Chapter Seven
The harsh winter months had them spending most of the time inside, which meant more time for Ay’len to watch over the mother to be. For Ma’ki, it was a bit of an annoyance, seeing his loved one, spending so much time in the woman’s company, but he had come to the realization that the unborn child was a good thing for Ay’len. The healer was euphoric as he responded to Ci’tali’s every whim; in a way, it felt like he was the one left out.
He started to watch the woman more; her growing belly was making her more pleasant to look at. Maybe Ay’len was not wrong; maybe she just needed to become a mother. So he started to join his two wives while they were chirping happily, and, encouraged by Ay’len, he began to touch Ci’tali’s belly.

“I think I felt something,” he smiled, and Ci’tali grinned. It felt nice to be able to use Ay’len like that. Her husband was a different story, and a lot harder to win over than she’d thought. So, the healer’s help was more than welcome.
“Maybe he moved,” Ay’len smiled, too. “He wants to meet his father. Just a few more months, little one”, he spoke to the mound.
“How do you know it’s going to be a boy?” Ci’tali wanted to know.
“I’ve seen plenty of babies getting born, and a lot of pregnant women. But I may be wrong.”
“Ma’ki, what do you wish for?” the woman asked, feeling safe enough to address a direct question. “A boy or a girl?”
“I’ll let Pala’ka choose for me,” Ma’ki answered, without looking at her, but apparently fascinated with the life growing inside his second wife.

From that moment on, Ma’ki became warmer towards her. He was still not touching her more than necessary, nor was he embracing or kissing her, like he did with Ay’len, but he was talking and looking at her when she spoke. Ci’tali was more and more certain she was going to win.
Under Ay’len’s care, she was more than spoiled. She had to admit that having the healer close made everything easy. She did not have to do anything, as Ay’len feared something happening to the child so badly, that he took care of all the chores alone.
As the spring came, Ay’len became more and more excited. The baby was almost on his way. But, with the sun up in the sky, and their food reserves going low, Ma’ki had to leave on a hunt. Ay’len tried to convince him to stay.
“The baby is so close. She will want you near.”

“She doesn’t need me,” he shrugged. “She has you, and that’s enough. I know you will take good care of both when the time comes.”
Ay’len squeezed his shoulder. “Please, love this child, Ma’ki,” he blurted out. His heart was feeling ripped in two at the thought that his husband might not nurture feelings of affection towards his offspring.
The hunter embraced him and held him tight. He said no words.
“You’ll love him, I know you will,” Ay’len spoke instead. “He will be a great hunter, just like his father,” he added, while Ma’ki was gently kissing his forehead.
Ma’ki was barely away when Ci’tali felt the first pains at the break of dawn. She moaned loudly, as she felt the wet sensation spreading on her legs. Ay’len was next to her in no time.
“He is a bit early,” he murmured while trying to calm the woman down. “I will go for help; I will be back soon.”
“Hurry, please,” Ci’tali implored him while keeping her hands on her belly. At this point, she was thankful she was not alone.
When Ay’len was back with the other women, her contractions were coming in waves, making her scream. No matter what her mother had said to her, this hurt too much. It was like the baby was trying to wrestle his way out of her, into the world.
Ay’len stood by her side the whole time, clutching her sweaty hand in his, whispering the words she needed to hear. And when the baby was finally born, his cry of triumph marked the end of her suffering. For a brief moment, she forgot all about how much she wanted to destroy her rival. When Ay’len placed the little bundle in her arms, she was overjoyed.
The tribe was happy, too. Ta’yee hurried to his son’s hut to see his grandson. Although the chieftain had others from other sons and daughters, he wanted Ma’ki to be the next tribe leader. With an heir of his own, his bloodline was now secure.
Ci’tali remained in the hut with her child, as the rest of the tribe was preparing for celebrations. She’d wanted so much for Ma’ki to be present, to see her worth. Now, with a child, a boy even, at her tit, she was sure he was going to see her as much more than before. She shook the baby gently.
“Help me get rid of Ay’len,” she whispered in his small, innocent ear, unaware of the silhouette walking without a sound over the hut threshold.
Ay’len froze. What had he just heard? His world came crumbling down around him, and cold sweat pooled at the end of his spine. He remained there for a few seconds, trying hard to school his features into a happy expression. With bitterness, he thought that Ma’ki had been right all along; Ci’tali hated him. He was the intruder, after all.
He coughed discreetly, to make the woman believe he had just entered, and Ci’tali’s eyes snapped up like she’d just been caught doing something wrong. Ay’len pretended not to notice. Feigning happiness, he approached.
“Everybody is so happy,” he commented, forcing the words out of his mouth.
“Are you alright?” the woman eyed him suspiciously.
“A bit tired, that’s all,” he caressed the baby’s head, avoiding her eyes. “Ma’ki’s mother will come to stay with you tonight. I will be at my mother’s, so you two can catch up.”
He could not sleep now with her under the same roof. He had to get his thoughts together. How could he be so blind?
“But what if I need you?” Ci’tali pouted, feeling that something was off.
“I’m not far. You can have someone sent for me, and I’ll be here. You’re not afraid of Ma’ki’s mother, are you?”
Ci’tali snorted. “She’s eating from the palm of my hand.”
Like everyone else, Ay’len mused. Ci’tali had everyone at her feet, except for Ma’ki and Kaa’sa. His sisters were not in love with her too much, either, but after he had called them jealous, they had held their mouths shut in his presence. All those close to him were right, and he had been a fool. What was he to do now?
Kaa’sa was happy to have him over.
“What is it, child?” she asked him, sensing his distress.
He loved her, even more, when she called him like this. Knowing that he was still just a child in her eyes made him feel warm on the inside. In front of her, he could show his weaknesses.
“I … I believe you were right about her, mother”, he whispered, letting his head in her lap. “She hates me.”
Kaa’sa didn’t contradict him. She said nothing for a while. “Are you going to tell your husband?”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“He must know. That viper,” her mother murmured under her breath.
“She has his child now. If I say anything … it will look like I’m jealous of her.”
“He will believe you. You are his soul.”
“It is not Ma’ki who will not believe me. If he sends her away, they will all blame me. And he cannot do that, now. She’s given him a son,” Ay’len poured his heart out and started crying softly, as Kaa’sa rocked him gently in her arms.
“What do you want to do then?” his mother inquired, after letting him cry for a while.
“I have to think about it. Maybe … I need to let him go.”
“No,” Kaa’sa shook her head energetically.
“He has the right to be happy.”
“He won’t be happy without you. I’ve always known. I’d always been afraid he was going to steal you from us, but, when he saved you from that beast of a man, I knew I had been wrong. He is the one for you, and you are the one for him. Pala’ka wanted so. Who is the one who can judge you?”
“But, mother …”
“Stop sacrificing like this, Ay’len. Who do you want to throw your heart away for? Ci’tali? She’s not worthy!”
“She’s not … but her child is.”
“No, he’s not!” Kaa’sa exclaimed impatiently. “Listen to me, Ay’len. Ma’ki won’t love Ci’tali just because she’s given him a son. And, if you leave him, do you think Ma’ki will love his son more? Forgive me for being a mother, but I think you, of all the tribe people, deserve to be happy. Fight for your husband, let her show her teeth. When everyone will see …”
“But they won’t,” Ay’len stopped her, with bitterness in his voice. “They all love her. Who will believe me? Mother, when Ma’ki comes back … I want to tell him that I will live here, with you.”
“You say what you think you must say to him, Ay’len, but he won’t have it. He will sleep at your door, like a dog, and he won’t leave you. You are crazy to believe he will live happy with Ci’tali and his son. He’s not whole without you. Even his father knows it. And he will want to know your reasons. Once he finds out …”
“Please don’t tell him,” Ay’len begged, and his mother pursed her lips in obvious discontentment. “I will deal with him. Slowly, he will understand. Don’t you see, mother? It’s a sign. Ma’iala was right. I am a danger for Ma’ki. I can destroy his life.”
“Ma’iala knew many things, but she could not see love. She wanted you to be like her, but you were made for love, Ay’len,” his mother caressed his smooth cheeks affectionately. “Sleep now, let the moon guide your dreams. Maybe tomorrow, you will know better what to do.”
Ay’len did not return to Ma’ki’s hut to sleep there over the next days. Ci’tali was surrounded by her in-laws, so he was as good as invisible anyway. He offered his help, as usual, but, when the night came, he bid his farewell and went to his mother’s hut.
Ci’tali felt triumphant on the inside. At first, she had found Ay’len’s sudden wish to spend more time with his mother a bit odd, but now she was sure that the healer was the one feeling like an intruder and that was why he wanted to be away. She could not believe her luck, but she thought the healer was stupid enough to get himself out of the way.
She was going to have Ma’ki more for herself, now with the baby born. Probably Ay’len could not bear the thought of not being able to offer the hunter children, now that he was seeing Ci’tali’s baby with his own eyes. Finally, she was victorious. She was just curious to see how Ay’len was going to run away all the time, with the baby now always present under the hunter’s roof.
Ma’ki entered the hut, with the eagle on his shoulder. The bird had cried incessantly on their way back, and the hunter could not shake off a feeling of dread. He could not wait to get back and find his Ay’len safe.
He saw Ci’tali resting on her furs with a baby at her bosom. His dread melted away, and he knelt next to her.
“Your son, husband,” the woman gently offered him the little bundle, and he took the baby in his arms, in awe. He caressed the child’s head with his large hand, staring at him with love in his eyes. He kissed the baby’s forehead, missing how Ci’tali was smirking with a mean glint in her beautiful eyes.
“Where is Ay’len?” he asked, taking his eyes slowly from the baby and handing him back to his mother’s arms.
Ci’tali’s smile faded. “He stays more at his mother’s these days,” she shrugged, visibly upset with her husband’s lack of interest in her wellbeing. “I guess he cannot stand staying too much around our child,” she added.
Ma’ki threw her a brief look, and she decided not to challenge him so soon. There was plenty of time for that, so, for now, she cast her eyes down. The hunter left without a word.
He was seeing about sorting some herbs when he was caught by his right arm and shaken violently.
“What is this, Ay’len? Is this your home?” Ma’ki gestured towards Kaa’sa’s hut.
Ay’len kept his eyes down. “We must talk, Ma’ki.”
“Then talk.”
“Not here. Let’s go by the river,” Ay’len offered, and Ma’ki let go of his arm. The few tribe people passing by were not supposed to hear their words, so he followed the healer in morose silence.
Ay’len sat on the same rock they used to and started speaking, looking at the hands in his lap. “I will stay with my mother from now on, Ma’ki.”
“Without asking me?” the hunter could barely contain his anger.
“I didn’t know I had to,” Ay’len tried to act bravely. He’d known it was not going to be easy.
“I am your husband,” Ma’ki boomed. “What is wrong with you? Is it because of the baby? Weren’t you the one babbling about how much you’re going to love him?”
“You have a family now. A wife and a child. You are complete now,” Ay’len murmured, not daring to face the hunter.
“No, I’m not. I was complete when it was just the two of us,” he grabbed the healer in his arms.
His hot breath ghosted on the healer’s face, and Ay’len closed his eyes. He could not allow Ma’ki to sway him. He was impossibly calm when he spoke, although he did not dare to look the man in his eyes.
“Maybe you were. I wasn’t.”
“You’re lying,” the hunter whispered, and Ay’len felt a sharp pain in his chest, sensing the hurt in his voice.
A steady hand was in his hair, forcing his head up. Ma’ki kissed him roughly, and, despite his judgment, the healer opened his mouth to welcome his husband, like so many times before. His dress was pushed up quickly, and he felt the familiar rubbing of the hunter’s clothed sex against his inner thighs. He wanted to push Ma’ki away, but his gesture only made the hunter growl into his mouth. He bit on the healer’s lips, then interrupted the kiss.
“This is how we are, Ay’len,” he said, while taking his organ out.
He heard Ma’ki spit, and he knew he could not deny the man. When the hunter pushed in swiftly, his traitorous body opened up to the aggression, wanting nothing but to feel the hard organ inside. Ma’ki entered him to the hilt, then stood there, as Ay’len threw his head back, moaning in ecstasy.
“You’re like a wild cat in heat when I touch you, and you tell me that we don’t belong together?” The hunter spoke, as he withdrew for just one moment, to ram back in with all his force, to make his Ay’len come to his senses.
The healer’s hands traveled underneath the man’s tunic, on the muscled back. Short nails dug into the flesh and pulled with all their might, making Ma’ki grunt. The hunter smiled, despite the burning sensation on his back. Ay’len always knew to give as good as he took.
They made love fast, abruptly. There were not many times when they were going at each other like this. It usually happened after a fight, which didn’t occur often, and this was their best way to express their feelings of pent up anger and frustration. Now, it was liberating for both of them to exact revenge in their way.
Ay’len was first to announce his release, with strangled cries, clamping his inside muscles over his husband’s organ, pulling him in, and forcing him to give up, and fill him up, as usual. They stood embraced, lost in one another, for a while.
“Come back home, Ay’len,” Ma’ki whispered in his hair, and he sighed.
“I cannot, Ma’ki,” he pleaded.
“Why, Ay’len?” the hunter’s voice was pained. “Is it because she’s there, with the baby in her arms? You’ll grow used to him; you have so much love for everybody. Why not him?”
“It’s not … like this,” he barely managed. It was painful to realize that Ma’ki thought he could not stand the baby.
“But how is it? Please, tell me”, Maki caressed his back slowly. Now, his anger gone, he wanted nothing but to bring his first wife home.
“I realized … with the baby born … you will see …” Ay’len choked, not able to speak anymore.
“See what? I only want to see you, Ay’len. I want to wake up and see your smile. I want to take you to bed each night and close my eyes with your face on my mind. They’re nothing to me …”
“Please, don’t talk like that! He is your son!”
“He stands between us!”
“And? Do you want to let him without his father’s love? You should be ashamed!” Ay’len pushed him away in anger, adjusting his dress, wincing at the discomfort he felt in his lower region.
“I won’t let him if you are there!” Ma’ki grabbed him by his shoulders.
“No, Ma’ki, you need to understand. You are a father, now. This you cannot change. Not even for my sake.”
“I won’t have it! You will come home with me right now,” Ma’ki straightened his clothes with nervous gestures, then grabbed Ay’len, forcing him to follow.
“No, Ma’ki,” the healer tried to oppose him.
“Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t toss you over my shoulder and take you home with me,” Ma’ki stopped and looked Ay’len in the eyes.
The healer averted his eyes.
“Something happened. What did she do?”
“She did nothing,” Ay’len forced his words out.
“Yes, she did. When I left, you could not wait for the baby. Now, that I’m back, you want to stay away. What kind of a fool do you think I am? Now, unless you want me to take that woman and make her say in front of the entire tribe what she did to you, you will talk,” he said sternly.
Ay’len bit his lips. He was caught, with no escape, as his mother had said.
“I … overheard something.”
Ma’ki waited. He had always suspected his second wife of not having too much love for Ay’len. For him, it was more important that the healer was starting to realize that, too.
“She was talking to the baby, and she was asking him for help to … get rid of me,” he said in one single breath.
To his surprise, Ma’ki remained silent. After a few moments, he talked. “So this is what she wanted. To have the child so that she could use him against you,” he concluded.
“Aren’t you … upset? Your child …” Ay’len murmured.
“I know her much better than you, and not because I bed her. I see the things you do not see. She chose to be a second wife, and she wants to be first. Well, she won’t have it her way. The child? The two of us should give him a proper upbringing. His mother obviously cannot.”
Ay’len could not believe his husband to be so cool-headed about everything. “But I cannot … sleep with her, under the same roof, as she turns your son against me …”
“Don’t worry; I’ll leave this one without her claws …”
The cold tones in Ma’ki’s voice made Ay’len tremble. When someone was threatening the one he loved, the man was becoming dangerous.
“What do you want to do?” he asked, with fear in his eyes.
“You’ll see,” Ma’ki said curtly. “Now come home with me.”
This time, Ay’len followed obediently.