Chapter 8
A Family of Sorts
1642 - SUMMER IN DUNNEDIN
Starrling awoke from her reverie, hearing the crow of the cockerel outside. She had been lost in her memories of youth back in the village.
“Oh my! ‘Tis surely past time for my chores” she exclaimed, scrambling to her feet and causing the cats to scatter to far corners lest they be trampled. Dragonbreath arched his back and spoke not too kindly to her before settling down in the corner to lick his paw.
She splashed her face with a bit of water left from the previous night, slipped her tunic over her shift and headed outside. As if in a choreographed dance, she flitted from animal to animal, pen to pen, coop to coop, cage to cage, feeding, watering and chattering all the while with them. As in childhood days, she also listened a bit to their gossip, a giggle escaping her lips now and then. Her growing family of animals was not only her livelihood but her companions as well.
The usually steadfast cow was showing great impatience to be milked. Starrling squatted and began to fill the bucket with the warm white cream.
“Aye, Besaig, there, there” she cooed gently, encouraging the beast to relax and not lift that notorious hind leg to kick. A goat, seeing this activity, wanted equal time and nudged Starrling under the arm every now and then to remind her that she was to be next.
“Do not be nasty, Ceiteag, for I shall tend to you most definitely,” her words were mixed with laughter.
When all the animals were tended to, Starrling sat underneath the big oak tree to rest a bit. Although the June weather was crisp, the sky glimmered with sunshine and she enjoyed the warmth on her cinnamon hair. She lifted a leaf that had floated to the ground beside her and stroked it, enjoying the waxiness between her fingers. Her eyes flitted around and she felt a comfort and peace here that Calum wanted her to upset. Of course, there was no question whether she would do as he bid for she did not doubt his judgment.
