Sam's Secret (Icehome)

I shoot Sessah a look as Summer tells me all about the different names of the chess pieces, and who's the best to play in the village and how Drenol won't play anyone unless he knows he can beat them, so everyone pretends to lose to him. She talks about the carving of the boards, and how she has to hide the pieces from her son Wrek because he loves to chew on them.

"He's like his father," she tells me absently as she checks the ties on the leather pouch with the pieces in it. "Always putting things into his mouth." She pauses and then flushes. "Um, I didn't mean it like that."

I giggle, even as Sessah comes to my rescue and waits nearby to pull me away. "I would love if you could show me how to play sometime? Maybe after we get settled?"

Summer claps her hands and clasps them under her chin. "Oh, that'd be lovely! I promise not to talk your ear off forever. I just get nervous and ramble." She gives me an awkward smile and I decide that I adore her. I hug her and thank her for the labor-intensive gift. A chess set can't be easy to whip together considering everything has to be carved from bone. I'm genuinely touched and I hug her, promising to swing by tomorrow for some chess.

Sessah smiles as he puts a hand on the small of my back and leans down to whisper in my ear. "Are you having fun? Or do you need a break?"

"I'm having a wonderful time," I tell him, and I mean it. The Croatoan people are absolutely lovely and they adore Sessah, which makes me love them. I've been showered with gifts from every human woman I've met. Tiffany gave me a scarf made from knitted dvisti wool, which I absolutely need to learn how to make. Megan gave me a belt made from intricately braided leather macrame. Stacy cooked up a ton of “human treats” that we're going to be feasting on tonight. Claire and Georgie gave me leather tunics to wear for my pregnancy. Brooke braided my hair and showed off her baby, and Farli gave me a quiver for my bow. I've been given bags of tea, furs, snacks, a beaded pouch from a very pregnant Asha, and the healer checked me over and pronounced me very healthy. Even Tia hugged me and asked about everyone back at Icehome, but she had an ulterior motive. She's given me several pouches of tea and a long “note” (more of a leather scroll) for someone to read to I'rec when we return home.

I don't mind being the messenger. She seems happy here and not ready to leave. She seems a lot calmer and less boy-crazy than she was back at the beach, and told me she's learning everything she can about herbs from Kemli, who's acting as both mother and teacher to the young woman. I wanted to talk to her more, but then someone else was giving me a gift and there was no time to chat.

It's a lot, but it's all so damned affectionate and loving and generous that it doesn't feel overwhelming. I don't know why I put off visiting for so long.

Well, actually, I do know why, but looking back, it seems silly.

"The feast is being prepared," Sessah tells me as he takes the chess board from my hands. "Stay-see and Air-ee say they are holding spots for us near the fire. It is a place of honor." His mouth quirks. "It also means it will be less easy to get away from the group, so perhaps we take a small break now?"

I know what that means. A pee break. It's ridiculous, but ever since we mated, my bladder has been working overtime. I'm not even showing—and won't for months yet—and somehow I pee all the damn time. It might be because I'm constantly thirsty, too. I had to give up my beloved shrimp tea because I'm not sure how much caffeine they have in them and I don't want the baby jittery, so I've been chugging water and herbal tea like there's no tomorrow…which means lots of bathroom breaks. Sessah is a good man, though, for remembering this. "Awesome. Can we stop by our hut, too? I want to change out of some of this." I gesture at the layers I'm wearing. "It's like everyone I met wanted to dress me."

He chuckles, guiding me towards the hut we're staying in. "Of course they did. They dressed you, and now they will want to feed you. My parents will be feeding you constantly, too, so be warned. They are going to stuff you and fill your hands with so many gifts you will need a dozen sleds to bring everything back to the beach."