Chapter 144: Getting Prepared
Elder Lor grabbed Loren by the arm and escorted her out of Jalen’s home. The other Elders met up with him. “What happened? Why are you dragging the apprentice from Jalen’s home?” They could tell that Elder Lor was furious. “She was found trying to have sex with Marcus while he was asleep. Jalen caught her in the act and had requested that she be punished. The Elders will decide her punishment. In the meantime she will be locked up in the small animal shed and guards will be posted.”
Two days had gone by and it was time for Lorens punishment to start. There was no need for a trial as she was caught in the act. All the Elders had gathered in the Ceremonial Circle seated in their chairs that formed a semi circle. They were whispering to each other as they waited for Loren to be brought before them.
The villagers were standing behind the Circle waiting for the accused to be brought out. They chatted among themselves, some shaking their heads while others stood with their arms crossed. The older members sat on chairs that had been provided. Jalen and Marcus were among those. They were seated directly behind where the accused would stand. Children could be heard playing nearby.
Finally, Loren was escorted out. She walked with her head bowed. She knew that she shouldn’t have given in to the lust she felt for Marcus. He was so beautiful and she was jealous that Astra held his heart and she wasn't even around! She had been certain that he had been attracted to her but, alas, he was faithful to his mate.
She was stopped by her guards, and told to stand in front of the Council of Elders. She lifted her head. She didn’t want them to think that she was meek. She looked them straight in the eye. She waited for them to speak.
“Loren”, Elder Lor began, “you have been found guilty of betraying the rules of the Shaman and breaking Tribal Law. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”
“No, I am guilty as charged and will accept my punishment.” Loren spoke softly. She hoped they would give her a lighter sentence since she had admitted her guilt.
The Elders started to confer with one another. Whispering and gestulating until they finally came to an agreement.
Elder Lor stood up. “Loren, we have come to a decision. You will be stripped of your Shaman Apprentice designation. You will spend two more weeks in the animal shed and after that you will be released. It is for you to find your place to stay whether that is with a villager or you may build your own hut. We have been lenient with you because you admitted to your guilt. Do you have any questions?”
“No, but I would like to thank you for your leniency and I’d like to apologize to Shaman Jalen for betraying the rules of the Shaman and to Marcus for letting my desires overtake me.” She turned to look at Jalen and Marcus and lowered her eyes and gave a small bow. She was then escorted back to the animal pens.
Jalen and Marcus walked back to the Shaman’s home. Each was quiet,absorbed in their own thoughts. Marcus felt bad for Loren. He knew what it was like to want someone that was just out of reach. He turned to Jalen, “I feel really bad about Loren. I know what she did was wrong but she won’t have anywhere to stay when she leaves the animal pen. I think I’d like to build her a small hut but I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.”
Jalen looked at him in surprise, “Marcus, that is very noble of you. She wronged you but you still have empathy for her.” She paused, “I think I’ll recrute some of the men so a number of them will build it for her.”
“But what will be your reason?” Jalen thought for a bit. “She did confess her guilt so a hut will be her reward for being truthful. And with a large number of men building it, she won’t think it’s just from me.”
Marcus had been counting the days when Astra would return. He was so glad that there were only three days left and she would be back in his arms. He couldn’t wait to see her baby belly and feel the baby inside move. She would be close to giving birth also. He needed to talk to Jalen about getting a birthing place ready for her.
Jalen looked around the living area of Astra and Marcus’s home. She thought it more appropriate for the birthing to take place. She had put a layer of rushes down then a layer of large leaves and covered it all with a blanket. She set up a table to hold the container of warm water and the linen for drying the baby. Marcus had made a crib and she put that off to the side for later use. The area looked ready for the birthing to take place.
Marcus was trying to find Jalen. He had looked in Jalen’s home but she wasn’t there. He walked to his house thinking he might try to clean it before Astra returned. He walked through the door and stopped in amazement. The room was ready for the birthing and Jalen was folding linen cloths and storing them on a table nearby. “It looks wonderful! I didn’t know that you were already preparing the room for the birthing. I was trying to find you to suggest we should get started.” Jalen laughed with pleasure, “beat ya to it” and giggled again.