Mid-day came and the sun rolled high in the sky, grazing the shoulders of Zeru sem'Zigor as he paced through camp. Something had irritated him, that much was clear, though no one was really sure what as they cleared out of his way. A few of the younger women offered him smiles, not sure what to make of their Warlord in this mood -- Zeru returned each smile with a solemn nod, making his way through camp. Perhaps one of his wives had scorned him, or perhaps a horse was ill, perhaps even something so simple as talk of the interlopers.

But no, not even Zeru knew why exactly he was angry, until his dark eyes alighted on his second son, Iñaki, and he could easily come up with a few reasons off the top of his head.

"Iñaki," he greeted his child, voice halfway between a purr and a snarl. The lazy brat had been too busy to practice his axes and wrestling, and Zeru was not about to be embarrassed by his younger son's incompetence in battle. "You haven't been taking your punishment. I gave you direct orders."

And then there was that -- he'd been off frolicking around with that... blind girl, not that Zeru bothered to remember her name. And what was that Amaya had told him about Esti? He didn't even want to think about his daughter. Iñaki would be the first to be dealt with.

Iñaki stiffened when his father came close, and turned away from the new bow he was shaping from walnut. His knife slipped, cutting into his palm, but he hardly flinched, only lay it aside and turned to Zeru, making a fist tight around the wound.

"Aita*, I didn't think it was productive for me to do woman's work, if you think I should be more of a man," he said quietly, trying to hide the tremor that always crept into his voice around Zeru. "I've been practicing my bow, and making new arrows, and..."

He cursed himself for his cowardice, but he couldn't mention Goizargi. Zeru would be too angry at him for it, and if he didn't mention it, maybe his aita would think it was only rumor. Not that most rumors amongst the Zerui weren't true... but... oh, Eguzki save me, though Iñaki. He looked at his father, who had always seemed so strong, but now looked more like... what? A wounded wolf, striking out because it was weakening--no, he could not think that. He swallowed it down. The anger blazing in his father's eyes was still enough to scare him, anyway.

"I am sorry, Aita." He looked down, and couldn't look up.




*Father

Zeru listened to his son's simpering complaints without a single change of pace -- his face remained the same blank, scrutinizing mask it had been when he had left his tent this morning to go to prayer. "Woman's work, eh? And flirting is much better?" He looked down at Iñaki, his eyes cold, for a long moment before taking a seat across from his son to torture him a little while longer.

And then he'd have to find something else to play with.

"You'd best make the bow and arrows strong and true, Iñaki, for no son of mine will be weak. Your wrestling, your axes. Have you been training?" A glimmer of red on the boy's knife caught his eye and Zeru's eyebrow raised a fraction of an inch. So Iñaki had cut himself, probably by mistake -- he'd looked about ready to wet himself when Zeru had first approached him, but then that was how Iñaki always looked. Frightened. Infantile. Pathetic.

And his other children -- the same, if not worse. Xanti, the little weasel, and Esti... "Your sister," he said, picking up the knife and wiping the blade clean on the ground before examining it. Anyone listening would note that he did not refer to Esti as his daughter. "I haven't seen her lately. Amaya tells me she's been neglecting her chores... is that true?"

Iñaki noticed the direction of Zeru's gaze and took back his knife, wiping it on his trousers. Zeru would care much more for how he cared for his weapons and very little about how he cared for himself.

"I have been training, father, but I could train more," Iñaki said stiffly. Zeru's face was stern, but it had fallen down from its usual lines. He seemed older these days, more tired, even as he berated Iñaki. But his eyes were as cold and sharp as ever. "I have been practicing a new kind of shot from horseback..." He trailed off, his shaky voice tapering to a whisper.

Esti? Zeru was asking about Esti?

Iñaki gulped, his mind flashing back to their kiss. But there was no way Zeru could know about that--no way.

"Uh..." He hadn't stammered since he was a very young child--had learned to control it, in fact. "No... I don't see her a lot. I think she's out with the horses."

Xanti had just come back from training with Mattin a close friend of his. The sun beat down heavily, his muscles ached slightly from the wrestling they had done. His heart still pumped a thousand miles a minute, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he patted himself down with an old piece of clothing. Sweat still fell from his brow, burning his gaze as he grinned and joked alongside Mattin.

"I hear you've been keeping an eye out for Maia. You could have your pick of any woman and you choose the grieving and pregnant widow?" Shaking his head in bewilderment he grinned at Mattin. He knew his friend had always had a thing for the young woman, ever since they had been children Mattin had been totally besotted, only to become downcast and seemingly depressed when she had accepted the proposal of a now recently deceased chieftain.

His upbeat mood suddenly fell as he saw the thunderous face of his Aita. The warlord's deep monotones struck hard at his brother. Xanti had on occasion been as disappointed with Inaki has Zeru was constantly, however Xanti had accepted that his brother was a talented marksman and rider. Just like he was with hand-to-hand combat and running. Nodding his goodbye to Mattin he knew his friend did not want to face the wrath of the Warlord.

Slowly he approached his kin, fear suddenly took over him, the only thing that truly made him shake was his father. Zeru; possibly the only reason he still stayed with the Zerui and all because of fright.

"I have been training, father, but I could train more."

Zeru said nothing in reply to this, and it was odd. A year ago his sharp brain would have easily caught the bland avoidance of his question, but now it was as if he'd been muddled by something -- age and datura, most like. Instead he watched as Iñaki took back his knife and wiped it on his trousers. "Careful," he muttered, something softening his hardened gaze momentarily as he watched his son. "Enough blood will be offered to Eguzki soon enough, yours needn't be among it."

Eguzki. The midsummer ritual. He still needed a sacrifice.

Though his voice was cold as he talked to Iñaki, the sentiment was there. Zeru could in no light be called a good father, and as a Warlord he tended to be the most critical of his children. Yes, he was quick to point out their flaws and call them failures, but there was a part of him that knew that his blood flowed in their veins, and was fond of each of them. It was a small part, but it was there.

Iñaki's stammering broke in on his thoughts -- funny. The boy hadn't stuttered since he was a child, but when asked about Esti... Zeru decided to ignore it for the moment. "Amaya calls her and calls her. She said that Esti has been acting differently, talking back to her, running off into the forest by herself and disappearing, not doing her chores. Are you sure there isn't anything you--" He broke off mid-sentence as Xanti approached them, a scuff of his feet on the dirt bringing Zeru back to a full awareness of his surroundings.

"Xanti. Come and sit. I was asking Iñaki about his training -- perhaps you could help him."

Iñaki felt his expression slide into resentment as Xanti approached. And of course Zeru was softer toward him, and would ask him to come sit, to help Iñaki. Never mind that Iñaki could have taught Xanti a thing or two about horses. No, Zeru could see only good in his eldest son, who was even now sweating from far more exertion than Iñaki ever wanted to force himself into.

Still, it was a welcome diversion from Esti. Esti was something he didn't want to even think about. Anyway, she was still angry at him. It stabbed at him, and Zeru was angry anyway, and Xanti was still the favorite, and no one understood what a sacrfice Iñaki was making. The only thing he wasn't allowed to have. And the only thing he wanted.

He looked up at Xanti, who stood palpably radiating heat, like a steaming horse. Why had he gotten all the muscles?

"N-n-n-- yes, aizu, Xanti." He flapped a hand at his brother. "I'm sure he can help m-me." His eyes met Xanti's, half-defiantly.