Page 82 of Circle of Days
“He says I have to partner with Deg.”
Deg was Bort’s milk-and-water son. Pia was shocked. “But the rule only applies to widows!”
Yana said: “That’s the way it’s always been. But Troon is changing the rules.”
“I can’t partner with Deg,” Mo said in despair. “He’s an empty space that should have been filled with a man.”
Yana said: “When I proposed to Bort he turned me down.”
“Lucky you,” Mo said bitterly. Anger began to take over from tears. “Unfortunately, Deg is willing.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’ve come here. Yana, tell me honestly, what’s it like, being with someone you don’t like and never could?”
Yana hesitated, looked at Pia, looked away again, and said: “I’m going to tell you the truth.”
Pia wondered what was coming.
Yana said: “I hate my life.”
Pia was shocked. Although Yana had made no secret about her dislike of Stam, she had put on a brave face and tried to live a normal life without complaining. Now Pia realized it had all been an act.
Mo looked grim. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Yana went on: “He’s a boy, and a very unpleasant one. At night he puts his tongue in my mouth and his cock in my cunt, and doesn’t speak until he’s spurted inside me. Then he goes to sleep. I don’t think he really cares who he’s in bed with. If I didn’t have Pia, I’d jump in the river and drown. There, Mo, now you know.”
Pia was horrified. This was much worse than she had known.
Mo was downcast. “I was afraid it would be like that. I’m sure I could hardly bear to have sex with Deg.”
“It might not be very often.”
Mo shook her head. “I have to run away.”
“Troon will go after you.”
“I can evade him. I’ll travel by night and sleep in the woods by day. The Great Plain is a big place—he can’t search all of it.”
Yana said practically: “Is there someone who might help you?”
Mo nodded. “Last year at the Midsummer Rite I spent the night with a herder called Yaran. I talked to him this year at the Spring Rite. He likes me.”
“Don’t tell anyone else his name.”
“Good point. I’m no good at deceit. I’m in the habit of saying what I think.”
“Then don’t speak to people,” Yana said. “You’ve confided in us, but don’t tell anyone else.”
“I’m going to go tonight. I’ll head through the wood.” She looked thoughtful. “I wish I had a way of laying a false trail, so that he’d look for me in the wrong place.”
“I’ve got an idea,” said Pia.
“Go on.”
“The boat.”
The farming community had one boat, made of wickerwork covered with oiled hides, tightly fitted. It was kept at the riverside near Troon’s house. Though it was communal property, they had to ask Troon’s permission to use it.
