- 6 hours ago
The Bride They Sold Away ASD
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Sold me to the most vicious lone wolf hunter in pack for five silver coins.
00:04On the night of our mating ceremony, I sat on the edge of a broken bed, biting my lip.
00:09I'm a wolfless omega orphan.
00:12And Cain, the pack says he's a curse.
00:14His parents abandoned him as a pup and never came back.
00:17They say he walked into the shadow woods alone at six.
00:20Shift 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.
00:34Never spoke a word to him.
00:36It's that I wondered to him.
00:37Never even looked him in the eye.
00:39I never thought my aunt would sell me to him.
00:41No gifts.
00:42No feast.
00:43I wore an old white dress and took shaky steps into his cabin.
00:48It smelled of blood and old fur.
00:50I didn't think I'd survive tonight.
00:53All I could hear was my aunt counting her silver.
00:55Don't blame me, Ella.
00:57You're lucky anyone would take you.
00:59I stood there like a fool, not knowing what to do.
01:02Until the door banged open.
01:04I gasped.
01:06His leather coat was slashed open across the ribs.
01:09The smell of copper hit me before I could breathe.
01:12He didn't say a word.
01:13Black bread.
01:14Roasted venison haunch.
01:15A bowl of broth still warm.
01:17Eat.
01:18I was starving, and 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 Tuneran's use since my parents died.
01:29When 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.
01:37Cain 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.
01:46Scrape.
01:47Scrape.
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.
02:02I was his.
02:04He could beat me.
02:05Kill me.
02:06No one would care.
02:07But the blow never came.
02:08Instead, he took my cold hand and pressed something warm into my palm.
02:14I opened my eyes.
02:15A thin necklace.
02:16A 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.
02:29The moon goddess's blessing.
02:31I know this life is hard.
02:32You 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?
02:43You don't like it?
02:44After a long silence, he forced out.
02:46No!
02:47I'd just forgotten what it felt like to be wanted.
02:50After my parents died, I stopped being anyone's treasure.
02:52I was just extra weight in my aunt's tent.
02:55Every meal was charity.
02:56My 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.
03:03His breathing slowed.
03:05Deep and rough.
03:06My heart stopped racing.
03:08Sleep came for me.
03:09My aunt screamed in my dreams.
03:11My cousins shoved me around, and a shadow bear lunged for my throat.
03:16I jolted awake, gasping.
03:18Strange ceiling.
03:19Strange smells.
03:20Right.
03:21My aunt sold me.
03:22I belong to Cain now.
03:24I wiped the sweat from my forehead, pulled myself together, and went outside.
03:28Quiet.
03:29The air smelled of blood and animal hides.
03:32Cain?
03:34No answer.
03:35I found the kitchen.
03:36Filthy.
03:37The stone pots were rusted.
03:39Mice scattered when I moved things.
03:41I couldn't run.
03:42Couldn't hide.
03:42So I rolled up my sleeves and started scrubbing.
03:45Ella!
03:45I was halfway through when a voice came from outside.
03:48I'm here!
03:49I stepped out of the kitchen.
03:50He was holding another basket.
03:52Breakfast.
03:53Martha made it.
03:54Black bread.
03:55Smoked meat.
03:56Broth.
03:56Cain tore into the bread and pushed the rest toward me.
03:59Eat up.
04:00I can feed you.
04:01I nodded and didn't hold back.
04:03You can cook, right?
04:03I almost choked.
04:05I pounded my chest and nodded hard.
04:07I'll bring the meat.
04:08Cain said.
04:09He waited for me to nod again, then finished the rest of the bread and meat, and headed
04:13for the door.
04:14Where are you going?
04:14I called out.
04:15He turned.
04:16I was thinking I'd clean the kitchen properly, so we don't get sick from dirty dishes.
04:20Cain's brow furrowed.
04:21The cabin is yours.
04:23Do what you want.
04:24By the time I'd scrubbed every surface, Cain was back with a leather sack.
04:28He looked at the clean kitchen and blinked.
04:30Flour.
04:30I'll trade for the rest at the market.
04:31When he left again, I opened the sack.
04:34Ground flour.
04:35Enough to last weeks.
04:36I went back to cleaning.
04:38I dragged Cain's dirty clothes into the yard.
04:41A mouse ran out of the pile.
04:43I chased it like a madwoman.
04:44Cain came back with two baskets on a pole across his shoulders.
04:48Ella.
04:49I looked up.
04:50I bought meat pies.
04:52Come eat.
04:53I hadn't had a meat pie since my parents died.
04:55Cain handed me one.
04:56Soft, golden, steaming.
04:58Juice ran down my chin.
04:59I ate two and stopped.
05:01Everything for the kitchen is in the baskets.
05:03Get it sorted.
05:04I'm getting firewood.
05:05I nodded and watched him walk away.
05:07Then I checked the baskets.
05:09Clay jars of salt.
05:10A leather flask of oil.
05:12A slab of cured meat.
05:14Raw sugar.
05:15And a jar of honeyed fruit.
05:16For me, I blinked hard and looked up at the sky.
05:20I organized the kitchen.
05:21Cain came back with firewood.
05:23And a basket of wild greens.
05:25And eggs.
05:26Cook it all.
05:27I eat a lot.
05:27I nodded.
05:28I could do that.
05:29I hung the stone pot over the fire.
05:31Chopped cured meat and wild greens into the broth.
05:35Then I cracked eggs onto a hot, flat stone, slick with pork fat.
05:39They sizzled and turned gold at the edges.
05:42Cain looked at the stew, the black bread, the fried eggs.
05:45His eyes brightened.
05:46Sit.
05:46Eat.
05:47I waited for him to pick up his knife and fork.
05:49Then I picked up mine.
05:50Eat.
05:51I looked at him.
05:52He dug in.
05:53I ate slowly, keeping my eyes down.
05:55Ella.
05:57Tomorrow.
05:57You're coming into the woods with me.
05:59I froze.
06:00Me?
06:00Yeah.
06:01I can't bring enough meat on my own.
06:03Winter's coming.
06:04Hunting was men's work.
06:06Pack females sometimes came along to carry and dress the kill.
06:09But I'd never done any of it.
06:11I don't know how.
06:12I'll teach you.
06:12I looked up at his scarred face.
06:14The firelight made it worse.
06:16But his eyes were steady.
06:17No disgust.
06:18No impatience.
06:19Okay.
06:21Before dawn, Cain shook me awake.
06:24Wear this.
06:25A deer hide coat.
06:26Thick.
06:27Warm.
06:27I hadn't seen it before.
06:29I put it on and followed him into the mist.
06:32The shadow woods were dark.
06:33Trees blocked the sky.
06:35Cain walked ahead.
06:36I stepped where he stepped.
06:37After a meal's time, he stopped and crouched.
06:40What do you smell?
06:41He looked at me.
06:42I breathed deep.
06:43Earth.
06:43Rotting leaves.
06:44Water far off.
06:45And something else.
06:46Faint.
06:47Musky.
06:47I smell something.
06:48The corner of Cain's mouth twifled.
06:50Deer, your nose is better than you think.
06:52Don't be scared.
06:53Stay behind me.
06:53We followed the trail.
06:55Cain stopped every few steps to listen.
06:57Then we saw it.
06:57He exploded forward.
06:59The shadow deer tried to run.
07:00Cain was already on it.
07:01His blade sliced its throat.
07:03I stood frozen.
07:04Legs like water.
07:05Cain turned.
07:06Face wet with blood.
07:08And waved me over.
07:09Come.
07:10I walked to the dying animal.
07:11You need to learn this.
07:13In case I'm not around, you need to eat.
07:14I crouched and watched his hands.
07:16Skin comes off first.
07:18Keep it clean.
07:18Gut it fast or the meat sours.
07:20We carried the meat down the mountain together.
07:22One half each.
07:23My shoulder screamed.
07:24I didn't complain.
07:26Cain looked back at me.
07:27Good job.
07:27It was the first time anyone had praised me since my parents died.
07:31Ella.
07:31I turned.
07:32Cain pulled a leather pouch from his chest and shoved it into my hands.
07:36From now on, you hold the silver.
07:39But I...
07:40Male hunts.
07:41Female keeps the house.
07:43That's how it works.
07:44I weighed the pouch in my hand.
07:46Heavy.
07:47Nice.
07:48Ella.
07:49Yeah?
07:49Let me mark you.
07:51I went quiet.
07:52I was scared.
07:53I didn't know what it would feel like.
07:55But Cain had been good to me.
07:56Where would I go if I left him?
07:58I had nowhere.
07:59No one.
07:59Being marked.
08:00Carrying his pup.
08:02That was my fate.
08:04I nodded.
08:05I thought marking was just a bite.
08:07But Cain brought new furs and honey mead.
08:10We stood in the yard under the moon, swore ourselves to each other, and drank from the
08:15same cup.
08:16Then he led me inside.
08:17The fire was low.
08:18He pulled the strap of my dress down.
08:20The fabric fell to my feet.
08:22I crossed my arms over my chest.
08:24He took my wrists and gently pulled my hands away.
08:27You're shaking.
08:28I'm cold.
08:29No, you're not.
08:31His hands slid around my waist, rough palms against bare skin.
08:34He pulled me into him and kissed me, hungry, desperate, like a man who'd never been allowed
08:40to want something.
08:41He tore his shirt off.
08:42I touched the scars on his chest.
08:45Then my hands went to his trousers, fubbled with the ties.
08:48When I got them undone, he pulled me against him, skin to skin.
08:51I gasped.
08:52He laid me down on the fresh furs and came over me.
08:55Last chance.
08:56He said, voice wrecked.
08:58Tell me no.
08:59I touched his scarred face.
09:01Don't stop.
09:04He didn't.
09:05When he bit down on the back of my neck, I cried out.
09:07He held me steady, whispered it would be over soon.
09:10Afterward, I lay shaking.
09:12I asked for water.
09:13He brought it to my lips.
09:15I stared at him like he'd grown wings.
09:17When I lay back down, the mark on my neck was still warm.
09:20Every wolf would know.
09:22I belonged to Cain.
09:23Cain belonged to me.
09:25I smiled to the dark.
09:26Cain didn't talk much.
09:27He hunted.
09:29He brought me silver.
09:30He did the heavy work.
09:32When I said something, he answered.
09:35We talked about building another room.
09:37About digging a cellar for meat and grain.
09:40I liked that.
09:41I looked at my clothes.
09:42They were getting tight.
09:43Maybe I should eat less.
09:45Ella!
09:45Ella!
09:46Is Cain home?
09:46It was Martha.
09:47Good woman.
09:48He's hunting.
09:48Oh no!
09:49His parents are back!
09:50What?
09:52His mother.
09:53She's vicious.
09:54And they've got a young man with them.
09:56Must be Cain's brother.
09:57My mind went blank.
09:58They'd been gone for over a decade.
10:00Ma!
10:01Pa!
10:01This is the place?
10:02It's so run down!
10:04I walked outside.
10:06Three figures.
10:07Two old, one young.
10:08The old ones had greedy eyes.
10:10The young one looked disgusted.
10:12You're Cain's mate?
10:13Ella?
10:13I'm his mother.
10:14Get us water.
10:15And cook something.
10:16The best room, it's for Alan.
10:18He needs a place to bed his bride.
10:20Margaret, Cain's mother, let her eyes roam over the cabin.
10:22Over me.
10:23She didn't bother hiding her disgust.
10:25Where's that ungrateful son of mine?
10:26Just then, Cain came around the corner with firewood.
10:28Pack members trailed behind him, hoping for a show.
10:31Cain stared at the three strangers.
10:32Who are you?
10:33Your mother!
10:34The old man bared his teeth.
10:36Ungrateful wilt.
10:37The pack gossip stirred.
10:39That's really Noah.
10:40The alpha came.
10:42The elders came.
10:43They confirmed it.
10:45Take us in.
10:46Be a good son.
10:47And give us silver to find Alan a mate.
10:50You don't want your brother dying alone, do you?
10:53I tugged Cain's sleeve.
10:54He squeezed my hand back.
10:56You're not giving it to his brother for a bride.
10:58Silver he nearly died for.
10:59I stepped forward.
11:00Not your place, sister-in-law.
11:02Alan curled his lip.
11:03Parents are still alive.
11:05You don't get a say.
11:06Margaret lunged at me.
11:07Cain caught her wrist.
11:09Cain!
11:09You'd raise a hand to your own mother?
11:12He let go.
11:14I'm gonna die!
11:15My son has a mate now and I'm dead to him!
11:19Cain looked at her.
11:21Then at me.
11:22You've been gone for years.
11:23Why are you back?
11:24Margaret stood up, dry-eyed.
11:25We came home to be with you.
11:27And this cabin?
11:27We built it.
11:28We're staying.
11:29The cabin is yours, but we split the belongings.
11:31What I bought with my own hands comes with me.
11:33Margaret's eyes...
11:33No!
11:34Cleaned she orderly.
11:35You can't take the furniture.
11:36What will we use?
11:36Not my problem.
11:37Have mercy.
11:38I gave him life and now he wants to leave us with nothing.
11:41Keep the furniture, but my hunting kit comes with me.
11:42My clothes.
11:43My furs.
11:44And I'm severing the bond.
11:45Margaret screamed.
11:46The bond?
11:47Alan screamed.
11:48Good.
11:49Good.
11:50I wanted to cry.
11:51My home.
11:52The one I'd scrubbed and mended with my own hands.
11:54Gone.
11:55But Cain's silver was still in my pocket.
11:57We signed the papers, pressed our thumbs to the ink.
11:59At dusk, I carried our clothes.
12:01He carried the baskets.
12:02The higher we climbed, the heavier my feet became.
12:05I stopped and looked down at the cabin.
12:06Alan...
12:07I looked at Cain and burst into tears.
12:09Cain wiped my face.
12:10Don't cry.
12:10We still have silver.
12:11The cabin was theirs anyway.
12:12We only borrowed it, and Alan is poison.
12:14Letting go of those scraps saves us from worse.
12:15The debt-caluptors can't touch us now.
12:18He looked down at the valley.
12:19We go deeper into the shadow woods.
12:21Find another pack.
12:22We've got hands.
12:23We've got feet.
12:24We'll make a life.
12:25I wanted to believe him.
12:26We'll find someone to take us in, Cain said.
12:28No one wanted to take us in.
12:30Everyone was afraid of being connected to the debt.
12:33We ended up at the elder's old cottage.
12:35Two hundred copper a month.
12:36I cleaned it until it shone.
12:37One bed.
12:38Bare walls.
12:39We'll use your kitchen.
12:40Buy our own grain.
12:41Eat with us.
12:42Fine.
12:43We ate simple.
12:44Black bread.
12:45Smoked meat.
12:46Broth.
12:46Cain didn't complain.
12:47I'll hunt tomorrow.
12:48Trade for grain.
12:49You can roast something when I get back.
12:51We'll save silver.
12:52Build our own place.
12:53We still have silver.
12:53Your parents will never leave us alone.
12:55Your parents are greedy parasites.
12:56They'll never let you go.
12:57Eat your bread.
12:58I snuggled into him that night.
13:00His hands wandered to my hip.
13:01I pushed them away.
13:03What are you doing?
13:04We're guests.
13:05Scenting a den that isn't yours was an insult.
13:07Cain sighed and let his hands rest on my hip.
13:11Sleep.
13:12I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh.
13:14The next morning, Cain went into the woods.
13:16The other pack women helped me with the kitchen fire.
13:19You're easy to talk to, but Cain scares the piss out of us.
13:22He's not so bad, but they didn't call him cruel.
13:24Good thing he severed the bond.
13:26Alan would have bled him dry.
13:27I'd resented Cain for giving up the house.
13:30Now I understood.
13:31We were young.
13:32We had hands.
13:34We'd build again.
13:35The debt collectors found Alan within a week.
13:38They stripped the cabin, sold the hunting grounds and the reindeer.
13:42Left him 50 gold short, due by winter solstice.
13:45The women told me the story in whispers.
13:47I kept my face straight.
13:51Cain warrowed silver from every house in the pack.
13:53They gave it to him.
13:55One wild boar from Cain brought the whole pack running to help build.
13:59Two log cabins.
14:01Twelve men.
14:02Two days.
14:03Cain laughed when I asked what he wanted for lunch.
14:06Cain and I made it through the cold.
14:07Full belly.
14:08Full belly.
14:09Warm bed.
14:10He wanted a pup.
14:11I wanted a pup.
14:13Maybe next year.
14:14The winter was mild.
14:15When the snow melted, the pack started north.
14:18I stayed close to camp.
14:20I gathered wild greens and berries.
14:23Dried some.
14:24Salted others.
14:25Come winter again, they'd go into the stew pot.
14:28Cain hunted every day.
14:31He brought home silver.
14:33He gave it all to me.
14:35The coin jar grew heavy.
14:38One day, Cain came back from the mountains.
14:41With a graver expression than usual.
14:44What's wrong?
14:45Something big came from the south.
14:47He put down his hunting knife and sat at the table.
14:49The tracks are a full circle larger than a shadow bear's.
14:51It's not like an ordinary beast.
14:53My heart tightened.
14:54Then don't go.
14:55Can't not go.
14:56If that thing keeps moving north, it'll cross the pack's migration route.
15:00More than just our family will suffer.
15:02He was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me.
15:05Ella.
15:06Tomorrow, you're coming with me.
15:08Me?
15:09You don't have to fight it head on, but I need a helper.
15:13Someone to watch my back, to keep it from lunging at my flank.
15:16You trust me?
15:18Cain looked at me.
15:19Didn't say a word.
15:21The next morning, before dawn, we went into the shadow woods.
15:25Cain suddenly stopped and crouched down to look at tracks on the ground, bigger than two fists put together.
15:32Mountain lion.
15:32He said under his breath.
15:34He turned to me.
15:35Scared?
15:35I gripped my knife handle.
15:37Yes.
15:38Good.
15:39You should be.
15:40We followed the tracks for some time.
15:42Cain raised his hand for me to stop.
15:43He started taking off his clothes.
15:45Leather coat dropped them piece by piece on the ground.
15:49Then, he changed.
15:51His body lunged forward, hands hitting the ground and turning into claws.
15:55Dark gray fur pushed out through his skin.
15:58A massive wolf stood before me, twice as big as an ordinary gray wolf.
16:02Fangs gleaming white.
16:03A roar came from the bushes.
16:05The mountain lion burst out, lunging straight at Cain.
16:09The two beasts crashed together.
16:11Cain didn't let go, but the lion's jaws were heading straight for his throat.
16:15I didn't think.
16:17I ran out, short blade raised.
16:20I stabbed at the mountain lion's side.
16:22The blade sank into flesh.
16:23I was thrown through the air, my back slamming into a tree trunk.
16:27Stars burst in my vision, but I didn't let go of the knife.
16:30It was still in my hand.
16:31Cain bit through its throat.
16:34The lion twished a few times, then went still.
16:37Cain let go.
16:38He was soaked in blood.
16:39The wildness of the wolf was still glowing in his amber eyes.
16:43He walked over, lowered his head, and touched my palm with me.
16:49Are you hurt?
16:50His voice was harsky as he shifted back to human form.
16:53I shook my head.
16:54Tears wouldn't stop falling.
16:56He pulled me into his arms and held me tight.
16:59You helped a lot.
17:00His voice was muffled above my head.
17:02Without you, I might not have made it.
17:04The morning light fell across Cain's bare back.
17:07The wounds were still seeping blood, but they were already beginning to close.
17:11That day, we carried the mountain lion's hide and meat home.
17:14Cain kept the best piece.
17:16Said he'd make me a cloak.
17:17Why?
17:18Because it's your first kill.
17:19He shrugged.
17:20Wolf rule.
17:21The pelt belongs to the hunter.
17:22But you killed it.
17:24Cain shook his head.
17:25Not without your blade.
17:27He paused.
17:27You're braver than I thought.
17:28I looked down.
17:30My ears burned.
17:31That night, I sat beside him, helping scrape and cut.
17:34Firelight moved across his face.
17:36The long scar looked less scary in the flicker.
17:38Cain.
17:39Yeah?
17:39From now on, let's hunt together more often.
17:42Okay.
17:42End of March, I started feeling off.
17:45Tired.
17:46No strength.
17:47Cain came home.
17:49I told him.
17:49He got excited on the spot.
17:52Stay here.
17:53I'm getting the healer.
17:54The healer came.
17:55Sure enough, pup.
17:56Two months along.
17:57Good for you, Ella.
17:58Pop out a male pup and you're set.
18:00Cain's silver will be yours.
18:02You'll run the house?
18:03I smiled and nodded.
18:04Didn't tell them Cain already handed me a silver.
18:06That I already ran everything.
18:08Cain got nervous after I got pregnant.
18:10Came home early.
18:11Did all the heavy grunt work.
18:13I stayed careful.
18:14But I wasn't gonna sit around doing nothing.
18:16Women aren't that fragile.
18:17That day, I took a basket to pick wild berries near camp.
18:20Was craving honeyed fruit.
18:21Someone pushed me down a grassy slope.
18:24I screamed.
18:26I saw who it was.
18:28Cain's mother.
18:29Margaret.
18:30Eyes mean as a snake.
18:32Why should Alan suffer while you live easy?
18:35You think you deserve a pup?
18:37Pain twisted through me.
18:39I couldn't even scream.
18:41Someone help.
18:41Reached out for her to stay.
18:43A pack kid saw me.
18:44Ran back to camp.
18:45They carried me home.
18:47Someone else went for the healer.
18:48I watched the healer sip shake his head and sigh.
18:51Cain walked in, dark as a storm.
18:53Ella.
18:54His hands had blood on them.
18:56My tears away.
18:57Gentle.
18:58Ella.
18:58I know.
18:59Don't think too much.
19:00Take your medicine.
19:01Sleep.
19:02Our pup's justice.
19:03The father goes and gets it.
19:05Cain didn't leave.
19:06Sat by the bed until I cried myself out.
19:08Took his hunting knife and went to his parents' place.
19:11Everyone heard the place.
19:13When they couldn't scream anymore, Cain came out.
19:17Cain, those are your parents.
19:18He didn't answer.
19:19Cain just picked up an axe and started swinging.
19:22When the house was a pile of rubble, he left.
19:26His parents were alive, but not really.
19:28I woke up again.
19:29Candlelight.
19:30Ella.
19:30Does it hurt?
19:31I tried to tell him about the pup.
19:33Tried to say how much it hurt.
19:34Everywhere hurt.
19:35But I opened my mouth and nothing came out.
19:38Food's ready.
19:39Eat some.
19:39Sleep some more.
19:40I'm going to find him a place.
19:42Somewhere peaceful.
19:43When Cain turned to go, I grabbed him.
19:45I want to come.
19:47Then come.
19:47He found a good place.
19:49By the river.
19:49Tiny little grave.
19:50My poor little pup.
19:52His dad and I wanted him so bad.
19:54Word spread about Margaret pushing me.
19:56The elder was furious.
19:57Stripped Noah and Margaret from the pack rolls.
20:00That's when they finally got scared.
20:02Cried and begged.
20:04One morning after the rain stopped, Cain helped me into the cart.
20:07Where are we going?
20:09Somewhere no one knows us.
20:10Somewhere we can eat whatever we want.
20:12Wear whatever we want.
20:13Somewhere everyone learns I'm not someone to mess with.
20:15I'm scared.
20:16Don't be.
20:17I'll protect you.
20:18Anyone hurts you, I kill them.
20:20We headed south.
20:21I'd never traveled before.
20:22Everything was strange and new.
20:24But then I thought about the pup I lost and couldn't help sighing.
20:27Cain held my hand, quiet, letting me know he was there.
20:31I tried to smile at him, just ended up leaning into him, crying.
20:34I knew time would fix it.
20:36But right then, I was still broken.
20:38Cain, I'll get better.
20:40Just give me time.
20:41Okay.
20:42Whatever I wanted to eat, Cain bought it.
20:44We didn't rush.
20:45Whenever we found a pretty view, Cain stopped so we could look at it together.
20:49My eyes went hot.
20:51I just screamed.
20:53Half the weight in my chest broke apart with those screams.
20:57We stopped at a town called Redford, flat everywhere.
21:00Rented a little courtyard place.
21:02Cleaned it up.
21:04Brought our things in.
21:05Started feeling like home.
21:07That night, we roasted venison.
21:09The neighbor's kid smelled it and started crying for meat.
21:12Cain and I looked at each other and laughed.
21:15He cut meat for me.
21:16I cut meat for him.
21:18Cain had the horse and he was strong.
21:20Easy to find work.
21:21Paid pretty well.
21:22Life was comfortable.
21:23Molly from next door.
21:24Her son, Tommy, with her.
21:25I rubbed Tommy's head.
21:26Went and got him a piece of honey candy.
21:28Thanks.
21:29I'm going to spoil him.
21:30Lord Foster on the west side is throwing a party.
21:33Needs scrubbers.
21:3450 copper a day.
21:35Let me check with my husband.
21:36But if I went, who'd cook for Cain?
21:40Let him stay a while.
21:41Tommy was good.
21:42Quiet.
21:43I wiped his hands.
21:44Did my sewing.
21:45He sat next to me playing with little wooden blocks Cain had made.
21:48Look, Ella.
21:49Good job.
21:50If my pup had lived in two or find a blay wary two or three years, he'd be this sweet,
21:55this good.
21:56You're good too.
21:57What am I good at?
21:58Sewing.
21:59I rubbed his head.
22:00Then came footsteps outside.
22:03Cain's home!
22:04Tommy smiled.
22:05Everyone was scared of Cain, even the kids.
22:08But not Tommy.
22:09He liked him.
22:10Cain came into the yard.
22:12You're hurt?
22:14No.
22:15Boar blood.
22:15Go get your dad.
22:17We're roasting boar tonight.
22:19Dad!
22:20Cain says come help!
22:23When no one was looking, he pinched my cheek too.
22:26Roast plenty tonight.
22:28You're getting too thin.
22:30Tommy's dad came.
22:31Neighbors came by, asking if we were selling the meat.
22:35I looked at Cain.
22:37Boar's not that big.
22:39Keep it.
22:40My mate's been sick.
22:41Needs the nutrition.
22:43Next time I go out, maybe I'll bag a bigger one.
22:47That's huge!
22:49That's huge!
22:49Anyone who helped.
22:50Cain gave them about half a pound.
22:52Tommy stayed for dinner.
22:55After dinner, we walked Tommy home.
22:58Later, I asked Cain what about making him our godjun.
23:01Cain thought about it for a long time.
23:04Let's wait and see.
23:05Then I told him about Lord Foster's party.
23:07Fifty copper a day.
23:09You want to do it?
23:10Then do it.
23:11If it's too hard, quit.
23:13I can support you.
23:15I looked at Cain and smiled.
23:16Molly and I started working parties regular.
23:19Cain didn't bring home much at first.
23:21Then three silver.
23:24Then...
23:25Then ten.
23:26One month he brought home fifty.
23:28The place we were renting went up for sale.
23:31Twenty-seven silver.
23:32We talked it over and bought it.
23:34Our own place.
23:35Fixed up the roof.
23:37One day, I made a pot of stew.
23:39The whole street smelled it.
23:41Everyone came asking.
23:43I gave out the bowls.
23:44Seeing them praise it gave me an idea.
23:46You want to sell stew on the street?
23:48I nodded.
23:49I'm not afraid of work.
23:51But keeping busy helps.
23:53Keeps me from thinking too much.
23:55That pain never went away.
23:57Not talking about it didn't mean forgetting.
23:59Then do it.
24:00But don't do it alone.
24:02Ask Molly.
24:03I told Molly.
24:04She said yes on the spot.
24:08Only thing is, I don't have a single copper.
24:11Every coin goes straight to the mother-in-law.
24:13Molly, I know.
24:14I'll pay you wages.
24:16A few days of free work won't kill me.
24:18Knock on wood.
24:19Your stew business is going to make it.
24:21I can feel it.
24:22Cain had a wooden pushcart built.
24:25Bought firewood.
24:26Me and him sat up nights doing the math.
24:29How much to sell.
24:31And Molly's wages.
24:35Cain looked up in the candlelight.
24:39Ella.
24:40Let's learn to read.
24:43I was shocked.
24:45Read?
24:47You go ahead.
24:49You're the one.
24:50Win out in the world.
24:52Cain shook his head.
24:54Both of us.
24:55I'll teach you.
24:56Reading.
24:57Arthur Mith Cain said.
24:59Then doing business won't be such a struggle.
25:01Won't take all night just to add things up.
25:03He was right.
25:06And he wanted me to learn too.
25:08My heart could have burst.
25:10How many men would do that?
25:11My stew stand opened.
25:13Business was good.
25:14Then someone opened another stand across the street.
25:17Taking our customer.
25:18Molly cursed them out.
25:19Don't be mad, Molly.
25:21Now it's just right.
25:22We made money.
25:23Not too tired.
25:24Ella, you're too sensible.
25:26Not sensible.
25:27Cain made good money anyway.
25:29The stew stand was mine.
25:30Whatever it made was extra.
25:32Kept me busy.
25:34Kept me from remembering.
25:36My stew business went from a cart to a storefront in a year.
25:39When we moved to a bigger place,
25:42Tommy cried his eyes out.
25:44You can visit.
25:45You'll see me.
25:47Tommy shook his head.
25:49It's not the same.
25:51It wasn't.
25:51But he adjusted.
25:52Not long after we moved, I started feeling off again.
25:56I knew the signs.
25:57Told Cain.
25:58He called a doctor.
25:59Sure enough.
26:00Pregnant.
26:01Cain laid his hand on my belly.
26:03Gentle.
26:04After a long moment, he said.
26:06Let's buy two servants.
26:07An older woman for cleaning.
26:09A young maid for you.
26:11Cain bought things we didn't need.
26:13Rattles.
26:14Wooden horses.
26:16Little bows and arrows.
26:18I could tell he wanted a boy.
26:21What if it's a girl?
26:22I asked.
26:24Girls are fine.
26:27Blossoms before fruit.
26:29A few girls first.
26:30Then I'll be a father-in-law with endless roasted pig feet.
26:34I sat in my comfortable chair.
26:37Sewing soft baby clothes.
26:39The room was quiet.
26:41Warm.
26:43Safe.
26:44The master's home.
26:46Cain hurried in.
26:48His eyes went soft when he saw me.
26:50Did the pup give you trouble today?
26:52I put down my sewing.
26:54Showed him my belly.
26:56Not today.
26:57He was good.
27:00Cain crouched down.
27:02Put his palm flat on my belly.
27:04The pup moved.
27:07He kicked.
27:09I looked at him.
27:11My eyes full of joy.
27:13Cain smiled too.
27:15He leaned down and pressed his ear to my belly.
27:21The heartbeat came through.
27:23The sound of new life.
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