Page 12 of Barbarian's Treat

"You were thinking it," I mutter. I carve another chunk out of my vegetable just so it looks like I'm busy. The other day, Talie said I talked too much and Vekka giggled, and now I'm trying to talk less because I don't want to prove them right. Girls are stupid anyhow. I'm not going to mate one when I get older, I decide. No matter what Analay says. I'm going to get a dvisti like Holvek and Farli, and mine will be fast and strong and I'll ride on its back and explore the entire planet and no girls are allowed to come with me.

So there.

I stab another chunk free of my not-potato.

"Whatcha making?" Vekka asks. Guess she's still here.

I don't look at her. Just hack another chunk free. WhatamI making? I have no idea. I look over at Kae, who's busy with her knife, shaving off pieces of the root here and there.

Instead of getting the hint and leaving, Vekka plops down next to me and Kae. She watches with interest as I hack another large sliver away and my not-potato looks...decidedly less vegetable like. "Are you making a moon?"

I scoff, though a moon was a good idea. I wish I'd thought of it. "If I tell you what it is, it ruins the surprise."

"I like surprises," Vekka offers, watching my hands as I work. "What are you gonna be for Treat Day?"

"Treat Day? What's Treat Day?"

"That's what my mom's calling our holiday," Vekka says, settling her doll in her lap. "Miss Claire wanted Fall Day but Momma said that she didn't want people getting ideas. So it's gonna be Treat Day."

"Your mom's not in charge," I say in a sulky voice, and stab my not-potato again. Half of it falls over and tumbles to my feet, and I act like I meant that to happen.

Vekka gives a disapproving sniff at my carving and then looks over at Kae's creation and gasps. "Holy dungchips! That looks just like my doll!"

"Language," Claire calls from nearby.

"Sorry, Miss Claire," Vekka singsongs out, her gaze rapt as she watches Kae work. Her voice lowers and she looks at Kae in awe. "You're amazing."

"Does it look like a head?" Kae asks, shaving a bit more away from the base. "I'm trying to make a neck but it's going to have to be a really short one or else I'm going to lose the structure of the jaw."

It does look like a head, at least to me. She hasn't done the face part yet, but she's cut away enough of the rounded not-potato that there's a vague shape of a jaw and a brow. As I stare, she deftly lops away a chunk under the brow, and suddenly there's an eye socket.

I eye the pile of not-potato in front of me. It just looks like a mess. This is a stupid game and I don't want to play. I sure don't want to watch Vekka give admiring looks to Kae's work. I should be out hunting with Father. There aren't any hunters sitting here carving, just me and a bunch of babies. Sure, Pacy and Holvek and the older boys are here, but I'm a better hunter than any of them. I jump to my feet, determined to tell my mother that this is dumb and I don't want to do it anymore. Brushing my leggings off, I toss the bits of my not-potato into the bowl.

My mother immediately races over as if she has Rokan's knowing. "Did you finish, Joden? Let me see what you made!"

Her eyes are bright and sparkling with excitement, and I remember what Father said to me this morning.Your mother is very excited about today. Make her smile for me, all right? I would rather stay but the feast needs food. You watch over her and the little ones.

Father wanted to be here. Carving these silly roots so he can just be with Mama. I chew back my irritated words and manage an expression that I hope passes as a smile. "I messed up. Can I have another one to carve?"

"Of course, baby!" Mama kisses my head again like I'm a baby and then races off to get me another root. I glance over at Vekka, and she's got a tiny little knowing smile on her stupid mouth.

Girls are so dumb.

Except Mama. She's okay.

CHAPTER

TEN

JOSIE

The day grows late,and there's no sign of my mate. His hunt must be taking longer than anticipated. Poor Haeden. I know he hates spending all day away from the kids and me. I keep the stew warm over the fire, adding a bit of water so it doesn't cook down into sludge, and pick up my sewing. The kids are already in bed, fast asleep. Shae and Joha are tucked together in bed, clutching their dolls. Joden is sprawled in his little nest, one fist curled tight around the blankie he makes me promise not to tell anyone that he still sleeps with every night.

I'm just putting the final touches on Joden's costume when the front door flap pushes open and my mate enters the hut. He looks tired, my Haeden. Strands of hair have come loose from his normally tight braid, and his leathers are soaked from the snow. I jump to my feet, helping him unwrap his damp layers. "There you are! I was starting to worry."

He leans in and presses a kiss to the top of my head. "The weather was bad. It slowed me down."

"Everything all right?"