| Logs |
2011 November 29
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Taps Logs |
Malachai's Shadow
Suraksha, Chanticleer, Rattler, and the young townie Rachel come to the fallow field. As Rachel promised, there is a deep, clear stream nearby. There is also a pasture which has been fenced off but is empty of animals. Suraksha sighs in relief at sight of the stream -- she can have a bath! She smiles at the young woman, "This looks like a lovely place to camp! Thank you, Rachel. Can you let Malachai know that the Hetaera will come into town in about two or three hours, please?"
Rachel literally claps her hands in her excitement, "I will let him know! That will give us time to make a welcome for you all."
Suraksha laughs at the young woman's enthusiasm and thanks her again. After Rachel dashes off, Suraksha glances between Chanticleer and Rattler, murmuring, "Is it just me... or is she both simultaneously cute and... very strange?"
Chanticleer replies quietly, "Very strange. Those symbols... they're sidhe. Or at least ljossalfar, fey from the Nordlunds. I didn't expect them to be here in North America, however... let alone this far south."
Suraksha nods slowly, "So... runes? Interesting. I wonder what they say exactly -- she did say some of them were warnings, after all. Why would the folks here need to be repeatedly warned?" She frowns thoughtfully, adding, "Chanti dear, have you ever heard of sidhe cross-breeding with humans? Maybe that's what happened here?"
Chanticleer frowns a little. "I've... not heard of it. I'm sure it'd be the talk of the courts," [for at least as long until they spot the next shiny thing], "if they'd heard of it. And the ljossalfar weren't exactly isolationist." He paused. "But... I can't say it's not possible. If someone were... I don't know, a mage with skills in fertility magicks...."
Rattler watches the girl go, brow furrowed, "She's either naturally nervous or hiding something really, really big."
Suraksha thinks for a bit, then shakes her head firmly, "She's definitely human -- or at least her chakras are. Plus, we have a negotiation, and a show to put on tonight. All right!" She claps her hands firmly, turning to face back toward the caravan, "Let's get cracking, then! Del's going to want the livestock in the circle tonight, I'm sure -- Rattler, can you help her with that? Chanti, let's keep the double guards on, until you think the threat is over. Fantine, can you get a bath ready for me, so I'm not still all mud-speckled for the negotiations? Hana, can you groom Amanda for me, please, dear? Hmm..." She glances over her shoulder at the town, then nods slowly, "I think... definitely two guards with me. Plus you, Chanti, and Rattler are both slightly built. You won't seem as aggressive as, say, Buddy or Ohkwa... and we can all be chatting with the children who'll want to see 'Manda." She grins mischievously, "Excellent way to simply be innocently advertising the wondrous upcoming show, yes? Fantine, dear, I think something sort of... homespun-looking? Let's not shock an isolated little township with exotic Hetaerae clothing!"
Chanticleer nods to Suraksha. "Will do," he says. "The guards have been run a little ragged the past few nights of doubling up, though. Do you think we'll be close enough to the village that we can pull them in a bit so I can let them have shorter watches?"
Suraksha nods at that, "Sounds good to me, dear. I'll walk watch tonight too, probably. Will that help?"
Chanticleer shakes his head, "It will, but it might not be necessary. I'll be cutting the guards by two, maybe three, teams and shortening the watches, so they can get a bit more sleep in."
Suraksha leaves guard organization in Chanti's capable hands, and goes to pitch in and help until Fantine comes looking for her to take her bath. By that point Sura's breathless and muddy again, and tiredly ready to take a hot bath. It's about two hours total, in fact, until she's ready to head into town. Chanticleer has organized the guards, and gotten cleaned up. He gazes a bit wistfully at the leather and bronze armor, but again decides against it, instead preferring something lighter, more subtle, more "diplomatic." But he still has his sword.
Rattler smirks a little at being called "slightly-built." He's not exactly willowy, but he supposes that in comparison to Buddy, he is small. While Suraksha is getting ready, he also cleans up and dresses in something more attention-grabbing than his jeans and chambray. If they're going to be a walking advertisement, he wants to do 'Chana proud. He winds up in a pair of loose breeches with leather knee-boots and something Fantine calls a pirate shirt. It shows off the width of his shoulders and leaves him plenty of room to move. The shirt is scarlet and looks good against his dark complexion and hair.
Sulochana emerges finally from the wagon, calmly and firmly refusing to allow Rohana to come along in order to escape a bath at Fantine's hands. She's neatly and nicely dressed in clothing that is fine but not startling, with short-heeled boots fastened with a million tiny buttons, full skirts, an elegantly embroidered vest over a fine blouse, and the gloves and hat of a proper city wife. She giggles delightedly at sight of Rattler, and calls over her shoulder for Fantine to bring a dashing scarlet scarf for him to tie at a rakish angle on his head. Then she hugs her daughters and the other children who all helped prepare Amanda -- the camel practically gleams, and her calm face and wide feet are still damp from washing. "All right! Chanti, dear, you look marvelous -- as always." She beams at the elegant sidhe, offering him her hand to help her up onto the brilliantly caparisoned camel, "Thank you, dear. Let's see..." as she arranges her skirts, she quickly reviews the plan: she'll sit up on Amanda while Rattler leads the camel -- there's no need to tell anyone she can ride just fine on her own. Chanti can walk on the other side, and they'll all chat in a friendly fashion with any children who run up. It's all right for the kids to pet Amanda as well, but if there are any horses, they get to go first -- no sense in spooking the locals' mounts, after all.
Rattler leads the white camel along and chats with the children that creep up to check out the unusual animal. Their elders are also checking the creature out, just at a more respectful distance. Many of them have no idea what the animal is, and Rattler explains what she is and tells one of them that horses often get scared around camels, so it might be best to make sure any horses in their path are moved out of the way. The little girl to whom he was speaking says, "But we have no horses -- just the oxen! Papa says horses run too much and are too skittish!" Her accent is thicker than Rachel's, with a definite softening of the A's.
Sulochana laughs softly, leaning to speak to the little girl, "No horses at all, sweetie?" She's rather surprised, though her face doesn't show it. "Well, they are indeed rather... flighty, true!" She's faintly relieved, thinking about it -- her scent is unlikely to spook what isn't there, after all. As more children emerge, the Hetaera smoothly engages them in conversation: have they ever seen a camel before? Would they like to pet her? What's their names? Do they have many visitors to the town? Who is their father, their mother? Do any of them know Malachai? Sulochana knows how to enchant children, and she's lavish with praise; she really wants to know what's going on here, and sometimes the kids know more than adults realize -- and don't know not to let it slip.
Chanticleer walks along with Sulochana, Rattler, and the camel, doing his best to appear casual and easygoing and filled with calm good humor, but remaining quite alert. Interesting that there are no horses; is there something here that makes horses more skittish than usual? He murmurs to Rattler, "Do camels get as nervous as horses?" Chanticleer isn't familiar with the beasts; this on in particular seems to be cultivating an air of politely ignoring him. Rattler shakes his head.
As Rachel intimated, everyone knows Malachai, and from what the three of them gather from the children, visitors are almost nonexistent. Some of the kids even say the caravan has the first outsiders they've met. Most of the names 'Chana gets are Biblical in origin, and those that aren't tend to run along the lines of Sven and Olga. They are, almost to a person, light-complected, with blonde hair and light-colored eyes. Sometimes the blonde darkens almost to a sandy brown, and there are one or two dark-haired folk, but even they are pale of skin. Rattler, 'Chana, and Chanti are all quite exotic looking in comparison.
The village has one main street, which has the look and feel of having once been paved. In some towns bits and pieces of the old paving from before the Dying Off remain, but here the streets have been meticulously dug up and smoothed out. They've been laid with gravel in most places, and a couple of the side roads are even of the "corduroy" variety. It doesn't take a lot of asking to be directed to Malachai's house. It sits at the end of the main street on a rise that seems gradual, but puts its lowest floor above the roofs of the houses at the bottom. From that house, one could see almost the entire town. Chanticleer murmurs to Sulochana curiously, "If it's not too forward of me, Lady... isn't it unusual to have someone in a place such as this request your services as a Hetaera?"
The Hetaera is quietly fascinated at the genetic homogeneity she's seeing here, although she doesn't know those precise words. She's silently amused to see Malachai is not just the apparent "big man" in the town -- as the only one who might want (afford?) a Hetaera -- but has also chosen his abode for that same dominating effect. However, it's not so much that as the increasing signs of Friendsville being only a tiny farming community which firms up her internal half-decision to not accept Malachai's offer. She hasn't the heart to bankrupt the little town just for Malachai's momentary pleasure, after all. She sighs softly internally, even as she continues to laughingly tease and chat with the children... and at Chanti's surreptitious question she glances over at him and nods once. Just for a second he can see that firmness in her gaze that says she's going to refuse this guy -- and then she's once more the delightfully charming lady as she continues to gently pump the children for information. Do they all farm here, or do any of their parents do anything else... like mining, maybe? What's Malachai like? Is he nice or scary?
The children are very forthcoming. As they all head down the street, they can see a few shops, but most of them are for skilled labor rather than for goods: a barber/dentist, a tailor/dressmaker. There is a fairly large smithy, but no general store or dry-goods store. According to the children, not everyone farms, though most people help out at harvest-time and at shearing time. Apparently there are some goats and sheep that are herded around the town, as well as the oxen that are used in working the fields. What there don't seem to be are any cats, or even any cur-dogs, as is common in farming towns.
Chanticleer half-nods to Sulochana's unspoken reply. He frowns a little as well. No store? Does... does any trade even normally happen? There must be things they need that they can't get locally! "Stranger and stranger...."
Sulochana too is growing more and more puzzled: a farming town with no cats or dogs?! She laughs delightedly, causing the children staring wide-eyed up at her to beam as she asks, "But how on earth do you keep the rats away, dear?"
One little boy, a bit grubbier than the others, says, "Rats know better than to come here! Malachai scares them away!"
'Chana's eyes twinkle, "Oh, he does, does he? And how does he do that, little fierce one?"
The boy, whose name is Enoch, says, "He's just reeeeeeeally scary!" That makes a lot of the other children giggle and Rattler chuckles with them, though his eyes are a little flat. He's not liking this so far. Chanticleer is not feeling any easier, especially with Rattler apparently unhappy. He does his best to remain affable and calm, but he becomes increasingly wary. By now they're close enough to Malachai's house to see the front porch. On it are several children and a few adults. The people on the porch are all wearing sturdy clothing that is quite obviously meant to be worked in; there's a lot of denim and wool apparent. To Chanti's keen eyes the runic embroidery is easy to spot, especially since he was half-aware to look for it. 'Chana laughs easily with the children, teasing the little boy a bit more about being fierce, as they approach the front porch -- she wants to make sure they're not talking about Malachai by the time Amanda arrives.
Malachai is easy to pick out. The people don't leave a space around him, but there's something in their body language that points him out as being the Head Man. He's actually slightly shorter than some of the other men on the porch, but that's only obvious after looking very closely. Somehow, he gives off an aura of... well... looming. His thick hair is shiningly white and neatly trimmed, though it covers his ears and comes down to the nape of his neck. He also has a thick beard that comes down onto his chest. It too is mostly white, but with a few streaks of reddish-blonde in it. He stands with his feet at shoulder-width and with his arms crossed over his chest. While he's not quite scowling, he does look stern. Rachel is standing at his side and she looks like she'd like to be dancing from foot to foot.
Chanticleer finds Malachai's attitude curious. Everyone else seems happy to see them; why not him? 'Chana is laughing and teasing the children, still looking down at them as they exuberantly scamper along with the staid Amanda's slow and relaxedly swaying walk, shouting and calling to her as they go. The Hetaera is using these last minutes to make sure the town's kids are excited about the upcoming show -- even if she has to refuse the "scary" Malachai, perhaps the caravan can find some profit in this detour through their entertainment of the isolated people living here. Consequently 'Chana's broad-brimmed and elegant hat -- an excellently tasteful choice for any town lady of means -- is shading her face, and she's not yet spotted the little group awaiting them on the porch. 'Chana grins, waving to the kids as Amanda slows, calling to them, "So we'll see you all tonight at our show, then, yes?" At the chorus of excited agreement, she laughs again.
The porch is newly white-washed and the walls of the house are painted a deep green. As they all approach the porch, the white-haired elder comes down the steps to meet them. Malachai's eyes are unusual, with his complexion: a tawny brown, almost the color of honey. His face is made of strong lines and planes, and those curious eyes show no real signs of age despite the snowy hair. The expression on his strongly-built face is somewhat forbidding, and his jaw is set. Rachel is right on his heels and is practically bouncing with excitement. 'Chana and Chanti both hear her whispering, "This is her, Nonnu." Rattler is holding Amanda's reins and is watching Malachai closely. Despite his apparent age, the elder moves quite easily. "Ma'am, I'm very sorry you made such a long trip..."
Sulochana turns to look at Malachai at that moment, her wine-red lips still parted in delighted laughter and her tilted golden-green eyes sparkling. Framed by the elegant hat and her night-dark hair, the Hetaera's face is warm as sunlight. The expression on the stern man's face changes drastically at that smile: the tawny eyes blink slowly and the pupils widen. His lips part in an expression of surprise and his body language shifts from stern and forbidding to carefully welcoming. As Malachai pauses, 'Chana tilts her head in silent inquiry -- and a heartbeat later she smiles, "Yes? You were saying?"
Rattler was expecting Malachai to turn the Hetaera down, going by his tone of voice. However, when 'Chana raises her head and looks at Malachai, the town elder's words die away and he says, "Welcome to Friendsville." He reaches up, as is polite in small towns, and puts his hands carefully on her waist to help lift her down from the camel's back. Unusual for her, Amanda seems a bit fretful. Chanticleer arches a brow a little at Malachai's start at an apology, and he can't help but notice Amanda's sudden turn in expression.
Sulochana looks a bit surprised, a startled laugh escaping her lips before she remembers: if they don't know camels at all, then they won't know Amanda kneels for the mount and dismount. Her small, gloved hands rest lightly on Malachai's arms as he sets her gently on her neatly booted feet, and she grins up at him. "Well! Thank you so much, Thane Malachai. We appreciate your welcome." Though her demeanor is light and laughing, she's a bit concerned internally -- had he been about to refuse her? Why then is he now welcoming her? The intensity of his gaze is a bit... disturbing to her, as well. "So have you met any Hetaerae before, sir? Rachel says you've all heard of them," 'Chana grins and gives the excited young woman a small wave, then looks back up at Malachai as she ruefully smiles, "but I suspect there are as many stories as truths floating around."
She waves a hand towards the porch, adding, "Perhaps we could sit and chat for a bit?" That's the best way she can think of to keep Rattler and 'Chanti close -- and it will allow the two men to both talk about tonight's show with the folks here, as well as keep an eye on her. Chanticleer nods inwardly. He'll try to get some idea of what the townsfolk are expecting with the show, as well as a better idea of what might be going on here -- which should help show up in the entertainment preferences. One can tell what people are starved for that way.
Malachai's hands are still on 'Chana's waist and he's looking her over very carefully. It doesn't seem overly lewd, just very thorough. At being called Thane, his brows go up, "Just Malachai." His accent is much heavier than most of the children or even Rachel, but he's quite intelligible. "I have heard of Hetaerae before. We are isolated, but no place is completely without news." He moves to offer his arm, "Yes. Please, come to the porch." He calls up to some of the people on the porch in an unfamiliar language, and a young man and woman move into the house, bustling efficiently. The elder seems... not quite proprietary, but he moves as if all his attention is focused on 'Chana's location; his gaze does not leave her if he can help it. Sulochana accepts the man's arm with a touch of relief; she's used to being looked at -- she encourages it -- but there's... something about this guy... no, must focus right now. She smiles brilliantly at the people who meet her gaze, murmuring a courteous, "Good afternoon," to them.
The people are friendly enough and return her greeting. One of the young men comes down from the porch and offers to help Rattler and Chanti get the camel settled in a small pasture behind the house, "Mostly it is sheep there, but the creature, she will be safe." The younger man's name is Abishai; he seems to be perhaps seventeen. Most of the children also flow off the porch to see and help with Amanda.
Sulochana doesn't say anything at that, since she knows both Rattler and Chanticleer know she'd like them near; they'll handle things smoothly, she's sure. She continues smiling beautifully at everyone, wondering how Malachai will try to seat her. That will tell her quite a bit about how he's currently feeling... hmm, could he be simply being polite before sending her off? She checks his chakras for sincerity as she murmurs to him, "May I ask what you have heard about Hetaerae, then, Malachai?"
Chanticleer smiles to the young man and notes the camel will be fine here; camels don't necessarily graze. It's not entirely true, but he does have some of Amanda's feed and water present. Besides, he notes, he's glad to introduce the children of the town to the camel. Plus, he thinks inwardly, he doesn't want to let Sulochana out of his sight unless she gives him the okay. Abishai nods to Chanti and says, "We shall have her stay here, then." The children are already swarming around her and chattering at Chanti, asking if there will be tumblers and play-actors in the show. There's no mention of magicians, but one of the older girls -- perhaps twelve or thirteen -- asks if there will be dancers.
The young man and woman that left before return with a small table and some odds and ends. In a trice the table is sitting in front of a pair of sturdy cane-bottom chairs, and has a tablecloth, water, and bread-and-butter on it. The repast is simple, but presented on nice dishes. It almost has the feel of a ritual. Sulochana is faintly relieved at the separate chairs -- the way Malachai had been keeping his hands on her had made her feel a touch uneasy. She thanks the two young people charmingly and waits for Malachai to answer, her small, gloved hands neatly folded before her. She's every inch the proper lady right now.
Malachai offers 'Chana a seat. One chair sits with its back to the wall of the house looking out over the town. The one he offers the Hetaera is on its left side and sitting perpendicular to it. "I know that you are a sort of courtesan. A companion and... lover... for a fee." Malachai's chakras are quite strong. The energy in them is a blaze not normally seen in humans, and they are weighted toward the earthy side. The bottom three are stronger than the top three, though not by an excessive margin.
'Chana raises a mental eyebrow -- not human, eh? Somehow she's not surprised. Gently she continues the initial negotiations, checking to see if the older-looking man has any idea what Hetaerae charge for their attentions. She's half-hoping he'll not know and be shocked, and then politely turn her down at the cost. She doesn't want to initiate serving the food, though. She's not familiar with this ritual, and doesn't wish to accidentally offend.
As Malachai settles himself, Rattler moves around to stand behind 'Chana. He's putting off definite "bodyguard" vibes, though he's doing his best to rein in the "hands-off" vibes. 'Chana smiles faintly, trying to gently warn Rattler with her gaze to stay well back -- if this man is non-human then it's a good bet territoriality is one of his buttons as well.
The young woman who brought the food and water kneels on Malachai's right and murmurs something that sounds like a prayer over the food, then carefully breaks the small round loaf in half. She puts one half on each of the two plates. The water is similarly prayed over and then poured into the glasses. When she's done, Malachai says, "May you never hunger." He tears off a bite of the bread and chews it carefully. Then he takes a sip of the water, "May you never thirst." He still hasn't taken his eyes off her, but neither has he answered her questions yet.
Sulochana watches in silent fascination, then smiles and gestures to the bread and water, "May I also?" She's a little startled at the woman kneeling, since there hadn't been any feeling of servility before this... and then it hits her: could it be that the woman wants to keep her head lower than Malachai's? Internally she winces slightly, and hopes Rattler and Chanti stay well back from Malachai. No need to antagonize him.
Malachai smiles without showing his teeth and says, "Yes, please."
'Chana smoothly imitates Malachai's actions, her voice a warm, soothing murmur. When she's done she smiles at Malachai and adds, "So, you were going to tell me what you know about Hetaerae...?" Rattler stays a few feet back from 'Chana's chair; he got the cue. The children are still gathering around Chanti and Amanda. 'Chana sighs in soft relief when she can't 'feel' the warmth and change in air pressure of Rattler right behind her. She smiles a bit wryly, guessing Chanti will not have recognized the language in which the young woman prayed -- and then she tilts her head in pleasant inquiry at Malachai, waiting courteously for him to speak.
The young woman stands and backs away. The people around Malachai don't seem scared exactly, but they do seem very respectful. Malachai nods as 'Chana repeats the little ritual, as if pleased, "We know that you are not inexpensive. We know that you are trained to be artists and performers as well as in the arts of the lover. I do not believe that any of us have ever actually met a Hetaera before."
Chanticleer frowns inwardly. Interesting... people use a lot of plurals when referring to themselves. He's pretty sure it's not the 'imperial' we... Sulochana smiles warmly and nods once, "All true, and thank you." She hesitates, glancing around at everyone on the porch, then leans a bit to murmur quietly to Malachai, "May I speak freely?"
Malachai's eyes flicker here and there. He makes a small motion with his hand and several of the people around him either slip into the house or down into the yard. Once there are only about four people left nearby -- two women and two men -- Malachai says, "You may now." The Hetaera nods, pleased, and explains a little of what Hetaerae are and can do... as well as, in the process, delicately letting drop a description of some of the glorious and expensive jewelry which amounts to the cost of doing business with a Hetaera. She's keeping a careful eye on Malachai, checking for his response. She's also careful to describe the process of negotiation, so the thane has a way to refuse her without losing face.
Malachai listens to the description carefully. He's good at controlling his expression, or perhaps his expressions are different than she is used to. The cost makes his brows rise slightly, "It sounds as if this negotiation process will take some time. I must think on it. In the meantime, you are welcome to pasture with us."
Chanticleer remains quite attentive while Sulochana talks to Malachai. He wonders why one like this elder would ask for the services of a Hetaera, but the sidhe still can't fathom it; the price given by Sulochana doesn't seem to have fazed Malachai much more than a bit. 'Chana sighs in internal relief at Malachai's response; clearly he's going to politely refuse her after a suitable amount of time. Excellent! She smiles ruefully as she murmurs, "Malachai, since you have told me I may speak freely: I have no desire to bankrupt a small and thriving town. If you wish, we can mutually agree here and now that it was not to be, yes? I will depart, and perhaps we will see you a bit later this evening, with the rest of your townsfolk, at our show?"
Malachai smiles again, still not showing his teeth. "Not all resources are shared here. We will negotiate." He stands and offers her his hand, "In the meantime, allow me the honor of showing you our town." Sulochana's smile seems faintly surprised, then honored, as she takes his arm and accepts with apparent pleasure. Her expression doesn't reflect at all, in fact, her sudden internal worry. Why didn't he just agree to no?
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