Chapter 19
Several days later during supper, Gil announced, “Some of the village council are in an uproar.”
“No one has said anything to me,” Ursula replied before taking a bite of food.
The three males had begrudgingly agreed to allow her the independence of feeding herself, although such feminine autonomy irked them.
“No, they wouldn’t,” Bran replied in a mild tone. He sighed, then took a drink. “They’re complaining to us.”
Ursula set her fork down. “So, what is it now?”
“You’ve involved the village’s females in your project,” Zul explained, “rather than relying upon the castrati to carry out your orders.”
Ursula had to admit to herself that she’d seen this confrontation coming.
Indeed, she had invited it. Carefully enunciating every syllable, she replied, “I’m organizing a community festival.
Shouldn’t members of the community be involved?
” Before any of her mates could respond, she narrowed her eyes and said, “Or do the females not count as members of the community?”
Zul glanced at Bran, unwilling to wade into that minefield. Gently, Gil responded, “The males are members of the community, too, elska’adir, are they not?”
“Do they feel left out?” she asked.
The three males sensed a trap and did not answer.
Ursula didn’t mind; she answered for them. “Did they tell you that I invited their input? Did they tell you that they refused to work with me because I’m a woman?”
“Did you expect otherwise?” Bran retorted, his tone still mild.
She huffed. “No, I did not expect otherwise, you idiot.”
Zul nearly choked on his food to hear her speak so disrespectfully to their Prime. Gil cast him an amused glance. Bran held his silence, knowing it would work better on their mate than any remonstration or lecture.
After a long moment, Ursula sighed. “The committee of women I’m working with are really enthusiastic and thrilled to be involved. They’ve got wonderful ideas and have been so very helpful. Why is it such a terrible thing to have their help?”
“That is not a female’s role in Urib culture,” Gil replied.
Ursula shook her head. “I still don’t get it. Why are women restricted to arts and crafts? Why can’t we be involved in more important things?”
Zul felt compelled to reply. “Females embody creation. Creation is their very purpose, so the gods have given them the blessing of creativity. Without females, we would not have great art or music.”
“Or architecture,” Gil added.
“Architecture?” Ursula echoed with a small frown.
“Without the creative nature inherent to females, our buildings would have no beauty, no grace,” Gil explained.
He gave her a small smile. “You persist in thinking Urib females are uneducated and unskilled. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our females must be well-educated and highly skilled to manifest the very creations that make our culture superior to any other.”
“Consider your friend, Addilli,” Bran added.
“Addilli?” Ursula blinked. She hadn’t thought that Bran knew of her friendship with the other female whose mates owned a restaurant a few doors down from her shop.
Her own mates were more cognizant of what she knew and with whom she associated than she’d realized.
Apparently, there was no hiding anything from them—not that she was deliberately concealing her friendship from them. Of course not.
Bran explained, “It is her creative insight and skill that enables her mates to produce such wonderful food. She created their recipes and designed their menu. But they are properly protective of her and wary that such a skilled and desirable female would be coveted by other unmated males, so they minimize her exposure to predation.”
Gil added, “And, no, elska’adir, we would not forbid you her company just because she is lower caste. We know you cherish your friendships and need them.”
Ursula felt the heat of embarrassment flood her cheeks. She lowered her gaze to her plate. “I’m sorry. I guess…”
Zul patted her hand. “We do not wish you to be lonely.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, knowing fully well that Zul understood what it was to be lonely. She chewed on her lip for a moment before looking up at her three mates. “Is the village truly against the festival?”
Bran gave her a small smile. “The villagers are somewhat conflicted. They are dubious about the reason for the event as they do not understand this Halloween of yours, but they do understand and appreciate the idea of a harvest festival.”
“I’d say more are looking forward to it than not,” Gil commented.
Ursula breathed a sigh of relief at this mild encouragement and gave him a grateful smile.
“And I doubt many males will forbid their mates from attending because they do not want their mates to be unhappy. More likely, they will attend in company with their mates just to please them and keep them safe.”
“Oh, good.”
Zul patted her hand again, still not quite believing he had the great good fortune to casually touch and comfort any female, much less his mate.
“Tread lightly, elska’adir, while finalizing these arrangements,” Bran cautioned. “Try to reassure rather than antagonize.”
Again, Ursula felt the burn of embarrassment.
“I look forward to the fireworks,” Gil said to distract their mate from that embarrassment. “I watched some videos. Crow will enjoy them.”
“Most boys do,” Ursula said, flashing him a grateful smile. “I remember going to Independence Day shows with friends and their families. The boys would always be so excited and not at all bothered by the noise.”
“Noise?” Zul repeated with a frown.
“Gunpowder,” Ursula explained. “It’s explosive and loud when it goes off.”
He frowned at her.
“You can’t have fireworks without big booms.”
He shook his head.
Did he suffer from PTSD? She frowned. “Are you okay, Zul? Will you be okay?”
He gave her a reassuring smile and patted her hand again. “I will endure.”
Gil sent Bran a speaking glance. We will help him endure.
“What are your favorite fireworks, Ursula?” Bran asked to distract her from worry.
Zul sent a whisper of gratitude across their bond.
He did not wish to appear weak in front of their mate.
Bran responded directly to him, mind to mind.
Soon you will understand she does not always need you to be strong.
She will appreciate your vulnerability. You can trust her to protect you.
Protect me? How could such a delicate female protect me?
Bran did not answer. Zul would learn soon enough.
“I’ve always liked the ones with the willow effect,” Ursula answered the question. She took a sip and said nothing about knowing he was distracting her. Instead, she let it slide, appreciating his care for both her feelings and Zul’s.
“What are the ‘willow’ ones?” Gil asked.
She answered, “The willow fireworks create big stars with the arms falling gracefully like a willow tree’s branches.” At their blank expressions, she added, “You’ll have to look it up. I’m not exactly sure how to explain a willow tree to you guys.”
“This is a type of tree found on Earth?” Zul murmured.
Ursula nodded. “Fireworks have been around on Earth for over a thousand years in a country called China. Humans haven’t had any communication with alien civilizations until recently, so names for things refer to what’s either on Earth or what we can see from Earth’s surface.”
“Makes sense,” Zul said with a nod.