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The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The First Cathedral
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Bekkah, Daxia, Dean
Lady Felli, Brother Llewelyn, Sir Kevin, Father Canna, Kisa, Romana, Kay and Squire Erik

The sound of quill upon parchment was an interesting counterpoint to Daxia’s words, as each syllable was expertly transcribed. One might question on how it was possible, for a man to write as fast as another spoke, but then the man was a Priest of Hastur, an Eye at that. Perhaps there really was a touch of the divine in such actions.

“So what was the Khorall wearing? Was he tall or short? Did he have a presence or was he a simple man on a throne?”

In and amidst the story telling Brother Llewelyn peppered Daxia with questions; odd questions, non sequitur questions, always seeking to add a little more detail to the story.

“Llew! Who cares if the seneschal wore black or white or blue? You are like the goodwives gossiping about the latest stranger-lass that wandered into town!”

Lady Felli, in a very un-ladylike manner, kicked her fellow Imperial underneath the table. The priestess then turned to the Dayalan.

“Tell me more of this Lord Tray. Is he smart? Is he nit ugly? Does he have bad habits like eating too much garlic or always starting his sentences with ‘uhm’?

“Is he single?”

And so the storytelling went – a back and forth of information and questions, with the two Imperials having a very different view of things. They traded equal ones – a tale of trickery concerning a young Tieg Larsen versus the Blue Scarved Bandits and the First Time Sir Kevin Rode a Horse.

By then, of course, the evening was getting powerfully close. For Bekkah it was Lady Felli rising and, with a tug upon her belt, the younger Atteran leading the elder off. For Daxia it was Kisa’s return, the heiress looking like one of the local farmer girls; her nice clothes now tousled with dirt and her arms barely containing a delivery of vegetables. Including a lot of corn.

“Now you just follow me, we need to get the biggest pot boiling well. Ha! I bet you didn’t know I could also cook.”

Kisa returned for good after that last bit, dusting off her skirts. She left Father Canna with his boiling pot to return with Daxia to the Amber Inn. There they met a dour looking little girl sitting on the porch.

“Stupid Knights. Always repairing roofs, fixing wheels or hauling away your husbands to catch a runaway cow.”

Dydd did, however, smile at the two returning.

“Oh a bath! Yes’mams!”

Thus Daxia and Kisa had a skipping escort into the finely carven basement of this odd little tavern. The heiress’ eyes could not help but go wide as she walked into the colonnaded room. She walked its circumference, fingers tracing on the walls until she slipped into the hot water.

“Dazi... you know Dawnview Castle, of all the keeps, has never fallen. It is as it was first built...

“This is...

“This is... older.”

It was older and refreshing. It was finery that wasn’t even found in the Vale, the source of all things fashionable and high culture. Kisa liked relaxing, the water to her chin, and her hair almost black from its soaking.

For Bekkah it was much more pragmatic. They walked to the piers, they watched as the fishing fleet arrived – with full sails and the water kicking up white froth as the boats cut in across the bay. The boats were low on the water, very low.

“Full holds... we haven’t seen that in over a handful of years.”

The priestess’ head tilted, however, noticing pitch black triangular fins that also cut through the waters of the fishing fleet. There were a lot.

The fisher folk did not seem overly concerned.

Happily, their work was not much needed. Sprains, a few cuts, one concussion from slipping and hitting the gunwales. All in all, however, it was a quiet, quiet day at the fishing docks. Felli was treated fairly but distantly. Bekkah, there was always another watching over her as she offered the Kind Lady’s touch.

Thus it was not, however, long before dinner.

By the time Daxia, Bekkah, Kisa and Felli returned to the cloisters, someone had set up a long table next to the well. A blue cloth had been put across it and atop it were already stacked plates of bread and fruit – as well as a pair of large bowls filled with salad.

A plate of meat was brought out – by a man about Bekkah’s age, wearing the most worn set of white, red and gold tunics they had ever seen. He, however, seemed quite comfortable. He wore a whit belt, his heels jingled with spurs and he wore a very, very big sword.

“Sit... sit before Father comes out and tells me I am neglecting our guests. You must be looking forward to a good, home-cooked meal. You must be Bordertown’s flame haired savior; it is an honor mi’lady. And Dawnview’s scholar. I heard Father Canna has taken you under his wing. Interestingly, Lord Korie was once offered the gardens. He thought it was silly. No wonder he was bamboozled at Court and from a direction least expected. And Lady Bekkah. Strength and Kindness in the same family. Something to be treasured. ”

Soft brown eyes and ragged brown hair framed sturdy features.

“Oh me? Kevin... Kevin Kollinsson.”

He kind of forgot the Sir part. And his more common moniker.

“Good, good, good, we are all here!”

Father Canna re-entered the outdoor court, clapping his hands. The Eye of Hastur looked quite domestic in a cook’s apron. One could easily discern who cooked the meat and who made the salad.

Felli took her place, at one end of the table. Father Canna’s was – most probably – the one at the table’s other end. Dean had been pressed into kitchen duties, too, and had just stepped through the kitchen door to the courtyard when the interruption occurred.

“How dare you! You can’t come in here. Neither of you.”

It was a lad’s voice, coming from just beyond the arcade. Dean caught wind of the commotion, spun on his heel and immediately decided the kitchen was where he was supposed to be.

“Invitation? What are you? Whose clothes did you steal? Are you from the Forest – your ears are sharper than a horses! And white hair? White hair? WHITE HAIR? Are you... you can’t be... in Talesan’s? Sorcerer!”

A pause.

“Sorceress!”

A second voice spoke, this one both darker and softer.

“Oh, laddie, you donna want to be doin’ that, ja?”

There was a whumf, followed by a clatter, followed by the sudden backwards appearance of a young lad in Squire’s garb stumbling backwards until he fell in a tumble slamming his back into one of the benches. His scabbard was empty.

“She...”

From beyond the arcade came the sound of an aristocratic foot hitting the cobbles and a command in broken common.

“No breaking squires!”

The squire in question stayed put, trying to shake the stars from his head.

“She hit me!”

His master let out a long breath.

“Erik. I taught you better.

“Summoners are not sorcerers.”

Father Canna simply clapped his hands together once more.

“Oh! Wonderful! It looks like the children have arrived!”

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Dazi answered the questions tossed out by the Brother of Hastur and the senior Lady of Attera. She described not only Khorall Korie but the whole of the Great Hall and all the participants in the Council. Some of Felli’s questions were easier to answer than others.

“Quite intelligent, I’d say... both in book learning and the understanding of his people. I didn’t note any uncouth public behaviors.” She tilted her head in thought. “It would be difficult to infer any unpleasant private behaviors as I only had a short time to observe him. And yes, he’s single.”

But she furrowed her brow at the topic of his appearance. “He... looks like a Korie? I am not a very good judge on what might be ugly or not. I think Bekkah would be a better person to consult on that matter.” Dazi glanced sidelong at her sister and grinned. “She has the better eye for such things.”

She returned the favor as they told their tales, asking her own questions about Lord Larsen and Sir Kevin.

On her return to the Inn with Kisa, Dazi nodded seriously at Dydd’s complaints.

“Well, Miss Dydd, it’s good that you’re seeing all the things a fine Knight is expected to do. Now you won’t have as many surprises when you marry Squire Dean, who will surely be a fine Knight himself by then!”

She didn’t quite understand the young child’s insistence that she’d marry Dean. There were quite a few more years between her and Dean than between Dean and Bekkah. But she wasn’t one to judge... she had never understood matters of the heart! Except the one sure thing, that is: that she loved Kisa.

The bath was a wonder... the chamber, the steaming water, the ability to get truly clean, the chance to completely relax if only for a few minutes.

Her eyes closed, she smiled at Kisa’s comment. “Yes. And that means what? That Dayalans lived here before settling in the Vale?” She opened one eye for a moment to look at Kisa, chuckled, and then closed her eye again. “It actually makes more sense that our long ago Sisters of the First Age began out in the world. There were so many more of them than now. People were born in the Shattering War in which the World Forest was, well, shattered. Did the World Forest cover the mountains as well as the Tarn?” Dazi shrugged. “Did the World Forest cover the oceans and what we know as the Plains of Kaa?” She shrugged again. “Was this place closer to the middle of the world then than the apparent edge?” She shrugged once more.

“We were many. We traveled the world. We build the Keeps... and our Temples... and, perhaps, the entire town that was once the Port of Lys.”

She opened her eyes and gave her attention to Kisa. “From the history I have learned about Talesan’s Village, it’s not hard to image that the place has many scabs and scars. There is something about the area that makes me feel as though I should not pick at the scabs... that, perhaps, I should not stare too closely at the scars.” And Dazi shrugged again before ducking her head under the water to rinse her hair.

Dazi chose to dress... well, formally... for dinner. There was something about the Imperials of the First Cathedral that called her to give them the same respect she’d give her Khorall and wear her silver-edged surcoat over white tunics. Although, when she considered it, she was fairly certain tonight’s dinner would be quite a bit more relaxed than any of the Midwinters feasts she had attended at Dawnview Castle. That’s not to say she found Khorall Linnell or Verchovai Reena overly formal and severe, just that Father Canna seemed to make everything so... well... relaxed.

Despite wearing her best, she hefted her pack easily. The walk between Inn and Cathedral seemed safe enough; she was constantly alert nonetheless as she walked beside Kisa. She asked if she might be of assistance when they arrived and was informed that everything was under control. She suspected that ‘control’ might be a subjective reality here.

Chuckling at Kevin’s comment, she said, “Huh. I think perhaps some of the stories out of Bordertown might have gotten exaggerated. I don’t know that I would say I am Bordertown’s savior.” She pondered that for a heartbeat or two, then shook her head. “No, m’lord. No, no. Savior certainly isn’t a word I’d use.” Dazi raised an eyebrow at the comment about Lord Korie... she’s not sure ‘bamboozled’ was the word she’d use, either. Ah, but did it truly matter?

“I think I can safely say, though, that Bekkah and I do appreciate one another’s talents... And I can’t imagine having a better sister than Bekkah.”

Dazi had just noticed Dean in the kitchen doorway when she heard the commotion.

“Uh oh,” she said, almost inaudibly.

And then she bit her lip when Squire Erik tumbled into the dining area.

She tried very, very hard not to giggle when Romana made her proclamation.

“Ah, not a summoner, m’lord,” she offered. “Not anymore, anyway. Romana is Bekkah’s apprentice now.” She smiled at her tall friend. “Hoi, Romana! Good day today? And Kay, you need to practice not tossing people around as the first choice, da?” Dazi turned to Sir Kevin and shrugged. “My squire is rather feisty. She’s a Koromov,” she added, as though that should explain everything that needed explaining.

Then she looked at the kitchen doorway again as she took her seat beside Kisa. “Dean! Come out of there. You remember that Kay promised not to thump you during meals.”

Then she looked at the dark-haired youngster in question, smiling a smile that seemed to say, And you remember that promise, too, don’t you?

Squire Dean

Dean looks through the kitchen door with wonder at the pile of squire on the floor. "That could have been me" he said softly. His head drops quickly as he spies the Knight Kevin. His eyes remain on the face of the man, though, and he acknowledges him with a quiet "Sir" and a small bow. He gives a deeper bow to Father Canna, a still deeper one to the others in the room and stoops to help Erik up.

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The First Cathedral
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Bekkah, Daxia, Dean
Lady Felli, Brother Llewelyn, Sir Kevin, Father Canna, Kisa, Romana, Kay and Squire Erik

There was silence from the arcade. A heavy kind of silence. A heavy thinking kind of silence.

“Hoi! Laddie boy. Come back here. I gotta practice nae tossing you some more.”

That was not the response that Kevin’s squire had expected at all. His eyes just went wide. He even forgot the indignity of being helped up by his Knight’s younger apprentice.

“Until I get it right.”

Sir Kevin stood. But it was a comfortable standing. As any gentleman might when a lady entered the room, even if it was a dark haired and one born on the wrong side of the mountains.

“Feisty? I do believe, Lady Daxia, that you do not give your apprentice enough credit.”

“Bloody right. An’ see, I dinnae break him. He’s all better. But the only one allowed to growl at Whitehair is... is... is... well if’n I think of anyone, I‘ll be sure an’ deck them so soundly they donnae ever think of doin’ it twice. Now. That’s all settled. Come, come, since when have you ever been shy, I smell a meal of the best kind.

“The free kind.”

As she spoke, Ekaterina Koromov drew her ward in, literally. In one hand she held her spear, the other had the long tongue of Romana’s belt, to make sure she followed and didn’t stay back.

She led Romana to a place next to Bekkah, and then took up her traditional spot behind. Squire Erik looked between the two Atterans suspiciously.

“They are both ladies, Erik.”

Sir Kevin’s pronouncement made the squire look down.

“Am not. Third spear carrier from tha’ left. Working class gal.”

That, quite predictably, was Kay’s immediately reply. It was something Kevin considered for a long set of heartbeats. Finally, though, the Knight simply nodded.

“I believe, Erik, she just gave you permission to hit her back. If that is fine with her teacher, of course.”

Squire Erik shook himself and looked up. He set his features. Fierce. Kay just smiled her come and get me smile.

It had taken Dean a good part of the ride from Talantal to Talesan’s to start hitting back as best he could when they sparred. She certainly gave him no quarter. It was odd, however, and definitely not minstrel tale lady-like because she seemed to get along with him a whole lot better with him when he finally decided to hit her as hard as she hit him.

Kisa also had learned. Sharing a sly smile with her Knight, she made sure to cover Daxia’s and her own bread as Kay passed behind them. There were very few ways she could protect Dazi. She did, however, whenever she could.

Romana. Now Romana took a little bit to sit down. She dropped her head, looking warily to this odd collection of Imperials. She finally whispered.

“Romanas.

“Rhomahnishkhaya al... al... al... al’khalina’Atteraanromshall’shallbekkah.

“Roma... nya...

“I am very glad to meet you.”

With a small smile she sat down. Only then did Kevin and Canna take their own seats.

“Great.”

Across the table the ranking Atteran crossed her arms, glowering at her Lady’s newest initiate.

“Oh, you knew exactly what you were doing when you did this, didn’t you, My Kind Lady. Now every young girl with dreams all across the mainland will be going, if this lassie can be a healer, why can’t I?

“Wonderful. Not only is my Cathedral falling apart, but now I am going to be playing nursemaid for dozens of new apprentices.”

Reaching for a hunk of cheese, the High Priestess simply shrugged her shoulders.

“I guess there are worse things in the world.”

She pushed a plate full of meat, bread and fruit across the table to her white haired sister.

“Eat. You are nothing but skin and bones.”

Brother Llewelyn, however, uncharacteristically, fallen silent. His elbows were on the table and his chin was in his palms, and he was just looking at this strange Atteran. Looking, observing, catching nuances as if he had to remember this for ages to come.

“Do you play castles and horses?”

Father Canna smoothed out his tunics. For the moment he too watched, like any other father looking across any dinner table, now that everyone had come in from the fields. And they had guests.

“I was fresh off the boat. Had my white and golds and a wonderful new sword. I was going to lead all these poor souls to the proper gardens, raise them like tomatoes tied to sticks, and stand tall, on the very top of the tallest tower and be Lord Rames’ shining glory.

“Oh, what it is to be young!

“Dean. Squire Dean. What was the most important thing you learned on your travels?

“I’ll tell you mine.

“That we are fallible, and the harder we try and follow Our Lord’s commandments the more we forget them.

“The most important one, the very foundation of our Church, is that we must look out for the well being of those around us.

“It does not matter who. Cabbage. Rutabaga. Pomegranate. Carrot. White hair. Red hair. Black hair. Bald. Artichoke. Marmoset.

“Welcome to my table all of you. I made the salad. I hope it’s good!”




[[OOC: note your table setting is fine can you drop it in the gallery, please ?]]

Bekkah

She'd winced at the sound in the courtyard, knowing full well what was coming next. And she wasn't disappointed as Erik came sailing through the door. Something told her it was always be that way around the pair until word spread that Romana truly was an Atteran in every meaning of the word.

She gestured for Romana to sit by her as she looked towards Lady Felli's when she seemed to have discovered some plan of Bekkah's.

She smiled sweetly to Felli.

"I have no master plan of any kind, but I do agree that more apprentices, eager to follow our Lady cannot be a bad thing. The way of the world does not seem to want to change greatly and the more healing we can provide the better. Besides as it has been pointed out, some of us aren't getting any younger." she added with a grin.

"The food looks wonderful Father. A true feast. One to be shared with friends and family. One could not ask for anything more." she said this last with a fond smile for Dazi.

Only Dazi would have noticed the quick glance towards Kisa and the slight fading of her smile, which quickly reappeared. Being so in tune with her sister, Dazi would know the reason. Bekkah of course could not be happier for her sister and Kisa. She looked back to their host, wondering who her Father Canna would be, who she would grow old with.

"Felli, I see what you'd said earlier about the fishermen. A mistrustful lot to be sure. One of the colder receptions I've had to be certain. It surprised me, considering they couldn't have brought back much more without their nets tearing apart."

"Even the ones we did tend to, didn't say more than a word or two as if they couldn't wait to be away from us. I've been in other villages where there was fishing and I've not ever seen a division like this. When the weather is difficult, the fishermen help feed the farmers and when the fish seem scarce, it's the other way around. They always seemed to want to help the other, knowing they could be the ones with hardships the next year."

"Has it always been the way it is here?"

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Her eyes stayed on her apprentice as she led Romana around the table to Bekkah’s side, although she did smile at Kisa’s protection of their bread. Then she looked at the Knight of Rames, studying him for a moment before looking back at Kay to sigh... shake her head... and roll her eyes.

“Indeed, Squire Erik, it might do you both some good — after dinner, of course — to thwack Lady Spear Carrier a time or two.” She turn to look at Erik on the other side of Lew and gave the Squire a nod and a smile. “Or you should try, at any rate. The lass cheats, you’ll want to keep that in mind, but she can’t help herself. It was rather necessary in her former unit, da? Ask Dean for his advice about surviving the encounter.”

Daxia watched Father Canna, delighted at his peculiar ramblings that seemed to be just that... and yet, they made perfect sense.

“If the world held more Fathers like Canna,” she whispered to Kisa, “perhaps you would allow one to do more than visit the Vale, hmm? And I’ve never seen a marmoset. Do you think I’d like to see one?”

And she watched Lew watching Romana, her own thoughts wandering down a different road than his.

“Oh, new words! Hmm... al’khalina’Attera is... is saying you are follower of... khalina, Lady? Much respected one? Attera is Attera is Attera... and...” She pursed her lips and furrowed her brows, trying to find any sounds similar in Ancient to Romana’s Eastern. Finally, she shook her head. “Dazidazidazidazi can only think maybe means Romana is being student of Bekkah who is being teacher of Romana.” Dazi smiled brightly. “Almost? Dazi way off? No matter! Learning is good.”

The Dayalan Knight looked at the Eye of Hastur and nodded knowingly before picking up her rescued bread and tearing off a small piece. She watched. She listened. She enjoyed this meal... with these people...

It was a different sort of atmosphere than anything she’d quite experienced before. Some dinners at farmhouses in the group’s travels from Cragside to Talantal had been something like this. Very relaxed and easy-going... although her band of misfits was such that even the friendliest farmer and his wife did quite know what to make of such an odd group.

Here, though? It felt like... like family. It was a much, much larger family than she could remember before her parents died. She glanced at Bekkah, conversing with Lady Felli. Dazi had not missed the look on her sister’s face before she asked Felli about the town.

Dazi could easily imagine Bekkah trying to corral half a dozen children... joyful and laughing as her daughters argue over which will be a healer like Mother and which will be a warrior like Aunt Dazi... bemused by sons who want to be healers, too... and peaceful as her husband stands with his arms around her, watching the little whirlwinds finally sleeping.

That sort of thing didn’t appeal to Dazi, so it was certainly for the best that she was a Starlord of Dayala and partner to Morning Star the Magnificently Self-Important Font of Not As Much Knowledge As All Knowledge... though he was still quite a Font. Maybe she’d ask him someday if Immortals had stomachs that extended into... all time, maybe? She just knew that an ordinary horse that ate as many apples as he ate probably would have eaten itself to death by now.

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The First Cathedral
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Bekkah, Daxia, Dean
Lady Felli, Brother Llewelyn, Sir Kevin, Father Canna, Kisa, Romana, Kay and Squire Erik

The squire simply looked back to Daxia, and then between her and Bekkah, and then to her apprentice and then to her apprentice’s ward.

“I still feel uncomfortable about hitting a lady...”

The young lad frowned at that, giving Daxia’s entire contingent a sour look. Too many strange ladies... all at one table, all in one night. He rubbed his sore jaw.

It was Felli who spoke up at that, crossing her arms as she looked at the Squire like a traditional school marm.

“Well then, Squire Erik, what have I taught you about dealing with us fair lasses? Look her in the eye and consider how she would answer that question.”

The Squire frowned and looked past Romana to Kay. Kay just gave him a scampy smile.

“Well she certainly doesn’t want an evening promenade along the water’s edge.”

Felli nodded, once, brusquely. Erik concentrated and then frowned.

“She’d say get back here and don’t stop until it no longer is uncomfortable.

“But not in words as polite.”

Kay grinned again.

“Bloody right.”

Erik’s attention returned to Daxia.

“I don’t get it. The Richter Gwynn is all kind and proper, nary says a word and then if she does it’s never a harsh, bad or uncouth one. How come you aren’t like her? And that one... most certainly isn’t like her. At all.”

It was the newest apprentice that spoke up next, looking to Erik kindly. Blue eyes framed in white hair sparkled, light and easy. Knowingly, too.


“Girls are girls are girls. Which means, never the same, never the same, never the same, at all.

“Easies!”

Brother Llewellyn choked at that, Kevin smiled, Felli nodded in satisfaction and Father Canna offered Erik a slice of venison.

Which was promptly stolen by Kay’s dagger. Which simply had Erik’s forehead fall to the tabletop. Of course, Father Canna had the proper response – and offered Erik a second piece of meat. This one also happened to be larger. Kay blinked. Father Canna was no dummy.

“Actually...”

Kisa took looked up from her meal, taking a few moments to trade certain vegetables from one plate to another.

“Actually we have never turned down an Imperial visit. Now I admit, some of my Aunts might be less politic than myself or Mother but what usually happens is that after a month or so the Knights leave complaining about heathens with swords and the Brothers last only a few seasons longer.

“Consider.

“We may have been feasted in Talantal. Formal seven course meals.

“But this is the first time I’ve ever had a dinner like this. There are more Nobles around this table than we have ever shared. And yet I feel as comfortable if it were just me and you picnicking on the side of the trail.

“Well...”

Kisa’s cheeks flushed.

“Maybe not that comfortable.”

Tearing her bread in half Romana offered a portion over her shoulder, which was quickly taken and wrapped about a hank of purloined meat.

“Honored littlest.”

Romana peeked to Dazi.

“Kha honorifics. Lina small, shy, humble. Nice small, nice shy, nice humble. Dazi hears good.”

She then, finally, answered Brother Llewelyn.

“Horsies and Castles? Oh! Romanas seen played before! Is strange game, yes yes yes? Seen in Talantals. In Tor-An-dals, in Trundles and even home! Maybe show Romanas? Give some pointers? Cannot be harder than Dazidazidazibluff. Romanas bluff bads. Smile too much.”

“Good good good... then in the spirit of camaraderie I shall set up the board after dinner. It is not too hard a game. Easy to learn, years to master. Even Felli plays it with a modicum of...

“I think I better stop talking.”

Finally Kevin spoke.

“Aye. If you value your life, dear brother. Lady Felli, no fratricide at the dinner table.”

Raising his mug he smiled to Dazi.

“You have it easy, Sunsword. I have to deal with these two.”

He held his mug in both hands, looking over its brim. He looked as if he were going o speak, glanced to Father Canna and then just nodded. He extended his trust to their guests then, to answer Bekkah.

“Actually, that worked the first two years. But we are closing on our second hand here; almost half a generation. The fishermen have always been a proud, independent folk – some manner of people find it hard to ask for charity and must find their own solutions.

“I am glad to hear of their change in fortune; even last week they barely brought in enough to eat and trade with our own folk. I hope this will reduce the stress in the Village; for the last season or so when Erik or myself walked the docks they would turn and shuffle away.

“They had never done that before.

“I come from a farming family. So I can understand crop and plants. But fish? I have no idea how their fortunes changed so quickly.

“I hope it is a good thing, aye?”

Bekkah

She too was enjoying the meal. It was a far cry from the stuffy, far too serious ones she'd attended lately. It was far more like the ones where she joined families at their table when she was traveling from village to village.

Someday, she'd be like Felli and she'd settle down and be the 'Lady' of a village. A small village where she'd know every person by name. They would all be like family to her. And yes, as Dazi was imagining, she'd have a bunch of kids.

*Well if my lady willing.* she thought, knowing that she was rapidly running out of time.

She also knew that if it wasn't too be, she'd happily go on, treating all those she could and it would be a very content life. She always felt joy in her Lady's service, that would never change.

"Only a week ago? I have little experience with fisherfolk myself. I suppose something brought the fish this way." she said shrugging.

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

She found the squire’s confusion slightly amusing. Dean had been more willing to accept the diversity of the women in their group... but only by a finger’s width. Dazi might have found the situation more amusing if she thought her own squire had learned the lesson of erring on the side of caution when considering whether or not to wallop someone. While the redhead may not have always learned Kassia’s lessons as swiftly as Kassia would have liked, at least Dazi had tried. She’d like to be able to say her own apprentice was trying, but... Well, at times she wasn’t entirely certain it was the truth.

Between Kay Koromov and His Magnificence, Morning Star the Font of All Knowledge, Dazi had a feeling her hair would turn as white as Romana’s before she made it back to Dawnview. Not that she’d ever heard of an Allaine with a head of gray hair... but she wasn’t an Allaine, merely an Allaine cousin.

She nodded to Erik, however, when he asked his question of her. She’d never met Poppy but had heard snippets of stories from Gilly. And Poppy was the only Dayalan Erik had to measure the whole of the cult by. It was a fair question.

Not that she had a chance to answer it, for Romana fielded the question with charm and her particular brand of logic. She wasn’t wrong, of course. And Romana did put the matter rather more succinctly than Dazi might have. Dazi’s smile mirrored Sir Kevin’s and she winked at Romana.

To Erik’s dismay, Kay performed her ritual Snagging of Someone Else’s Meal. Dazi did feel a little sorry for Erik at this point. He’d just lost another point to Kay. However, Father Canna’s solution brightened Erik... confounded Kay... and utterly delighted the Starlord.

She smiled at Kisa at her comment. “Of course not. And I’m going to tell you a thing countless people outside the Temple have told me. You think too much, Kishka.” She said it with true affection, with a tone that hinted she, too, had heard it more times than she had liked. “I only meant that Father Canna would be less likely than all the others to run away complaining about heathens with swords.” She glanced to the man on her other side, then continued to Kisa, “And I think it might take Brother Lew at least a handful of years to collect all the stories that could be told in the Vale, da?”

Dazi very nearly beamed at Romana’s compliment. While the two languages certainly had common roots — somewhere, long, long ago — similar sounding words sometimes had quite different meanings. While that made sense if one considered that Ancient grew in Order while Eastern grew in Chaos, it meant one needed to consider what Romana meant by her words, the tone in which she said them, even the expression on her face. Dazi couldn’t claim to be even moderately adept at translating what Romana said, but sometimes... sometimes she did get things right.

And then she giggled at Romana’s comments about Horses and Castles... and Doublebluff.

“Romana has so much joy that she can’t cover it up. It leaks right out of Romana’s face.” Dazi grinned at her. “Kadri is only better at Dazibluff... er, Doublebluff... because she’s sneaky, she learned how to put on different faces.”

She looked at Lew and then at Felli, and finally at Sir Kevin. She shrugged. “I would say merely differently, Sir Kevin. Your siblings here might have an intense competition with one another over Horses and Castles...” She glanced at Kay and rolled her eyes again before turning back to Kevin. “...however, Kay has an intense competition with anyone who so much as gives the impression they could possibly consider treating Lady Romana with anything less than the utmost courtesy.”

Dazi popped a small tomato in her mouth and enjoyed the burst of flavor, before adding, “Starlord. I could provide a lesson on Dayalan ranks...” Then she laughed. “Or Dean could. He and the rest of my little gang of misfits heard enough of my confused rants on the topic.” She nodded toward Kevin’s younger squire, her friend. “Dean joined us when I was still an Initiate, and he was on the top of our Bordertown Temple with us when Morning Star arrived to signify my new rank of Starrider. The Starlord and Priestess ranks still confuse me, but as that one’s...” She pointed at Kay. “...great grand something or another niece said when she verbally dashed a bucket of ice water over my head, one is a title to use or not use as the situation dictates. The other provides for the acquisition of additional skills.

“Which reminds me, I do need to have a chat with Poppy while I’m here.

“Oh, and the Starswords are the Temple guards... some are part of the Allaine House Guard, too. They tend to stay home.”

As she ate, she listened to the explanation of social dynamics in Talesan’s Village. Like her sister, she had little experience with the fishing families beyond the lessons Kisa taught on those bright days in the orchards when she brought her big books of tax rolls. She couldn’t recall anything from those lessons that indicated conditions around Sapphire Lake had been as dire as they seemed to have gotten here. But that didn’t mean that the fisher folk didn’t go through cycles of abundance and scarcity... just as the farmer folk did.

Maybe the difference between Talesan’s Village and Dawnview Vale was not really the large swings in fortune. The Sea of Opals was impossibly huge compared to Sapphire Lake... perhaps it made sense that the cycles would be proportionately larger.

And it wasn’t that there weren’t people in the Vale who had a hard time seeking out or accepting charity. Perhaps it was simply that there were fewer of them in the Vale. Yes, it was the most beautiful place she’d ever known — and Dazi accepted her beliefs there were based on the fact that she grew up in the Vale. But it was still an isolated and oftentimes harsh place to live. The mountains, glaciers, and jambles were unforgiving. Perhaps that’s why the people were seen as... well, yes, sometimes isolationists and harsh and unforgiving.

But they weren’t... not to their friends and allies, and certainly not to their own, not to their neighbors. No matter that those neighbors might be folk they’d never met clear on the other side of the Vale.

So, no... Daxia Yurisdotter definitely didn’t understand why people of the same Village would be so... so... pigheaded.

She shrugged, too, at Bekkah’s comment. Fish were fish were fish, and they apparently came and went. And they were often very good for eating. She understood the concept of overfishing in Sapphire Lake, which was tiny in comparison. Would the same apply to an entire sea? It was difficult to scale up the economics that far, even for her.

But then an unrelated thought crossed her mind. She blinked and looked at Kisa. The she looked toward the Amber Inn. And finally, she glanced in the direction of Mikaelsson’s Farm.

“Huh.”

Kisa raised an eyebrow. “Dazi?”

“Oh, just thinking about Katshka and her Fa. Your horse is one of theirs. So is Fern, and Dandy’s, too. They’re so good with horses. You know, as if you took the finest horses from Amber and trained them by the finest trainers of Kierkegaard. But even better.”

Dazi shrugged.

“I just wondered if maybe there were fisher folk who understood fish the way Kirill Mikaelsson and his kin understand horses. I don’t know that it would explain their animosity toward anyone who isn’t fisher folk, but it might explain their good fortunes, da?”

She decided to leave it simply at that. She had traveled enough to know that those who followed Spirit cults were often ridiculed even more than Dayalans. After all, if one makes jokes about Dayalans, it could well be the last joke they make. Dazi knew how exceptionally well Fern had been trained. She had seen Katshka with her Darkmane on the trail before they reached Cragside. She had seen the little pendant Katshka wore. If one were to follow a Spirit, the Spirit of Horse was a very fine one.

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The First Cathedral
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Bekkah, Daxia, Dean
Lady Felli, Brother Llewelyn, Sir Kevin, Father Canna, Kisa, Romana, Kay and Squire Erik


“Yesterday I planted some radishes. Now that is a bit radical, for we’ve always had our radishes brought in from Merri’s field, just up the road. Merri brought us some seeds last Marketday, because he knew it was close to my birthday and wanted to wish me well.

“He’s a nice lad. Poor soul, five daughters and his wife was taken three storm seasons ago. The youngest one has taken quite a fancy to one of our squires.”

Father Canna, however, very specifically did not say which of the Church’s squires was being considered a potential suitor.

“If I plant the seeds, water them, take care of them... give them what they wish... in a bit we will have a new crop in our cloister.”

The priest let himself become lost. He just looked straight ahead as he mulled his non-sequitur, every now and then looking to Bekkah, as if she were the source of his agricultural rambling.

Kevin listened intently as Dazi spoke, carefully cutting his slab of venison into perfect small squares. Every now and then there was a nod, a pause as he sipped at his drink, before he returned the favor.

“It always amazes me, when I visit Talantal. Sometimes it seems to me that larger keeps somehow breed rank and class. Captains and their lieutenants, first, second and third squires, gatekeepers and border riders and those who guard the Khorall, those who guard the Dama, those who watch over our Ladies. Until those ranks become as or more important than what we are suppose to be doing.

“Knights and Ladies protect, Brothers teach, and our Fathers sit at the head of the table.

“What more should there be?

“Take your rapscallion.

“The question I would ask is why? Does she watch over Lady Romana because it is a position of rank and honor? Or does she watch over her for some other reason? In Talantal, the answer would, most definitely, be the former.

“Though it is interesting.

The Knight cast a glance towards Bekkah and then followed over to Dean.

“The Apprentice has a Protector and the Priestess doesn’t. That is curious.”

Their meal continued. Kay seemed quite happy standing at the side of the table; almost comfortable. But then she was used to being the mascot. Mascots don’t get a chair; they run around during dinner making sure everyone’s glasses were filled and stealing a bit was a matter of course. In some ways perhaps the put upon squire should feel complimented; it was his meal her Scamp had specifically chosen to purloin.

It must have been a very different world, when the East swept down from their mountain passes.

Her question to Kisa brought forth a nod, a nod and a blink and tilt of her head. For a moment, just a moment, green eyes flashed before her friend’s breath halted. She had seen this before. Kisa was following the fall of double bluff tiles in her thoughts... until they stopped. Blocked.

The Brother reached to the side, to snare up a pen and anything to write upon. His attention was focused upon the heiress, as if he were witnessing something he had heard rumors about but never seen himself; a myth come to life.

The Allaine gift.

Thus he was blindsided when someone else replied.

“Of courses.”

Romana dabbed a piece of bread into her gravy, taking a very small and aristocratic bite.

“City of a Thousand Towers port, yesyesyes? Princes and princesses live in towers, blessings of the Four. Boatfolk alina... alina’boatfolk... too small for gods to favor, gods send servants.”

Blue eyes blinked as Romana continued with her meal; as if she were relating something simple, something common, something that was just the way the world worked.

In the East.

“Noche’al’ahkhula. Noche’al’ahkhula comes, servant ahkhulas comes, herds fishies into nets, fishyfolk happy. Of course, Ahkhulas must sate ahkhulas and Noche’al’Ahkhula. Happy noche’al’ahkhula, happy fishyfolks. Hungry noche’al’ahkhula, no one happy.

“Bads spirits. Nasties spirits. Never ends well. Always hungries. More and more and more and mores.

“Noche’al’ahkhula – how do you say? Night fishie... nonono... not fishies. Khannishkah fishies, hunter fishies.”

Romana blinked, clapped her hands together and beamed.

“Black Shark!”

Bekkah

"Because the priestess has no need of protection." she said matter of factly. "Who would harm me? I am no threat to anyone, and I would use my Lady's talents for any in need." she said it as if it were so obvious.

"Many unfortunately, do not see Romana for who she has become. They see the past and thus the protection is necessary. Some day it will not be necessary. Well not if she stays in one place."

She then listened to Romana's story and an uneasy feeling came to her.

*Black shark?* she thought, picturing the scene she remembered as the ships came in.

"Felli, are there usually so many sharks in the waters off the docks? I'd noticed that, thinking that children would be unable to enjoy swimming in these waters."

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Dazi nodded thoughtfully at Sir Kevin’s observations of Dom Dominie’s little village. It did seem that the Imperial Court in Talantal was more beholden to the Noble Family Korie rather than the Family serving the Imperial Court. Perhaps the shaking up she and her sister had instigated — Dazi among the Nobles and Bekkah among the Ladies of Attera — things might change. A little. Would having Allaine as an ally change the way Korie viewed the Church? Maybe not. But having a whole and hale Tray Korie advocating for the Ladies probably would.

Could the same be said of the Dayalans and the Noble Family Allaine? Perhaps. They all knew they owed a great deal to the Allaines for their patronage. Even Dazi had to admit that. Had the Allaines not sheltered them in the Vale, would any Dayalans exist on the Mainland today? Dazi wanted to believe they were a tenacious cult, tenacious enough to survive without home or Temple in the safety of Dawnview Vale. She wasn’t as certain as she’d like to be. Still, she had to believe that her Sisters put their duty to Dayala ahead of their duty to the Noble Family. It wasn’t always easy — that she knew from personal experience. How much more difficult would it be for someone of the Noble Family who also served Dayala? And in this instance, she thought of High Priestess Karina Allaine. But the woman seemed to be a person of integrity from the few times Daxia had seen her. Both Kassia and Gilly respected her, and not grudgingly.

Oh, here she was again... thinking the deepest of thoughts while she ought to be enjoying dinner with her friends and family!

She chuckled at Bekkah’s response. Dazi knew her sister well and was not the least bit surprised by her words for Sir Kevin. And she did agree with Bekkah on both counts — mostly. There were probably places in the world where Bekkah, or any Lady of Attera, would be less than welcome and would even be in some small amount of danger.

“Bekkah, I think, is right again. Even we heathens in the farthest end of the Vale know that the Ladies of Attera are the most beloved followers of any Deity. My sister traveled far and wide across the Tarn with no more harm to herself than boot soles as thin as silk. Oh, your Squire did try very, very hard to be a proper protector!” the Dayalan hastened to assure Sir Kevin. She then grinned at her sister. “But Bekkah was not trying at all to be a proper protectee. While I got Mama’s red hair, I believe Yuri Tashasdotter shared her strong spirit equally with both her daughters.”

She winked at Bekkah before giving her attention back to Kevin. She raised her eyebrow, however, at the Knight and his question of Kay’s motives. It was so obvious that she wondered if it were a trick question. Except...

Right. It was obvious to her.

“Lady Spear Carrier is still in denial about being a member of an important Imperial Family and the great something auntie of the Prince himself.” She looked at Kay, slyly smiling. “Oh, ja and da, abdicate all you want, but you can’t abdicate being the Prince’s aunt any more than I can abdicate having red hair.”

She looked at Kevin again. “Honor is one thing, and it means something different to folks like you and me and Dama Koromov here than it does to the lads in Talantal to whom you refer. Rank? That’s gotten knocked a bit askew, as she can hardly be the third spear carrier on either side if she’s the only spear carrier. But we’ll work that out when Mikal manages to put together this Troop of his.

“So, yes... there’s another reason she watches over Lady Romana.

“Kay is a Dayalan first and foremost. A farmer’s daughter from Darkdown, spear carrier, mascot to a once upon a time squad, a good and dear friend... these come second, although they all define who she is. And why she would watch over Lady Romana.

“And Romana is, as Bekkah pointed out, not yet as safe as Atterans should be.

“Kay is Kay is Kay... and Romana is Romana is Romana.”

Dazi nodded once. There. Ever so obvious to everyone.

“Well, and some of us worry a bit about Romana, in the same way I worry about Mistress Kisa, you see. Both are very smart, very thinky people. Thinking and thinking and thinking, and doing it so well! So the people who protect them worry a bit about them falling down wells or walking into walls or falling into trees or getting lost in the rows of corn for all the thinking they do.”

She nudged Kisa’s shoulder affectionately. “I’m so glad you and Father Canna were together to make sure the other didn’t wind up in the strawberry patch when you meant to fetch corn.

“And yah okay, Romana fall into tree because she is helping DaziDaziDazi breaking Curse on nice Priestesses in Temple,” she said to Romana, “so not all thinking and thinking and thinking. Just lots. Also much doing of goodness and helpfulness.”

Daxia looked around the table at the Imperials of the First Cathedral, her gaze resting longest on Father Canna but giving Felli and Lew due consideration as well.

“Father asked Dean what lessons he learned while out in the world. I would submit that, above any lessons learned, Dean taught at least that much. Well, at least to a heathen who had been taught that many Knights, most Squires and all Jvrillians would not like me at all.” She looked at Sir Kevin again. “I learned that not all followers of Lord Rames are self-important popinjays, and that was a great relief after my visit to Cragside! I would be hard pressed to say whether Dean or our Hunter is the quieter person, but he speaks when it is important for him to do so. And he has a grand sense of humor! Ah, and he dances very well. Quite handy with that sword of his, too, but I’d have expected that. Why, he’s as much a hero of Bordertown as any of us!

“And as disorienting as it might have been to travel with such a diverse group of women, never once did he fail to treat each one of us with the utmost respect. And he defended Lady Bekkah’s, Lady Romana’s and Lady Kadri’s honor in Talantal... stood up to Khorall Korie himself!”

Smiling happily at Dean, she added, “I will probably tell you again and again, but that was very well done!”

Nodding to Lew, the keeper of tales, she said, “Khorall Larsen was there, and his Lady... recognized Dean as one of his folk when the Squire spoke up. Both of them looked quite delighted to know Dean was doing the right and proper thing when Khorall Korie’s Knight and Squires were a bit more reluctant to do so. Oh, and the Khorall’s Captain of the Guard wouldn’t really have tossed them all off the tall tower... I’m sure I wouldn’t have been the least bit pleased by that and might have had to have a stern word or two with the House Guard. And then the good that came from that Council couldn’t have come... so it was quite fortuitous that Dean was with us.

“And now I’ve had the opportunity to meet the people who taught him so well! I think you can all be satisfied to know he is a very good student. As the sometimes reluctant leader of our little gang, I couldn’t be more pleased to have him with us.” She looked at Erik again. “It was hard for him to learn to thump Kay hard enough to keep her happy. Don’t go easy on her because she’s a girl... Lady or not. That’ll just make her hit you harder.”

Kay didn’t even try to deny it. She merely grinned at Erik. Again.

Dazi had seen that look on Kisa’s face more times than she could count, so it was more interesting to watch Lew watching Kisa. She could see the point where the tiles just... stopped. And given Romana’s words, it made sense. Kisa hadn’t taken the Eastern path.

The warrior scholar listened closely to Romana’s explanation, her mind bumping over the differences in not only language but experience.

“So if I understand Romana, fisher folk...” She shook her head. “They... are...” With furrowed brows, she bit her lip. The implications were not good. Not with words like ahkhula in the mix. Not the same as, but yes... the same, almost... as the Ancient ahkhorhya. Hunting Fish.

“No, no... Dazi start from other side, da? So for many years I learn, Bekkah learns, and Father and Brother and Lady and Knight all learn, yah? Dayala, Attera, Rames, Hastur see all this good learning, and They all become happy to give Their followers help to be the best possible followers. And still, everyday, we do things to be the best followers... teaching, doing good, protecting folk... so our Gods are still happy. Being happy, They smile on Kay and Romana and Dean and Erik and Kisa, too.

“So it’s like that, maybe? Very not nice ahkhula spirit sees that fisher folk need fish, and says to one, two, three fisher folks, Here are my rules; you follow, I will be happy. So this is what fisher folk do? Maybe. Except Noche’al’Ahkhula is not full of goodness like Rames and Hastur and Attera and Dayala. Ha, Dazi know how Romana is learning of Dayala, but is fine, is fine... because Dazi and Romana make promise, good promise.

“Then this nasty fishy spirit gives fisher folk many fish. That’s good for the fisher folk. But the fishy spirit... it will always want more from the fisher folk? This is why they are so mean? They gave away all their kindness and happiness to make the fishy spirit happy?”

Daxia looked at Romana and sighed. “And like Dayala showing Herself during the day and Her little children at night, nasty fishy spirit reminds fisher folk it’s there with shark fish in the water?”

Then she looked at Kisa.

“No.

“No, and again I will tell you... no.

“There you have it, three times said and so I mean it. If there is a thing to be done here — and while nasty spirits are nasty, people do need to eat — I don’t see that it’s a thing that I must personally do. If heads must be thumped — and I don’t see what good that would do either — I might say that Mikal should learn to lead. If Mikal wishes to lead a Troop, I could say let this be his first task. If there is an evil spirit to be cast out of Talesan’s Village — and if it is feeding the fisher folk, how can it be entirely evil? — he and his foxy patron should be able to handle it quite nicely, da? Da.

“Never mind that an old temple of ours is buried under the town. Once it was a temple. Now it is the foundation of the Village formed around an Old Jvrillian. Now it is only stone.” She seemed to gaze inward for a moment, then shook her head. “The Port of Lys was ours in the First Age; now the whole of it is the Empire’s.” She shrugged. “It was necessary to do what we did outside Bordertown because the Curse was an offense to Dayala; it broke both Time and Order. Here?” She looked around the cloister, and the grand and broken Cathedral looming above. “The Imperials and their Deities, and the Noble Family Larsen, are doing the most good for the people here that they are able to do. I can’t even pretend I can do more than they are doing.

“And even if the threat is Easternish in nature, we are not the only ones who take offense to evil and chaos.”

Daxia sighed and gave the Heir of Allaine a look of long-suffering patience.

“And beyond all that, if I don’t return you home in something that at least resembles a timely manner, your mother will be potently vexed with me. And Lady help me if you so much as sprain an ankle! First she will look at me with grievous disappointment. Then Verchovai Reena will wonder aloud if I learned anything from her. Next, your esteemed mother will hunt down Priestess Kassia from wherever she has taken herself to give me a tongue lashing like none I have ever had before. And then finally, your beloved mother would set Captain Koromov after me to squash my head like a melon dropped from the Keep’s highest rampart!

“No, don’t you dare give me that look! You know I’m right. She is still Khorall and will be until after she is satisfied that your Knight has been sufficiently chastised. Then she’ll gleefully give the job over to you. And where will I be? Oh, in a hospice somewhere with my sister standing over me, giving me that I am so very disappointed in you, Dazi look for having been beaten within an inch of my life by Captain Koromov.”

Then she looked at Bekkah.

“And don’t you deny you’d do it, because you already threatened to raise me from the dead if I got myself killed just so you could give me a tongue lashing second only to Priestess Kassia’s.”

She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Harrumph!”

Eyes still narrowed, her gaze moved down to the other end of the table. Then her expression settled back to cheerfulness.

“Dean? Hearing you speak so highly and kindly of your sisters and the fine folk who raised you, I’d very much like to meet them. Perhaps you’d be generous and introduce them before we go to Mikaelsson’s Farm tomorrow.”

Dazi rolled her eyes as she sighed. “I’m not sure Morning Star will enjoy meeting Kirill Mikaelsson as much as Fern will enjoy the reunion. But there is learning for both of us to do.”

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The First Cathedral
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Bekkah, Daxia, Dean
Lady Felli, Brother Llewelyn, Sir Kevin, Father Canna, Kisa, Romana, Kay and Squire Erik

“Well, your apprentice is partially correct...”

Brother Llewellyn replied, looking between Kay and Dazi.

“For all intents and purposes she is a farmer’s daughter first, as her family, alas, is no longer Imperial. The vagrancies of politics; though from all I can put together from the Viceroy’s reports her family has always had its ups and downs.”

Obviously, they were ahead of the news from Talantal – and it was something the Larsens had not yet shared with their Imperial neighbors. Perhaps because they tended to treat people as people, not titles. But then, that was one of the things they did try and plan for. That particular piece of news should, also, be arriving at the aforementioned Prince’s palace right about now.

“Still doesn’t explain...”

Trust a Squire, clueless about certain things, to cut to the heart of the matter.

“She gave me a look that would have me pushing up gillyflowers and dandelions.”

Squire Erik looked across to Kay, as he made the point of slicing a piece of his greater portion of venison.

“Last time I got a glare like that was when I accidentally ran into Keelin, when we both rounded the bell tower at the same time. Now she’s handfasted to the woodcutter’s son, and the look he gave me was not just like, but exactly the same.

“You’d almost think she was sweet on her.”

Romana just froze. Her blue eyes were as wide as saucers.

Kay just stood there with her mouth open, suddenly as red as her mentor’s hair.

The only blessing for the suddenly caught initiate was that her mentor continued the conversation, returning to the pragmatics of fishermen and the day’s catch and leaving the subject of true motives behind.

“Perhaps. I admit I cannot see a path that sends me into dark dank spaces with dagger and torch. But isn’t that only half the issue? Father Canna showed me how to weed today. True, you cut off the green, but if you don’t get the roots it all starts all over again.”

Kisa was the one who spoke, looking at her Knight curiously. Father Canna did offer a single observation, clapping his hands together.

“Oh! She learns fast! Can I keep her? But she has a fierce Mother... I see... Well, I shall just have to send her home with a lot of seeds.”

With a hake of her head, the heiress continued.

“That takes learning...”

Kisa then let Bekkah interrupt her; Bekkah’s words cast a shadow across the table.

It was Kevin who spoke first. Even Father Canna was quiet, sharing his gaze between his senior Knight and the mainland’s newest Atteran.

“This... this does not sound good.”

Even Romana started, caught mid chew, at Bekkah’s statement. Her senior spoke up, and as Lady Felli told of her sightings, the white-haired lass’ pale completion somehow became an even lighter shade.

“No... in fact, the bay has never seen them, at least not in my memory and my teacher’s and her teacher’s memory. Not that the tides allow much to flourish here – mostly smaller fish that don’t mind being tossed about, large enough to be fried up for a lunch but that’s about it. But sharks, kudafish, cthulids... all the sea’s predators – you don’t find them until you get past the straits and into the bay proper.

“To have sharks come into the fjord itself...”

Brother Llewellyn tilted his head and completed her sentence.

“...would be like a sudden shift in power.”

Romana finished her bite, and only then continued, looking down.

“Not understand. Black Shark not about feeding fishermen. It is all about fishermen feeding Black Shark. Is like saying the Four Gods are good because they keep the population down.

“Black Shark very, very bad.

“Get hurt on fisher boat, what happens? Get tossed into sea. Soon, run out of clumsy fishermen.”

It was Lady Felli’s turn to turn white.

Kevin looked toward his Squires.

“Eat and rest up, lads, it looks like tomorrow is going to be a busy day. As for Dean’s folks, Dazi, I am sure Felli can take you around if you wish.

“Brother... on the morn, you are going to visit the archives, aye?”

He continued, returning his attention to Dazi.

“I know you have your own tasks. We hope this does not hurt your view of our village. It’s actually a nice place to live... most times.”

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Daxia noticed, noted, and proceeded to ignore both Romana’s and Kay’s reactions to Erik’s comment. First, because even Dean’s displays of embarrassment were less acute. Second, whether keen observation of truth or misinterpretation of cues and signals, it was not as important a topic of conversation as the others that flowed around the table. Third... well, third, it simply didn’t matter how the tiles fell in their pattern of the relationship. It was for them to work out, and for others to accept.

“As Gillyflower and Dandelion are both Dayalans — one with a unicorn even! — I doubt you’d have much luck pushing them anywhere,” Dazi remarked dryly to Erik. “Daisies... stick with daisies. The only Dayalan Daisy I know was an Initiate who decided swordwork wasn’t to her liking, and went off to marry the...” She paused, then nodded once. “Yes, she married the wainwright’s son. Seemed like a nice enough lad, though I doubt he’d take kindly to you pushing her around either.”

Daxia grinned at Erik, and at her own dissemblance. But she did give Brother Lew a puzzled look. “I didn’t mention that part of the Council session earlier?” She thought back to the afternoon’s storytelling... “Huh, I suppose I didn’t.

“Well, you know that it was Thomas Montgomery Koromov and his line that was disenfranchised, da? Oh, da! Everyone knows that. But Kay isn’t of Thomas Montgomery Koromov’s line. Those Koromovs — the ones who came to the Mainland with the Bankorpool Empire — were the ones who sailed off with the Forgotten Fleet. The Koromovs who stayed... those would be Kay’s kin.” Daxia shrugged. “Justice Hawthorne asked Lord Hastur about it, and looked in his Book. And then he was all sorts of upset and unnerved by what the Book said! But both Lady Jasmine and Lady Anastasia had been peeking over his shoulders, and saw what it said.”

Dazi chuckled. “Oh, my! I thought his eyes might fall out of his head... and Lady Jasmine had to try awful hard not to laugh. I think maybe she was trying not to laugh at Justice Hawthorne, because wouldn’t it be rude to laugh at Lord Hastur’s Book? Well, unless Lord Hastur has a sense of humor and would write something in a humorous way... do you know if He’d do that? I know Dayala has quite a sense of humor. And the foxy Arilys loves to laugh!

“Anyway, Lady Anastasia had to introduce her Imperial Excellency, Dama Ekaterina Koromov, to the Council.” She peeked over at Kay, this time as though sharing a joke, before giving her attention back to Lew. “There was all kinds of pandemonium and noise and I think someone was even trying to arrange poor Kay’s marriage... a very bad idea, that! Cor, but it was loud in there! Amidst it all, the Captain had a word or three with Dama Kisa...” She kept her giggle to herself, but just barely. “...and dropped her on the floor where she did that Allaine thinky thing she does. And then she, Kisa I mean, started the avalanche down the mountainside by acknowledging Kay as the Imperial liege of Dawnview Vale and the Noble Family Allaine.”

Daxia looked at Kisa, then at Kay, and back to Lew. “Absolutely pragmatic. But poor Kay. Talantal and Korie recognized Kay... then Highgaard and Kierkegaard, Terilanquel, Talesan’s Village and Larsen, Halahmbrah for Alhahnah and a bit about Nehrimanstel only recognizing Lloshad, which makes more sense to me now than it did then.

“And then Captain Koromov had her Imperial Excellency Dama Ekaterina...” She paused, tilted her head, and repeated Dandy’s words that were fed to Kay... “I, Ekaterina Koromov, in witness of the Noble Houses of the Imperial Mainland, do hereby lift the sanctions from the children of Thomas Montgomery Koromov, restoring them to their rightful Imperial status with full rank, privileges and property. Oh, didn’t that just confuse poor Kay! But right off, the Captain abdicated her Imperial rank and title.” Dazi smiled. “Said she already had a better one.

“But the Imperial Family Koromov is quite, quite Imperial once more. The youngest daughter of Thomas is living in Bordertown, and I don’t doubt she has enough of her sister’s friends to help her stay smart. The eldest daughter...”

Dazi got a faraway look in her eyes, something like the look Kisa got when she was watching those tiles falling... but not quite like that. She didn’t see tiles, she saw roads and paths and trails to be followed. After a moment, she shook her head.

“I only know what little Verchovai Dandelion said of her eldest sister, so I would not even venture a guess about the state of affairs in Trundle when the news is delivered to the Prince that his Justice has regained her Imperial title. And rank. And privileges. Oops, and property, too. I’m pretty sure someone is going to find themselves locked out of what they thought were their apartments.” She sighed. “It’s just as well that Camelia is away from Trundle.

“Oh, and as the Scamp here was fleeing the Council hall, one of Dominic’s folks — Miss Mouse, and doesn’t she just remind me of Kay in a lot of ways? The parts about being smallish and clever and loyal and fierce... not much on the quiet part, which is really fine. It suits her, being herself as she is. Anyway, Miss Mouse reminded Kay of a thing or two. First, as an Imperial Personage, she declared that — essentially — Jakal Montague was no longer a Noble. Free prey, as she said. Anything happens to him... no one cares. Well, having listened to my tale of the so-called Noble Family Montague and their part in the disappearance of Khorall Innocence Allaine and Lord Danton Kierkegaard, I don’t blame her.”

She paused to put an arm around Kisa’s waist. “Even being kin to Allaine, I can’t bring myself to seek vengeance on the man. It is enough that his treachery, Montague’s treachery, was laid out before the Noble Families. It is enough that Allaine and Korie are allies. It is enough that the Noble Families are doing what they can to restore the Family Brockman and their holdings to their position among their peers.” Dazi looked at Kisa as she said, “It is enough that family was found, and that questions have answers.”

Her arm remained right where it was, and she said to Lew, “Oh, and second, her Imperial Excellency then abdicated her rank and title, too. So you see how much rank and titles mean to her... she appears to despise them.”

When the conversation wove back to the topic of nasty black sharks, she thought a moment on Kisa’s comment and might have said something had Father Canna not made his interjection. The man was so joyful... it was impossible not to like him.

She frowned at Lady Felli’s description of the local ecology of aquatic fauna, and frowned further at the conclusion she and Brother Lew had seen. And she shook her head at Romana, looking at her friend with an expression... well, of sadness, really.

“I understood, Romana. Despite everything I know and all the things I have learned, I still hope that...” She shook her head again, trying to will away a dark cloud that seemed to always, always, always want to trail after her.

“Tcha, Romana!! Are you the only goodness that has come out of the East?!”

Despite everything — Kassia’s training, Kisa’s need for her observations, Morning Star’s very presence — Daxia sometimes wondered if she truly was meant to be a Dayalan warrior. She was a Starlord Priestess, partnered to a unicorn who insisted she was meant to do important things. And she still wondered sometimes if her desire to see good everywhere wasn’t a sign that she picked the wrong job.

Until she looked at Sir Kevin Magesbane. And smiled.

“Of course it doesn’t, Kevin. Every place from here to there, great and small, has some flaw of one sort or another. Your small problem here might come upon an Eastern wind... and as bad as the Black Shark might be, it is far sight more straightforward than the machinations of the Marrennen and Khol guilds in Cragside. Tcha! Nasty spirits, demons, avatars, Chaos Riders, and bad, horrible, wicked, awful, cowardly sorcerers are proper opponents. Icky, tricksy merchants and thieves who don’t even look to Lady Arilys for their tricksy ways? Bah!

“And I’d be pleased to have Lady Felli introduce me to Dean’s family. I promise I won’t even try to steal his sisters. Unless they want to be stolen away by a Dayalan to our Temple. And merit the stealing, of course,” she added with a wink.



[Yah, sometimes your Luddite ways work against you, oh GM. When it takes you six hours to get to your email, I have six hours to write a post. And it didn't even take six hours. <giggle> <snicker>]

Bekkah

"It doesn't sound good at all." she began in reference to the shark.

"It all seems highly unusual. So believing it has to do with dark divine powers, isn't hard to imagine. What to do about it, is the real question. Asking them about it isn't likely to get answers, although I suppose I could try."

"It would seem to me that if there is evil involved that not every fisherman out there would be okay with the idea. Some yes, many perhaps, but not all. It might be worth finding out if there are any fishermen who don't associate with the others or who no longer go out."

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The First Cathedral
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Bekkah, Daxia, Dean
Lady Felli, Brother Llewelyn, Sir Kevin, Father Canna, Kisa, Romana, Kay and Squire Erik

“Why is it that every lass with a flower’s name comes with thorns?” Erik grumbled a bit just before his knife dropped.

It dropped as he looked from Daxia, past Romana and then to the disreputable ruffian who just leaned upon her spear. Even Llewellyn stopped, pausing as he listened to that tale of how a House became restored.

“I was the one who stood upon Lilykin’s right.”

That was sword side, the unshielded side, the open side. Even Erik blinked at that, understanding that simple duty.

“On the Bridge I stood on yours.”

Kay closed her eyes and leaned on that tall wooden shaft, its ancient black and white ribbons, her favor, dusting against her cheek.

“Now all I want to do is be here for Whitehair. So it’s no fancy title. No high and mighty place to sit in the feast hall. You know what. That’s all the title I need. I’m the one who watches over Sapphire-eyes. Best bloody job in the whole bloody world.”

It was Father Canna who replied.

“Titles are like gershwunkentaks.

“Pretty much meaningless.

“It isn’t the title that has meaning, it is what you do with it. But I would say you already know that. Sometimes we have many titles, some days we have few. Today mine was garden teacher. It was a good day.”

Dinner continued, albeit a bit awkwardly for a little. Romana did have an answer to Dazi’s question, looking up with a nod.

“Oh. Prickleickleberry! Or root. Romanas get confused, there are so many many plants; some pretty outside, some not pretty outside at all but pretty inside. Sleepyleaf, allobarbendensis for when burned, feverkohl … many many more. What is word. Oh! Medicine. Herbishness. All come from jungles on edge of sea; trade flowers for fancy jewelry in Trundles, yesyesyes?”

Indeed, Bekkah recognized the names Romana had rattled off; they were either the proper name or an alternative for many of the medicinal herbs she knew – the rarer ones that couldn’t be found on the High Tarn but in markets only.

The Initiate had just taught her superiors where these medicines had originated. Even Lady Felli looked surprised. She gave her newest sister a long look before turning briefly to Bekkah.

“Let us investigate that on the morrow. I have a concern.”

At the end, Kevin had one observation.

“As for Dean’s sisters, the one you will need to worry for is their mother.

“She swings a mean ladle.”

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

“And I thank you for that, Scamp,” Dazi said softly as she met Kay’s eyes before those eyes closed. She nodded in understanding of Kay’s words. And to Father Canna’s proclamation of the importance of titles, although his analogy made her smile. As Dandy had said, titles are a tool...

Well, they were just words — words that could be used as a tool, or a weapon, or even as armor. For the Atterans, their titles were things that seemed to give a small amount of comfort to so many.

And sometimes titles were a heavy burden. She was happiest when she could set them all aside and just be Dazi. She knew Bekkah felt the same way; suspected Kisa did as well. And yet, she would be glad of the title Starlord Priestess when she returned home to the Temple in Dawnview Vale and stood before High Priestess Karina Allaine.

“Knowing all you have sacrificed to stand at my side rather than Lily Allaine’s on that night...” She looked from Kay to Romana to her own Allaine at her side before looking at her squire again.

“I do not have the strength of the gift Kisa has, but I do see many Paths you can walk upon which you will meet your Unicorn.” She smiled with some small amount of self-deprecation. “It may well be that the reason you have yet to meet him is that Highside Heather stands outside of Time. The past can never be changed. Had I died on the Bridge that night, the present would not be as it is. The future would be dark and dire, instead of the constant search for the best outcomes for all.”

Dazi’s gaze rested on Romana. “My sister’s apprentice is...” She chuckled. “I have been told I talk too much, but even I don’t have enough words available to truly describe a sapphire eyed, white haired Lady of Attera... always learning, always becoming more. To have a steadfast and stalwart daughter of Darkdown Keep keeping her safe...” Dazi shrugged, and after a moment looked at Kisa... then down at her plate when Kisa nodded almost imperceptibly. She picked up the roll she had yet to eat.

“Koromov.”

She waited until Kay looked at her, then she tossed the bread to her squire, who neatly and with a practiced hand snatched it from the air.

“Allaine thanks you.”

Unspoken was for everything you have done; from Allaines both past and present.

And to lighten the mood, if only for a few moments, she added to Father Canna, “The lass won’t sit down even at a simple table like yours with family all around. It’s more than just watching over Romana, of course. She’s got a battle plan to determine just what plates will yield the greatest advantage, which shoulders are greater obstacles than others.” She ate the last little carrot that Kisa had pushed onto her plate. “It’s been fun watching her these past few months.”

And of course, Dazi had to smile at Romana’s matter of fact turning of the Atteran Priestess’ worldview. Her friend had a way of doing that... often.

“Okay, Romana. Ta. Romana and medicine are good things. And maybe Romana is medicine, too, yah? Okay, maybe not. But maybe.”

And she laughed at Sir Kevin’s observation. “And no doubt has been teaching her daughters the same skill. I think I will not need to worry about Dean’s mother, for she will not need to worry that I will go searching where I am not welcome.” Then the Dayalan paused, blinked, and laughed again... this time at herself. “Right. That certainly isn’t true. But I respect a mother’s wish for her daughters’ safety and happiness.”

The evening had been exactly as Kisa had said: a very comfortable gathering of good folk. There had been serious conversation and light banter. There had been plenty of teasing all around. If this was what family meant, then Daxia would be happy to have more of it. In fact, so comfortable was she, that she slipped in a bit of Ancient when Father Canna sat her back down when she tried to help after dinner.

“But I’m used to helping, Deshkah.”

Grandfather would hear nothing of it.

“If the eastern tower ramparts of your Cathedral are not threatening to collapse, and if you and Lord Rames wouldn’t mind, might I say my morning prayers up there, Father Canna?”

And later, after a whispered conversation with Kisa in which both came to the same conclusion, she sought out the Knight of Rames.

“Despite my earlier words, Sir Kevin, I offer my sword and service to your Village if you believe they might be needed on the morrow.” The Knight of Dayala shivered in the cool night air, although it wasn’t from the chill of the night. “I feel an uneasiness about this business, but do not see a true path for me to take. It is too close, too contained for Kisa to see.”

She looked up at the two stars in the Dark Patch. “I could be worried over nothing. You are skillful and have trained your squires well. And yet...”

For until a unicorn happens upon me in my travels, my heart is all I have to keep me honest.

Those words to Tashka always rang through her head; even now, when Morning Star was part of her life. Daxia Yurisdotter still trusted her heart. Tonight, she trusted her heart enough to have one last conversation with Sir Kevin before retiring for the night.

Daxia looked back at Kevin, half shrugging. “And yet, despite my doubts about involving myself in the affairs of your home, I know this darkness that flaunts itself here is a thing my Lady would find displeasing.”

The young woman smiled as she shook her head. “And I can almost hear my teacher’s voice asking, What is more important, Daxia? One cobble block and her unicorn better learning dressage? Or a town full of people?

“I rise before She does so that I might greet Her as She spreads Her light over the world. I leave it to your experience to know if a heathen swordswoman should be fetched for a day’s work.” She bowed in a proper Dayalan manner — similar to many other mainland displays of respect, except her head and eyes were not lowered as was the accepted custom. Respect... acknowledgement... courage.

Then she smiled at the Knight before returning to Kisa’s side.


[See PM before you start getting any ideas.]