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Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

"Witches weave through Chaos? I..." Daxia looked very confused. "Do you mean seeing the Paths? No, that is a curse of the Allaine family. And Window...?" Suddenly, her face cleared, all confusion lost as connections were made. "You mean Camelia, I think," she said, pointing to the young girl sitting apart from the rest of the group, "if a Window must be a girl. Or Cesare," she added, indicating the Rhoni, "if girl or boy does not matter.

"Cesare is Rhoni... Camelia is part Rhoni."

Then she looked back at Romana, looked closely, looked carefully. "Romana..." she said in a sing-song, not quite questioning tone, "your true hair color is white, isn't it?"

"Well then, we will just have to change that, won't we?"


- fixed misspelling

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

Kadri is offered a smile, while Daxia simply a shrug of shoulders.

"White hair in West like standing in pack softpads wearing moose ears and whiskers."

KAdri:

"So. . Like standing in a group of cats dressed up as a mouse. Something you hide, because, if you don't, your neck gets lengthened."
"

Daxia
with the Gang at the camp

Daxia nodded, still studying Romana.

"You are the white-haired child Cesare saw when he was young. Camelia's father died, likely Cesare's father, to keep you from being returned to Kh'Lhy'ra.

"Camelia's mother... her task has always been to find you again, and bring you out of Kh'Lhy'ra again. It would be Camelia's task to do so if her mother failed."

Daxia shook her head. "And Romana saved herself instead."

Mikal

He shakes his head at Dean. "I usually try not to. Safer that way." Though in this small campsite there is no way Mikal can't hear what is being said.

He'd not been privy to most of what Kadri and Cesare had told Daxia about their individual issues. He recalls something about wanting to marry somebody, but not much else, so most of what they are talking about is news to him.

"But you seem agitated about it for some reason?"

Cesare

Cesare and Celi may only be vague shadows at the edge of the extent of the firelight but anyone looking in their direction can see the Rhoni's head suddenly snap around, looking back towards the camp fire. It would seem he is aware of the conversation with Romana.

Darian

Dazi seemed better as she shot off to make things right with the odd speaking girl. That was good, and left Darian no longer needed there. She returned to her former place of watching, but sat this time, one arm draped over Longtooth.

They all used many words and still said very little. She recognized the names of companions when used and worked out that the Easterners were a particular nasty sort of Prey one must be cautious in hunting. She was also quickly learning in the very now and real sense the precise whys the Pack kept their contact with those not like them to a minimum. She shook her head minutely, thinking how they all made things so very complicated that did not need to be. It was good to truly know, though, for if she did need to make her own Pack, she would need to know these things. And some part of her thought that might be the case...

She scratched at Longtooth's fur and thought of many things as she watched the quiet night.

Dean

"I am not so much agitated as I am confused. I am to be a protector of Lady Bekkah and I need to understand what is happening with this girl, as Lady Bekkah seems attached to her."

Dean shakes his head and sighs. "I wish to make my mentor proud. I wish to live up to expectations of my teachers. I wish to...to...do good, or failing that at least not show myself as a miserable goofer the first time I am let out of the village."

Dean grins at himself and then at Mikal. "Ah well. There is only so much that will fit into my head at one time...I wouldn't want to force anything important out the back end. I would welcome practice with you!"

Mikal

He chuckles. "I remember feeling the same way once. Seems a long time ago now."

He leans back. "Here's a piece of advice. Don't worry about what others think of you, especially others who are not here. If you took their lessons to heart, then you will make them proud. And if not, then fooling yourself by trying to will only make you, and they, miserable."

He looks at Dean. "Worry about what you think of you. If you can sleep at night with what you've done that day, knowing you did your best and kept your personal integrity, then who cares what others think?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"Mooses ... meeses ... mouses!"

Romana let the words roll off her lips, testing each one for flavor and tone.

"Hiding is better than being caughts. Ran away, given away, once, then caughts. Caughts is bad. Escapes once, very hards ... escape twice ... very luckys ... escape thrice ... not happen."

She turned her head, looking back from Kadri to Daxia, blinking several times.

"Romanas knows no Sezzyzares; and only runnings, long times, hiding, when so little. First time, runs aways, givens aways ... hard time ... last time ... last time Romanas saw Mothers ....

" ... alive."

She then swallowed, her arms wrapping about herself very tightly.

"Dazidazidazi wrong. Romanas not save herself. Romanas have help ... no, not right word ... help, melp, whelp .... stylish, story, stall, stool ... stole ... Romanas ... Romanas ... Romanas was ... stolens. Yesyes, Romanas stolens."

Gnawing upon her lower lip, she still looked downcast; that is, until she caught a snippet of another conversation. Romana then sat up straighter, smiled and waved all friendly like towards Mikal And Dean.

"Hihi!"

She beamed.

"Most folks thinks Romanas stupids.

"Romanas not cares.

"Romanas knows truths."

Kadri:

She pauses again, mouthing.

". > You did escape, though. Because, well, you are HERE. Not there. If you had help. . who helped you? And where are they?"

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia shook her head and smiled at Romana's testing of words. And almost laughed when she waved to Mikal and Dean. Between those moments, though, were the serious ones.

"Dazi sorry Romana not see Mother long, long time," she said, reverting back to her Dawnview speech patterns. "Dazi not see Mama, Papa long, long, long time, too. Dazi understand that sadness, yah? Dazi have sister Bekkah back now, so less sad. Dazi have friends! So less sad.

"Dazi not think Romana stupid, no. Romana only have little words, yah? Ok not have so many words. We teach Romana new words, ok?" She pointed to everyone in the camp. "All, we give Romana new words, ok? Kadri already give Romana 'mouse'," she said with a grin... that faded quickly.

"But Romana stolen... this time? Second time escape? Who steal Romana?"

She glanced at Kadri, then back at Romana, nodding. "Yah, who steal Romana? Good person, bad person? Where stealing person now, huh?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana


"She ... we got separated in the cities ..

"Her names ... very pretty ...

"Madoka."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia closed her eyes and sighed. "Madoka kha'Ayanna kha'Kame kha'Chikato khal'Homura Akemi Koromov," she whispered. "Yah, name very pretty." She sat quietly, a fullhand of heartbeats, then a handful. When she opened her eyes again, there was sadness, worry, pain reflecting from the blue depths. "Romana think Madoka maybe ok?" Looking at Kadri, she said, "Need tell Cami, yah?"

Another handful of heartbeats, eyes closed.

"Madoka..." She sighed as she opened them again, looking at Romana. "Madoka Camelia mother. Madoka do thing she promise." She turned to look at the young Imperial girl sitting, as usual, alone at the edge of the group.

"Dazi hope Madoka ok."

Kadri

She nods ever so slightly.


"You might have been helped, Romana - but the will to escape was your own - never let that escape. You are fate's master, not it yours. Noone - NOONE- can take this -"

She taps her head.

"And this"

She taps her chest over the heart.

"If you do not let them. That is where freedom lives, even if you be in chains. Be proud. Yes?"

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

"All depends on what okays mean ... little word, too many meanings for such a little world. Okays as in alives and not not alives? Okays in eating roasted merebeast and drinking soft sea wine? Okays as in finally at pieces, okays as in hiding in shadows and hunted but not caights? All different kinds of okays, all things that could be ... word needs to be bigger and longers ...

"Romanas not know ... ill luck when speculate don okays of someone in danger and not knowns ... tempts world to turn not nice at all.

"What Romanas does know is that Windows, good Windows are something Princes collect ... Princes never kill Window for spite; well unless they are really really angry.

"Then worse things are, than dead ...

"But the, Madoka also used very short name."

Hugging herself tight, Romana looked down into her bowl of stew.

"Fate means there is one way things will be. Romanas not sure if Romanas believes in fate. What Romanas do believe is that Romanas can try and choose what waves Romanas ride ...

"Sometimes waves better than others.

"Right now ..."

She smiled back to Kadri,

"Right now good good waves."

She held up her empty bowl.

" ... more ...

" ... please?"

Kadri:

She winks at Romanas.

"I understand."

A pause, looking at Daxia.

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia returned Kadri's look with one of mild confusion. "Dazi not understand," she said, before turning to Romana again.

"Dazi understand Romana not know fate Madoka. Dazi understand Madoka Window, prince collect then maybe Madoka stay alive but never go home. Dazi not understand use short name. Dazi not understand why prince like Window if only..." She paused, biting her lower lip. "...if only person from West say what Window means when see currents, tides. Princes have West people?"

She shook her head, frowning with brows knit. "No, no. Dazi not understand."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

The dark haired woman blinked blinks and then just looked into her empty bowl sadly.

For a moment, and then she shook her head,

"Can tell lots from currents ...

" ... but ... Not-Windows rare ... know of, tales and song ... many many many years of course find ... todays, probably not."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Again, the Dayalan shook her head. "No, no. If Dazi understand what not-Window is, many Allaine women not-Window. Some not so good, like Dazi. Some good, like Khorall Linnell. Only one very very very good." Daxia frowned again. "Princes find out about Lord Kisa, she in big trouble. Yah, she stay home. But Dazi not let any hurt Kisa. No, no, no. Dazi..."

She took Romana's bowl and filled it with more stew, then handed it back to her.

"Dazi die before let anyone, anyone hurt Lord Kisa. Dazi promised," she said firmly... and then, more softly, "Dazi promised. Dazi do."

She sat quietly for a handful of heartbeats before speaking again. "Not understand how not-Window say what Window mean, but maybe because Dazi not so good not-Window, yah?

"Still not understand about short name. What means that?"

Kadri:

"Then we are even. I don't understand the windows."

She pauses.

"And its. . something we have already talked about. The name thing."

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

"Ha! Not even!" she said to Kadri with a smile. "Dazi not understand Window either. Just Romana think Dazi not-Window, many Allaine not-Window, Kisa big-time not-Window. But Window?" Daxia shrugged. "If Cami Window, Dazi never never understand Window!"

She looked between Kadri and Romana several times, eyes narrowed. "No, no. Not about name thing already talk about." Her eyes settled on Romana. "What Romana whisper to Kadri? Hmmm? Not so good not-Window Dazi think whisper whisper make Connection, yah? Please tell."

The Heartwood
After Dusk on the Brementown Road
Hasday, The Twelfth Day of the Month of Crown of Ice, 2623

Daxia, Mikal, Darian, Cesare, Bekkah, Celi, Kadri, Dean, Camelia and Romana

The hooded girl simply looked between Kadri and Daxia and blinked.

Daxia
with Kadri and Romana at the camp

Daxia looked even more confused. "Maybe... maybe Dazi not say right words?

"Romana say, before Dazi get upset about bored princes, have saying about short names. Tell Kadri. Then Dazi have concern about Madoka, Romana say Madoka use very short name. Not tell Dazi what means.

"Kadri say already talk about, but Dazi not think is about giving up names not fitting. Madoka not give up name, only use short short. Still Madoka kha'Ayanna kha'Kame kha'Chikato khal'Homura Akemi Koromov."

She looked between the two of them again. Finally, she shrugged, and said, "Fine. Fine, ok, fine. Kadri, Romana want have secret... have secret. Dazi figure out why Madoka short name important. Someday."