Jasmine sat in the wagon, watching the town of Vingery disappear into the distance. Bry toddled to her and tugged impatiently at the fabric covering her breasts.
“No, Bry,” Jasmine scolded. She gave her daughter a pacifier. Bry sat down and suckled the dummy, visibly frustrated, but cooperating. Jasmine turned to Patricia, who was sitting next to her with Pyotr on her lap. “It is good you are coming on the trip. Bry will be so sad to part with Pyotr.”
“Pyotr also has yet to be fully weaned,” Patricia pointed out. After the news had come that the roads were safe, Jasmine began to wean Pyotr. But it was slow going, and despite Jasmine’s new son already being two and a half months old, Pyotr still suckled from her regularly.
Speaking of Jasmine’s son, Lyle, he began to fuss. Jasmine sighed. She checked his diaper, confirming it was clean, then bared a breast for him to suckle from. Bry scowled. She was not handling having a younger brother well, particularly because he was the reason she had to be weaned. Lyle was a handsome boy, with Jasmine’s eyes and his father’s dark brown hair.
Jasmine shuddered slightly, remembering the horrific experience of giving birth. While she had come to terms with living as a woman some time ago, that was one aspect of womanhood she had no interest in reliving. Of course, she didn’t have as much control over that as she would like. Even when the roads were safe, men still roamed about, seeking to have their way with any woman they found.
She had her amulet to protect her, but the existence of Lyle was proof enough that the amulet was not a perfect protection. All she could do was hope they came across no such men that would take advantage of her.