 | Daughter of Wayaiha of the Dust Legs and Anpao of the Kaiila, when she was a young child the family lived with her mother's tribe, which was not customary, but which suited her father, who loved travel and meeting new people. When Iwoso was 4, her mother died giving birth to her younger brother Wiyakasapa. Her father was devastated by the death of his beloved wife, and, no longer wishing to live where the memory of his loss was so painful, he brought the two children home to the Dust Legs. He also brought with him his wife's sister, known only as Winyela, who was a sharp-tongued spinster. Wayaiha never treated her as his wife, but more a nurse for his children, nevertheless he did provide a home for her and the situation was convenient for them both. Eventually, whether Winyela's shrewishness drove him or whether it was his natural desire to travel, when Wiyakasapa was 10, he took the boy away with him to learn the ways of the waiscu peoples, leaving iwoso in the care of Winyela. Iwoso's aunt was kind to the girl, as she favored her mother, whom the aunt had dearly loved. Winyela cared for her niece and trained the girl well in all womanly ways, thus preparing her for eventual marriage. When Iwoso was 18, her father and brother returned from travels, full of stories and exotic gifts and wearing white men's clothing. The girl had missed them both terribly, being of tender and loving heart, and naturally longing to have them both with her as a family again. When, after some months, they became restless again, he begged to go with them when they prepared to leave. With some reluctance, they agreed to take her to one of the white cities, but told her that she must then return to the Dust Legs and not ask to travel away again - it not seeming proper or safe for a young woman to expose herself to strangers in this manner. Iwoso readily agreed and they traveled far to the City of Port Cos, where, while walking through the busy market, she encountered Wapike, who was there in his capacity as a trader. One glance and the girl lost her heart, all thoughts of further travel replaced by visions of the family she had truly wanted all her life. Happily, Wapike took her to wife, and she has been joyfully at his side ever since, bearing him a daughter, Kimimela. |
