The discussion around the table was on two levels. The two androgens and Hyda were skilled at having a mundane conversation aloud while conversing amongst themselves through their thoughts. Narim, however, had difficulty telling which conversation belonged where so he opted to be silent instead.
Have you forgotten why you’ve come for the boy?
I have not forgotten my objective, no.
Then why do you tarry here? Have you not explained how dire the situation of the land is?
Mayar, please let’s just enjoy our stay. Business can wait.
But it cannot, I’m afraid. Jawn is not even aware of Its new station. It was no longer with the collective when the announcement was made.
What station? Narim could hear a pause in Jawn’s thoughts.
You are the new Orere Magus in Mafaeria.
MAfaeria? Jawn nearly spilled its drink on the table at the news. The action went without notice as they were outwardly discussing Jawn’s natural clumsiness.
Surely this decision is retracted since I have severed from the collective and stepped down from Council.
No, my friend, you are still Tarik, despite your affiliations, or lack thereof. This was a decision made by The Great Mother herself, it seems.
I was unaware the Mafaeri Magus Orere was in poor health.
As were we until the message was passed through the collective.
And what of Zchi. Last word was that Zchi was waning also.
We’ve heard nothing from the south. It concerns us greatly that we’ve received no word. Talks have been circulating of a group of Tariks venturing to Hilsindry.
That was my intention from the very start. I hold a great reverence for Zchi’s wisdom, and I wished to see It’s thoughts on the boy.
Yet you’ve ventured no farther than here? This is going to be a long journey indeed. Do you not agree that it would be unwise for the Council to reach Zchi before you and Narim did?
Ah, yes. Those are my thoughts as well. I am unsure why I have waited so long, to be honest. Perhaps… Jawn checked to make sure no other minds were tapped into their conversation I too have begun to weaken. I feel concern for Narim. Travelling to Hilsindry would put us right in the throng of battle.
Pah, you feel nothing. If your Narim is as remarkable as you say, you’re only experiencing his own reservations for such a journey and mistaking those feelings for your own.
Narim stood, excusing himself for a moment. Jawn had become his friend, and there was something about the way this soft spoken Androgen brightened when their eyes met that made him strangely happy. Was this affection, friendship, of his own making? Was he simply feeding his own desire for camaraderie into It? Narim washed his face in the basin, thanked Lani and Voris for the meal and turned to escape the conversation. He didn’t notice that he was being followed.
He wasn’t able to block out the conversation but the sound of the wooden blocks splitting beneath his axe made it more difficult to follow at least.
“Please don’t let Mayar’s words concern you.” A voice called to him. Surprised he missed the block and nearly caught his leg with the head of the axe. He turned to meet Hyda face to face.
“Mayar is unusually skilled in fate determination. In short, It can sometimes discern the fates of certain key people It comes in contact with. “
“Then he… It has determined my fate for me?” Narim drove the axe into the block and sat heavily on the ground.
“No, It doesn’t not determine fate, Mayar simply is fed the information The Great Mother needs him to know. She is the one who determines our fates, mine in this body, and you in yours. “ she knelt in front of him and took his hands. “We may do many different things and make many different choices, but there is no escaping the path The Great Mother lays for us.”
“Then what is mine, you must know what it is.”
“I do not know very much yet, neither does Mayar, but we know a little of it. You were made for a reason, for something great. You are our solution for the salvation of our nations.. We do not know how this will come about however.” Hyda stopped and lowered her eyes, those heavy dark lashes concealing a look akin to sympathy.
“You know something else too, don’t you.” Narim asked softly.
“It’s of little consequence. But know this, I will personally see to your happiness, and Jawn’s as well.”
“Jawn has no happiness of Its own. Its happiness is a creation of my own emotional flow.” Narim grew solemn. Why did this bother him so much?
“Perhaps, Perhaps not. One day know for sure.”
“Hey boy, are you being unfaithful to your cute girlfriend out there!” Voris called from window. “You’d better not, or I’ll steal her in half a breath!” Hyda exploded into laughter, shaking her head so furiously masses of hair floated around her in waves. In that moment, she seemed so beautiful to Narim that he felt guilty being so close to her right then.
“So that is how it is. Does Lani know what Jawn is?”
“I couldn’t say for sure, but I seriously doubt anything truly gets by that woman.” Narim joined her in laughter. “oh my… my girlfriend, huh?”
“This might work out to our advantage. I had reservations about all of us arriving anywhere populated together. There is an old saying in Lasaeria ‘Where two tariks gather, trouble is soon born.”
“That explains why Jawn always gets the easy work!” Narim sighed as he hoisted himself to his feet and continued chopping wood. Hyda wiped away the tears of hard laughter and headed back into the house, passing Lani on the way. Briefly, Hyda found herself paralyzed by Lani’s intense eyes. She knew, Hyda was certain of it now, but she opted not to make an issue of it. For what reason.
Because there is love blooming here, no matter how doomed it may be. Let them have their happiness while it is still possible. You all have a hard road ahead. Lani’s thoughts were faint and slightly garbled, thought transference was not a skill a normal Lasaeri possessed, but still present. Hyda, on impulse reached out and clasped the old woman’s shoulder and smiled.
“You Lasaeri simply astound me sometimes.”
Have you forgotten why you’ve come for the boy?
I have not forgotten my objective, no.
Then why do you tarry here? Have you not explained how dire the situation of the land is?
Mayar, please let’s just enjoy our stay. Business can wait.
But it cannot, I’m afraid. Jawn is not even aware of Its new station. It was no longer with the collective when the announcement was made.
What station? Narim could hear a pause in Jawn’s thoughts.
You are the new Orere Magus in Mafaeria.
MAfaeria? Jawn nearly spilled its drink on the table at the news. The action went without notice as they were outwardly discussing Jawn’s natural clumsiness.
Surely this decision is retracted since I have severed from the collective and stepped down from Council.
No, my friend, you are still Tarik, despite your affiliations, or lack thereof. This was a decision made by The Great Mother herself, it seems.
I was unaware the Mafaeri Magus Orere was in poor health.
As were we until the message was passed through the collective.
And what of Zchi. Last word was that Zchi was waning also.
We’ve heard nothing from the south. It concerns us greatly that we’ve received no word. Talks have been circulating of a group of Tariks venturing to Hilsindry.
That was my intention from the very start. I hold a great reverence for Zchi’s wisdom, and I wished to see It’s thoughts on the boy.
Yet you’ve ventured no farther than here? This is going to be a long journey indeed. Do you not agree that it would be unwise for the Council to reach Zchi before you and Narim did?
Ah, yes. Those are my thoughts as well. I am unsure why I have waited so long, to be honest. Perhaps… Jawn checked to make sure no other minds were tapped into their conversation I too have begun to weaken. I feel concern for Narim. Travelling to Hilsindry would put us right in the throng of battle.
Pah, you feel nothing. If your Narim is as remarkable as you say, you’re only experiencing his own reservations for such a journey and mistaking those feelings for your own.
Narim stood, excusing himself for a moment. Jawn had become his friend, and there was something about the way this soft spoken Androgen brightened when their eyes met that made him strangely happy. Was this affection, friendship, of his own making? Was he simply feeding his own desire for camaraderie into It? Narim washed his face in the basin, thanked Lani and Voris for the meal and turned to escape the conversation. He didn’t notice that he was being followed.
He wasn’t able to block out the conversation but the sound of the wooden blocks splitting beneath his axe made it more difficult to follow at least.
“Please don’t let Mayar’s words concern you.” A voice called to him. Surprised he missed the block and nearly caught his leg with the head of the axe. He turned to meet Hyda face to face.
“Mayar is unusually skilled in fate determination. In short, It can sometimes discern the fates of certain key people It comes in contact with. “
“Then he… It has determined my fate for me?” Narim drove the axe into the block and sat heavily on the ground.
“No, It doesn’t not determine fate, Mayar simply is fed the information The Great Mother needs him to know. She is the one who determines our fates, mine in this body, and you in yours. “ she knelt in front of him and took his hands. “We may do many different things and make many different choices, but there is no escaping the path The Great Mother lays for us.”
“Then what is mine, you must know what it is.”
“I do not know very much yet, neither does Mayar, but we know a little of it. You were made for a reason, for something great. You are our solution for the salvation of our nations.. We do not know how this will come about however.” Hyda stopped and lowered her eyes, those heavy dark lashes concealing a look akin to sympathy.
“You know something else too, don’t you.” Narim asked softly.
“It’s of little consequence. But know this, I will personally see to your happiness, and Jawn’s as well.”
“Jawn has no happiness of Its own. Its happiness is a creation of my own emotional flow.” Narim grew solemn. Why did this bother him so much?
“Perhaps, Perhaps not. One day know for sure.”
“Hey boy, are you being unfaithful to your cute girlfriend out there!” Voris called from window. “You’d better not, or I’ll steal her in half a breath!” Hyda exploded into laughter, shaking her head so furiously masses of hair floated around her in waves. In that moment, she seemed so beautiful to Narim that he felt guilty being so close to her right then.
“So that is how it is. Does Lani know what Jawn is?”
“I couldn’t say for sure, but I seriously doubt anything truly gets by that woman.” Narim joined her in laughter. “oh my… my girlfriend, huh?”
“This might work out to our advantage. I had reservations about all of us arriving anywhere populated together. There is an old saying in Lasaeria ‘Where two tariks gather, trouble is soon born.”
“That explains why Jawn always gets the easy work!” Narim sighed as he hoisted himself to his feet and continued chopping wood. Hyda wiped away the tears of hard laughter and headed back into the house, passing Lani on the way. Briefly, Hyda found herself paralyzed by Lani’s intense eyes. She knew, Hyda was certain of it now, but she opted not to make an issue of it. For what reason.
Because there is love blooming here, no matter how doomed it may be. Let them have their happiness while it is still possible. You all have a hard road ahead. Lani’s thoughts were faint and slightly garbled, thought transference was not a skill a normal Lasaeri possessed, but still present. Hyda, on impulse reached out and clasped the old woman’s shoulder and smiled.
“You Lasaeri simply astound me sometimes.”
