Summoned Again?

It took a good five minutes before the Freemartin woke up. She got to her feet and grabbed the hilt of her sword. “You can't just give me away!” She exclaimed to the Tup.

“I'm sure your new Tup would disagree.” The Tup said and nodded to me.

“No, he... he isn't the leader of a herd.” She said, her voice less confident.

“I see four solid members and twelve potential converts.” The Tup said. “Do you require more?”

“But... my family...”

“I give you permission to ask them to accompany you; but, they are my herd and it is only a loan until the metal man comes back.”

“I am your herd, too.”

The Tup gave her a very stern glare. “You have never thought of yourself a part of this herd.”

“That's your fault!” The Freemartin said. “I had to compete with the males because I can't have kids! I can't have a normal life as a Ewe and I can't survive as a Guard or Soldier!”

“Exactly.” The Tup said. “You have been put into an unfair situation all of your life and you blame everyone for it. You have no female friends to bond with and you scare the normal rams. Not because you can't compete, it's because you would kill them for disrespecting you.”

The Freemartin didn't say anything in response.

“The metal man actually wants you to be in his herd. Is that so bad?” The Tup asked. “He obviously knows what you are like and he wants you anyway. Is that not something you've always wanted?” He asked and didn't wait for a response. “You may take a fast horse, loaded with enough supplies for the journey to the mountain.”

“I have enough for her.” I said and they both looked at me. “What about miners and picks and things?”

“I will have a small caravan set to leave within an hour.” The Tup said.

“Can it be two hours? My companions and I need to eat.” I said.

The Tup looked at me sternly. “We cannot feed so many with no notice.”

“I'm feeding them, so that's fine.” I said. “I just need a place to cook. Is there an inn or something?”

The Tup pointed at the Freemartin.

She sighed. “I believe that my mother's place will be sufficient.”

“Two hours. The caravan will leave the west end of the settlement then. If anything happens to them if you aren't there, then we will have words.” The Tup said. “Good luck and quick travels.”

I waved my hand and stored the seven large sacks of gems and the small sack I had in my hand, then the Freemartin led us from the throne room.

“I can't believe you did that to me!” She exclaimed without stopping or even turning to look at me.

“He was going to kill you, you know.” I said and that made her stop and look at me. “You threatened him in front of non-herd members. It was either exile with me or death.”

She didn't show me her face, and yet, I could still see indecision on her face.

“No, I won't tell you how I know that. Maybe some day.” I said and waved forward. “I'd like to meet your mother now.”

She let out another sigh and turned as she walked away. We followed her and she led us to a place a little bit away from the main road and the shops. It was a modest little stone and wood house that had slightly larger proportions than a normal house would. I assumed it was because the rams were ridiculously large and muscular, and I was proven right as a large ram that was about seven feet tall came out through the door.

“Sister, I'm not going to ask why you are bringing the strangers to our home.” The ram said.

“Go on patrol or something.” The Freemartin said and waved him out of the way. “We have guests for a meal right now.”

“I'm not invited?” He asked and you could hear the smile on his face, even though it was covered.

“I need half an hour to prepare it.” I said and he turned and looked at me.

“You?” He asked, surprised.

“I'm sure your mother will help me, unless your father is around.” I said.

“He was killed in a dominance fight.” The ram said and stood up straighter.

“The only better way is by fighting for a woman.” I responded and he nodded.

“I will patrol.” He said and walked by us.

The Freemartin watched him leave, then she sighed. “Wait here.” She said and went inside.

I put a foot on the door and held it open as I listened to the important conversation to come.

*

“Mother.” The Freemartin said.

“Ah, my beautiful daughter.” Her mother said and gave her a hug. “You can take off the covering while at home. You know that.”

“We are to have guests.” The Freemartin said.

“Oh? Who?”

“The metal man and his... herd.” The Freemartin said, reluctantly.

“We don't have anywhere near the supplies for...”

“He wants to cook and has his own supplies.”

“What? Really?” She asked and walked around her daughter.

“Your face covering.” The Freemartin said and caught her arm.

“Oh, he won't mind.” She said.

“Mother, the Tup told me to bring him here.”

The woman sighed. “I suppose it's only proper if it's for the herd.”

“That's not what I meant.” The Freemartin said. “He... he also...”

“Did he deny another challenge?” Her mother asked with a bleat of laughter as she put on her face covering.

“Worse.” The Freemartin said.

“He accepted?!?” She asked, surprised.

“No, even worse than that.”

Her mother took a sharp breath in and let out a huff. “Exile.”

“He gave me to the metal man.” The Freemartin said.

“Is he a proper ram?” Her mother asked.

“Mother!”

“Ah, you haven't seen his face yet.” She said. “Let's go meet him.”

“He's not who you think he is.” The Freemartin said.

“He's not a ram?” She asked, a little confused.

“No, I... I don't know what he is.”

“It might be difficult to mate with someone if you don't know what he is.”

“MOTHER!” The Freemartin yelled.

“What? You don't have to worry about getting pregnant, unlike your brother's chosen mate.”

“She's with child?” The Freemartin asked.

“That's what he was here to tell me.” Her mother said. “He'll be moving out at the end of the month when the builders finish his house over by the wall.”

“I don't know what to say.”

“It will be the first time I'll have the house to myself.”

“Mother, with brother gone, there won't be anyone to defend your right to this house.” The Freemartin said. “What are you going to do?”

“I'll take care of it.” A man's voice said from beside them. They turned around to look for him and he wasn't there. “I'm still outside. I'm using a skill to talk to you.”

“You were listening!” The Freemartin said.

“I was, since you are now mine.” The voice said and her mother let out a little bleat of pleasure. “I'll tell the Tup that anyone who wants to claim this house and the land that is your mother's, they will have to fight me.”

Her mother let out a louder bleat of pleasure. “I think he is a proper ram!”

“Mother, he doesn't have any horns.” The Freemartin said.

“Neither do you, dear.” She said. “I must meet him in person right now.”

The Freemartin let her arm go and the two of them came out of the house.

*

I remembered the bow the Freemartin gave to the Tup and did it to her mother. “It's an honor to meet you, Gizela.”

The mother let out a bleat of surprise. “I'm not a Tup! Stop that!” She said and waved at me to make me stop, just as the Tup did to stop the Freemartin. “Wait a moment, how do you know my name?”

“It's a skill I have.” I said and stood up straight.

“You really are a metal man.” Gizela said and looked at my armor.

“I'm not a high enough level yet to not wear it, even if it wasn't taboo to walk around with my face uncovered.” I said with a chuckle. “I asked your daughter about her outfit and she said you only make them for her.”

“That is true.” Gizela said. “I wanted her to stand out from the others.”

“Then I won't ask you to break your word to her.” I said. “Would you mind if I used your kitchen for a little while? I need to feed my entourage.”

Gizela looked at the four leather clad cat women with the fancy face coverings and expensive capes, then she looked at all the short badgers. “I don't see any packs with enough food for them.”

“I'm carrying it.” I said and motioned to the house. “May I enter?”

“I doubt my meager kitchen will be of much use to you.” Gizela said and waved me inside. “I don't know where everyone will sit when we're done cooking.”

“We'll have a picnic.” I said and she let out a bleat of surprise.

“What did you just say?” She asked as we entered the kitchen.

“I'll lay out blankets and we'll all sit down and relax as we enjoy the meal outside in the yard.” I said.

“No, you... spoke the...”

“Can you tell me why everyone knows the language of the gods and why no one can speak it?” I asked.

“I... suppose I could.”

“Do you eat meat?” I asked.

“No.” She said.

“Then I'll make extra salad and greens for you.” I said and took out a pallet with fresh produce on it.

“Ohhhh!” Gizela said and stared at it. “You're a magic user!”

“It's just storage, actually.” I said and tore open the top and grabbed several cabbages, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, and a few other things to make a giant bowl of salad. “Please, don't be offended by this.” I said and took out a very large wrapped package of meat. “Where I come from, we grow animals for meat.”

“It... it's already butchered.” She said as I unwrapped several of them and used my fire ring to start up her stove. “How...”

“Last minute preparations.” I said. “I was lucky enough to find...” I was about to say grocery store and stopped, because they didn't have a word for that in their language. “I paid a lot for it, too.”

“I can imagine.” Gizela said and watched as I tossed several choice cuts of meat into a large pan.

“Now the fun part.” I said and went to her large counter and started peeling the carrots.

“What are you doing?” She asked, almost scandalized.

“It's all right. Just watch.” I said and she stood there, entranced, as I made a very large bowl of salad.

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