Kahzri (CAWZ-REE): a creature with a large deer-like quadruped body and humanoid torso where the head would be similar to a centaur. On the head of adults are ibex-style horns. Deiru often call them (along with other 'monsters') kabrates.
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The seasons changed with the weather getting colder. The wind blew through grasses and trees that had turned colors around Bausheiv manor and into a small window on the stone manor wall. Inside, the curtain blew open into a dim bedroom, brightening the few embers that remained in the fireplace. Against the adjacent wall was a bed with enough space for at least three average-size adults. It was surrounded by brown stylized flower pattern curtains and supported in each corner by thick wood posts. Near the headboard was a bedside table and at the foot was a chest of dark brown lumber. On one side of the mattress was Suetaera, who yawned before opening her monolidded cobalt blue eyes. Above the slate mantle of the fireplace was a dark faded tapestry of a creature with the body of a deer and where the head would normally be was the upper half of a human with a bestial visage that included long horns atop the head. It was surrounded by knights that had riddled it with arrows.
In one corner of the room there was an open wardrobe made of light wood. A man with a thick black beard stood in front of it in a long undyed linen gown. His attractive face was characterized by cobalt blue monolidded eyes. He stripped naked, dressing his average frame in front of the wardrobe with a tunic and breeches. Suetaera looked at the pale skin of his backside briefly, then closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep. Some time later she was awoken again, this time by a baby crying incessantly and a knock on the door.
"Come in," she said.
A young woman with light olive skin, thick lips and very long straight black hair entered, a baby held in the crook of her arm. She wore a long white linen nightgown that reached her ankles and she was sleepily bouncing the child in an attempt to calm it.
"Sister Suete," she said quietly. "Could you get the milk nurse for me? I fed him all night and he still wants more. He won't let me sleep."
"Yes Huega."
Suetaera got up from bed, already dressed in a similar white nightgown. She carefully took the baby from Huega, who left, and brought the wailing child into the great hall where a small gathering of servants sat around the burgeoning fire, warming themselves as the sun began to rise outside.
"Femuh," she said. A short woman with suntanned skin wearing a long unbleached nightgown stood from the gathering of serfs and blinked at Suetaera expectantly with her almond shaped brown eyes. She wore her hair tucked beneath a long nightcap.
"Yes, Mistress?" she asked, parting her lips with a weary sigh.
"I believe Gienmeid is hungry," was her drowsy reply.
"Hand him to me."
Suetaera carefully passed the child to the servant who held the crying boy in the crook of her arm. She followed Suetaera, back into her room and sat on the edge of the bed as she unceremoniously unbuttoned her blouse and squeezed her pale breast to the young boy's lips. He suddenly stopped crying and began to suckle her large dark nipple.
Suetaera removed her nightgown, and laid it on the bed, now nude save the undyed loose fabric braies (underwear) draped across her hips and between her legs. She had a mature body that puberty was done with, characterized by wide hips and small breasts. She was about the same height as the servant and her brown hair reached her waist when she unfurled it from the nightcap. From the wardrobe she put on two white petticoats and looked over her clothing options. She finally decided on a long maroon blouse with a high collar and a mossy blue-gray skirt that reached her ankles. After putting on all of her layers, she laced up soft leather boots just below her knees, and covered by the long dress. She put her hair into a long braid and pinned it in a spiral against her head before covering it in a linen wimple.
"Suetaera, shall I take the babe back to Lady Huega?"
"Set him into his crib."
Quiet were her footfalls, despite how quickly she left the bedroom towards the hall. Suetaera picked up a rosy-cheeked toddler who squealed with delight. Martein, Lord Edvin's eldest, smoked a pipe on the bench in front of the fire.
"Aunty, I'm hungry," said the young girl in Suetaera's arms. She held a hay-filled doll to her chest.
"Soon Ielsei," Suetaera replied, bouncing the child on her knee.
"Suetaera we're ready for you," said the cook, peeking out from the kitchen.
"Very well." She took the girl from her knee and set her down on the large rug. The youngster immediately started crying.
"Sorry honey, but aunty has to go help with breakfast. Ask Femuh to feed you, ok?"
"No," she said with a petulant frown.
Suetaera breathed with exasperation as she caught the servant Femuh's eyes.
"Ielsei needs feeding."
"Yes Mistress," she replied.
Suetaera strode across the great hall and entered the kitchens as someone knocked at the manor's entrance. A servant opened the wooden door with a reverent bow and kind welcome to the Meikell twins and their father who introduced them before walking into the hall. The twins were wearing identical clothes, thick maroon dresses covering wrists, ankles and up to their neck with spiral stitched patterns covering the bottom hem, in the typical style of their region. Decorative bronze bands with similar spiral patterns wrapped around their upper arms. Their shiny black hair was pulled back beneath a pinned white wimple. Deinmag wore a gold-thread embroidered long dark blue tunic that was belted with leather and wrapped in an open forest green coat. Atop his head was a floppy blue hat with a long plume. The Viscount and his daughters moved to the fireplace where several other nobles were waiting with the Bailiff of the manor.
"Nas daina, Ishdermein," Deinmag said.
"Nas daina, Viscount Deinmag. Welcome."
"Nas daina, Ishdermein," the twins said in conjunction as they gave a small curtsy.
"Nas daina, Adalla. Nas daina, Allora. Viscount, I was not expecting you again. Your visit last week during Mitryarfaer was joyous. How might I help you today?"
"Is Lord Edvin present?" Deinmag asked.
"He is on the grounds. Shall I get him for you?"
"Yes, we have business to discuss."
The twins quietly leaned together against one of the plush seats and waited patiently. The kitchen door opened with a servant carrying a platter of ocre-colored soups and Suetaera carrying a plate of gray bread. The twins stood up from the fireside bench, and ran towards Suetaera with cheerful greetings.
"Come now twins, now is not the time for the squeals of little girls," Deinmag said with disdain.
The twins, crestfallen, turned back to seats on the opposite side of the large supper table and sat down. All ate of the soup, using bread to sop up the thin broth. The twins gazed fondly at their cousin and waited impatiently until all of a sudden the sturdy front manor door opened, and one of the servants approached the Viscount, bowing slightly.
"My Lord, where is Lord Edvin or Master Ishdermein? A kabrate has been spotted only a few leagues from here."
The twins drew a sharp breath. There were whispers and concerned voices across the table.
"Now let's be calm," Deinmag said loudly. Those at the table became quiet. "Servant, I know not where Lord Edvin is located. I sent Ishdermein to find him, but neither has returned. Find them for me."
"Certainly Viscount," the servant replied.
Those at the table started talking about the kabrates in loud whispers. As their father left the table, and the hall proper, the twins and Suetaera came together near the fireplace.
"Cousins," Suetaera said with a smile as the twins hugged her tightly.
"What sort of kabrate do you think is out there?" Allora asked.
"But maybe a kahzri," she mused. "My husband saw one the other day in the woods."
"What do they look like?" Allora asked.
"Those are the cow-ones?" Adalla asked.
"No, no," Suetaera corrected. "They have four hooved legs, but with a man's torso attached. There's a tapestry of one in my bedroom."
"Like in that story the traveler was telling at our manor. The ones with horns," Adalla said knowingly.
"Can we go to your room?" Allora asked with a yawn. "I'm tired."
"Sure, you can sleep on my bed."
They walked down to an opening in the main hall which led to a short passage with several doors and a narrow window. They went to the end and Suetaera turned the handle of the door, revealing her bedroom. She crawled up onto the large four-post bed. The twins followed suit.
"Did you dance with any other boys at the wedding after I left?" Suetaera asked with curiosity.
"A few," Adalla admitted.
"You twins are so lucky," Suetaera replied, putting her hand to Adalla's chin, but she turned with a sigh. "I don't know how you got so pretty when your parents are so plain," she said with a shake of her head.
"Stop it," Adalla laughed. "You are pretty too. But I wish we had your figure so mother wouldn't chastise us."
"She still does?"
"She says eating too many vegetables is causing our bodies to grow in lustful ways."
Suetaera laughed.
"What?"
"Parents don't know everything."
