“What about your son, eh?” Oszkar grinned at Cezar, “why has he not yet married?”

A few of the men were gathered at Milosh’ wagon, sharing food and water as was custom.

Cezar grunted. “He is a headstrong boy.”

“He is a man in love,” Vali countered, “and who can blame him?”

The other men laughed.

“I knew her mother,” Boris said, “the girl has her eyes.” He smiled and shook his head, “she was a wildflower that one, but Darek tamed her.”

“He was the best storyteller that ever spoke,” Oszkar mused, “when he spoke, all would fall silent. As if there was magic in his every word. And their boy, Alin, he had such a way with horses.”

It turned quiet for a moment and Oszkar’s eyes saddened. He looked at Cezar. “What is your grief against the girl, Cezar of Milosh’ kumpania?”

Cezar gritted his teeth. “A son should obey his father.”

“I knew a man once, who told his son the same thing,” Oszkar said, “that son did not hear his father. He took the woman he loved and they ran from their kumpania. It brought great shame over both familias.”

“My son will not shame me,” Cezar spoke.

“My friend,” Oszkar spoke kindly, “you say you have a headstrong son. I say your son has a headstrong father. And men in love do reckless things.”

***

“Lenka.”

Milena looked up from her sitting position by the river and took the skirt she had been washing out of the stream.

Ihrin looked at her with serious eyes. “May I sit with you and speak?”

Milena debated on the girl’s words. She did not wish for the girl to talk to her, because she feared her words. But the pleading look in Ihrin’s eyes made her nod and the girl sat down next to her.

For a long time Ihrin did not speak and Milena continued washing the skirt she had been cleaning earlier.

A moment later Ihrin’s hands took one of the other clothes and cleaned it in the stream as well. She kept her eyes on the water as she spoke. “You think I do not know what is going on, but I am no fool, Lenka. I know Cezar wishes to make an offer to my father, to make me a wife for Ramiro.” She paused and watched as hurt flashed across Milena’s face. “I know he loves you,” Ihrin continued softly. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one would overhear. “Ramiro loves you, but if his father makes an offer, my parents I cannot refuse without insulting his familia. I can not bring shame over us.”

Now Milena did look up. There was a desperate tone to Ihrin’s voice that she did not understand at first, but Ihrin’s next words made her feel sorry for the girl.

“He is a good man. And every woman in the kumpania, and other kumpania too, would be honored to have him for a husband. The men… they speak of honor and shame, but they do not understand. How can there be honor in a bond that was not chosen freely?  And if I would become his wife while he loves someone else, will it not be cause for shame? Behind my back, others will pity me. They will pity the three of us.”

Milena’s eyes saddened. Suddenly she felt selfish. She had been thinking of only her own sorrow, but Ihrin would suffer too.

She placed a hand on Ihrin’s arm. Not for the first time she wished she could speak again. But Ihrin seemed to understand. She patted Milena’s hand.

“Please do not be cross with me.”

Milena shook her head and cast Ihrin a tentative smile.

Ihrin sighed. “I just wish one of them would ask before Cezar will. Why do men always wait?”

***

Izabela shook her head at her husband. “Do you want to turn your son against you? Ihrin is a good woman yes, but what good will it do you when you lose your son’s respect?”

Cezar sighed frustrated. “Not you too, woman.”

“If so many people tell you, you are making a mistake, then perhaps it would be wise to heed their advise. Think, you stubborn man, or you will find your son gone one day soon. Is that what you want? That his name will no longer be spoken? The shame it will bring on our familia is far greater than Cezar’s wounded pride. Lenka is a good girl too. She is practically a sister to your daughter already and you do not oppose their friendship.” She sighed. “And do you think Ihrin’s familia will not feel shame when their daughter’s husband keeps looking at another? Do you wish a curse upon them?”

“Be silent woman,” Cezar said annoyed. He rubbed his temple. Oszkar’s words had made him think. It was not uncommon for young lovers to run away when their parents disapproved of their union. And the consequences were severe. Their names would no longer be spoken in the kumpania and they would find no warm welcome among other kumpania either. They’d be on their own, in a world that did not take kindly to their people.

He had nothing against Milena, but he believed Ihrin would make a better wife. It had not been love between him and Izabela either, but they had grown to love each other over the years. It would be the same for Ramiro and Ihrin. He had heard that Dorin had taken an interest in Milena. Dorin came from a good familia. He would make for a steady husband. In time, they would settle in their lives and once there were children, all would turn out well.

Cezar stood up and walked out of the wagon.

“Where are you off to?” Izabela asked.

“I will go speak to my mother.”

“Aishe will tell you the same thing as everyone else,” Izabela called after him, but  he was already gone.

***

“Lenka,” Tsura softly asked while braiding the older girl’s hair, “why are you so sad? Are you not happy to see Oszkar’s kumpania again? Or does your tummy hurt? I am always sad when I’m hurt.”

Milena forced a smile out and patted the child’s hair.

Carmen gave her a sympathetic smile. “Lenka is just a bit tired. It was a long day.” She took Tsura from Milena’s lap. “Go wash up. We will share the evening meal with Oszkar’s kumpania.” She watched the girl skip off and turned to Milena. “Is it about your familia or about Ramiro?” She sat down next to Milena and took the girl’s hand. “I hope you will be happy, Lenka. Perhaps it will not be with Ramiro, but there are many good men in the kumpania.” When Milena shook her head, Carmen continued. “And if not in this kumpania, perhaps among Oszkar’s young men.” She smiled. “Nikolai is handsome.”

Milena rolled her eyes. Nikolai was also taking an interest in Oszkar’s daughter Jasmina.

Carmen laughed softly. “Alright. Perhaps not Nikolai. Maybe Tase. I know he is a bit older than Ramiro, but I have heard he is a good and steady man.”

Milena sighed. She knew Carmen meant well, but she did not understand. It was not a simple matter of being in love. Ramiro made her feel calm. It had been that way ever since they had found her, so many years ago, under their burnt out wagon. He was the one that had dragged her out of her solitude. He was the one she trusted.

If that day had never happened, where would she be now? Would she be married and have a familia of her own? Perhaps with Kostia, who had been roughly her age.

“Come,” Carmen kindly spoke, “don’t be sad tonight. We are in the company of friends.”

She cupped Milena’s cheek shortly and then pulled the girl to her feet.

Milena followed her outside to join the others. Tsura came running up to them and took Milena’s hand. 

Milena lifted the child in her arms and went to sit with Daria and Dalena.

“Is this little Tsura?” Dalena asked, “you are not so little anymore.” She smiled at the child, “come sit with me, yes?”

Not far away, Ramiro was sitting with his friends, sharing stories. Milena smiled as Imrich’s voice drifted over to where they were sitting.

“A foolish boy lived alone with his mother. Once on a hillside he found a young lady exposed to the heat of the sun, so he build her a bower out of bushes for protection.

When she woke she thanked him and gave him three wishes.

First he wished he were on his way home and it was granted.

On his way he spotted a pretty lady at a window and he wished she were with child by him.

Again is was granted.

The lady did not understand. When she bore the child, her parents summoned everyone from near. When the foolish boy entered, the babe called him father.

Disgusted by the boy’s low estate, the parents cast the three adrift in a boat.

The lady asked the boy how she came with child and he told her. ‘Then you must have a wish still,’ she said and the boy wished them safely ashore in a castle of their own.

When they returned to the lady’s parents, they would not believe him the same man.

The boy returned to his home to retrieve his mother and he provided for her for the rest of her life.”

Laughter ran through the group of men and Milena smiled too.  Beside her, Dalena and Daria were softly talking with each other.

“Lenka.” Milena looked up at Jasmina. “Bisera wants us to help serve the food.” The older girl looked displeased.

Milena nodded at her and followed her to the fire to plate up the food.

“Finally Jasmina,” Imrich called loudly when the two girls approached them, “we were starving.”

“In your case, I’d doubt it,” Jasmina retorted. She smirked at him, “’T would be better for you to lose some pounds.”

“You wound me with your sharp tongue,” Imrich grinned back at her, making the other men chuckle.

“’Tis because you are such a weak little man.”

“Oooh,” Sorin laughed at his friend, but Imrich did not look offended.

“If you would only marry me, I’d show you just how little I am.”

Milena’s cheeks burned at his words and she looked at Jasmina who now was laughing.

“Imri, hold your tongue,” Nikolai said when he noticed Milena’s discomfort, “you are unsettling Lenka. Not everyone is as sharp tongued as our Jassa.”

“No one is as sharp tongued as Jasmina you mean,” Petsha laughed.

The other men chimed in with the laughter and Jasmina narrowed her eyes. She opened her mouth for a sharp remark, but Bisera walked up to them and grabbed her arm.

“Must you always be the cause of trouble?” Bisera scolded her sister, “no matter what I ask you to do, when you open that mouth of yours, no good comes out of it. You should be more like Milenka. She does her duties without complaint. Who will take you for a wife if you keep chasing all men away with that tongue of yours?”

“Oi Bisra,” Nikolai said, “the fault was not hers.”

“It was mine,” Imrich offered.

“It matters not,” Bisera said, “my sister needs to learn when not to speak.”

“Bisera,” Sorin tried to calm her down, “leave things be tonight. All of us know your sister’s sharp tongue. We do not fear it and we will make sure all of Milosh’ kumpania is protected from it as well.”

Bisera let out an irritated sigh, but left the group alone.

The three men from Oszkar’s kumpania laughed softly while Petsha and Ramiro exchanged amused glances. “She reminds me of your mother,” Petsha grinned at his friend, “when she speaks to Daria.”

Not far away from the group, Cezar was watching his son closely. He noticed how Ramiro’s eyes kept fluttering towards Milena, no matter what she was doing.

She kept stealing glances at him too, though she was more subtle about it and there seemed to be a certain sadness in the gesture.

The girl moved away from the group and sat down with Daria again.

Cezar sighed. He needed to think.

“Ah my friend,” Oszkar sat down with him, “why the sour face? This is a night for friends. You can worry in the morning.” He slapped Cezar’s shoulder and offered him food from his plate.

Cezar took a piece of bread and tore it in two. 

Oszkar laughed and his eyes twinkled when he looked at the group of young people close to one another. “Ah, young love.” He slapped Cezar’s shoulder again. “Do you remember what that was like eh? My Bisera found herself a good husband. I have two more daughters to wed off. What do you think? Is there a good young man in Milosh’ kumpania to take them?”

“Are your own young men not good enough?” Cezar asked amused.

Oszkar laughed. “They are all fine men, but they know my daughters. They are brash, but not fools.” Cezar grinned and shook his head. “And you wish them on us? You are a cruel man Oszkar.” 

“Ah, my Jasmina needs a strong man to bind her tongue, but she will make a good wife once she’s tamed.” He patted Cezar’s shoulder and stood up. “Eat, sleep. Tomorrow we can worry about sons and daughters.” 

With one last grin he disappeared into the night.

Aishe looked at the sky concerned when the wind picked up. Something ominous hung in the air. She had felt it before, but she didn’t know what might be coming. It frightened her.

Soft footsteps made her look up. Laszlo nodded at her in greeting. “Aishe.”

“Laszlo,” she said, “should you not feast with the others?”

“My horses are restless,” he answered her, “and your face is troubled when you look at the sky. Did you foresee something?”

“My sight is clouded,” Aishe said softly,” I do not trust this wind. I fear a storm is coming.”

And that storm was near.

In the distance they could hear the rolling thunder. All around the camp, people were gathering their things and returned to their wagons.

“I should secure the horses,” Laszlo said, “it looks like it will be a heavy one.” He excused himself with the old woman and returned to his own wagon.

Aishe watched him leave and turned to the sky again with a feeling of unease. She shook her head concerned and closed the door.

***

Lightning cracked and the rain poured down on the two kumpania.

Milena tossed in her sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she dreamed of that day. It haunted her. The worst of it was that she could not speak about it to anyone. Perhaps if she would be able to use her voice again it would rid her of the past she wanted to forget.

“Alin,” Tsura of Branko’s kumpania called out for her son and kneeled to his level. She took him by his shoulders and spoke in a serious voice. “Listen carefully. You must take your sister. Hide in the forest. Do not turn back.”

Another thunder strike. Another flash.

“We have to keep moving Lenka.”

The barking of the dogs seemed to come from all directions and it grew louder.

The next thunder strike made her sit up straight in bed. She panted heavily and wiped her tangled hair away from her face.

Outside, the rain was clattering against the wagon, the wind softly rocking it.

Milena glanced around the wagon, but the others were fast asleep. She however, couldn’t stand one more second of the confining space. It was suffocating her. She needed fresh air.

Carefully, so she wouldn’t wake her friend, Milena climbed over Daria and slid outside in the storm.

She was soaked within mere seconds but she did not care. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.

“Lenka, stay with our brother, you hear me? I love you.”

Milena’s lip trembled and her tears mingled with the rain. She should have followed Alin back that day. She should have stayed with him.

Hands on her shoulders made her jump and gasp in fright.

“Shh… all is well. It’s only me.” Ramiro draped a blanket across her shoulders and turned her so she was facing him.

Rain had soaked his hair and clothes and he was looking at her concerned. “What are you doing out in storm like his in the middle of the night? You’ll catch cold.” He rubbed her arms. “Lenka.”

He was close, far too close. He should not be here. If someone were to see…

And he came even closer. His thumb ran under her eye. His breath was somewhere in her hair. “Lenka…”

Before she knew it she was sobbing in his shoulder and his hands were stroking her back. It will be alright.”

With one swift movement he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the only wagon he could think of.

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I'm not sure why this lay-out does strange things, so if there are a lot of spaces in between, I'm sorry for that. I hope you liked this chapter :) Sorry for the wait.