Elwanda

Chapter 1 - Elwanda

Under the light of the rising sun, the kitchen appeared as solemn as a sacred place; baskets of herbal green leaves lined its shelves; pots and pans made of iron, wooden spoons of different sizes, knives, pestles and other cooking equipments were neatly stacked in their appropriate corners; a little hearth with glowering flames sat in the middle of the area with a wide pot ontop of it, sending steam across the room.

A young girl stirred the contents of the pot, humming to herself. It was a Saturday, therefore, her turn to prepare breakfast. The other girls had gone out to fetch water for washing and bathing, and she was expected to feed them after they were done. She glanced up at the wide window as a green breasted bird flew in and perched onto it then began to peck at the little pile of grains she had set up only moments before. She smiled and rose, recognizing the bird. It came to her everyday and she fed it generously.

"Hello, Ifa." She greeted, reaching out to stroke the bird's back. "I'm going to assume that with how hungry you seem to be, you've sacrificed time listening to gossip around the village. Do well to tell me after you're done eating. I'll go get you a little drink of water."

As she turned to go, the door burst open, sending the bird into instant flight.

"Elwanda? Elwanda!" The intruder called excitedly, half giggling.

Elwanda recognized the voice. "Miri. I'm over here in the kitchen."

Miri ran over, pushing her jungle of black hair backwards. She was the loveliest Osthall, with eyes of charming gray and lips so sensual that Elwanda had caught herself wishing many times that she could kiss it.

"You won't believe what I just saw." Miri said, vibrating with obvious gossip.

"What?" Elwanda frowned, turning to see if Ifa had returned, but the window was bare.

"Arwyl and Renold. I found them deep in the bushes, just down the road." She giggled, covering her mouth.

At that, Elwanda's interest rose.

Arwyl was also an Osthall. The eldest after Miri herself. They were both daughters of the generous farmer, Gryf Osthall, who had taken Elwanda in as a child many years back. He was most famous in the village for having ten daughters and four wives, his most recent addition being a lovely woman named Rilith. After only six months of marriage, Rilith was already heavy with pregnancy. It was almost predictable that she would birth a girl and make the Osthalls girls total eleven.

"What are they doing?" Elwanda asked, her eyes lighting up. Miri grabbed her hand.

"Come and see for yourself."

Both girls darted out of the house. The roads were muddy from last night's rainfall and slippery in many places, but this only made the sprinting girls giggle whenever they slipped slightly. The road was a long one, but Miri frequented the market through it, and so she had a greater knowledge of shortcuts. Elwanda followed diligently, her heart pounding inside her chest. She was not certain what excited her the most; that her foster sister had been caught with a man, or that she would at last witness what happened behind the curtains whenever couples made love.

Miri slowed down at some point, urging them to walk noiselessly. Elwanda grasped her sister's arm with one hand, covering her mouth with the other. The bushes there were tall and concealed old roads that were no longer in use. It was a good secluded spot. She could almost understand why the lovebirds had chosen it.

As they advanced, she began to pick up on low, feminine noises.

"Where are they?" She whispered into Miri's ear.

Miri hurriedly pointed. "Look, look! Shush!"

Together, they squatted low, and Elwanda caught glimpse of Arwyl lying on her back with Renold hovering above her. The bushes concealed their lower bodies, but she could tell that both were naked. Their faces were smushed together in passionate kissing, and Arwyl's body seemed to be squirming underneath.