thin.
22:21Tommy's dad came.
22:22Neighbors came by, asking if we were selling the meat.
22:26I looked at Cain.
22:28Boar's not that big.
22:29Keep it.
22:30My mate's been sick.
22:32Needs the nutrition.
22:34Next time I go out, maybe I'll bag a bigger one.
22:38That's huge!
22:40Anyone who helped.
22:41Cain gave them about half a pound.
22:43Tommy stayed for dinner.
22:46After dinner, we walked Tommy home.
22:49Later, I asked Cain what about making him our godjun.
22:52Cain thought about it for a long time.
22:55Let's wait and see.
22:56Then I told him about Lord Foster's party.
22:5850 copper a day.
23:00You wanna do it?
23:01Then do it.
23:02If it's too hard, quit.
23:04I can support you.
23:05I looked at Cain and smiled.
23:07Molly and I started working parties regular.
23:09Cain didn't bring home much at first.
23:12Then 3 silver.
23:14Then...
23:16Then 10.
23:17One month he brought home 50.
23:19The place we were renting went up for sale.
23:2127 silver.
23:22We talked it over and bought it.
23:24Our own place.
23:26Fixed up the roof.
23:28One day, I made a pot of stew.
23:30The whole street smelled it.
23:32Everyone came asking.
23:33I gave out the bowls.
23:34Seeing them praise it, gave me an idea.
23:37You wanna sell stew on the street?
23:38I nodded.
23:39I'm not afraid of work.
23:41But keeping busy helps.
23:44Keeps me from thinking too much.
23:46That pain never went away.
23:47Not talking about it didn't mean forgetting.
23:50Then do it.
23:51But don't do it alone.
23:53Ask Molly.
23:54I told Molly.
23:55She said yes on the spot.
23:58Only thing is, I don't have a single copper.
24:02Every coin goes straight to the mother-in-law.
24:04Molly, I know.
24:05I'll pay you wages.
24:06A few days of free work won't kill me.
24:09Knock on wood.
24:09Your stew business is going to make it.
24:12I can feel it.
24:13Kane had a wooden pushcart built.
24:15Bought firewood.
24:17Me and him sat up nights doing the math.
24:20How much to sell.
24:22And Molly's wages.
24:26Kane looked up in the candlelight.
24:30Ella, let's learn to read.
24:33I was shocked.
24:35Read?
24:38You go ahead.
24:39You're the one.
24:40Win out in the world.
24:42Kane shook his head.
24:44Both of us.
24:45I'll teach you.
24:46Reading.
24:48Arthur Mithme.
24:48Kane said.
24:49Then doing business won't be such a struggle.
24:51Won't take all night just to add things up.
24:54He was right.
24:56And he wanted me to learn too.
24:58My heart could have burst.
25:00How many men would do that?
25:02My stew stand opened.
25:03Business was good.
25:05Then someone opened another stand across the street.
25:07Taking our customer.
25:08Molly cursed them out.
25:10Don't be mad, Molly.
25:11Now it's just right.
25:12We made money.
25:13Not too tired.
25:15Ella, you're too sensible.
25:16Not sensible.
25:17Kane made good money anyway.
25:19The stew stand was mine.
25:21Whatever it made was extra.
25:22Kept me busy.
25:25Kept me from remembering.
25:26My stew business went from a cart to a storefront in a year.
25:30When we moved to a bigger place.
25:32Tommy cried his eyes out.
25:34You can visit.
25:36You'll see me.
25:37Tommy shook his head.
25:39It's not the same.
25:41It wasn't.
25:42But he adjusted.
25:43Not long after we moved.
25:44I started feeling off again.
25:46I knew the signs.
25:47Told Kane.
25:48He called a doctor.
25:49Sure enough.
25:50Pregnant.
25:51Kane laid his hand on my belly.
25:53Gentle.
25:54After a long moment, he said.
25:56Let's buy two servants.
25:57An older woman for cleaning.
25:59A young maid for you.
26:01Kane bought things we didn't need.
26:03Rattles.
26:04Wooden horses.
26:06Little bows and arrows.
26:08I could tell he wanted a boy.
26:11What if it's a girl?
26:13I asked.
26:14Girls are fine.
26:17Blossoms before fruit.
26:19A few girls first.
26:21Then I'll be a father-in-law with endless roasted pig feet.
26:25I sat in my comfortable chair.
26:27Sewing soft baby clothes.
26:30The room was quiet.
26:31Warm.
26:33Safe.
26:34The master's home.
26:36Kane hurried in.
26:38His eyes went soft when he saw me.
26:40Did the pup give you trouble today?
26:42I put down my sewing.
26:44Showed him my belly.
26:46Not today.
26:47He was good.
26:50Kane crouched down.
26:52Put his palm flat on my belly.
26:54The pup moved.
26:57He kicked.
26:59I looked at him.
27:01My eyes full of joy.
27:03Kane smiled too.
27:05He leaned down and pressed his ear to my belly.
27:11The heartbeat came through.
27:13The sound of new life.
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