My stomach growled as the smell hit me. Leaving the warmth of my covers, I straightened them and ran down the steps barefoot. I probably shouldn't do that, but I really didn't want to struggle putting on my work loafers.
Ocello had cleared the fire pit. Something that she hadn't gotten to yesterday. A round pit was dug into the ground with a wall at the back that had niches. The tiles I had noticed from yesterday covered the small half sized wall. More logs had been stored close by. For now, though, the fire was just big enough to cook with.
The heat of the midday sun would make it unbearable later, but the way the pit was designed, a lot of the heat reflected out and up. I studied the rafters and there was a large panel of fabric that seemed to be metallic on one side.
Right now, it was hanging in the space between the bedrooms and fire. It was probably shifted to the other side during the winter to redirect the heat into the bedrooms and back of the great rooms.
A spit had been hung over the fire and a beast was being roasted whole. Looking around, I saw cuddles lying on a step in the pit.
I felt guilty for a moment because the creature being cooked looked an awful lot like a skinned Bara. But as long as it wasn't Cuddles, I wasn't going to complain.
"You are awake," Ocello spoke, turning to face me. "We found some seats so that we can eat at the table." Pulling at a second pot that was on the fire, he carefully moved it over to the table.
"What's this?" I asked as I sat down.
"You said that you liked the tea from yesterday, so I went and got some more this morning before Uchel went to hunt." Ocello dug though the chest filled with kitchen ware and found a small cup.
"Uchel went to hunt?" I asked.
"We all take turns unless we work in the fields." Bringing the cup over, he poured me a cup. The minty scent drifted up and I closed my eyes in pleasure. I had always enjoyed a good cup of tea. I missed coffee, but I shouldn't drink any because of the baby. Did they even have coffee here?
"Thank you."
"Be careful, it's still hot. I'll bring you a plate of food for breakfast."
I grinned at him. He was acting just like a newlywed. Except I think the roles were reversed. I sipped on the tea and thought about my first marriage.
I had been the one cooking breakfast that first morning and flitting around with a pot of coffee. Danny had been too drunk to do anything the night before and I made him my special remedy for hangovers.
He had grumbled and refused to eat. Instead, he had left the house to meet up with friends to have breakfast. I wasn't invited.
Looking over at the example before me, peace settled over me. Back then, I had been angry and Danny had said I was overreacting, but seeing the kind sincerity of Ocello put things in perspective for me.
Ocello cut some of the meat off the bone and added some fruits that he knew I liked to the plate. With a flourish, he hurried over and placed the plate in front of me.
I didn't hesitate, I stood up and leaned over to give him a kiss on the mouth.
"Thank you," I said before sitting back down and digging into my food. Ocello stood there gaping at me for a moment and then his face broke out into the widest grin I had ever seen.
He sat next to me and just stared at me with a goofy smile. I squirmed in my seat once I was full enough for my stomach to stop yelling at me and looked over at him.
"What?" He reached over and rubbed the corner of my mouth, his dark eyes boring into mine. The heat in his eyes took my breath away and I licked my lips, the tip of my tongue brushing his thumb as it made its way across my lips.
He leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss. The soft caress of his lips over mine made me catch my breath. I tilted my head and leaned in, eager to deepen the kiss. Ocello let out a sly chuckle as he wrapped his arms around me and held me still.
I felt dizzy under his attention until we heard someone clearing his throat. A sense of déjà vu overwhelmed me. Hadn't this just happened? We pulled apart to see Uchel standing there with his hint slung over his shoulder.
"Good morning, Kami." Uchel said and walked over, taking my lips for himself even as I sat half in Ocello's lap. Looking between the men, I again expected there to be a struggle between them. That is what would have happened where I came from. The idea of possession and obsession in love drove a lot of people. But they didn't act like that. I would have to ask them about it sometime.
"You're back!" I smiled at him and took another sip of my tea.
"It looks like you had a good hunt!" Uchel nodded.
"We give half of our kills to the village. There are women and children who don't have hunters in their family who rely on it. In exchange," he held up a container full of grains and another of vegetables, "they give us these kinds of things, depending on the season."
I nodded. It was a system of barter, but also one of sharing. It seemed everyone in the village made sure everyone was taken care of.
"Do we always get food in exchange?" Ocello shook his head.
"It is like a market. As people bring in their kills, the farmers and artisans bring their wares to the storehouses on each of the levels. Different ones have different things that they offer. Some even offer fabric in exchange for hides and such."
"I see." I really didn't, but I figured if they took me there one morning, I would. "Can I go there sometime?"
"Sure," Uchel said, laying his kills out on the table at the back of the house. He had field dressed his kills, so there wouldn't be any entrails or blood to worry about. I was about to go help him when I heard a knock at the door.
"I'll get that," Ocello said and hurried over to yank it open.
"Hi! Where should I put my stuff?" At the door stood Cuau with several baskets and chests. I don't even know how he got them to our door without us hearing him.
My jaw dropped. Why was he here?
"Hi. What are you doing here?" I asked.
"You said I could move in yesterday. I'm taking you up on your offer." Cuau put on a lopsided grin. He was handsome enough that it dazzled me for a moment and when I was about to argue, I stopped.
I walked closer and touched the side of his face. Cuau flinched and the grin disappeared. I stopped because I had noticed that the lopsided grin was because half of his face was bruised.
"What happened?"
"Just me and my family having a difference of opinion." This close, I could smell the air around him, too, and I scented the unmistakable smell of blood. I reached for his arm and pulled the long sleeve of his tunic up. The old scar lines were crisscrossed with new marks.
It made me realize that he wore a long sleeve shirt in the summertime to hide his injuries.
Cuau stood still as I looked, his face a mask that no emotion could escape. He came in with mischief, but I knew I wouldn't be turning him away.
"You family sucks, you know that right?" I said gently. Looking over at Uchel and Ocello, I worried for a moment that they would not be okay with this unexpected arrangement. But both of them shrugged.
"You invited him already. If you are happy, we are happy." I looked back at the green-haired snake beastman and smiled.
"Welcome to the family!" Wait, did this mean that I had 3 potential husbands now? No, let's not think of that right now.
Uchel went back to cleaning the game and Ocello helped Cuau move his stuff into the great room. Looking around, I realized we really needed to start figuring out where things needed to go. It was starting to get cluttered.
Looking at the three men around me, I wondered if I could get used to this. Putting my hand on my belly, I mused at how life can take sudden unexpected turns.
At the same time, I think I wanted some time to just settle into my new home before another adventure came my way.