Unspoken

Chapter 8 The world outside the window

Please listen to the song on the side :)

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The early autumn sun shone through the red and yellow leaves of the trees. It was a pretty sight to the young girl and she smiled content.
Not far away, her brother Alin was leading a young horse by the reins. Once it was trained, it would make a fair price.
Her mother was gathered around the cooking pot with Milena’s aunt and Branko’s wife. The smells that came from it made the girl’s mouth water.
“Momma, when is dinner time?”
Tsura turned to her and smiled kindly. “My little Lenka, always hungry. You’ll grow fat you will.”
“Will not!” Milena pouted. She squealed when she was suddenly lifted onto someone’s shoulders.
Brishen, who was the culprit, bellowed an amused laugh. “Don’t worry, Tsura. We’ll make sure she runs it off.”
Across the camp, Esin was smiling at him. They had only just been wed a year ago and Esin wanted a child.
Milena’s  father Darek stepped out of their wagon and looked at Milena with a stern, but fond look. “Go wash up, Lenka. And fetch your brother. The meal will be ready soon.”
Brishen grinned and planted the girl back on her feet after which she stormed off towards the stream.

Their kumpania was a small one, but Milena didn’t mind. They were a close family.

At the river she found Thurya, a sixteen year old girl, Tomek’s daughter. She had let her eye fall on Temir, the iron worker. He was a gadjo, but he was a drifter too and he had come to the kumpania not long ago to learn their ways.  It had caused some discord at fist, because he was not of their people, but the kumpania had come to accept him. Aside from that, he was the only available candidate for Thurya at the moment. Unless a man from another kumpania would ask her for a wife.
So far, no one had come forward.

 

“Hello Lenka,” Thurya smiled, “have you come to help me with the sheets?” She motioned towards the bedding that hung in the stream.
“Poppa said to wash up,” Milena said with a serious face.
Thurya laughed softly. “The you should do that. I’ll come with you and you can help me carry these.”

 

The others had gathered around the fire where Zara of Branko’s wagon was sharing out the food.
Soft conversations were going on and Zara and Tomasz kept stealing glances towards the edge of the field.

Branko and Temir should be back soon.

“Alin!” Milena called. She dropped the basket with clothes and rushed over to her brother.
“Lenka,” Alin scolded, “you dropped the clothes. Now they need to be washed again.”
Milena looked down at the ground remorseful. “I’m sorry.”
Alin shook his head amused. “Come. I’ll help you pick them up.” He kneeled down.

The voices of the others weren’t cause for alarm at first until Thurya cried out. “Temir!”

Alin and Milena looked up.
Brishen and Tomasz were running towards Branko, the kumpania leader, who was supporting a bleeding Temir.
Thurya ran up to them too in tears, but Milena’s aunt Ziva held her back. “Stay here child.”

Branko’s wife, Zara, held their son Konstantin close. The boy was looking at Temir wide eyed.
“Alin! Milena!” their father called, “come here!”
“But the clothes, poppa,” Milena protested.
“Now!” dark barked.
Alin took his startled sister by the hand. “Come Lenka. Don’t be frightened. Father did not mean to shout.”

“What happened?” Brishen asked.
“Gadje attacked us,” Branko said, “they saw Temir and accused us from staling their children.”
“I told them… it was not… true…” Temir breathed, “but they would not listen. They… were going to attack… Branko.”
“He defended me,” Branko said while lowering Temir to the ground, “they attacked him instead.”
In the distance they heard a barking sound.
“They’re coming,” Branko hissed.
The faces of the others turned serious.
“We need to prepare,” Tomasz said.