Grandmother's Teeth

Chapter 3 Grandmother

Sadko was the only one who did not drink at the nightly festivities rubbing the light scratches on his cheek. As such he was given the watch in case any monsters appeared. Dawn crept up and so did another yet all the men stayed fast asleep when Sadko shouted. “Who are you?! Show yourself!”

“Brave boy, would you shoot a toothless woman who this very night might have lost her son?” The crone had a bun on her head that was tightly twisted yet surrounded by tangles. Her shall was heavy, pulled together into one big ball in the front. The large number of tassels it bore seemed tied also. Her fingers were long and slender but her knuckles were big. For all her attire the woman looked made of knots. The cat she held slept content in her arms.

“What is your name, woman?” Sadko questioned. She only blinked at him. The cat opened its eyes and hissed. Ivan came up behind Sadko and with a firm hand put pressure on his arm to lower the bow. “There is no need to fear Sadko. This is my Mother.”

The woman nodded curtly as her eyes narrowed upon her son. “Why is it you did not return?” She glanced at Sadko suspiciously and then reluctantly added. “I was worried about you.”

“I was wed to the shrine maiden last night.” Ivan replied stoically.

“What? You were supposed to return to me! Not be wed! Where is she?! Did you consummate this union?!” The woman was shrieking, literally leaping off the ground. Other villagers came out grabbing their ears and blinking at the strange sight before them.

“I did as they made me. I meant to return to you afterwards.” Ivan lowered his head.

“It is too late! All is lost you fool!” She slapped Ivan and the men were astonished. Never had they seen a woman degrade a man of such stature before.

Sadko spoke, “Old one, their wedding was done in the traditional fashion. What need have you to cry? All is not lost.”

“Sadko is it?” The bushel of threads turned on him measuring him with her eyes,

“Why my son was gone in the night our mountain sheep broke free and ran away. So my son has a fresh new bride and we have no means to take care of her.” She looked around, realizing that the whole village was watching. Her voice became dramatically sorrowful, “And is not a mother to be present at her own son’s wedding?” She began to cry into her knobby hands. Several of the women nodded in agreement. And many of the men of the town verbally admitted that perhaps things had been rushed.

“Mother, this land still needs to be cleansed of evil. Perhaps if you do this the villagers will take care of you until I can provide.” To Sadko Ivan’s words sounded hollow as many of the villagers already shouted consent to this plan.

“I could not accept payment for such work.” The woman wrung her hands suddenly complacent, “Please, I only wish to see my new daughter in law so that I may inform her of the fools she has inherited.” Many of the women were at her side comforting her. They led her to the marriage hata. Everyone followed but Ivan and Sadko and a few of the village men.

“Sadko surely something must be done.” The village Tanner entreated. His dried stock had been providing for everyone for months, “Elena’s father is already burdened with her sick mother.”

Ivan spoke deeply. “You do not have enough here to support two strangers for nothing. I shall take my mother and my new wife Elena and go.”

Sadko sighed, “Ivan you would crush the villagers' hopes. By Elena’s omen you are to be our new headman. Talk to your mother, convince her to stay. We need strong hands more than ever. My father is a merchant. Perhaps, when he returns, we shall be better off.”

“We shall see.” was Ivan’s unenthused response.

They went to join the others in seeing Elena. She was blushing and making the bed that Ivan and she had slept in the night before. She had just finished telling Ivan’s heroic tale to the old one. Contrary to her previous expression the old woman was glowing. Perhaps, this was with pride for her son. Elena still looked at her warily.

“Does my ratty appearance frighten you child?” The old woman patted her arm.

“No, it’s just the way you look at me. I beg your forgiveness. Perhaps, it is because events are still fresh in my head.” Elena shivered, “It reminds me of some children I met.”

“I know of the kind you speak.” The woman’s face turned grave.

“Elena! Elena!” A young boy pushed through the crowd. “Your Father is dead!”

Elena began to faint but Ivan was there to scoop her up tenderly.

“What happened?” Sadko turned to the boy.

“He was gutted by an animal... this morning! Elena’s mother too is gone!” Some of the little children put their faces in their mother’s skirts. Elena likewise buried her face into Ivan’s shoulder. Her Father had wanted to stay home during the wedding to hold up the ruse that her mother was still ill, pretending to nurse a corpse covered in blankets.

“Come,” the woman dropped the cat to the floor and it bounded off. “We shall rid this place of the curse upon it. Dear one, take me to the shrine.”

Elena looked to Ivan and for a second time Sadko watched her turn strong. “Yes.”

Several hours later when they all reached the shrine it was intact yet things were missing. The little stone deity carvings were gone. “It must have been those children. They had food from the shrine.” Elena frowned. “The bear killed them.”

“The bear you say?” The old woman’s eyes narrowed. “Pity, that means they are lost. The stones are no doubt hidden somewhere in these woods.” The villagers muttered after her conjecture.

“Fear not!” Ivan bellowed and they silenced. “My mother shall have the answer!”

“Yes,” his matron said confidently shifting and placing her hand on the stone. A sizzling noise and puff of smoke caused her to shriek and back away. “Terrible! This place is terrible! It casts your land into a never ending winter! But-”she paused and sucked her fingers a bit holding the villagers in suspense. “Destroy it, tear down every stone and bury them away from one another. Stop praying to this accursed place. Start praising yourselves. Life will begin anew. A never ending spring will take hold.”

The men did not hesitate. They rushed by her and began tearing the crude structure apart. Only Sadko forestalled, “This is a place of thanks to mother earth. To the elements that help us grow and learn. We have always come to this place for guidance and self meditation. It reminds us to keep all in balance.”

“And what has it gotten you?” The old one purred like the cat she once held.

“Sorrow,” Elena whispered. “Still, my mother was a shrine maiden.”

Ivan placed a hand on both their shoulders. “These beings do not care for you Elena. They do not give. It’s only those who learn how to take that survive.”

“And you need not carry the burden of your mother. You have another to bear.” The old woman’s knuckled hand circled Elena’s belly.

Sadko gasped, “So soon? How can you tell?”

“One such as I knows these things. I have acted as a midwife before.” Still her hand circled greedily even as Elena beamed. “She shall be as strong and agile as my son and even more beautiful than her mother. Long have I waited for this, I am patient. I can wait a little longer.”

“I think the whole village should call you Babushka. Truly you have blessed all of us. You have brought us hope.” Elena smiled.

“In my language that means Grandmother.” Ivan said.

And the cry was taken up and the old woman consented to the name.

After the work was done they returned to the village Sadko made a choice.

“Perhaps you are right. Action must be taken.” Sadko said as he made his horse ready. “I shall no longer stay here and wait for my father. I shall go seek him out. Ivan, will you watch over my forge and lands?”

Elena gasped, “Sadko, you are too generous.”

“We can no longer wait for supplies. Elena, I wish you and your new family well.”

“Thank-you,” Ivan shook his hand.

“Many, many good trails to you.” Grandmother hugged him and tapped his shoulder twice. Elena kissed his cheek. “Remember our river.”

“I will.” Sadko blushed and quickly packed and went on his way.

Elena’s words were his refuge time and time again. For the trails on his journey seemed to split and multiply over and over. He found his father ill in a distant village and soon had to deal with a funeral. He managed to barter for a fair amount but once again became lost on the way back and seemed to struggle at every path that forked before him. By the time he returned following the river with plenty of goods and wares the valley was totally changed. The sun was shining warm and everything was blooming. The fields were green and flourishing. Grandmother had her own garden built in the center of town where she and Elena could teach the children.

“She still feels a stranger though poor dear.” Elena told him upon return. Her belly all round and firm. “She lives in a hata in the woods. She prefers it to continue collecting wild herbs.”

“The woods are safe?” Sadko said with shock for once a wall had surrounded everything and it had been torn down for its wood to build a bigger meeting house. He paused adjusting the strings on his dulcimer; an instrument he had become quite skilled at playing during his travels.

“There is nothing to fear worse than the black hood of Ivan. He is a marvelous hunter. Tonight I am especially excited to see Grandmother for we are embroidering a beautiful hood for my child. Grandmother is certain and most pleased that it will be a girl.”

Sadko felt weak and grief stricken, “So there will be another to break the hearts of men.” He thought. Trying to smile he asked, “What color will her hood be?”

Elena touched a rose tree in the garden that she had planted in honor of her child. “Red.”