These women did not bother dressing up as they had no reason to. Gigipe’s wife advises her to join these women so that the men cannot claim her. Minerva is disgusted when one of the old women painted her face with blood. Minerva could feel the blood dripping down her chin but every time she tried to object against their customs, Gigipe’s wife advised her that it is in her best interest. Some of her blond hair that fell in the way is also dripping with animal blood.
The loveless women started to place the hunted meat on the spits and started turning the meat over the fires.
The victor young man is dressed in animal skin from the previous hunt. Gigipe’s wife boosts with pride as it is her eldest son that is the Victor.
Even though Ardit is way older than the other young men that went on the hunt, this is his first time on a hunt. Ardit went away at the age of 12 to fight in wars for the Emperor. When he was 12 years old a man from each household had to join Emperor Maximianus' army and because his father, Gigipe had only one leg because he lost the other on a hunting trip, their family had no choice but to send their eldest son.
Ardit is a great warrior and after 10 years of service, he got allowed to turn home. Ardit is joined by young men that made successful killings in the hunt, ranging in age 17 to 19. Normally by age 20, all men are married as they have made successful killings after a couple of failed attempts.
Ardit did not have enough time to get to know the available women of the village because they went for a hunt the day after he returned from war. At his fire pit all the young women are lined up ready for him to choose anyone he wants. His eyes hover falls on the woman that is turning the meat. Men could choose from the loveless woman, but it hardly ever happened as no man wanted a non-virgin.
Even though Minervina’s face and most of her hair are completely covered in animal blood, Ardit found himself wildly attracted to her. Perhaps it was the 10 years of bloody battles that made him desire a blood-stained loveless woman. The loveless woman where not allowed to speak unless spoken to.
“What’s your name?” Ardit asks, ignoring all the beautiful, almost half-naked virgins standing in front of him.
Minerva did not know he is speaking to her because her eyes are on the meat. Ardit stood up, at 6’7” feet tall. His dark long brown hair falling around his shoulders. His loose-fitting robes revealing a beastly man underneath. He grabs the other side of the spit preventing Minerva from turning the meat.
Minerva looks up into the giant of a man’s eyes.
“What is your name?” Ardit asks again, smiling.
“Bujar’s wife,” she quickly says, looking down. Gigipe’s wife told her to say this as no one is to know her real name.
“Where is Bujar?” Ardit asks, hoping that he is dead.
“My husband left for war before the hunt, my village is not too far from here, he thought it best to leave me here as my own village are ravage with an unknown illness” Minerva lies again with the words Gigipe’s wife told her to say.
Ardit slightly disappointed let go of the spit, allowing her to continue turning the meat.
He slowly starts to inspect the young virgins in front of him. Grabbing them by their faces, opening their mouths, inspecting their teeth. It takes a couple of inspections before he is satisfied with a woman that seemed to have relatively good teeth. He un-do her robe at her shoulder to have a look at her breast.
The young brunette with glittering brown eyes stands still and proud. She is considered the most beautiful in the group on offer and she knew it. She took pride in her full breast even though she is one of the youngest.
Era only 14 years of age are envied by other women she is not shy and looked at Ardit while he looks at her nakedness. Like all the other girls she found him attractive. Ardit leaves her robes down and moves on to the next girl. Era a bit taken back and leaves her robes down, she wants to make sure Ardit will be able to see that no other woman comes close to her beauty.
Ardit already knew he is going to choose Era. He is almost sure that the young woman he just inspected is Era but decided to make sure. The group of young women is a large group to filter through, about 15 of them.
While on the hunting trip all the young men went on, and on about Era that has come of age since the last hunting trip. Some of the women are as young as 9, but with bodies of girls, the men seldom chose them. Ardit did not really bother even looking at the girls that seemed underdeveloped in the breast department.
He finally finished inspecting all the available women. He walked over to the turning meat and cut off a piece of meat. Instead of giving the piece of meat to a chosen bride he turns around and takes a seat.
The girls a bit shocked stay standing, some fastening their robes again, some leaving them down. Era stood proud, with her robe down.
“Era,” Ardit says, holding the piece of meat out in front of him.
Era steps forward, fastening her robe. She kneels in front of Ardit, taking the meat with both hands, “I accept you as my husband.”

Era brings the meat to Ardit’s face and he takes a bite. Era takes a bite after him and they take turns eating the piece of meat until it is finished. The rest of the women are not allowed to leave until the meat is done as they are now witnessing to the union.