*Note: Read the first installment "From the Darkness..." first.*
June 1
It has been a year. The times have not all been bad either. Slowly, I am learning their language. I gave my captor a son, his first, and for that he has treated me tenderly. He calls me his "lobaki." If I am translating his right, it means "love." Another woman in the tribe took to nursing the child for me. In fact, I really have not spent much time with my son. I do not even know the name the man gave him.
I am allowed to leave the tent for more than just travel. They are teaching me their crafts, weaving, and small game hunting.
Our nightly rituals continue. He has "trained" me to be kneeling on the furs in our tent as he comes in after his ale. He gives me gentle glances as the flap of the tent opens. His inspections, depending on his mood, are either gentle or cruel.
This was a bad day. He gripped my neck tightly, hauling to me to my feet. His eyes burned into me, scanning my body for a moment before his free hand came down, backhanding my face. Tears came into my eyes as that hand struck me. Once he let go of my neck, I fell to my knees, pressing my forehead to his boots.