I awoke to the sound of moans coming from the inner part of the family yurt. It would appear that my father is breaking in his newest wife. One would think I might be slightly embarrassed by my father’s actions, but I have lived around him long enough to not be bothered by such acts anymore. My father, Alton, was just elevated to the rank of Great Warrior in our tribe, with this new title came the perks of being allowed to take on one more wife and two more slave wives as is the custom of our people. Father is one of three great warriors in the tribe, so the entire family’s prestige soared after his promotion. Apparently, the couple’s nightly activity was reaching a head as the moans and grunts got louder, and far more labored which became quite annoying. So, I rolled over turning my back to the noise not caring what he was doing, maybe in my younger years the act of mating fascinated me but nowadays it could no longer peak my interests. Turning had brought my face right into my younger sister, Kulan’s face. She was not sleeping as she should be, but instead was staring at me intently with her onyx like eyes. Her face being so close to mine when I turned startled me and caused me to flinch back bringing a smile to Kulan’s young face. “the new one is loud, isn’t she?” Kulan whispered softly making it hard for me to hear her over the noise in the background. I regained my composure and stifled a laugh nodding as I did so. She was my only sibling who would not take a jab at me, the few times I left an opening to do so, and I have always liked her the most for that reason, jealousy it would seem could turn brother on brother and I knew that all to well.

The new wife, Taban, I think her name is, is by far the youngest of father’s wives at the tender age of 16. She had just become an adult and according to the rumor was just starting to look for a husband before our tribe defeated her own tribe over grazing rights, after our victory she was one of the women taken as a slave since she was pretty, and a virgin meaning she could be useful to the tribe’s growing needs. After one look at her, my father fancied the girl and took her as his newest slave wife, she was shorter than most of the take slaves but built well enough to be able to do the work the family needed done and she also looked prime to produce a few more sons for father, which is what all warriors wish for. He brought her back along with the rest of his spoils to be consolidated into the growing family. “It is a great honor,” I whispered to Kulan, “to be taken by a great warrior, now all of her offspring will have the chance of becoming warriors and wives instead of just a servant or a slave.” Kulan’s eyes sparkled at that last part for she too was the daughter of a slave wife, and with father’s newest promotion in the tribe she can become a wife to someone instead of just a slave wife. I too am pleased with the fact that Kulan can become an actual wife, being my favorite sibling, I doted on her and felt that I should look after her and help her achieve the best that she can.

Kulan scooted even closer to me as she whispered, “Who will you take with you when you leave fathers house tomorrow?” it then once again dawned on me that I have seen my fifteenth winter this past winter, meaning I am now considered a man of the tribe, so according to custom I must leave father’s house and strike out on my own. It was the custom of our people to fight every spring over grazing rights for that next year. The Victor of that fight gets to take two women for every dead enemy warrior so as not to lead to an overpopulation of unclaimed women and the livestock of every killed warrior of the other tribe not including horses, since horses are sacred to each tribe and are not to be bread with another tribe’s stock. The spoils are all split up among the surviving victorious warriors, but some will be kept separate for those boys coming of age. In the days following the battle those who have newly come of age are given some sheep, goats, and chickens; either from the spoils of war or from their father’s own stock, if they lost the battle for grazing rights or if the father is powerful and can afford to give more. The of age boys were also given servants or slaves, if there were some to spare in their families. Luckily for me my father is powerful in the tribe and has many wives and children, so many in fact that he can give me some of his own children to be part of my new family to help grow my power in the tribe.

I tried to look as if I was thinking over Kulan’s question even going so far as to put my hand beneath my chin to really get into the perfect thinking form, though I knew the answer to the question long before it had been asked. Kulan most likely knew I was putting up a front, but she tried not to show it on her face as she looked at me expectantly. After pretending a minute or two longer and really trying to show some inner struggle on my face I finally looked down onto Kulan’s face and into her eyes. “of course, I will take our sister Erhi, I can always use someone who can sing well and isn’t scared to help tend the sheep, I also plan on bringing our brother Ulgar, I will need a decent fletcher in the house to keep myself stocked on arrows, and probably brother Erdin to keep the animals safe while I am away.” I didn’t mention that the main reason for my choices was the fact that these are the siblings I get along with best. After hearing her siblings’ names and not her own, Kulan had a distraught look written on her face. Soon enough however; the emotions were gone and instead were replaced by a face so void of emotions you would think she had turned to stone right before my eyes. “Oh,” she said in an almost inaudible whisper, “Those are all smart choices eldest brother.” I nearly broke out into laughter but held it together somehow and continued, “Yes, I have put much thought into my choices and these four will no doubt help me grow my family in the future." At the mention of four people Kulan looked at me in confusion. “Brother you only mentioned three names not four.” I finally let my face slip a little and gave her a small grin. “Well of course I didn’t mention your name Kulan,” my smile grew even more as I spoke trying desperately to hold back the laughter that was struggling to escape my lips, as I watched her eyes sparkle with every word I said. “You were a given from the start, I could never go start my own family without my favorite sister with me.”. As I finished talking Kulan leapt from her bed roll and hugged me through my own blankets while I finally started to laugh quietly as not to wake the others in the Yurt who had not already been woken by father. “Thank you Aridan,” she said as she continued her prolonged, over enthusiastic, hug, “I always hoped to go with you to start your own house, I can even help pick your first wife.” My cheeks got hot and I blushed at the mention of a wife. No matter what our laws and traditions say about taking wives and starting a family I personally did not feel ready to take a wife of my own it would be a struggle to take care of myself and my own siblings much less adding in someone from another family to take care of as well. Kulan got off me and got into her own bed roll once more. When she saw my darkened cheeks, she giggled which certainly did not help the situation. “Sorry brother,” she said not apologetic at all. At least she skipped over the subject that caused my embarrassment. I grunted and rolled over turning my back to Kulan who was still snickering to herself. Thankfully father was done with his nightly activities with the new wife so, not long after getting comfortable mentally and physically I was back asleep just not as soundly this time.

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…

I awoke as the sun was starting to peak over the black mountains to the east and the light seeped into the yurt through many small gaps that had gone unpatched. As I sat up the rest of my father’s house began to stir and would soon be fully awake. Soon enough this place would be bustling with activity and everyone would be in each other’s way. So, as to avoid the annoyance, I quickly jumped up out of my bedroll and tucked it away in the corner ready to start my morning work with the horses. I started for the entrance when a large hand found itself resting on my shoulder. I looked back and saw my father standing there looking as imposing as ever, yet this time as I looked I noticed I had at some point in time grown taller than him and not just slightly taller no, I was at least a head taller. My father could be considered the biggest man in the tribe and I was now taller than him. I could not help but be impressed with myself and thankful to the Great Being for this gift. Father apparently seeing the smug look on my face scowled which really is not saying too much since he usually had a scowl on his face for one reason or another. “Come.” Is all he said in his deep voice, that would make weaker men shy away, as he stepped out past the tent flap and into the village. I followed father, curious about what he wanted, since he never interrupted anyone’s jobs without a good reason to do so. Once outside the yurt, and after adjusting to the differences in lighting. I could see some of the other villagers going about their morning routines from the young kids to the elders everyone in the village had a purpose and was setting out for that purpose. Father never stopped walking he just kept going heading north out of the village, so I followed him, returning greetings and polite nods as they came my way.

I noticed father was wearing the wolf skin I had prepared for him this last battle. Pride welled up in my chest that my father and idol liked a gift of mine so much that he chose to keep wearing it. Even if he did not voice how he felt about it I knew now that he liked it. So, the rest of our trek past the last of the yurts and pastured animals, I had a goofy grin plastered on my face.

…

Father finally stopped. On a grassy hill, overlooking the village on one side, and a small stream on the other. As I took in the scene of the village and wildlife, both coming alive as the sun rose and shone its light over all of us on the grasslands. I was so enthralled by the sounds of the insects and animals around the grassland and the running of the water that I almost missed the movement in the corner of my eye. That fast-moving object was my fathers fist, and the path that it was taking was heading straight for my head. Apparently, at some point after stopping he had shed off his clothes, aside from his trousers, and was now hell bent on killing me. Now instead of being awe inspired by the natural world around me I was overtaken by shock and a little fear.

My reflexes kicked in and I ducked avoiding the blow, coming up with a punch of my own, aiming for my father’s mid-section. Of course, my punch missed, he was not a Great warrior in name only. We both backed off and stared each other down feeling each other out checking for weaknesses and openings of which father had none in my eyes. After what seemed like an eternity of tense silence I ended it by asking, “what the hell are you doing?” father smiled, and I relaxed slightly but not completely since his body language showed he was still up for a fight, there was no telling when this psycho would try to kill me again. “I am seeing if you are ready to leave out from under my wing and if you will embarrass me when you do so.” He said still never relaxing or showing an opening for an attack. “Happy now?” I asked still tense yet hoping he would be and I wouldn’t get my ass kicked. Father shook his head and apparently having the opening he needed he launched a flurry of punches and kicks. I blocked what I could and dodged what I couldn’t, sadly though father was just too fast for me, and I took quite a few punches to my stomach and one nasty blow to my head which left me dazed for a moment; A moment far to long for my father and his experience in a fight. “No son of mine will just sit there and take a one-sided beating,” he bellowed as he dove back in to continue his beating. Anger swelled up inside me, an anger I had never felt before in my life. The anger took over and now instead of just blocking and dodging I went on the attack even if it was not as coordinated and well placed as father’s it was better than sitting back and taking it. Thoughts like I am bigger than him, so he can’t just push me around, and I am a man now I am a fighter of the Dulfar tribe. When I thought of the fact that I was now a man and a fighter of the tribe who, would now have to fight and defend it, my anger turned from being hot and untamed to something cold and calculated. Something inside me snapped and instead of my attacks just being erratic and misguided they became faster, stronger, and more sinister in their placement.

You would think my father would be mad at me for taking crotch shots and landing a few punches all over his body. Instead of anger all I saw was happiness, and a shit eater grin on his face as I peeked after nearly landing a hit on his manhood. It did not take long though for him to end the fight once he got serious with me, his years of experience won over my size and anger and I was left lying on the ground panting heavily with bruises distributed all over my body. Father sat down beside me and put his large, scarred hand on my heaving chest. “Now, I am happy.” He said looking out over the village that from this distance looked like an anthill that had its top removed. I noticed his voice had taken a softer tone than normal, but I was in no condition to point that out. I did not feel like moving after that beating, so I just laid there attempting to control my heavy breathing and ignoring the growing pain throughout my body, that was returning now that the adrenaline had worn off. Father removed his hand, “who are you taking with you?” I did not answer immediately not out of disrespect or confusion at his words, no, it was none of that, I just could not get the words out. A minute later I sat up and gazed over the village with father and sighed, “Kulan, Erhi, Ulgar and Erdin unless you have a problem with it father.” I said bowing my head to him. If anything after that beating I just took I knew he deserved my respect and I was going to give it to him. Father nodded, “done, they will be waiting for you at your new home with your herd after the ceremony.” Father stood up grabbing his clothes and brushing them off and sweeping his shoulder length brown hair over his shoulder as he did so. “You are a man of the tribe now son, you are no longer just my son you are a contributing member of this tribe and will have to defend it when the time arises.” His meaning was clear, I may not be his equal in rank but was still a man and no longer a son. I nodded, “yes fat-Alton.” For the first time that I can remember he smiled at me. The smile was fleeting however and was soon gone replaced by his signature scowl. “Wash up Aridan, then get some breakfast before the ceremony,” He said pointing to the stream before walking off down to the village. I nodded to his back as he left. I watched his back for a second longer before standing up with a pained groan. The fight with Alton marked the end of my living under his wing and the start of my new life and family.