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Darian

Her head tilts again as she studies him. Like the Dazi, he uses many words, and she needs to concentrate to distill them into her understanding.

"Darian think..." she struggled to find words to fit what she was trying to express.

It was never this difficult with the Pack, but the Pack was no more until she rebuilt it.

"...Ways be not same. In..."

She stopped and frowned, obvious puzzling through something.

"In Darian village, only up," she mimed picking up something or someone "child, pet, sick, old, hurt. Only up Prey."

Bekkah

Bekkah was content to watch Romana, her sister and the others enjoy a simple holiday with good people. She could feel Finn strong and warm against her and she looked up at him occasionally with a smile for him.

She ate and drank quietly contemplating what the days would bring them. She knew this was not her final stop at least not yet.

She couldn't help but laugh at Romana and the children. Quite a change for her initiate and quite a change for these people. Perhaps others would come to realize that not everyone who was different was bad. Perhaps the people of this ring would see nobles differently, and maybe more importantly, perhaps the nobles would see these people differently.

Someone mentioned more dancing and she looked up at Finn again, a sparkle in her eyes.

"Will you be up for more dancing or has the food and wine done what I could not? Perhaps a more sedate pace after such a good meal?"

Cesare

He knows verbal expression is hard for Darian. During their time together communication has taken many forms, sounds, gestures, companionable silence even but that can be limiting in times like this and he appreciates her effort and now think he understands.

"Different for me - up is way of expressing joy. But I can learn your way."

He holds out a hand to her.

"I buy ale.. as an apology."

He grins, feeling much better about everything as the Midsummers spirit returns.

Daxia Yurisdotter

“Well, yes,” she said with a chuckle, acknowledging the less than usual relationship between her Initiate and the Horde’s Captain. “But unless we’re in a situation where those imaginative number of greats are actually important, ‘cousin’ is so much easier to explain. And accept.”

Daxia nodded; Kisa’s logic was — as always — sound. But then she sighed softly as her gaze took in the residents of Talantal’s First Ring.

“So they might seem... here, now, in this particular company of people. But your lessons were meant to give you as much knowledge and wisdom as you might need to be Khorall of Dawnview, da? In a time of relative peace, too. It is not a fair comparison at all, my friend, and you well know it.” She smiled softly at Kisa, and shook her head. “Comparing yourself to others... your lessons to theirs... your abilities to theirs... your knowledge to theirs... this can only lead to turmoils, both in your own heart and between others. I think some wise young friend mentioned something like that to me in an orchard one day.

“Ah, Kisa, when I took my one lesson from Dandy’s fine Jvrillian second, I learned how very little I really knew! Did that make all I’d learned from Gilly, from Reena and her people empty? Because I learned different lessons than Mikal or Dean or even Kay, should that make the lessons I did learn less than theirs? Have my experiences since leaving the Vale made empty the lessons I learned in your Mother’s court and at your side? Of course not!”

She hugged Kisa and muttered another, “Silly Kisa” under her breath.

“Your lessons have only been your lessons. We all continue to learn new things, nyi?”

Daxia was silent for a moment.

“I do understand what you mean, though,” she said softly. “I have often looked up at the Dark Patch since Midwinter, remembering not only those days in Bordertown, but a night spent at Highside Heather. I remind myself that my sigil is a double star for a reason, that His Magnificence chose me for a reason; I remind myself that the Heir of Allaine is my friend, and that my instinct to keep a young Sister from falling to her death was right and true.

“Can even you say what Dayala might have planned for our futures... even knowing all that has occurred already since that night your Mother sent a girl up to your rooms with your dinner?

“You need to be like you. You need to be exactly you. Find lessons everywhere, my friend.

“But only you can be Kisa Allaine, someday Khorall of Dawnview Vale, friend of Daxia Yurisdotter, your Knight and Rider of the most glorious of all Unicorns, Morning Star the Magnificent Font and Hub of all Knowledge and Wisdom.”

She sat in watchful silence, observing all around her... it was a familiar thing to do, and she truly did enjoy watching people. And it was ever so much nicer to be watching with Kisa beside her.

Darian

A quick look of relief flits across her face that she was able to make herself understood followed by a mischievous grin.

"Ale be good!"

Cesare

Feeling all is right again in his world, he grins again and hand in hand leads them back to the others, signaling the barmaid to bring two ales.

Darian and he come from different backgrounds with different understandings of the world. It is probably easier for him to learn her ways as Rhoni tend to be flexible as they travel through different cultures. Of course he only knows his family's version of Rhoni culture.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Late Afternoon, Midsummer's Day

Bekkah and Finn, Cesare, Kathi, Darcy, Marcy and Tray, Romana and Kay, Kisa and Daxia, Darian and Longtooth.

"I keep waitin' ta hear the horns of battle call out in the night, in the day, in the dusk, in the dawn ..."

Kay leaned upon her spear, with both hands now. Not gripping for fear of falling, but like one might lean against an old and trusted friend; an anchor, to keep the world from spinning out of control.

"I gots someone to protect."

In front of her Romana blushed, pale cheeks turning the littlest bit pink. That got a giggle and some very distracted teasing from her charges.

"This is when Lily-kins would bop me on the head and say bloody straight. Quit thinking so much.

"She then poke me in the chest and say ....

"... trust."

Kisa smiled,turning back to Daxia.

"I like your Initiate. She'd the horse that gets your attention by stomping on your foot. Setting up double bluff tiles is more like breathing than castle accounts and seneschal calculations.

"I shall trust my Knight and follow the sunset."

At the other end of the table a similar clarification was made. Tray crossed his arms and gave Kadri a discerning look, the measuring gaze a scholar might an apprentice who had forgotten how to spell alacrity.

"A close relative would be proper and expected if one's husband was away. Now dancing with Marcus, that would truly annoy a certain person but there would be nothing she could do about it. But since marcus is up in the keep trying to figure out how to avoid spending Midsummer's with his wife, that leaves ... me.

"Except I haven't danced in years."

For Darian and Cesare, their demands were easily me. All it would take would be a wandering back to the general vicinity of the picnic table feast.

"Oi! That's just not allowed, not right, not proper!"

Between less than steady revelers and the Innkeeper's wife's daughters, the two found mugs of ale thrust into their hands.

" ... its unslightly an' borderin' on insultin' ... to be seen without a drink!"

Though Darian's mug was actually a horn; coincidental or not, it was a proper hunter's goblet ... even if it meant the drink just had to be finished before it could be set down.

Leaving matters to wrap back around to a Priestess and a Smith.

'Well lassie, it looks like they are breaking down the tables in the middle. That means there will be dancing again and it will probably go on until She sets in the west. Then its the dinner and listening to the new songs from the Minstrels."

Finn leaned back, lacing his fingers together behind his neck.

"Something more sedate? Does this mean a fine country lass has perhaps ... tired?"

He offered Bekkah a slightly mischievous did-I-win kind of smile.

Bekkah

She heard what he said and looked aghast at the man. There was righteous fury in those eyes, but also a smile on her lips.

"Not this day or any other. I was just giving you a chance to save your dignity, being older and all." she said the smile growing bigger.

"Now, I suspect that I shall have to call upon my Lady's help to revive you when you collapse, dignity washed away."

In truth, she had been envisioning herself enveloped in his strong arms, held tightly against his broad chest.

Daxia Yurisdotter

The Starrider studied her Initiate for several heartbeats, then nodded.

“A big change it is, from then to now. But I pray we never hear those horns for all the rest of our years.”

She smiled then, happy to have learned something new.

“I already have the head bopping in my armory. I’ll add the poking... only when needed, of course.” Tilting her head, her smile softened a bit. “I have a feeling I may never need to use it.”

Daxia met Kisa’s eyes, and nodded.

“I do, too. But don’t tell her that.” Then she chuckled, knowing full well that Kay heard her.

“That foot stomping thing is a Koromov trait, I think.”

Happy simply to be in Kisa’s company, she chose not to think too much herself this day. That Kisa was placing her trust in her Knight, and joining those heading westward, was another precious gift. There were likely to be unexpected ramifications of the decision, and it would certainly change the dynamic of the group, but those were thoughts for the morning.

She overheard the conversation between Master Finn and her sister, and was unable to stifle her giggle.

“Dazi know Bekkah,” she said, looking between the two of them. “But Dazi best sister, and hope Bekkah dance, dance, dance all night.”

Although she presented the most innocent expression possible, the hint of a twinkle in her eyes told Bekkah that her little sister was well aware of Bekkah’s hopes for the evening... as well as the numerous ways in which ‘dance’ could be interpreted.

She marveled again at the ease with which the people of Talantal’s First Ring enveloped not only their Lord from the First Ring, but the Allaine Heir, and a ragtag group of mismatched people who were part of a Dayalan Starrider’s extended family.

People really were kind, when given the opportunity. Yes, here would always be those who were evil. Perhaps that was simply the way of things... the way the world was remolded after the Shattering Wars.

Dazi looked at Romana and her blanket of children, and couldn’t help but smile.

“They so different from us, yah? From those already grown.” She looked at Romana’s face, so delicately different from most hearty folk on this side of the Black Mountains. “Dazi wonders... Kisa wonders... if tales of Lady Romana, who serves Kind One with Lady Bekkah, are told in far away lands... what difference would this make?” The Dayalan shook her head slightly. “Not say now. Only consider. Say tomorrow, or another day.” She smiled and looked down at the children again. “Today is for this. For knowing good. For knowing acceptance. Yah?”

Darian

Her hand wrapped easily around the horn, and she lifted to her lips and took a long draught. She managed to get a bowl for Longtooth as well. It wasn't wise to leave out the snarkhound.

Cesare

He raises his mug to Darian's horn and downs a good draught of the ale. It is good. He is not sure whether they have concluded their business here.. certainly they have in the part he was involved in.. but he isn't sure whether they succeeded in council or what plans might have been born from that session. If Darian heads back out, he might just go with her, he knows she is not at her happiest in cities, Longtooth also. They maybe need to talk as a group but not today, this is Midsummers.

"Food, more ale, exploring, dancing or something else?"

He offers Darian choices of what she might like to do.

Kadri:

"I can go slow. It's not easy, mind you ..."

She grins widely.

"But I can dance slow, but slow or fast I must move."

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Late Afternoon, Midsummer's Day

Bekkah and Finn, Cesare, Kathi, Darcy, Marcy and Tray, Romana and Kay, Kisa and Daxia, Darian and Longtooth.

Not so slowly were the middle tables broken down, pushed about the street to form a central space for dancing, forming a ring for those who were still more interested in a meal. Of course the minstrels chose one for themselves - guitars and drums and hangers on. The hangars on, of course were mostly girls and young lads who were using the minstrels as an excuse to gather with the others.

The music changed too - from ballads to bransles, the beat picking up and the songs becoming primarily instrumental. In two by twos the roundel filled - bright and playful - with the twirl of full tunics and dashing surcoats, feet tapping the streets in rhythm and hands clapping to the beat.

At the remaining table Kisa Allaine was silent. She considered her companions question, quite seriously actually. She focuses upon Romana and then the children.

"What difference would it make?

"It can't be a what if ...

"They have to be told."

She then fell quiet and acquiesced to Daxia's request to hold this matter for the morrow. From behind, however, Kay dryly corrected her mentor.

"I do not stomp my foot."

The farm girl drolly nodded.

"It is a firm and purposeful drive of my heel into the ground, not carin' what's between it and the dirt. It's why a gal wears boots."

Meanwhile, at the edge of the ring of tables, Longtooh gave his mistress a nod.

Even a Snarkhound should be well treated come Midsummer's. He enjoyed his drink.

"And I would be remiss to not ensure my sister-in-law had a good Midsummers. Dommi would never let me hear the end of it."

The lordling stood, offering Kadri his arm - all right and proper. Kathi frowned a little bit, but stood politely, arms folded behind her.

"If I step on your toes, Sister, remember you asked."

Leaving, last, a blacksmith to push a bench back and stand, offering a strong hand to Bekkah, escorting her in to the center of the open space. To the music he sends her spinning, following, to end one step with the introduction to the next.

"Dignity? My dear lady ... when you work with horses all day, you learn that they are, in general, stubborn and not the sharpest nail in any box. Dignity is the first fatality.

"That said ... why don't we change the stakes ...

"And show these younglings what dancing really means?"





OOC not: We can continue Midsummer's as long as you folks wish. When you wish to move on, simply pose returning to your various rooms - where you can discuss what you want to do next!

OOC: fixed a continuity error ... I am only human!

Mikal

With the meal finished, and the tables removed to make space for dancing once more, he stands up and offers his hand to Captain Komorov. "Now, perhaps my timing is better?"

Dandelion Koromov

The Horde's captain finished her drink, drying her lips upon the back of her hand.

"I am a lass of my word ... when I give it, that is."

The Koromov took the offered hand, her grip strong and sure, which should not be unexpected.

"Now I'm an Alley-brat, don't you be forgetting that.

"And when it comes to a revel, we take no prisoners."

Mikal

"And I a farmer's son and a lone mercenary who has managed to survive on his own for more time than even I expected. I have a few tricks of my own." He smiles, and with her comment about prisoners he pulls her out onto the dance space and leads her into a fast paced, somewhat bawdy version of a common farmer's dance that includes much spinning and twirling as well as several close clinches.

Bekkah

She accepted the hand and immediately was spun away, only to return held tightly against the man's chest.

She looked up at him and gave him a satisfied smile at his suggestion. She was certain that neither of them would give. Stubbornness and a love to dance would see to that.

"I rather like that idea. Should we get to the point where all others have stopped dancing to watch us, then we shall call it a victory." She said before being sent spinning away again, blond hair flowing loose behind her, skirts flowing outward.

Kadri:

She took the arm.

"I dodge well, having spent much time in my youth avoiding the feet of animals of both the four legged and two legged kinds. "

She starts moving slowly, establishing a rhythm - and indeed she was rather good at making sure her feet were never in a place to intersect with his.

She murmurs a bit lower.

"I think miss Kathi thinks very much indeed of you, brother mine. Very much indeed."

Darian

"Food, ale be good," Darian replied with a nod.

Her attention drifted towards the gate again, beyond the walls. It was near enough if the walls pressed in too closely.

Cesare

Ordering more ale, Cesare also asks what food is available and make a choice, waiting on Darian to do the same. Foot tapping to the livelier beat of the music, he watches the dancers start the next dance.

More days like this would be good.

He smiles across at Darian.

"Anything happen outside the walls since yesterday? I've been doing a servant's job and exploring the palace, mainly to find all the ways out of it."

Darian

She pauses to consider. "Jankin go."

Cesare

"Go?"

He looks at her curiously.

"Go where? Go for good?"

He hadn't gotten to know the man that well but he had certainly been a part of their group, his quiet consideration appreciated by all.

Darian

She shrugged. "Darian no know. Jankin no say, only say Must go so go."

Cesare

Strange that Jankin should suddenly decide to leave but maybe he had time to think about his direction in life and realised he wanted to do something else.

"We should tell Daxia.."

He glances across at the happily entwined group that includes Daxia.. and smiles.

"But maybe later."

Daxia Yurisdotter

She simply nodded to Kisa, then smiled at the children caring for their Lady Romana Monster. “Children are children are children.” Dazi watched Bekkah and Finn get up to dance again, emotions playing over her face as she recalled the few years she had Bekkah as her side when she was growing up.

“And then we all grow up, don’t we? Too many of us sooner than we’d like.”

She glanced at Kay and snickered. “Potatoes and potahtoes will taste just the same if you call them patatas. ‘Stomp’ is a strong and decisive word, and it is what you do. If you like dressing it up, then by all means... practice your fancy speech so you can keep up with me.”

Laughing brightly, she turned back to Kisa. “Would you care to dance, my Lady? We’ll never outlast Bekkah, or even hope to keep up with her, but we can set aside our cares and concerns for a short while, da?”

Daxia extricated herself from the overflow of children, and held out a hand to Kisa when she stood. For the first time in a very long time, or so it seemed to her, she both looked and felt as peace. She would let tomorrow take care of tomorrow, and simply enjoy this day with her beloved.